Manila Cathedral

For the cathedral-basilica in Bulacan, see Malolos

Cathedral.
The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica
(Filipino: Metropolitanong Katedral Baslika ng Maynil;
Spanish: Catedral Baslica Metropolitana de Manila),
informally known as Manila Cathedral, is a Roman
Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of
the Philippines. The cathedral serves as the see of
the Archbishop of Manila, the de facto Primate of the
Philippines.
Located at Plaza de Roma in the Intramuros district of
the City of Manila, the cathedral was originally a parish
church owned and governed by the Archdiocese of Mexico in 1571, until it became a separate diocese on 6
February 1579 upon the issuance of the papal bull, Illius Fulti Praesido by Pope Gregory XIII.[1] The cathedral was damaged and destroyed several times since the
original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and
current incarnation of the cathedral was nally completed
in 1958.[2]

Portrait of the Manila Cathedral before the 1880 earthquake.

Note the octagonal, pagoda-like belfry, showing the inuence of
Chinese artisans on Filipino ecclesial architecture of the time.[4]

Spanish conquistador Miguel Lpez de Legazpi chose the

location of the church and placed it under the patronage
of Santa Potenciana. The rst parish priest of the church
was Padre Juan de Villanueva.[6]

nomical longitudes of the archipelago.

structed in 1581 by Bishop Domingo de Salazar, the rst

Bishop of Manila. The new structure was consecrated
on December 21, 1581, formally becoming a cathedral.
The structure was destroyed by re in 1583, which started
during the funeral Mass for Governor-General Gonzalo
The basilica has merited a papal endorsement from Pope Ronquillo de Pealosa in San Agustin Church that razed
Gregory XIII and three apostolic visits from Pope Paul much of the city.[1]
VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis. On 27 April
The second cathedral, which was made of stone, was built
1981, Pope Saint John Paul II issued papal bull Quod Ipin 1592. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. Consum designating the cathedral as a minor basilica by his
struction of the third cathedral began in 1614. The new
[3]
own Motu Proprio.
structure, consisting of three naves and seven chapels, was
blessed in 1614. It was toppled by another earthquake
which shook Manila in 1645. The fourth cathedral was
1 History
constructed from 1654 to 1671. In 1750, a media naranja
(half orange) dome was added to the crossing by the
The cathedral was originally the church of Manila o- Florentine friar Juan de Uguccioni, who also introduced
cially established in 1571 by a secular priest, Padre Juan a transept to the structure.[7]
de Vivero, who arrived in Manila Bay in 1566.[5] De It was severely damaged in 1863 by a very strong earthVivero, the chaplain on the galleon of San Gernimo, was quake that also damaged the palace of the Governor Gensent by the Archbishop of Mexico, Alonso de Montfar, eral of the Philippines. In 1880, another earthquake topto establish Christianity as the spiritual and religious ad- pled its bell tower, rendering the cathedral towerless until
ministration in newly colonized Philippines. De Vivero 1958. The seventh cathedral was constructed from 1870
later became the vicar-general and the rst ecclesiastical to 1879. It was solemnly blessed in December 1879. The
judge of the city of Manila.
cross atop the central dome is a reference point of astroIn 1937, the International Eucharistic Congress was held
in the Philippines in which the cathedral played an integral part in promoting eucharistic beliefs. Both a catheWhen the church was raised to a cathedral in 1579, a new dral stamp and medal was struck in commemoration of
structure made from nipa, wood and bamboo was con- the event and was made by the ocial manufacturer of
1

3 SHRINE RECTORS

medals for the Congress of the Philippines at the time, 1.1 2012 renovation and 2014 reopening
the sculptor Crspulo Zamora.[8]
The cathedral underwent repairs for earthquake
retrotting and subsidence prevention in 2012.[13][14][15]
During such period, the San Fernando de Dilao Church
has been designated as the temporary ocial church
(Pro-Cathedral) of the Archdiocese of Manila.[16]
However, Msgr. Nestor Cerbo stated that the Cathedral
will nish its renovations last March 25, 2014. Some
added features and changes include installation of CCTV
cameras, large at screen television screens (similar to
Manila Cathedral before the 1945 Allied Bombing of the Baclaran Church), improved audio-video systems,
and improved interior and exterior LED lightings.[17]
Manila
The cathedral completed its restoration on the said date
and was reopened to the general public last April 9,
2014 after two years of renovation. Manila Archbishop
Luis Antonio Tagle led a holy mass after the reopening
of the Cathedral attended by President Benigno Aquino
III.[18][19]

