Manila Cathedral (Manila)
Philippines /
National Capital Region /
Manila /
Santo Tomás
World
/ Philippines
/ National Capital Region
/ Manila
World / Philippines / Metropolitan Manila / Manila
cathedral, basilica, place with historical importance, cultural heritage / national heritage, interesting place, Roman Catholic church
Manila Cathedral (official title: Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) has been the ecclesiastical see of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila since the late 16th century. It is the seat of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila, who is the de facto Primate of the Philippines (i.e. "primus inter pares" amongst bishops).
The first cathedral, made of nipa thatch and bamboo, was built in 1571 by Fray Juan de Vivero, and was elevated to the status of cathedral on 21 December 1581. The church was damaged by a typhoon in 1582 and razed by fire in 1583.
The second cathedral, which was made of stone, was made in 1592, and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. The church's third incarnation, with three naves and seven chapels, was begun in 1584 and consecrated in 1614. It was toppled by another earthquake that shook Manila in 1645.
The magnificent fourth cathedral was constructed between 1654 and 1671 under Archbishop Miguel Poblete. It was severely damaged in 1863 by a very strong earthquake that also destroyed the Palace of the Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1880, another earthquake toppled the belfry, rendering the cathedral without a spire until 1959.
In 1870, construction began on the fifth cathedral, which was consecrated in December of 1879. The four-armed cross crowning the cupola became the reference point of astronomical longitudes throughout the archipelago, particularly when sighted from Manila Bay.
The magnificent cathedral did not survive the shelling and aerial bombardment that occurred during the 1945 Battle of Manila towards the end of the Second World War. The bombardment by Allied Forces flattened the entire City of Manila, save only a handful of structures such as San Agustín Church a few streets south of the Cathedral.
The present cathedral was constructed from 1954 to 1958 under the reign of Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos y Jiao, and under the supervision of National Artist for Architecture, Fernando Ocampo. It was consecrated on 7 December 1958, on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, its titular patroness. It was elevated to the rank of minor basilica on 27 April 1981 via a papal bull issued by Pope Saint John Paul II.
The Cathedral was closed for structural and artistic renovations in 2012 under Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle y Gokím, with the Archdiocese holding services at the Church of San Francisco de Dilao in Paco District. Cardinal Tagle led the grand reopening and rededication service on 9 April 2014, with President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, members of the First Family, and Mayor of Manila and former president Joseph E. Estrada in attendance.
As seat of the Primate and unofficial spiritual leader of the country's 75-million Catholics, the Cathedral was the venue for events of national importance including the lying-in-state and funerals of Carlos García y Polístico, eight President of the Philippines in 1971; Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin y Lachica in 2005; and María Corazón Aquino y Cojuangco, eleventh President, in 2009.
Telephone: 527-3093, 527-1796, 527-3889; 528-3876; 536-0192
The first cathedral, made of nipa thatch and bamboo, was built in 1571 by Fray Juan de Vivero, and was elevated to the status of cathedral on 21 December 1581. The church was damaged by a typhoon in 1582 and razed by fire in 1583.
The second cathedral, which was made of stone, was made in 1592, and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. The church's third incarnation, with three naves and seven chapels, was begun in 1584 and consecrated in 1614. It was toppled by another earthquake that shook Manila in 1645.
The magnificent fourth cathedral was constructed between 1654 and 1671 under Archbishop Miguel Poblete. It was severely damaged in 1863 by a very strong earthquake that also destroyed the Palace of the Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1880, another earthquake toppled the belfry, rendering the cathedral without a spire until 1959.
In 1870, construction began on the fifth cathedral, which was consecrated in December of 1879. The four-armed cross crowning the cupola became the reference point of astronomical longitudes throughout the archipelago, particularly when sighted from Manila Bay.
The magnificent cathedral did not survive the shelling and aerial bombardment that occurred during the 1945 Battle of Manila towards the end of the Second World War. The bombardment by Allied Forces flattened the entire City of Manila, save only a handful of structures such as San Agustín Church a few streets south of the Cathedral.
The present cathedral was constructed from 1954 to 1958 under the reign of Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos y Jiao, and under the supervision of National Artist for Architecture, Fernando Ocampo. It was consecrated on 7 December 1958, on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, its titular patroness. It was elevated to the rank of minor basilica on 27 April 1981 via a papal bull issued by Pope Saint John Paul II.
The Cathedral was closed for structural and artistic renovations in 2012 under Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle y Gokím, with the Archdiocese holding services at the Church of San Francisco de Dilao in Paco District. Cardinal Tagle led the grand reopening and rededication service on 9 April 2014, with President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, members of the First Family, and Mayor of Manila and former president Joseph E. Estrada in attendance.
As seat of the Primate and unofficial spiritual leader of the country's 75-million Catholics, the Cathedral was the venue for events of national importance including the lying-in-state and funerals of Carlos García y Polístico, eight President of the Philippines in 1971; Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin y Lachica in 2005; and María Corazón Aquino y Cojuangco, eleventh President, in 2009.
Telephone: 527-3093, 527-1796, 527-3889; 528-3876; 536-0192
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Cathedral
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 14°35'29"N 120°58'24"E
- Rizal Park (Luneta) 0.8 km
- Intramuros 0.8 km
- Baywalk 2 km
- SM Mall of Asia Complex (SM Bay City) 5.4 km
- SM by the Bay 5.5 km
- Entertainment City 7.4 km
- Manila 7.9 km
- EDSA corner Shaw boulevard 8.2 km
- Okada Manila 8.3 km
- Former Nayong Pilipino 8.8 km
- Club Intramuros Golf Course 0.3 km
- Lawton 0.8 km
- Manila South Harbor 0.8 km
- Manila Civic Center 0.9 km
- Manila Hotel 0.9 km
- Port Area 1.2 km
- Ermita 1.4 km
- Quiapo 1.5 km
- Port of Manila 2.5 km
- Manila Bay 21 km
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