Page 35 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition NEWS www.hello-philippines.com 35

ARTS AND CULTURE
10 awesome things about San Sebastian Church, the only steel basilica in the Philippines
ON the quieter and less busy side of v The site of the church is an estate
Quiapo in Manila stands a church that donated to the Recollects by a Mexican Completed in 1891, the unique steel structure of San Sebastian Church in Quiapo is Its interiors were painted to resemble stone and to conceal its steel material.
catches one’s eyes with its mint green soldier, Don Bernardino Del Castillo rich with religious and cultural history. Photos by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon.com.
facade—the San Sebastian Church or Rivera y Maldonado, and his wife
the Basílica Menor de San Sebastián. Dona Maria Enriquez de Cespedes The neo-gothic architecture of San Sebastian Church is adorned with decorative
who are both devotees of the Virgin of
Home of the revered Marian image, Mount Carmel. paintings and colorful glass windows. A product of the industrial revolution, San Sebastian is the only all-steel building in the country.
the Our Lady of Mount Carmel, San
Sebastian Church has a rich history w The 19th century basilicas gothic material, the steel. To date, the church the students of Academia de Pintura, still be found today include its metal
behind its beautiful and complex steel revival architecture is a product of the
structure that dates back to the 1800s. steel industry of the Second Industrial withstood 11 major earthquakes. Dibujo y Grabado, a premier art school doors, wall ceilings, decorative paints,
The original church, constructed in Revolution. The basilica, although z It was in 1886 to 1888 when in the country. and glass windows.
1621, was made of wood. Fire destroyed made from steel, was made without
the church and, subsequently, the the use of welding but instead, was the Belgian foundries steel and cast | In 1890, Pope Leo XIII declared  San Sebastian Church is
other churches built in the same fastened by rivets and bolts.
place. According to records, in 1880, a iron parts were forged, formed, and San Sebastian Church as a basilica. In declared as a Philippine Historical
sturdier fire and earthquake resistant x Seven countries collaborated
church was planned with no less than for its construction: Belgium, Britain, preassembled in Belgium before 1975, Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin Landmark and a National Cultural
Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer Germany, China, France, Spain, and
behind the iconic tower in France, as the Philippines.The Belgian Societe transporting it using 9 steamships to declared it as a parish. Treasure—a prestigious designation
its designer. Anonyme de Travaux Publics was the Manila. } San Sebastian Church is one of
contractor; the British Frederick Henry for historic buildings in the country. n
Recognizing both its religious and Reade Sawyer was the foreman; the { Although made of steel, its the country’s last remaining churches
historical importance, a movement, German Studio Henri Oidtman made Text by Romsanne Ortiguero / Photos by Bernard Testa
called the San Sebastian Basilica the glass windows; Quintin, a Chinese
Conservation and Development Inc., craftsman did the floors; the French interiors was painted to look like it that has preserved its original interiors; / Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com / January 12, 2016
has rolled out a 10-year restoration Magin Pers made the foundations; the
program to preserve the basilica and to Spaniard Genaro Palacios designed was made of stone and was done by original parts of the church that can / 9:07 am
engage the public to learn more about the building; and the Filipino students
the church’s story. of the Academia de Pintura, Dibujo y
Grabado painted the interior finishes.
Next time you’re in the Quiapo area,
visit this unique church and admire its y The first four structures of the
architectural feat. church fell to earthquakes. With this,
the fifth and the current structure
u San Sebastian Church is the only was designed in 1881 to withstand
all-steel edifice in the country since its fires and earthquakes using a new
inauguration in 1891.

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agricultural methods, such as organic farming. lines about agriculture, the voters are looking

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“We have the Organic Agriculture Act but n InterAksyon.com / January 15, 2016 / 3:26 pm