The UST Miguel de Benavides Library, in collaboration with the National Museum of the Philippines, launched an exhibit on the heritage churches of Cagayan Valley on Sept. 16.
The exhibit, titled “Las Iglesias De Tierra Roja: Heritage Churches of the Cagayan Valley Region: A Dominican Legacy,” tells the history of churches built under the Dominican missionaries.
“The images of the churches of Tierra Roja evoke feelings of nostalgia even though their present status is but a shadow of bygone glory,” Fr. Agel Aparicio, prefect of libraries of the Miguel de Benavides Library, said in his opening remarks.
“Las Iglesias De Tierra Roja” translates to “Red Earth Churches,” referring to the red clay used in the construction of the churches in Cagayan Valley.
Each exhibition piece featured aspects of the process of constructing the churches and their preservation.
“Las Iglesias De Tierra Roja” was exhibited at the National Museum of Anthropology in 2022 and later at the Cagayan Museum and Historical Research Center.
The subtitle “Dominican Legacy” was added in its third exhibition year, incorporating archival material and records from the UST Library, which placed a greater focus on the church’s Dominican background, said Armago Arciaga III, researcher for the National Museum.
“Las Iglesias De Tierra Roja: Heritage Churches of the Cagayan Valley Region: A Dominican Legacy” will run from Sept. 16 to Mar. 17, 2026. K. T. C. Barrameda with reports from Amador Denzel M. Teston.
