A Visual Documentation of Fil-Hispanic Churches

Fil-Hispanic churches in the Philippines exhibit unique artistic characteristics, such as low, squat proportions and 'earthquake baroque' architecture, reflecting the adaptation of introduced motifs to local contexts. A recent study aims to deepen understanding of this heritage by analyzing how Filipino cultures responded to artistic and social factors over time. The research leverages a vast collection of photographs from the Archives of the University of Santo Tomas, sourced through collaboration between the National Committee of Monuments and Sites (NCMS) and the Permanent Committee for Cultural Heritage of the Church. This visual documentation serves as a critical step toward 'owning' this cultural heritage, though further exploration is needed to fully grasp its spiritual and artistic implications.

Trota Jose, R. (2010). A Visual Documentation of Fil-Hispanic Churches. Philippiniana Sacra, 45(135), 673–719. https://doi.org/10.55997/ps3007xlv135pr1