San Diego de Alcala Church is a Roman Catholicparish church in Valenzuela, located about 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi) north of Manila in the Philippines. The original church was the oldest church in the city, built by Father Juan Taranco and finished by Father Jose Valencia in 1632. Destroyed during World War II, its surviving belfry is the oldest in the city.
The Church of San Diego de Alcala in Brgy. Polo in Valenzuela was completed in 1632. Residents were forced into labor to complete the church after the town gained its independence in 1623 from Catangalan through the efforts of Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod, the barangay head of Polo. The main structure was destroyed by bombs during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II.[1] The belfry and entrance are the only parts of the four-century old edifice that remain today. They have been preserved by the citizens of Polo (now Valenzuela City).
Bell toweredit
The surviving bell tower and entrance of the first San Diego de Alcala Church
The belfry or bell tower of San Diego de Alcala Church is a cultural and religious relic of the bygone Spanish era. A new church has since been rebuilt and renovated adjacent to the ruins, serving as an aesthetic counterpoint to the largely unchanged tower.[2]
Feast dayedit
Residents of barangays Polo and Poblacion celebrate the feast day of San Diego de Alcala on 12 November every year. Together with the fiesta, the town also celebrates the "Putong Polo Festival", a food festival honoring the putong Polo, a local variety of the Philippine rice cakeputo.[3][4]
Referencesedit
^(PDF). City Government of Valenzuela. p. V, 230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
^San Diego de Alacala Church "Landmarks". Valenzuelako, Official Website of Valenzuela. Retrieved on 2013-03-06.
^Catapat, Willie (14 November 2009). "Polo fiesta Valenzuela's grandest". Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^"Putong Polo Festival". Travel the Philippine Islands. Retrieved on 2013-03-06.
External linksedit
Media related to Saint Didacus of Alcalá Church (Valenzuela City) at Wikimedia Commons
This article on a Catholic church building is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
polo, church, diego, alcala, church, roman, catholic, parish, church, valenzuela, located, about, kilometres, north, manila, philippines, original, church, oldest, church, city, built, father, juan, taranco, finished, father, jose, valencia, 1632, destroyed, d. San Diego de Alcala Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Valenzuela located about 15 5 kilometres 9 6 mi north of Manila in the Philippines The original church was the oldest church in the city built by Father Juan Taranco and finished by Father Jose Valencia in 1632 Destroyed during World War II its surviving belfry is the oldest in the city Polo ChurchSaint Didacus of Alcala Parish ChurchThe church in 2024Polo ChurchShow map of Metro ManilaPolo ChurchShow map of LuzonPolo ChurchShow map of Philippines14 42 27 N 120 56 44 E 14 707444 N 120 945458 E 14 707444 120 945458LocationValenzuela PhilippinesCountryPhilippinesDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryStatusParish churchDedicationSaint DidacusArchitectureFunctional statusActiveArchitectural typeChurch buildingStyleBaroqueSpecificationsMaterialsadobe bricksAdministrationArchdioceseManilaDioceseMalolosClergyArchbishopHis Eminence Jose F Advincula Jr D D Bishop s Most Rev Dennis C Villarojo D D Ph D Priest s Rev Fr Francisco G CarsonAssistant priest s Rev Fr Daniel M Coronel Contents 1 History 2 Bell tower 3 Feast day 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message nbsp Church interior in 2014 The Church of San Diego de Alcala in Brgy Polo in Valenzuela was completed in 1632 Residents were forced into labor to complete the church after the town gained its independence in 1623 from Catangalan through the efforts of Father Juan Taranco and Don Juan Monsod the barangay head of Polo The main structure was destroyed by bombs during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II 1 The belfry and entrance are the only parts of the four century old edifice that remain today They have been preserved by the citizens of Polo now Valenzuela City Bell tower edit nbsp The surviving bell tower and entrance of the first San Diego de Alcala Church The belfry or bell tower of San Diego de Alcala Church is a cultural and religious relic of the bygone Spanish era A new church has since been rebuilt and renovated adjacent to the ruins serving as an aesthetic counterpoint to the largely unchanged tower 2 Feast day editResidents of barangays Polo and Poblacion celebrate the feast day of San Diego de Alcala on 12 November every year Together with the fiesta the town also celebrates the Putong Polo Festival a food festival honoring the putong Polo a local variety of the Philippine rice cake puto 3 4 References edit Ecological Profile 2021 PDF City Government of Valenzuela p V 230 Archived from the original PDF on 6 November 2023 Retrieved 6 November 2023 San Diego de Alacala Church Landmarks Valenzuelako Official Website of Valenzuela Retrieved on 2013 03 06 Catapat Willie 14 November 2009 Polo fiesta Valenzuela s grandest Retrieved 7 January 2012 Putong Polo Festival Travel the Philippine Islands Retrieved on 2013 03 06 External links edit nbsp Media related to Saint Didacus of Alcala Church Valenzuela City at Wikimedia Commons nbsp This article on a Catholic church building is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a church building or other Christian place of worship in the Philippines is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polo Church amp oldid 1216669753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
