The Miagao Church reflected Spanish influence over architecture in the Philippines, and the direct connection at the time between faith, idenity, and even warfare.
The Miagao Church is an architectural gem. Built in 1786, this structure was not just built as a worship place but also as a fortress.
This UNESCO World Heritage site was designed with the touch of Spanish Baroque and Romanesque Early Medieval architectural styles, with the addition of Chinese, Muslim, and local Filipino elements. You can see this in the facade of the building.
Ornately decorated naïf/folk pediment can be seen in the facade that expressed a local understanding of the life of Christ. This is demonstrated using local elements such as the papaya, coconut, and palm tree reliefs. In addition, St. Christopher is portrayed wearing Filipino attire.
The church colors are also unique as it is ochre in color. This is due to its materials used which included coral, egg whites, and a mixture of adobe. This ‘type of material is not common nowadays but back in the day, eggs were used material for mortar.
References:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/677/
“Miagao Church: The Baroque Fortress Church of Iloilo”. https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/miagao-church/