Form and Style in Philippine Architecture (Churches)

The Catholic churches are centrally located at an area fonting the plaza. These structures continue to be the most prominent building in many towns. According to function, they may be classified as a cathedral, the seat of the diocese a capilla, a smaller church, usually in convents of nuns, colleges, or cemeteries and a basilica, which only few churches have been given the honorific title. These are the churches of San Martin in Taal, Batangas Immaculada Concepoin in Batangas City Nuestra Senora Dela Caridad in Agoo, La Union Santo Nino in Cebu City San Miguel Arcangel in Tayabas, Quezon the Quiapo Church and the Manila Cathedral.

Manila Cathedral:




Quiapo Church:



San Sebastian Church:



Iglesia Ni Cristo Church:


The houses of worship among the Igiesia Ni Cristo (INC) are called kapilya regardless of size. This is in memory of the humble beginnings of the church and its equally humble prototypoc buildings or beginnings of the church and its equally hummble prototypic buildings or sambahan. The only one that is called templo is the one at the central office in Quezon City, alltough the San Fernado Kapilya is popularly known as Templo Central Luzon. The INC interiors are well lit and airy due to the many windows of plain glass and high ceilings. Towers and spires, decorated with openwork tracery are many. Walls featured elongated mullions with flat arches, web-like tracery, or fret in precast. The decorations are non-figurative. For Felix Manalo the Gothic style seemed ecclesiastical.