Pao Ong Hu Temple

Pao Ong Hu Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Taoism Roman Catholic Buddhism (Religious syncretism)
Region	Metro Manila
Deity	Pao Ong Hu and Mazu (Taoism) Kuanyin (Buddhism)
Patron	Santa Ana Lao Ma (Our Lady of the Abandoned) (Roman Catholicism)
Year consecrated	1951
Location
Location	Santa Ana, Manila
Country	Philippines
Geographic coordinates	14°34′53.4″N 121°00′49.7″E
Architecture
Style	Chinese temple architecture

Pao Ong Hu Temple is a Chinese temple in Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines.

Background

The Pao Ong Hu Temple was dedicated in 1951, but the temple has acknowledged gifts of dedication as early as 1928.^[1] It was declared as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) in 2016.^[2] It was built near the Santa Ana Church.^[3]

The place has served as a place of worship for Filipinos, both of Chinese descent and those without Chinese heritage. Religious syncretism defines the temple which accommodates a mixture of Roman Catholic, Taoist and Buddhist beliefs. The temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity Pao Ong Hu but it has a second shrine for the reverence for the Roman Catholic patroness of Santa Ana Church, the Our Lady of the Abandoned otherwise known as Santa Ana Lao Ma. In Taoism the patroness is known as the goddess Mazu, in Buddhism she is referred to as Kuanyin.^[2][4][5]

In January 2021, a petition was filed to delist the temple as an ICP following a transfer of ownership of the temple. Heritage conservationists groups opposed the move.^[2]

• 
  Altar dedicated to the Our Lady of the Abandoned
• 
  Altar dedicated to Pao Ong Hu
• 
  Temple interior

References

1. "Declared Important Cultural Properties: Pao Ong Hu Taoist Temple" (PDF). Annual Report. National Museum of the Philippines: 64. 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
2. "Pressure mounts to save unique Taoist temple in Manila". Inquirer Lifestyle. February 15, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
3. Sembrano, Edgar Allan (November 18, 2019). "Heritage alarm raised over sale of two Manila landmarks". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
4. Laya, Jaime (February 8, 2021). "Praying for the abandoned, justice, and mercy". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
5. See, Teresita Ang; Dy, Ari C. (August 6, 2019). "Ma Cho by any other name". Tulay. Tulay & Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2021.

External links

• Media related to Chinese Buddhist Temple (JHS, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, Santa Ana, Manila) at Wikimedia Commons