Daraga Church

Daraga Church
Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Portería
Church façade
Daraga Church Republic of the Philippines
13°08′59″N 123°42′43″E / 13.14986°N 123.711998°E / 13.14986; 123.711998Coordinates: 13°08′59″N 123°42′43″E / 13.14986°N 123.711998°E / 13.14986; 123.711998
Location	Daraga, Albay
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Our Lady of the Gate
Dedicated	1854
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Cultural Treasure
Designated	2007
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Churrigueresque Baroque
Completed	1773
Specifications
Materials	Volcanic rocks
Administration
Archdiocese	Caceres
Diocese	Legazpi
Province	Caceres
Clergy
Archbishop	Rolando Joven Tria Tirona
Bishop(s)	Joel Baylon

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church (also Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church), commonly known as Daraga Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the municipality of Daraga, Albay, Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi. The church was built by the Franciscans in 1772 under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. Certain church sections were declared as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2007.

Daraga was established as a settlement by people relocating from Cagsawa, who feared another eruption of the Mayon Volcano in that region. They requested permission from the Spanish government to establish a new community and church south of Cagsawa. Their request was granted by Governor-General Simon de Salazar through a communication to the Alcade-mayor of the province of Camarines, dated June 12, 1772.

The present church of Daraga was built under the Franciscan priests in 1773. Built at the time that Daraga was a visita of Cagsawa, the church was erected atop a hill in barangay Santa Maria overlooking the Mayon Volcano. When the Mayon Volcano erupted on February 1, 1814, the residents of Cagsawa transferred to Daraga after the destruction of their church. It was a common belief, however, that the church of Daraga was built after the eruption of Mayon and that it replaced the church of Cagsawa. The church was consecrated to Our Lady of the Gate in 1854.

The church was heavily damaged by joint American and Filipino military bombers during the Second World War in 1945, and was hastily renovated after the war using a mix of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque styles. The church was redesigned to follow the norms of the Vatican II council from 1971 to 1973. In 1991, the altar was returned to its original position. The church is still undergoing preservation and rehabilitation measures to prevent deterioration.

The National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) unveiled the church's historical marker on October 16, 2008. The National Museum of the Philippines listed the church's eastern and western façade, belfry, and baptistry as a National Cultural Treasure in 2007.