LUBAO, Pampanga, Sept. 2 (PIA) — National Museum has declared the 441-year old St. Augustine Parish Church in Lubao town as an Important Cultural Property of the country.
“The church qualified for the distinction because of its significant architectural designs and its simple and solemn retablo,” National Museum Cultural Heritage Preservation Section head Carmencita de los Mariano explained.
In a statement, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said “the declaration is important for our history, culture and faith, and one of the reasons why tourists visit the province is because of our old churches such as this one.”
The church, which was orginally located in barangay Sta. Catalina, was built in 1572 by Augustinian friars out of light structures of indigenous wood, bamboos, and thatched nipa.
On May 3, 1572, few months after its construction, the Iglesia San Agustin de Lubao was officially accepted by the Archbishopric of Manila as a visita of Tondo. This acceptance officially marks the foundation date of the church.
In 1602, due to continuous floods that swept Barangay Sta. Catalina, it was transferred in San Nicolas 1st.
(CLJD/JGB-PIA3)
