Petition filed to declare St. Augustine of Baliwag parish in Bulacan a national cultural treasure

The Diocese of Malolos in Bulacan has filed a petition to declare the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Augustine of Baliwag (San Augustin de Baliwag Church) as a National Cultural Treasure, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) announced Tuesday.

The petition also includes the recognition of the church’s convent and archival documents that possess historical and socio-cultural significance.

The NCCA invited the public with any concerns to submit their comments and positions regarding the petition to dphs@ncca.gov.ph or through this link no later than February 27, 2026.

Built between 1733 and 1734 by Augustinian missionaries, the original church has undergone three reconstructions.

Meanwhile, its convent maintained its Baroque architecture, adapted to the Philippine context.

The petition stated that the church became a 'cradle of democracy,' as it became the location of the first local elections in the Philippines on May 17, 1899.

The NCCA declared the church a National Historical Landmark in 2023, and in the following year, the Diocese of Malolos designated it as a shrine dedicated to the devotion of St. Augustine of Hippo.

Under City Ordinance No. 38, the City of Baliuag also recognized the historical and cultural significance of the church and declared San Augustine de Baliuag as the city’s patron and special protector.

Under the National Cultural Heritage Act implementing rules and regulations, a national cultural treasure is a unique local cultural property with important historical, cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value that is important to the nation and recognized by law or an appropriate cultural agency. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News