The ruins of Manila Cathedral after the bombing

1.2 2015 Papal Visit

On January 16, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated his rst

This incarnation of the cathedral was reduced to rubble by Papal Mass at the Cathedral as part of his Papal Visit in
Allied bombardment in 1945 during the Battle of Manila, the Philippines. However, the Mass is exclusive for the
as the Second World War neared its conclusion.
bishops, priests and the clergy.
The present cathedral was constructed from 1954 to 1958 The Mass was celebrated in three languages, English, Filunder Cardinal Runo Jiao Santos and under the su- ipino, and Latin
pervision of the notable Filipino architect Fernando H.
Ocampo.
Pope Paul VI made an apostolic visit and celebrated Mass
in the cathedral in 1970. Pope John Paul II issued a papal
bull Quod Ipsum on April 27, 1981, elevating the shrine
to a minor basilica through his own Motu Proprio.[3] In
the same papal bull, He reiterated that the Pope Paul VIs
papal decree of June 6, 1968 be eternally preserved and
enforced to the merits and titles of the cathedral as its own
basilica.[9][10]

2 Patron saint
In 1581 Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull consecrating the cathedral building to La Pursima Inmaculada
Concepcin de Mara,[1] while Miguel Lpez de Legazpi
consecrated the city of Manila to Saint Potenciana.
On 12 September 1942, Pope Pius XII rededicated the
Filipino people to La Pursima Inmaculada Concepcin
through a Papal Bull called Impositi Nobis, while Saint
Rose of Lima and Saint Potenciana remained as the secondary patronesses of the Filipino people.

The cathedrals 50th restoration anniversary was celebrated in 2008, highlighted by the second Manila Cathedral Pipe Organ Festival from December 2 to 10, organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.[11]
The Latin declaration came in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis
[20]
In February 2011, the Archdiocese of Manila relocated from January 20, 1942.
the bells of the cathedral to the ground level to prevent
tower collapse as exhibited in the past earthquakes. In
January 2012, the cathedral replaced the bells, personally cast by blacksmith Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling of
Heidelberg Germany in 1958. According to the new
marker installed by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, the
newly installed bells are the largest bells actively used in
the Philippines. A total of seven Carillon bells were permanently installed in the ground level of the belfry weighing at 17 metric tons.[12]

3 Shrine rectors
Augusto Pedrosa, PC (19721985)
Domingo Cirilos, PC (19851996)
Hernando Coronel, PC (19962002)
Nestor Cerbo, PC (From 2002)

3
Corazn C. Aquino, 11th President of the Philippines (19861992) (d. 2009).
President Garca was the rst layman to lie-in-state and
have his Requiem Mass said at the cathedral; President Aquino was only the second layperson and the rst
woman given this honour during her funeral. This broke
with centuries of tradition that reserved the right of lyingin-state beneath the dome to Archbishops of Manila.[21]

5 Details of the shrine

Inscription on the tympanum of the main door of the basilica.

A bronze life-sized polychrome statue of the Immaculate Conception by the Italian Enzo Assenza, located above the high altar. Consecrated by Pope Pius XII's Papal Bull Impositi Nobis
in 1942, the Virgin Mary under this title is honoured as the Principal Patroness of the country.

