Ortigas Foundation launches book on Spanish-era churches
MANILA, Philippines – The Ortigas Foundation recently launched its first book, La Casa de Dios: The Legacy of Filipino Hispanic Churches in the Philippines, at the Ortigas Foundation Library, where historians, conservators, and members of the media saw, for the first time, the result of a project that was 12 years in the making.
La Casa de Dios chronicles over 300 churches in the Philippines, from the Cordilleras to Davao, across all orders — a project initiated by the late Rafael Ortigas Jr., who failed to see its completion. It was written by Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ, associate professor of the Fine Arts Program, School of Fine Arts, Ateneo de Manila University.
Ignacio Ortigas, member of the Ortigas Foundation board of trustees welcomed guests, followed by Alberto Montilla, who told the story of the foundation and its first acquisitions. To date, the library houses 22,000 thousand items — books, maps, and photographs — under the care of Jonathan Best, senior consultant.
“La Casa de Dios represents the combined efforts of a team of historians, archivists and photographers who have successfully documented the fascinating architectural treasures built by the friars and secular church architects of the Spanish Colonial period,” says Jonathan Best. “It sheds new light on the earliest attempts to evangelize the Philippines and the many positive contributions Spain made towards the creation of the modern Philippine nation we know today.”
Gracing the event is Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines former president Bambi Harper, Integrated Conservation Resources senior conservator Tina Paterno, project director and Ortigas & Co. former COO Rex Drilon, and Greenhills Shopping Center general manager Cathy Ko guided the team composed of photographers Betty Lalana and Lino Arboleda, and Ige Ramos in coming out with the final product.
“The magnificent structures we beheld made all our efforts worthwhile and kept us inspired throughout our long journey,” say Lalana and Arboleda. “While we are saddened that much has been lost through architectural renovation and the removal of original altars, images, pulpits, and other artifacts, it is our hope that our photographs will help bring attention to the importance of these treasures and more significantly aid in the preservation of what remains.”
In the future, the foundation plans to publish additional books on many different aspects of Philippine history and culture using its archive and other collections.
La Casa de Dios is now available at the Ortigas Foundation Library.
