Facing the West Philippine Sea in Batan Island in Batanes lies the
Spanish colonial Mahatao Church, also known as the Church of San Carlos
Borromeo. It was declared by the
National Museum as a national cultural treasure on July 31, 2001 and is under
the conservation program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA).
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| The Mahatao Church faces the West Philippine Sea. |
The church was built by the Dominicans in 1789 and in 1873, originally a wooden structure, it was improved with limestone walls and cogon roofing. Like the traditional houses in the typhoon frequented islands in Batanes, the church is made of stone and lime (common building materials in Batanes) to withstand the typhoons.
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| The San Carlos Borromeo Church is one of 26 Spanish colonial churches recognized as a cultural icon in the Philippines. |
On top is a belfry with old bells dating back to 1874. Its
baroque interiors is adorned with flowers and image of the patron Saint CharlesBorromeo, also Saint Joseph, Saints Dominic de Guzman and Saint Rose of Lima.
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| The Baroque interior of the Mahatao Church. |
The church
was also the place were Ivatan Katipunan revolutionaries raised the flag of the Katipunan
on the bell tower on September 19, 1898. The Katipunan (KKK) was a Filipino revolutionary movement founded by Andress Bonifacio and revolutionary Filipinos in Manila in 1892 to fight for indenpendence from Spain.
