It’s the oldest church in the Philippines. That much I knew of San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. I can count with the fingers on one hand the few times I’ve been there, but my latest visit was not like the others. I took some time with the hubby to explore the adjoining monastery, which now serves as a museum privately owned and maintained by Augustinian priests.
The casual visit turned out to be a huge ‘wow’ experience, an enlightening peek into a long-gone period that blurred the lines separating religion, art and history. There was so much to take in, and two hours was ruefully not enough. It’s been decades since my Humanities 101, thus my understanding of Baroque, chiaroscuro, or trompe l’oeil have all but turned hazy. Nice-to-know concepts while doing the tour, but not absolute musts to fully appreciate the grandeur and the glory of the only surviving 16th century structure in the country.
Sometimes visual messages help us get the picture more than a sermon can. Viewing this colonial church inside and out did that, at least for me. The good side of that period in our history when foreigners ruled for more than 300 years; what came out of the clergy’s involvement with the people; and how it contributed to the material and social progress of this country — they are all there for everyone to see.
Sometimes if we look closely, we can truly say, ‟God is in the details.”














Click here for more information about San Agustin Church.
San Agustin Church and the Museum are located on Gen. Luna corner Real St., in Intramuros, Manila.
The Museum is open daily from 9:00 am – 12:00 nn, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm