Santa Monica Parish Church (Angat)

The Santa Monica Parish Church is one of the oldest churches in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, dating back to 1758. It displays Baroque architectural characteristics and features ceiling paintings which resemble those in the Sistine Chapel.[1]

Angat Church
Santa Monica Parish Church
Facade of the Santa Monica Parish Church in Angat, Bulacan
Angat Church is located in Philippines
Angat Church
Angat Church
Republic of the Philippines
14°55′40″N 121°01′43″E
LocationPoblacion, Angat, Bulacan
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish church
DedicationSaint Monica
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleBaroque, Rococo
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
DioceseMalolos
Clergy
ArchbishopJosé Fuerte Advíncula, Jr
Bishop(s)Dennis Cabanada Villarojo
Priest(s)Manuel B. Villaroman, PC
Assistant priest(s)Mario Evangelista

History

The town of Angat was formerly part of Quingwa, now Plaridel. Angat was oppressed by the town of San Miguel, followed by the town of Bocaue. When Angat became totally separate from Quingwa, it conquered the lands of Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad.[2]

Founding of the parish

Angat became a parish in 1683, making it the sixth oldest parish in Bulacan. Augustinian priests were in charge of the management of the church. The first Augustinian priest who arrived at Angat was Juan Morelos in 1684.[2]

The list below presents the succeeding Augustinian parish priests who served the Sta. Monica Parish Church.[2]

NameYears of Pastorship
Nicolas Lopez de Baya1689 to 1692
Gabriel de la Fuente1692 to 1695
Lorenzo Cueto1695
Francisco Pingarron1695
Bernardo dela Iglesia1695 to 1704
Jose del Valle1704 to 1705
Bernardo dela Iglesia1705 to 1707
Lorenzo Cueto1707 to 1710
Juan Navarrete1710 to 1711
Tomas Quijano1711 to 1716
Domingo Diaz1716 to 1719
Pedro Orense1719 to 1722
Juan Serrano1722

Augustinian parish priests continued to serve Santa Monica Parish Church until 1898. From 1898 to the present, the parish church has been open for Diocesan priests. Mariano de los Reyes became the first Diocesan priest of the parish in 1898.[2]

NameYears of Pastorship
Mariano de los Reyes1898
Francisco Atro1898 to 1904
Jose Paguia1904 to 1908
Tomas Chanco1908 to 1916
Nicanor Guzman1916 to 1919
Pedro Domingo1919
Deogracias Javier1919 to 1921
Vicente Fernandez1921 to 1922
Simplicio Fernandez1922 to 1932
Pedro Marcelino1932 to 1945
Casimiro Alvarez1945 to 1946
Gabino Baluyot1946 to 1952
Lazaro Ochuga1952 to 1959
Leon Lopez1959
Serafin Riego de Dios1959 to 1970
Melchor Barcelona1970 to 1982
Macario Manahan1982 to 1989
Walderedo Castillo1989 to 1990
Ernesto Mendoza1990 to 1991
Jose Salvador Viola1991
Domingo Salonga1991 to 2003
Virgilio Cruz2003 to 2013
Angelito Santiago2013 to 2021
Manuel B. Villaroman2021–present

Architectural history

The following parish priests led the construction and redevelopment of the Santa Monica Parish Church.[3]

Juan Morelos
  • He was the first builder of the first church and the convent.

Gregorio Giner
  • He built the new parish church with stronger materials in 1758. It was finished in 1773.

Joaquin Calvo
  • He completed the facade in 1802 and was also responsible for the construction of the slender tower.

Ignacio Manzanares
  • He restored the convent which was also damaged by the 1863 earthquake.

Architectural features

Santa Monica de Angat Parish Church was designed in Baroque architectural style. This could be verified with the existence of 18 adobe posts, along with eight windows. Windows, statued niches, and spaces between horizontal string courses, dividing the front facade into three parts, were ornamented with floral carvings.[2] Also, foliated crestings on the raking course of the pediment were used as an added ornamentation.[3]

Ceiling art paintings

The ceiling paintings within the interiors of the parish church resemble the ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Rome. History of Christianity in the Philippines and culture of Angat, Bulacan such as simbang gabi, Flores de Mayo, prusisyon ng Santissimo Sakramento, and fiesta were also incorporated within the ceiling paintings.[2]

The ceiling paintings were started by G. Rene Robles in 1998 and finished by G. Jess Robles in 2002, in accordance with the order of Fr. Memeng.[2]

Present condition

Several interventions were conducted under the administration of Angel Santiago, who was ordained as the parish priest of Santa Monica de Angat on November 15, 2013. They include:[2]

  • Addition of six wooden posts and carvings at the retablo
  • Addition of floral designs and carving of Kordero at the front side and carvings of Santa Maria, San Jose, Santa Monica, and San Agustin at the sides of the Kordero
  • Addition of carvings - carvings of chalice and host at the front side and carvings of San Markos, San Juan, San Mateo, and San Lukas at the sides of the altar
  • Replacement of marble flooring of the sanctuary with black and white granite floor tiles
  • Modification of staircase going up to the sanctuary

References
  1. "Sta. Monica Church, Angat, Bulacan". October 31, 2014.
  2. "Santa Monica de Angat, The Official Website of Sta. Monica Parish, Angat, Bulacan, Philippines". October 31, 2014.
  3. Alarcon, Norma (2008). Philippine architecture during the pre-Spanish and Spanish periods. UST Publishing House.
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