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THE
Philippines is known far and wide as the only
predominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia and, as a
result of almost four centuries of Spanish rule, has
many outstanding churches, the most in the region. The
historical, religious and aesthetic significance, as
well as tourist appeal, of these churches are explored
in detail in the book A Tourist Guide to Notable
Philippine Churches (New Day Publishers, 2007)
written by BusinessMirror travel writer, author and
architect Benjamin Locsin Layug which was launched on
September 1 during the Philippine International Bookfair
at the World Trade Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay
City.
Churches
are extremely valuable for their aesthetic and
historical significance, being built not only to provide
permanent structures for worship but also to impress
early Filipino non-believers with the strength of the
Catholic faith. Aside from many being pilgrimage sites
(Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia in Camarines Sur, Minor
Basilica of the Santo Niño in
Cebu, etc.), a number of churches are also sites of significant
historical events in the country (Barasoain
Church in Bulacan, Santa Barbara Church in Iloilo,
etc.). Churches are also unique structures in
themselves, using diverse materials (stone, wood,
concrete, etc.), as well as styles: Aztec, Byzantine,
Chinese, Gothic, Islamic, Mudejar, Renaissance and
Romanesque, used singularly or in combination. The
resulting exuberantly eclectic ornamentation has created
stunning churches with whimsical façades and lavish
interiors.
Four
Philippine churches, recognized as fusions of European
Baroque interpreted by Chinese and Filipino craftsmen,
have received international acclamation by being
included on the Unesco World Heritage List. In 2001 the
National Museum also honored 26 other Spanish-era
churches as National Cultural Treasures. As a result,
these churches, as well as 363 other churches included
in the book, built in the 17th, 18th, 19th, as well as
20th centuries, have become tourist attractions in
themselves.
A
graduate of the University of the Philippines and an
architect/consultant by profession, Layug is an avid
reader, writer and traveler in his spare time. Before
his stint as a travel writer for BusinessMirror, he also
wrote for the defunct Today from 2001 to 2004, and has
also written articles for other newspapers and
magazines. His first book, A Philippine Odyssey
(New Day Publishers, 2005) is a compilation of 33 of his
Today and Philippine Daily Inquirer articles. He is also
the author of Pathfinder’s Travel Guide: Boracay
(Great Books Publishing, 2006), the first of his
Pathfinder series of travel guides that will include
travel info on all the country’s regions, as well as
select tourist destinations (Batanes, Panglao, Puerto
Galera, etc.). His second Philippine Odyssey,
also to be published by New Day, will be out by next
year and will include a number of his BusinessMirror
articles.
The
author is also a travel consultant for United Tourist
Promotions (makers of EZ Maps) and also does
book-editing work for the abovementioned publishers.
****
EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD THREATENED
WORRIED
over reports that unprecedented pestilence and heavy
commercialization have pushed the degradation of the
eighth wonder of the world, the Banaue Rice Terraces,
Senate President Manny Villar filed a resolution asking
the Senate to look into the problem.
Haring
Ibon, a publication of Haribon Foundation, recently
reported that the famous tourist spot has been
threatened by giant earthworms aside from other pests
which are dissipating and destroying the terrace walls.
Thus,
Villar introduced Senate Resolution 140, entitled
Resolution Urging the Appropriate Senate Committee to
Conduct a Comprehensive Report, in Aid of Legislation,
Anent the Reported Degradation of the Banaue Rice
Terraces, a World Heritage Site, Due to Pestilence and
Rampant Commercialization.
The
Senate President and Nacionalista Party president said
that the Banaue Rice Terraces is a testament of our
ancestors’ craftsmanship, architectural and agricultural
genius, and priceless Philippine heritage.
The
unprecedented pestilence and heavy commercialization of
the terraces have resulted in the extinction of the
traditionally present biodiversity and ecological
equilibrium, Villar said in his resolution.
He also
stated, the propagation of the golden kuhol (snails) in
the paddies of the Banaue Rice Terraces, which was
introduced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to
augment food supply shortage of the residents in the
area, is also a major problem threatening the eighth
wonder of the world.
At
present, no successful interventions to control
biological pests have been introduced by relevant
government agencies, including the DA and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, he further said.
A
comprehensive study on Banaue Rice Terraces must be
undertaken to prevent its fast deterioration, Villar
stressed. |
