Location: Quiapo, Manila (Region NCR)
Category: Buildings/Structures
Type: House of Worship
Status: Level II – Historical marker
Marker date: 1939
Installed by: Philippines Historical Committee (PHC)
Architect: José Ma. Zaragoza (extension in 1984)
Marker text:
CHURCH OF QUIAPO
GOVERNOR GENERAL SANTIAGO DE VERA FOUNDED THE DISTRICT OF QUIAPO AUGUST 29, 1586. FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES BUILT THE FIRST CHURCH, OF BAMBOO AND NIPA, THAT WAS BURNED IN 1639. REBUILDING AND REPAIRS AT INTERVALS GAVE THE PARISH THE STRONGER EDIFICE THAT THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1863 PARTIALLY DESTROYED. THE NEXT CHURCH, COMPLETED IN 1899, WAS THE WORK OF REV. EUSEBIO DE LEON AND REV. MANUEL ROXAS, THE LATTER RAISING ₱40,000.00 IN CONTRIBUTONS. A FIRE ON OCTOBER 30, 1929, LEFT THE CHURCH ONLY ITS SCARRED WALLS AND BELFRY, AND A PARISH COMMITTEE HEADED BY DOÑA ENCARNACION NAKPIL DE ORENSE RAISED THE FUNDS FOR ITS RECONSTRUCTION. JUAN F. NAKPIL, ARCHITECT, DRAFTED THE PLANS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTED BUILDING. A FAMOUS IMAGE OF CHRIST BEARING THE CROSS, CALLED THE NAZARENE, IS THE CENTER OF INTENSE FRIDAY DEVOTIONS THROUGOUT THE YEAR.
