"SARRAT'S
STA. MONICA CHURCH "
In
the town of
Sarrat
is a beautiful red brick
church
of
Baroque
and Neo-Classical style called the Sta. Monica Church. Irene Marcos, the
daughter of former Philippine President Marcos, was married to Gregorio Araneta
in a fairytale-like wedding in the church complete with red carpet stretching
for kilometers. In the
Philippines
, it was termed the "wedding of the century." However, a little more
than two months later, on Aug. 17, an earthquake of Intensity 7.6 ravaged Ilocos
Norte and destroyed the altar and belfry of Sta. Monica.
The
church is located some 7 kilometers to the east of
Laoag
City
proper. It is an all-brick church with buttressed walls and a 3-level brick
bridge and staircase connects the church to the convent making it one of the
unique features of this church. The Sta. Monica Church, convent and bell tower
began construction in 1669 and were completed in 1679. Rebuilt after a fire in
1817, the complex was again damaged by fire in 1882 but was rebuilt and finished
in June 1896. The church features a 137-meter nave that is the longest in the
country, according to the
Cultural
Center
of the
Philippines
’ Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. It follows a simple rectangular plan and
another outstanding feature of the church is its unique system of roof trusses.
Like the bell tower, the convent stands apart from the church. Separate towers
and rectories are characteristic of the province, a measure to minimize damage
during earthquakes. At the ground level of the convent are housed memorabilia,
books and photographs connected with the history of the parish. The ruins of
Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat include a torture room where two huge
brick-encrusted pillars dominate. Melvin dela Cuesta, a Filipino historian, said
these pillars were used during the Spanish regime to hang Filipinos accused of
treason and other high crimes.
