All you need to know about one of the oldest churches in Manila, Philippines.
The Our Lady of Remedies Parish, also known as Malate Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Malate), is a parish church in the district of Malate in the city of Manila, Philippines.
This Mexican Baroque-style church is overlooking Plaza Rajah Sulayman and, ultimately, Manila Bay. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of childbirth.
Malate used to be known as Maalat due to the saline waters of the bay; and as Laguio or Lagunoi, the name of the street which separated it from Ermita. It is located by Manila Bay, very close to the sea.
Malate was also a place of recreation for the residents of the Walled City and a meeting place for noblemen, Tagalogs and their kings like Rajah Matanda and Rajah Soliman. It easily became "the most aristocratic barrio of Manila where Spaniards and mestizos dwelt."
In 1721, the convent was in ruinous condition, and the coffers of the house empty. The father provincial sent a circular to the various ministries of the Tagalogs available. Furthermore, the convent was relieved of the obligation to pay rent to San Agustin Monastery. The money raised amounted only to 400 pesos, just enough to buy the materials. The construction work proceeded very slowly because the prior depended almost completely on funds of the provincial.
Interior
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please let us know by leaving a message in the comment box below.
RELATED: List of Basilica Churches in the Philippines (and Where to Find Them!)
Loading...
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.
Malate used to be known as Maalat due to the saline waters of the bay; and as Laguio or Lagunoi, the name of the street which separated it from Ermita. It is located by Manila Bay, very close to the sea.
One main street crosses it at the center. It is wide and beautiful and leads up to Cavite. The numerous trees make this road a pleasant walk. It lies just three kilometers from the center of Manila.
Malate Church in Details
 |
| Nuestra Señora de los Remedios |
Names: Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Iglesia Parroquial de Malate, Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Location Manila
Country: Philippines
Denomination: Catholic
Religious institute: Columbans
Website: malatecatholicchurch.org
Status: Parish church
Dedication: Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Consecrated: 1588, 1624
Heritage designation: National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Designated: 1937
Architectural type: Parish church
Style: Baroque, Neo-Mudejar
Materials: Stone, Sand, gravel, cement, mortar and steel
Subdivision: Vicariate of Nuestra Señora de Guia
Archdiocese: Manila
Malate Church Foundation
The Augustinian Chapter held on 18 September 1581 accepted the house of Maalat as a house of the Order under the name of Lagunoi and the advocation of the Conception of Our Lady (Immaculate Conception). In the Chapter held on 17 May 1590, three resident priests of the monastery of San Agustin (Manila) were charged with the care of the natives of Malate; they were Frs. Alfonso de Castro, Diego Munoz and Ildefonso Gutierrez. The report of the Father Provincial of 1591 reveals that the house of Malate together with Lagunoi has 1,200 persons, convent and church. In 1639, the convent of Malate contributed to the patriotic campaign of Governor-General Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera, former governor of Panama, who brought Peruvian soldiers to fight against pirates, with a donation of two bells of seven arrobas and seven libras (154 kg. & 220 g.).
In 1624, Fr. Juan de Guevara brought from Andalucía, Spain, the image of the Virgen de los Remedios which was said to be miraculous. It "had graceful features," says San Agustin, "was half vara high (417 mm.) and slightly brown." Fr. Castro's version is different. "I saw the image a thousand times," writes Castro, "but she never looked brown to me, but rather white with hands and face of white ivory." The devotion to the Virgen de los Remedios made Malate a very famous sanctuary. People flocked to venerate the image, especially on Saturdays. Women presented their babies to the Virgin.
Except for a short time, Malate was always administered by the Augustinians. The priest of Malate also administered the town of Ermita from 1591 to 1610, since the two barrios had been united by Governor-General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas with the approval of Bishop Domingo de Salazar, O.P. Pasay separated from Malate under the name of Pineda on 17 May 1863.
 |
| View of Malate Church in 1831 as seen by French Captain Cyrille Pierre Théodore Laplace |
Malate was also a place of recreation for the residents of the Walled City and a meeting place for noblemen, Tagalogs and their kings like Rajah Matanda and Rajah Soliman. It easily became "the most aristocratic barrio of Manila where Spaniards and mestizos dwelt."
Construction of Malate Church
In 1591, Malate had only one church and one convent. The church and convent dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady (Conception) were damaged heavily by the 1645 Luzon earthquake. San Agustin describes the latter as "a magnificent work of arches and stone." Then in 1667, both structures were destroyed on orders of Gov. Sabiniano Manrique de Lara due to the threat posed by the pirate Koxinga.
In 1669, the father provincial placed the convent of Malate under his immediate care and authorized the prior to use the "repository of alms for the dead" for the construction of the buildings. Fr. Dionisio Suarez began the construction of a new church (the second one) and convent made of bricks and stone in 1677–1679. It was completed by Fr. Pedro de Mesa in 1680.
