THE SAINT ANNE PARISH CHURCH

SAINT ANNE CHURCH

  http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=St._Anne_Church_(Piddig%2C_Ilocos_Norte)

                        http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5653722269_4f3137daa9_m.jpg
           In 1810, the parish was founded by Augustinian friars. Its first parish priest was Fr. Isidro Champaner. During the Philippine-American War, the building was inhabited by a 5-man Filipino guerilla group who repelled early American attacks. On 19 March 1932, an earthquake toppled the top level of the bell tower. The church underwent repairs afterward. During the Japanese occupation, the convent and the sacristy together with its parochial records, furniture and statues were burned. The facade and its interior were restored in 1965. The convent was repaired and converted into a parochial school.

             St. Anne Church's facade is inspired by the baroque Jesuit church of Il Gesu in Rome that was built in 1568. This likeness is seen in the massive buttresses that serves as columns and the volutes that are bordering the altar-shaped pediment. The capitals of the columns of the first level have cylindrical, inverted crenellation-like carvings that indicate a Muslim influence, while the second level has a round apex.

            The original wooden pulpit and five neo classical retablos made from brick and lime are found inside the church. The central retablo contains the image of St. Anne holding Mary on her lap.

   The Saint Anne Church after the Second World War (upper photo). The Church and the convent in 1937 (lower photo). The convent was reduced to rubbles during the war and was rennovated  in 1965 to become the Saint Anne Academy (below).

Photo credits: flickr; vintage photos uploaded by Mario Tejada; SAA building by the author.