Manila Cathedral

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The baroque Manila Cathedral has been declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II. It lies at the heart of Intramuros in the capital Manila and is the seat of the Archbishop of Manila. Like St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Manila Cathedral is the interment place of several Filipino archbishops. It has also hosted the funeral masses of former Philippine presidents Carlos P. Garcia and Corazon Aquino. The cathedral’s façade is made of Roman travertine stone, sculpted with reliefs of famous saints.

A DRI image of the Manila Cathedral (Photo by Ric K)

Features

Also called Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Manila Cathedral has a façade graced by Roman travertine stone statues of saints Francis Xavier, Polycarp, Anthony Abbot, Jacob the Great (Manila’s patron saint), and Rose of Lima (patron saint of the Philippines), rendered by Italian artists Livia Papini and Alcide Tico. The bronze carvings on the façade represent important periods in the church’s history as well as prayers to the Virgin Mary. The cast-bronze main door was exquisitely carved by Italian sculptors Francesco Nagni and Alessandro Monteleone.

The interior of the Manila Cathedral (Photo by Marufish)

The church’s altar, a work of German artist Toni Fiedler, is a tribute to the Immaculate Conception. The central dome, one of Manila’s most prized architectural gems, was designed by Florentine architect Fray Juan de Uguccioni in 1750. The dome is a reference point of the Philippines’ astronomical longitudes.

The church’s interiors is a concoction of retablos (statues of saints), marble columns, wrought iron gates, bronze and metal sculptures, 134 stained glass windows by Filipino artist Galo Ocampo and carved stones by Filipino designer Jose Pablo. The cathedral also used to have its own 5,600-pipe organ, the biggest in Asia, but this is still under restoration.

History

On May 19, 1571, feast of the Immaculate Conception, the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi allotted the present site of the Manila Cathedral as the location of the Church of Manila, which was later established by the secular Juan de Vivero, who came to the Philippines through a Spanish galleon. Vivero was the one who baptized one of Manila’s Pre-Hispanic Islamic kings, Rajah Matanda, to Christianity.

An aerial view of the Manila Cathedral and its surroundings, including the nearby San Agustin Church (Photo by Cealwyn)

The first cathedral, made of bamboo and nipa, was built in 1581, followed by a second one made of stone (1592), a third (1614) with seven chapels and three naves, a fourth (1654 to 1671) with a bell tower, a fifth (1870–1879), and the present structure (1954-1958). The other four versions of the cathedral were destroyed by fires, earthquakes or bombings. In 1981, Pope John Paul II declared the church a minor basilica.

Fees and opening hours

It is free to go inside the church and to take pictures of the interiors, except when there is a mass or a wedding. The crypts of the cardinals can also be visited but permission should be asked first from the cathedral’s administrators (Cabildo cor. Beaterio, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines 1002; Tels: (632) 5273093, 5271796, 5273889, 5283876; Fax: (632) 5360192; e-mail: mlacathedral@yahoo.com; http://manilacathedral.org/). Address correspondences to Rosalie Coronel, Secretary to the Rector. The church is open on weekdays (7:30 a.m. and noon), Saturdays (7:30 a.m.) and Sundays (7 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 6 p.m.).

A pedicab driver pedaling along Calle Real with the Manila Cathedral on the backdrop. (Photo by Shubert Ciencia)

How to get there

Manila Cathedral can be reached through a taxi from any point in Manila (taxi flag down rate: P30). It can also be accessed by foot, tricycle (P30), or pedicab (bicycle with sidecar, P20-P25) from Intramuros’ entrance beside Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. FX shared taxis (P10) and jeepneys (P7) with tags going to Pier 15 also pass by Intramuros. If you are to ride one, ask to be dropped off right in front the Manila Cathedral.