Thursday, September 28, 2023

San Vicente Ferrer Church: Spanish Greco-Roman Architecture in my Hometown (SVWorld Series)

PUL-OY (Breeze)
San Vicente Ilocos Sur RP to th World Series

San Vicente Ferrer Church
Spanish Greco-Roman Architecture in my Hometown

Dr Abe V Rotor

Detail of Greco-Roman column and frieze of San Vicente Ferrer parish church. European Renaissance art introduced by the Spanish colonizers. 

I am humbled by my origin, the disparity of temple and hut,
     the finest limestone-marble and rough fired-clay.
of my forebears: one from across the seas, the other in the field,
     the color of my skin, and the language of my heart;

How the two converged in my birthplace, oh! what a wonder;
     designed by periodicity, sanctioned by providence;
built by labor of obedience to God and the colonial masters,
     muted by faith and fear, and behold! a masterpiece.

I saw the Ziggurats, the Pyramids, and the Great Wall.
     and asked how deep is my loyalty and devotion;
if not implanted in the genes - why the Stonehenge -
     was it not a part of the order of creation?

The column and frieze, symbol of glory, of war and peace,
     of triumph and conquest, imprimatur of power,
tapestry of humanity woven by will, faith and destiny;
     and I, I am but a thread, of li’l color and strength. ~ 




San Vicente Ferrer Parish church, Ilocos Sur, The author's residence 
is just across the western perimeter wall of this 17th century church. ~

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