NCCA declares St. Augustine Parish in Bulacan as important cultural property

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has declared the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Augustine and its convent in Baliwag, Bulacan an important cultural property.

"This declaration recognizes not only the church's architectural and historical significance but also its enduring role as a heritage site where memory and identity continue to flourish," NCCA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"As an Important Cultural Property, the church and its convent are recognized as enduring legacies of the Filipino people, worthy of continued protection and stewardship," it added.

Under Republic Act No. 10066, an important cultural property refers to a cultural property that has exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines.

In 2025, the St. Augustine Parish was granted a Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel D'oro in Pavia, Italy.

A Spiritual Bond between the two churches meant that devotees or visitors of the Saint Augustine Parish would receive the same "spiritual benefits" as visitors of the Saint Augustine Basilica in Italy.

The Basilica of San Pietro in Pavia, Italy houses the body of Saint Augustine, who was canonized in 1298. Augustine is recognized as the patron saint of brewers, printers, and theologians.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL, GMA News