In 1721, the convent was in ruinous condition, and the coffers of the house empty. The father provincial sent a circular to the various ministries of the Tagalogs available. Furthermore, the convent was relieved of the obligation to pay rent to San Agustin Monastery. The money raised amounted only to 400 pesos, just enough to buy the materials. The construction work proceeded very slowly because the prior depended almost completely on funds of the provincial.
There was some restoration work which was headed by Fr. Nicolas Dulanto who was also responsible for the completion of the upper part of the facade between 1894 and 1898. The next decades saw the church attract more devotees. But when the holocaust of 1945 came, the church and convent ended up in complete ruins and the records were also burned to ashes.
 |
| Inside Malate Church in 1939 |
The old convent was demolished in 1929. Fr. Gary Cogan built a new one in 1930. One of the remaining bells displayed at the entrance of the new convent has this inscription: "Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. Se fundio en 30 de Enero de 1879."
Architecture of Malate Church
Malate Church is one of only two that has twisted columns and has in effect a retablo-type façade, the other being the Franciscan church in Daraga.
If Santa Ana was the summer resort by the Pasig River from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Malate was its counterpart by Manila Bay. Seaside villas beautified the place as a virtual college town emerged, with St. Scholastica's College and De La Salle College on the south, University of the Philippines and Ateneo Municipal on Padre Faura Street on the north and some, other private schools within the boundaries of the college town.
Malate Church was considered to be a dangerous stronghold if captured by enemy forces, as stone churches outside Intramuros can be a convenient cover. When the British occupied Manila in 1762 they operated from the church's tower and Manila was subsequently sacked.
Exterior
There is interplay of Muslim design and Mexican Baroque. Says one writer, "it is in the design of the facade where the significance of the Malate Church lies." The juxtaposition of Mexican Baroque and Muslim design has resulted in an interesting colonial style, "mudejarisimo Filipino," in the words of Alice Coseteng in her book, Spanish Churches in the Philippines.
The design of the church façade is unusual with the use of trefoil blind arches which clearly indicate an influence of the Moorish art. The large opening of the lower level is balanced by the blind trefoil openings of the second and the semi-circular niche of the third. Laid out across the tiers like cornices are diamond and rectangular designs, as well as the shallow, ornamental relief work which suggest Muslim art. Few openings suggest massiveness in the design. The attached bell towers give an impression of solidity and strength by their massiveness which tries to squeeze the middle part of the façade.
 |
| Malate Church Interior |
Enshrined in the main altar is an image of Our Lady of Remedios. It was brought from Spain by the Augustinians who were administering the church in the 16th century. This image is popular with the mothers who have sick children; they manifest their devotion by lighting special candles and pouring forth their private petitions.
OTHER CHURCHES TO VISIT IN MANILA
- Manila Cathedral
- San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila
- Basilica of the Black Nazarene a.k.a. Quiapo Church in Manila
- Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz a.k.a. Binondo Church
- San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila
ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA
Klook.comHow to Get to Malate Church
Malate Church can be easily reached by Jeepneys or a 15 minute walk from the nearest LRT Station (Quirino).
See the map below for directions and guide:
WHERE TO NEXT?
- VISITA IGLESIA GUIDE: 7 Churches to Visit in Manila (Location & Map)
- PILGRIMAGE: List of Marian Shrines in the Philippines
- MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE: Tourist Spots, Things To Do, Where To Eat and Where to Stay
- REDISCOVER MANILA: 20+ Tourist Spots To Visit At Night (Things To Do & New Places To Go)
- INTRAMUROS GUIDE: Historic Walled City in Manila (What to See & to Do)
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA
Malate Church
Address: 2000 M. H. Del Pilar St, Malate, Manila
Phone Number: (02) 8400-5876 to 77, (02) 8523-2593
Telefax: (02) 8524-6866
Email Address: contact@malatecatholicchurch.org
Website: malatecatholicchurch.org
Facebook: Malate Catholic Church
Malate Church Mass Schedule & Other Services
MON to FRI
- 7:00 AM
- 6:00 PM
SAT
- 7:00 AM
- 8:00 AM (Children's Mass)
- 6:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
SUN
- 6:00 AM (Tagalog)
- 8:00 AM (Tagalog)
- 9:30 AM (Tagalog)
- 12:30 PM (English)
- 3:30 PM (English)
- 5:00 PM (Tagalog)
- 6:30 PM (Tagalog)
- 8:00 PM (English)
BAPTISM
Saturdays & Sundays
11:00 AM
WHERE TO STAY IN MANILA
 |
| Pearl Manila Hotel |
Here's a list of hotel accommodation you can book in Manila:
- Octagon Mansion Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Bayview Park Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Go Hotels Ermita - Check Rates and Availability!
- City Garden Suites Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Pearl Manila Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Sunny Bay Suites - Check Rates and Availability!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please let us know by leaving a message in the comment box below.
