Some of the treasures of the history of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and the environments and spaces where it has carried out its work throughout history and today.
Imus, located in the province of Cavite, twenty kilometres south of Manila, retains many memories of the Recollect presence, dating back to the end of the 17th century. One of its barrios, Saint Nicolas of Tolentino, was built on what was the Hacienda of the same name, a property of the Province (above), spanning almost 20,000 hectares which were leased in land parcels to a large number of tenants.
A member of the clergy was appointed as its administrator. Between 1882 and 1885, Saint Ezekiel Moreno served as the administrator. There was always a group of religious brothers who were experts in agriculture and construction.
The lands, watered by countless rivers and streams, were fertile, but to generate profit and income, there was a need for continuous investment in dams and irrigation channels that collected the water supply and distributed it to the farthest possible land. Throughout the 19th century, the religious constructed kilometres of irrigation waterways, tunnels, road networks, and bridges.
To prevent droughts and floods, the construction of dams and reservoirs was of major importance. By 1894, fifty-four dams had been built, several of which are still in use. The most impressive is the Molino Dam over the Zapote River, now called Prinza Dam, which is twenty meters high and 3,286 meters long. This particular dam took eleven years to construct and was supervised by Fray Hilario Bernal.
Currently, a significant portion of the lands it once irrigated are now pedestrian trails between Las Piñas and Bacoor. It has been restored with parks, paths, observation points, and environmental activities.
Another notable dam in Imus is the Casundit Dam over the Ylang-ylang River. Its builder was Fray Lucas de Jesús María (1722-1792). It is the oldest dam around Manila, if not in the entire country, and according to historians, it is the most significant hydraulic work carried out in the country during the 18th century. Recently, a firm has sought its declaration as a cultural treasure.
However, it remains a modest construction, seven meters high and forty-four meters long, one-fourth the size of the Molino Dam. It is still in use, and a portion of its channelling and some dependencies, like a water ark, have been dubbed the Hispanic dome due to its domed shape.
