If you are looking for a historical and beautiful church in Manila, you should definitely visit the Malate Church. This church is not only a place of worship, but also a witness to the rich and turbulent history of the Philippines. In this blog post, I will share with you some interesting facts and recent discoveries about this amazing church, and also tell you how to get there.
Malate Church, also known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish, is a parish church in the district of Malate in the city of Manila. It is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of childbirth. A revered statue of the Virgin Mary in her role as Our Lady of Remedies was brought from Spain in 1624 and stands at the altar to this day. The church is a Baroque-style church overlooking Plaza Rajah Sulayman and, ultimately, Manila Bay.
Malate Church was first built in 1588 by the Augustinian friars who also ministered to the natives of the area. The original church was made of wood and nipa, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1583. It was rebuilt in stone in 1591, but it was again burned down by Chinese pirates in 1667. The church was reconstructed in 1677-1679, but it suffered damages from earthquakes in 1645, 1658, 1754, 1771, 1824, 1852, 1863 and 1880. The church was also damaged by the British bombardment in 1762 during their brief occupation of Manila.
The church underwent several renovations and restorations throughout the years. The most recent one was done in 2013-2014 by the National Museum of the Philippines, which declared the Malate Church complex as a National Cultural Treasure/Important Cultural Property (NCT/ICP). The restoration project revealed some hidden features of the church, such as the original retablo mayor (main altar) that dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century. The retablo mayor has three niches that house the images of Our Lady of Remedies, St. Augustine and St. Monica. The restoration also uncovered some mural paintings on the walls and ceiling of the church that depict scenes from the life of Christ and Mary.
Malate Church is not only a historical landmark, but also a vibrant community of faith. The church offers various services and activities for its parishioners and visitors, such as masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals, confessions, counseling, catechism, choir, youth ministry, social services and more. The church also hosts special events throughout the year, such as Harana Kay Maria (a Marian concert for charity), Simbang Gabi (a nine-day novena mass before Christmas), Flores de Mayo (a month-long celebration of Mary) and more.
Malate Church is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves history, art and culture. It is a place where you can admire the beauty of architecture, appreciate the craftsmanship of artists and feel the presence of God. If you want to learn more about Malate Church, you can visit their website or follow them on Facebook . You can also visit the church personally at 2000 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Remedios Street Malate Manila Philippines.
To get to Malate Church, you have several options depending on where you are coming from and what mode of transportation you prefer. You can take a taxi or a ride-hailing app like Grab or Angkas and just tell the driver to take you to Malate Church or Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Parish. You can also take public transportation such as jeepneys or buses that pass by M.H. del Pilar Street or Roxas Boulevard and alight at Remedios Street. You can also take the LRT Line 1 and get off at Quirino Station or Vito Cruz Station and walk for about 15 minutes to reach the church.
