Bosoboso Church Explained

Bosoboso Church
Fullname:Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church
Pushpin Map:Luzon mainland#Philippines
Map Caption:Location in Luzon##Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:14.6395°N 121.2381°W
Location:Old Bosoboso, San Jose, Antipolo, Rizal
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Founded Date:1669
Architectural Type:Church building
Diocese:Antipolo
Bishop:Most Rev. Francisco M. de Leon, D.D.
Priest:Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, MI

The Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church, also known as Bosoboso Church or Boso-Boso Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Sitio Old Boso-Boso, Barangay San Jose in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines.

History

The first church was built as a mission church by the Franciscans in 1669. Originally, it served the Dumagat people of Lanatin and Linotan in the mountains of modern-day Rizal province. The Jesuits eventually took over the mission and the church in 1741.[1] It was turned over to secular priests in 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled from the Philippines and other Spanish realms.[2]

In 1880, an earthquake caused significant damage to the church. Owing to the dwindling population in the area, the damaged portions of the church were not rebuilt.

In 1930, the Americans planned to build a dam in the surrounding area, and the remaining inhabitants were ordered to resettle elsewhere.[3] The project was eventually abandoned due to a discovered fault in the region, yet people did not return until the time of the Japanese Occupation. Whatever remained of the structure was subsequently razed to the ground by the Japanese, leaving only the lower portion of the original façade intact.

As the area was eventually resettled, administration of the parish was taken over by the Camillian Order in 1986, who helped organize rebuilding of the church. The restoration was completed in 1995,[4] preserving the ruins of the façade, with the new portions built as close as possible to the simple, sparse architecture of the original.

The Bosoboso Church was plot setting for the episode 'Ukay-Ukay' of the 2009 horror film Shake, Rattle & Roll 11.

Notes and References

  1. See the "2018 Historical Marker" below.
  2. Web site: The Church That Was Lost and then Found: Boso Boso Church in Antipolo. ClubBNB.
  3. Book: Tanay Tercenary Souvenir: 1640-1940 & The Towns of Rizal Province. Catolos, Bendaña, & Santos. 1940.
  4. Book: Javellana, Rene. La Casa de Dios: the legacy of Filipino hispanic churches in the Philippines. Ortigas Foundation Inc.. 2010.