San Carlos Borromeo Church (Mahatao)
| Mahatao Church | |
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| San Carlos Borromeo Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de San Carlos Borromeo |
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The facade of Mahatao Church and Convent
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.svg)
 Mahatao Church
Republic of the Philippines
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| 20°24′57″N 121°56′49″E / 20.4158538°N 121.9469749°ECoordinates: 20°24′57″N 121°56′49″E / 20.4158538°N 121.9469749°E | |
| Location | Mahatao, Batan Island, Batanes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Charles Borromeo |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure |
| Designated | July 31, 2001 |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Baroque |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Tuguegarao |
| Diocese | Prelature of Batanes |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Sergio Utleg |
| Bishop(s) | Camilo Diaz Gregorio |
San Carlos Borromeo Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Carlos Borromeo), also known as Mahatao Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Mahatao, Batan Island, Batanes, Philippines. The church's titular is Saint Charles Borromeo whose feast is celebrated every July 4. Its beauty and excellent state of preservation made it a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on July 31, 2001.
The town of Mahatao was first mentioned in history in 1720 with Fr. Juan Bel's report of villages in Batan Island. When Batanes became a part of the Philippines and as a consequence, a Spanish colony, Mahatao was founded as an ecclesiastical mission by the Dominicans in 1783. It was first a dependency of Basco, and placed under the advocacy of St. Bartholomew the Apostle but its patron saint and protector became St. Charles Borromeo later on, as stated in a report by Lieutenant Governor Joaquin del Castillo on May 6, 1792.
The earliest church in Mahatao was constructed in 1787. It was initially made of light materials but underwent modifications that by the time Mahatao evolved from being a visita to a vicariate under Fr. Tomas Sanchez albeit unofficially in 1789, the first stone church in Mahatao was built.
The first church was said to be ugly so when it was partially damaged during a very strong typhoon in 1872, then Vicar Fr. Crescencio Polo saw to the reconstruction of a stronger and more artistic structure in 1873, covering the roof with cogon. Fr. Polo also remodeled the convent made of stone and mortar, which is attached to the church.
On September 19, 1898, the Katipunan revolutionaries ransacked the church. There were records that during this time, the original gold Episcopal crosier of the image of San Carlos as well as the gold jewelry pieces of the Lady of the Rosary and the Sto. Niño were stolen.
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Wikipedia