Today I Learned: Sta. Ursula Church in Binangonan, Rizal Is Now a National Cultural Treasure
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) had just officially declared the 225-year-old Santa Ursula Church in Binangonan in Rizal, a National Cultural Treasure (NCT).
The historical heritage declaration was held with a mass on March 2, 2025 with NCCA and local government officials present together with a huge crowd of locals and devout parishioners also in attendance.
NCCA Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo led the declaration ceremony and proclamation of the site’s NCT status and cited the bases for the declaration including its architecture, artifacts, and history in the context of the Philippines.
Founded in 1612, this historic Baroque-style church still retains its original altarpiece, paintings, and retablo from the 17th to 19th centuries.
“Nagpapamalas ito kung paanong naghahalo-halo at nagkaroon ng interaksyon ang mga tradisyon ng sining mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng daigdig,” Manalo said, explaining why the church merits its recognition as an NCT.
Santa Ursula Church’s inscription and elevation as a national cultural treasure was considered for these notable architectural elements: its neoclassical retablo mayor built in the 19th century and the retablo menor built in the 18th century. The retablo menor is particularly noted for its different Corinthian columns, spandrel and finial with detailed leaf and flower (ramilyete) motif carvings. The same retablo menor also features a unique four reverse split pediment that is one of its kind in the country.
In Manalo’s summary of significance that led to this declaration, he said that Santa Ursula Church not only reflects on the profound faith of people of Binangonan, it also manifests the confluence and interaction of various artistic traditions and expressions from the different parts of the world. Likewise, this heritage site echoes the inherent creativity of the Filipinos and capacity for innovation, such that despite the natural calamities that it endured for the last hundred of years, it has stood resilient.
Sta. Ursula Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Aguedo A. Gula; Most Rev. Ruperto Cruz Santos; Rizal Governor Rebecca Nini Alcantara Ynarez; NCCA Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo; and Binangonan Mayor Cesar M. Ynares during the declaration ceremony
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Founded in 1612, this historic Baroque-style church still retains its original altarpiece, paintings, and retablo from the 17th to 19th centuries. Chairman Manalo also noted that the church’s wooden ceiling logs are a unique feature which may no longer be reproduced or recreated to date, further proving their antiquity and authenticity.
The Santa Ursula Parish is one of four sites in the Province of Rizal declared an NCT for 2024 and 2025, alongside churches in Angono, Baras, and Morong. These heritage churches are all under the Diocese of Antipolo which also petitioned for their NCT declaration.
The NCT designation is one of the highest recognitions in the country for cultural heritage. It is awarded to unique objects or properties that possess outstanding historical, cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value significant to the nation.
Its current national historical marker was installed by the National Historical Commission during its 400th anniversary in 2012.
