Rough Groove

Church of San Juan del Monte

The impressive church in San Juan is unique in the country in a sense that the buttresses, those architectural highlights found in many colonial churches in the country used to stabilize these structures from earthquakes, are built right infront of the facade. While in other structures it is in the form of thick columns like the ones in Santiago and Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur, to cite a few, here it is a design statement.

However, looking through the buttresses, one can find that there is also a facade behind it which means that these front supports were added much later. Unfortunately, when one looks at archival photos (below), much has been altered. When I was there yesterday, I was impressed that the church is much bigger but thought that it might have been remodeled. I was right.

From Regalado Trota Jose’s book, <em>Simbahan</em>, this archival photo (above) of the original facade. Below is the historical marker inscribed at the lower right (facing the church):

The Church of San Juan del Monte

The church and convent were built in 1602-1604 by the Dominican Province of the Most Holy Rosary on a site dontated by Capitan Julian de Cuenca. Both buildings were burned during the Chinese uprising of 1639. The new church and convent constructed in 1641, were set on fire in July 1763 during the British occupation of Manila. The present church and convent, constructed in 1774, were used by the insurgent forces of the revolution of 1898. This sanctuary is the seat of the Confraternity of Santisimo Cristo de San Juan del Monte approved by Pope Innocent X on March 4, 1648.