Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch

Come to San Jose and you will see a typical Philippine town layout with its center at the town plaza. There you will see the municipal hall, schools, ancestral houses, all dominated by the church perched on the hill.

A popular Catholic pilgrimage site, the Shrine of St Joseph the Patriach was built by the Augustinian friar Fr. Manuel Blanco in 1812 and is an excellent example of Baroque architecture in the Philippines with its geometrical decorations and flowery capitals on the columns.

Below is an excellent video of the church provided by Nathaniel Ona (thanks Tita Olive for forwarding the link).

We all have a responsibility to preserve our heritage. It is my fervent hope that the succeeding parish priests think well and hard before making decisions which would spoil the very things that make the shrine so special. Come on -- painting certain sections of the church pink???? Planning to replace the floor tiles?????

Restoration, not renovation please!!!!