Just a few meters away from the Malolos Cathedral, the church is a very important part of our nation’s history, having hosted the Malolos Congress which was convened on September 15, 1898, and the inauguration of the very first republic of Asia, the First Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899. It also holds the distinction of being the only church to host presidential inaugurations, those of Emilio F. Aguinaldo in 1899 and Joseph E. Estrada nearly a century later in 1998.
Formerly a visita of Malolos, Barasoain became a separate parish in 1859. It was previously a wooden church which was later replaced by a stone church constructed between 1871 and 1878. However, this building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1880. The current church was rebuilt in 1885 and this is clearly shown by a marker on the pediment of the church which mentions the name of its builder, Fr. Juan Giron, and the contractor, a certain M. Magpayo.
Three arched doors serve as entrances to this historic church. On top of the main entrance is a rose window with a cross superimposed on it, while fanlights echoing the rose window motif can be found above the side entrances. The features of the façade point to the Neoclassical style.
Inside the church, pillars on both sides form arcades running down the aisles from the choir loft to the main altar. On the left side of the church is an octagonal belltower that rises from a cube base, stretching into three layers, rhythmically accented by false and open windows. While on its right is an equally historic convento which was repaired in 1898 by architect Arcadio Arellano and were used as the offices of the short-lived Philippine Republic.
The Barasoain Church was declared National Historical Landmark on August 1, 1973 in recognition of its significance in our nation’s history. It has been restored several times, the latest of which was in 1998, in time for the centenary of Philippine independence. Thus, it can be said that the church today is very much the same way it looked when the Republic of the Philippines was born more than a century ago.
Indeed a trip to Bulacan would not be complete without a visit to Malolos, the cradle of Asia’s first republic.
