THE Province of Batangas is a treasure trove of heritage structures, boasting several centuries-old churches that have stood the test of time and survived disasters and people’s interventions. These are not just mere buildings but time capsules that have witnessed their locale’s history, cultural development, and religious milestones. One such structure is the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph the Patriarch.
This 18th-century Roman Catholic church is located in the town center of San Jose, Batangas. Established by the Augustinian friars, the original church was built with cogon and bamboo by Fr. Jose Victoria in 1762. It was eventually replaced with a new structure made of lime and pebbles by Fr. Tomas Cañon. In 1812, Fr. Manual Blanco constructed the convent and began the work on the present church.
A fire gutted the church and convent in 1857, necessitating the former’s repair and the construction of a new version of the latter. Since then, both buildings have undergone renovation and restoration work over the years.
The newly renovated Museo ni San Jose houses several curated images of Saint Joseph and other articles of faith. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In 2000, the parish took over the possession of the convent, which the Cursillo movement had long used. Fr. Ronulfo Alkonga, OSJ, began the much-needed repair on the roof and ceiling as well as redesigning of the area to accommodate, among others, a parish museum, now named Museo ni San Jose. The museum houses several curated images of St. Joseph and other articles of faith.
When the Batangas East Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) was chartered on May 23, 2023, Rev. Fr. Servando Sentales, OSJ, rector and parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph the Patriarch, was invited as guest speaker.
During the event, he said in his speech that he needed the assistance of the architects to design the museum’s display boards and renovate the whole parish museum itself. The museum at that time was in a state of disrepair. The ceiling and walls were dilapidated, and the flooring needed additional supports, as some of the floor joists showed signs of damage.
Current makeover
Moved by the parish priest’s speech and persistent plea, the newly created UAP Batangas East accepted the task at hand. On December 8 of that year, an appointment letter was signed by Fr. Sentales designating Chapter President Suzette Chua-Caringal and the rest of the UAP Batangas East members to undertake the design and implementation of Museo ni San Jose’s renovation. With Ar. Chua-Caringal as project leader and architects Rix Marquez Magracia, Lawrence Rosales, and Lorenz Pintor as design deputies, the museum’s renovation became the chapter’s first major corporate social responsibility project.
The architects started brainstorming and worked on the design on Jan. 8, 2024; project implementation commenced 25 days later. The renovation work involved the fabrication of movable wooden display boards, glass installation, repair and repainting of the whole ceiling and walls, and rehabilitation of electrical lines. Completed in three months, the project was turned over to the parish on May 3, 2024. The newly renovated museum was inaugurated and blessed by His Excellency the Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera D.D., the Archbishop of Lipa.
The renovation of the parish museum may have been completed, but the church itself is badly in need of a makeover. Ar. Chua-Caringal has been commissioned to do the job. With approval from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, her firm, SCC-TMCI Designs & Solutions, started the full renovation and restoration of the entire ceiling and walls, electrical works, plumbing and installation of architectural components on May 9, 2024. The project is expected to be completed in 12 months.
The effort of these Eastern Batangueño architects to restore the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph the Patriarch is highly laudable. Indeed, the need to preserve our heritage churches is of utmost importance. These buildings, considered national treasures because of their historical and cultural significance, are concrete reminders of our religion’s legacy and the testimony of the colonial past of Christianity in the country.
The writer is the editor-in-chief of The UAP Post, the official news publication of the United Architects of the Philippines. He finished his BS Architecture degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a past district director of UAP Regional District D1 and a past chapter president of UAP Davao and UAP North Davao Chapters.
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