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Standing through war and earthquakes, Baroque churches of the Philippines.

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The explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521.

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He claimed the islands as a Spanish colony.

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Missionary priests came to spread the Catholic faith.

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Many churches were built throughout the country.

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Four of them were inscribed as World Heritage in 1993.

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The churches have survived several earthquakes and wars

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and are known as Earthquake Baroque.

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This pyramid-like building is the Church of San Agustin in Pauwe in the northern Luzon.

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Construction started in 1694.

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It incorporates many architectural features from South America,

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which was also colonized by Spain at the time.

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As the Philippines are affected by earthquakes,

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the buildings have some unique features to cope.

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These 2.5 meter thick supporting buttresses were built around the church as protection.

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The material used to make the wall is also unique.

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Pieces of coral were used along with regular brick for construction.

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Coral is said to be twice as strong as brick.

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This church has been hit by two giant earthquakes in the last 300 years,

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but owing to its quake-resistant structure, has remained intact.

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This is the Church of the Immaculate Conception of San Agustin in Manila,

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one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

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Japanese and American forces clashed here in 1945,

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and most of the buildings in the town were destroyed.

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The church suffered a direct bomb blast which left holes in the wall,

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but the building itself survived.

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Inside the church building there are many buttresses supporting it

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and placed to absorb impacts from outside.

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Different cultures from Spain, Latin America and the Philippines

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met here during the colonial era and created a remarkable cultural heritage.