The first churches in the Philippines were constructed of flimsy, temporary materials such as nipa, bamboo, or wood, but the Spaniards started to build churches, houses, and fortifications in stone with the discovery of volcanic tuff quarries. In general, the majority of Philippine colonial churches were constructed of adobe, coral stone, or brick. The churches grew exponentially in size with these powerful building materials, and in times of raids or natural calamities, it became a sanctuary for the people in town.