San Agustin Church turns 440 years old this year
San Agustin Church should be in the places-to-see list for tourists who come to Manila. Not only is it the oldest stone church in the country, but it is a reservoir of historical artifacts collected from the 440 years that it stood even after the British, American and Japanese occupations. I would like to think that it is our version of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence because of the many areas around the entire complex (a monastery has been added to the church) although its simple facade conceal this fact. San Agustin has undergone many reconstructions in its 440 years and in 1993 was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. There are many interesting items inside the church starting from the entrance where an antique bell weighing 3,400 kgs. welcomes visitors. This bell was originally in the belfry but a strong earthquake in 1863 damaged the belfry so it was finally taken down in 1926. From the entrance where one pays P100,...