The construction of Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed and was re-dedicated in 1894. It has a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs.
The church is known as the “Earthquake Baroque” church in the Philippines. It was built of baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber, and has 24 carved massive buttresses for support.
Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick made of the same materials. Its bell tower, which stands a few meters away from its main building, is made of coral stone. Few inches away from the building, the coral stones are visible.
The three-storey coral stone bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and also by the Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
The bell tower also served as a status symbol for the locals. Historians said that the bell would ring more loudly during the wedding of a prominent clan than it would during the wedding of the poor.
See this link: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Paoay_Church
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