Brief Description:
The church of San Agustin, often described as "Earthquake Baroque", was so designed to withstand the intense tremors that intermittently rock the Philippine islands. Made mostly of coral stone, the church is an eclectic mix of Spanish and Asian motifs and is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the country. The church’s architecture stands out due to its massive stone buttresses adorned with gracefully curving scrolls. Providing contrast to it are its doors, which are made of wrought iron filigree with the entire church exterior decorated with flowers, leaves, scrolls, suns and cherubs in bas-relief. The undulating buttresses combined with the crenellations and finials give the church a distinctly Southeast Asian look - it is interestingly reminiscent of the Indonesian Borobudur temple.

Source: National Commission for Culture and the Arts - Philippines