Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Barasoain Church

4626Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church 01.jpg Photo by Judgefloro – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Barasoain Church

Barasoain church also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a Roman Catholic church. It was built in 1888 in Malolos, Bulacan. It is about 42 Kilometers from Manila. 

It is the most important religious building in the Philippines. The site of the First Philippine Republic, the church is known for its historical importance among Filipinos.

The name Barasoain was derived from Barasoain in Navarre, Spain. Missionaries were found to be strongly similar to the place in Malolos. The church was made of nipa and bamboo, it was constructed near the river between Maluslos. 

Another church was built was commissioned and constructed on a new site, it was built under the supervision of Rev. Fr Francisco Royo. The new church was made of light materials it was however destroyed in 1884 during the celebration of Flores De Mayo.

The priests who served in the church came from a nearby mother church of the town. After the establishment of an independent parish in Malolos church in 1859, several priests were assigned by the Augustinian order.  

The first parish priest was Fr. Francisco Arriola, he was appointed on June 1, 1859. He took the initiative of building the convent.

1. Construction of The Church

4626Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church 35.jpg Photo by Judgefloro – Wikimedia Commons

Fr. Francisco Royo replaced the temporary chapel of Barasoain with a hewn stone church that was built in 1871. Even though the church was destroyed in a fire, the only remnant of this church is one of its bells. 

He was succeeded by Fr. Giron who used the chapel of the cemetery but it was also destroyed by the earthquakes of 1880. He later built a temporary chapel of nipa and bamboo, but it also burnt down during the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In 1885, Fr. Giron hired contracted Miguel Magpayo and the work started shortly after. The construction was under the supervision of Fr. Giron, they used beautiful masonry. 

Some say that by the time construction ended Fr. Giron’s pockets were completely drained.

In 1889, Fr Martin Arconada started constructing the belfry and restored the convent. Later in 1897 three bells were installed, one of them was dedicated to Saint Martin and was donated by Fr. Martin Arconada.

2. The Malolos Congress

The new constitution was to be written, to do that they needed to choose a safe place, thus the decision to make the Barasoain church to be the site of the First Philippine Congress. 

It otherwise known as the Malolos congress was convened on September 15, 1898.  The Malolos congress held its last session on the last week of February. 

On March 31, 1899, American forces captured Malolos and Barasoain and were placed under American control.

3. Philippine Bill Issue

4615Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church 17.jpg Photo by Judgefloro – Wikimedia Commons

The church had its image depicted in certain monetary bills until 2001. They were named the English series one peso bill and the Pilipino Ang Bagong Lipunan. The bill was replaced by a ten-peso coin that didn’t have the church. 

in 2009, local priests took the initiative of forming a signature campaign to appeal to the Philippine Bangko Sentral to restore at least the image of the church in any Philippine bill.

In 2010, the Barasoain church was featured again but this time it wasn’t in the ten-peso bill but in the 200- peso denomination. This only lasted till 2017 when it was replaced with the scene of the Malolos congress opening.

4. Church In The Media

4615Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church 23.jpg Photo by Judgefloro – Wikimedia Commons

Multiple media houses have taken the privilege to take photos of the church from different parts of the church. Like the church’s NHCP historical marker, the bell tower, and many more.

The only picture that has a historical marker on the town is the first picture of the first philippine republic at Malolos. It was taken in 1898 and shows how much the church has changed since then.

5. Multiple Parish Priests 

Since the church was founded on August 31, 1859, the church has had many parish priests. Like Fr Juan Giron 1881- 1889, Fr Carlos Inquimboy 1902- 1923, and Fr Angel Cruz 1939- 1942.

All the priests from a way to improve the church and ensure that it helped the community around it one way or another.

6. The Church’s Fame

4615Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church 01.jpg Photo by Judgefloro – Wikimedia Commons

Barasoain church is known as a historical landmark. It is popularly known as the seat of the Malolos of September 15, 1898.  It is known as the place where the drafting of the Malolos constitution was on September 29, 1898.

The church is also the site of the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic on January 23, 1898.

7. Host of The Commemoration

In 2022, the church hosted the commemoration activities for the 12th opening anniversary of the Malolos congress. The program was held at the Barasoain open grounds that front of the church.

The event is open to any local who may want to be there. They only have to follow all the safety protocols that are set in place.

8. 162nd Parish Feast Day

The parish has released the list of masses and activities for the feast day that is going to be held at its patroness the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. 

The planning began on the 7th of July till the day of the actual Feast day.

9. Declared as A National Shrine

On August 1, 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos declared the Barasoain church a National Shrine. A few days later a museum was opened at the old convent of the church, it was managed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Since it was declared a national shrine, the church became the venue for the inauguration of Joseph Estrada on June 30, 1998. only lasted until 2001 and then it was replaced by a ten-peso coin without the representation of the church.

But the local priests did not agree with the change and formed a signature campaign to appeal to the Philippine Bangko Sentral. In 2010, the Barasoain church was featured again, but this time it was featured in the 200- peso denomination.

10. Cultural Heritage

Barasoain church has been a witness to a lot of historical events. The church still serves as the meeting place of the Governor General and his officials.

Due to so many historical events taking place in the church, it is remembered from generation to generation as the church that changed the community.