Top 10 Sensational Facts about Daraga Church

Daraga Church, Daraga Albay, the Philippines by Tomas Tam – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Sensational Facts about Daraga Church

Daraga Church is a Roman Catholic Church in the municipality of Daraga, Albay, the Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi. The church was built by the Franciscans in 1772 under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. 

Certain church sections were declared a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2007. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It constitutes the entire province of Albay in the Philippines.

Here are some sensational facts about the Daraga Church.

1. Daraga was established as a settlement by people relocating from Cagsawa

The people feared another eruption of the Mayon Volcano in that region. They requested permission from the Spanish government to establish a new community and church south of Cagsawa.

Their request was granted by Governor-General Simon de Salazar through a communication to the Alcade-mayor of the province of Camarines, dated June 12, 1772. 

2. The present church of Daraga was built under the Franciscan priests in 1773

Daraga Church Albay by Junsierra – Wikimedia Commons

Built at the time that Daraga was a visita of Cagsawa, the church was erected atop a hill in barangay Santa Maria overlooking the Mayon Volcano. When the Mayon Volcano erupted on February 1, 1814, the residents of Cagsawa transferred to Daraga after the destruction of their church.

It was a common belief, however, that the church of Daraga was built after the eruption of Mayon and that it replaced the church of Cagsawa. The church was consecrated to Our Lady of the Gate in 1854.

3. The Daraga Church was damaged during WW2 in 1945

The church was heavily damaged by joint American and Filipino military bombers during the Second World War in 1945 and was hastily renovated after the war using a mix of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque styles.

The church was redesigned to follow the norms of the Vatican II council from 1971 to 1973. In 1991, the altar was returned to its original position. The church is still undergoing preservation and rehabilitation measures to prevent deterioration.

4. The Daraga church is known for its Churrigueresque architectural style

Daraga church by Mael mael – Wikimedia Commons

Churrigueresque refers to a Spanish Baroque style of elaborate sculptural architectural ornament that emerged as a manner of stucco decoration in Spain in the late 17th century. It was used up to about 1750, marked by extreme, expressive, and florid decorative detailing, normally found above the entrance on the main facade of a building.

5. The Daraga church has Solomonic columns 

It is one of the few churches in the country that has four spiral columns known as Solomonic columns or salomónicas. The four columns bear round medallions, each with carved images of the four Evangelists. Another characteristic of the façade, which is unique to the church, is the absence of either vertical columns or horizontal cornices. 

Engraved on the façade and the adjacent belfry are statues of saints, mostly Franciscans, and rare religious seals such as the coats of arms of the Franciscan order, the Pope’s tiara with the keys, and the five wounds or stigmata of St. Francis which survived the Second World War.

6. The images of the twelve apostles are carved on the Daraga church

Daraga historical marker by Jonathan Blaza – Wikimedia Commons

The octagonal bell tower, located on the left side of the church, has carved images of the twelve apostles distributed on the base’s six faces.

The tower also has four levels, each tapered upwards and topped with a dome and cross. Also engraved on the façade and the adjacent belfry are statues of saints, mostly Franciscans, and rare religious seals such as the coats of arms of the Franciscan order, the Pope’s tiara with the keys, and the five wounds or stigmata of St. Francis which survived the Second World War.

7. The arch over the entrance of the Daraga church has an inscription in Latin

The inscription is in Latin and reads, “Bene fundata est domus Domini supra firmam petram. This is translated to mean, well-founded is the house of the Lord on firm rock.

Symbols carved out of stones of the three theological virtues which are; hope, faith, charity, and the Eucharist are also engraved.

8. The Daraga Church is undergoing rehabilitation works to preserve its cultural and historical significance

Our Lady of the Gate Church, Daraga, Albay by Gerrard Patricio – Wikimedia Commons

Due to several repairs and renovations done on the church in the past years due to the absence of renovation plans, certain parts of the church have been altered and lost their significance.

The façade has been plastered but the original stonework has been revealed through time. With the help of government agencies like the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the church is undergoing rehabilitation works to preserve the church’s cultural and historical significance.

9. About  ₱ 35 million has been allocated to the rehabilitation of the church

The Provincial Government of Albay led by Governor Joey Salceda allotted ₱ 35 million for the rehabilitation of certain historical and cultural heritage sites in the province including the church of Daraga.

The Philippine peso, also referred to by its Filipino name piso, is the official currency of the Philippines. The Philippine peso sign is denoted by the symbol “₱”, introduced under American rule in place of the original peso sign “$” used throughout Spanish America.

10. The Daraga Church is now one of the Philippines’ historical treasures

The 17th-century Daraga Church in Albay province in is now recognized as one of the country’s historical treasures. 

The church contains archeological relics of saints and rare religious seals engraved on volcanic rocks throughout its entire façade including the belfry. According to locals, the relics were all that was left after it was bombed by American planes during World War II in 1945.