The main faade is a replica of the faade of the previous

cathedral, along with statues of famous saints sculpted in
Roman travertine stone. Several of the artworks inside
the basilica were made by Italian artists. In the previous cathedral, they were originally made of molave wood.
The
statues of Saint Rose of Lima was sculpted by An4 Burials and funerals
gelo Fattinanzi while Saint Jacob, Saint Andrew, St. Anthony the Abbott was done by sculptress Livia Papini; St.
The cathedral crypt is the resting place for former Arch- Francis Xavier St. Polycarp by Alcide Tico.[22]
bishops of Manila and a few other prelates:
The faade (tympanum) of the cathedral bears a Latin
Michael J. O'Doherty, the last foreign Archbishop inscription: Tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac
consecramus (English: We consecrate to your immaculate
of Manila
heart and entrust to you (Mary) for safekeeping).
Gabriel M. Reyes, the rst Filipino Archbishop of
Since Pope John Paul II's apostolic visit to the basilica in
Manila
1981, a grand logo of the Papal Keys and Papal Tiara have
Cardinal Runo J. Santos, the rst Filipino Cardinal been prominently featured on the top-front facade of the
cathedral. The red galero hat of Cardinal Runo Santos
Cardinal Jaime L. Sin, a prominent leader of the is also hoisted on the ceiling of the dome of the cathedral.
1986 People Power Revolution
In addition, a Roman copy of Saint Peter's seated statue
Dom Ambrose Agius, a Maltese monsignor who or- from Saint Peters Basilica is enshrined inside, along with
dained the rst Filipino bishop (until 1945; remains a life-sized statue of the Immaculate Conception. Prior
transferred to the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, to 1988, the statue of the Immaculate Conception in the
main altar was painted in gold.[23][24] An antiphon inMendiola Street, Manila).
scription on the baldachin above the statue of the ImmacTwo former Presidents were permitted to lie-in-state un- ulate Conception reads: "Tota Pulchra es Maria et Macula
Originalis Non est in Te" (English: Mary is all-beautiful
der the Cathedral dome:
and the stain of original sin is not in Thee).
Carlos P. Garca, 8th President of the Philippines The Immaculate Conception life-size solid bronze statue
(19571961) (d. 1971);
inside the shrine was made by renowned Italian sculp-

REFERENCES

A wedding at the high altar

The high altar
Iron gates inside restored
Marble oors and columns repolished
The dome of the cathedral from the inside
Manila Cathedral at night
Manila Cathedral at night, the Charles IV monument
in the foreground

7 See also
Manila Cathedral-Basilica Re-Opening (April 9,
2014 Eucharist after Restoration and Retrotting)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
San Agustin Church
Emblem of the Papal insignia with permission of the Pope added
in 1981

tor, Maestro Enzo Assenza, was painted gold until 1988

(though the twelve star halo-aureola is solid gold). In addition, the baptismal font and angelic holy water fonts are
also made of solid bronze by Publio Morbiducci; while
the prominent mosaic of Saint Jude Thaddeus was made
by Marcello Mazzoli. The 134 modern stained glass windows were made in 1964 by Filipino artist, Galo Ocampo,
focusing on Marian themes and was commissioned and
funded by Cardinal Runo Jiao Santos, whose galero hat
now hangs on the central dome of the basilica.

Intramuros

8 References
[1] The First Cathedral:1581 - 1583. Manila Metropolitan
Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
[2] The Eight Cathedral: 1958 - Present.
Manila
Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-1124.
[3] (1981-04-27). Quod Ipsum. Litterae Apostolicae.
Ioannem Paulum Secundum, Papam. Manillensis Archidiocesis.

The artistic designs of the stained glass windows of the

Manila Cathedral are mostly products of the creative genius of Galo Ocampo, one of the most versatile contemporary Filipino artists during his time and a recipient of
the 1964 Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from
the city government of Manila.[25]

[4] http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page16.htm

[7] Dome. Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. 22 July

2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015. |rst1= missing |last1=
in Authors list (help)

Gallery
Manila Cathedral belfry after the 1880 earthquake
The cathedral
The patinated dome of the cathedral and its fourarmed cross
Interior of the Manila Cathedral
The central nave and vaulted ceiling of the cathedral
The vaulted ceiling of the cathedral

[5] History of the City. City of Manila Ocial Website.

Retrieve on 2011-11-24.
[6] The Church before it became a Cathedral : 1571.
Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on
2011-11-24.

[8] (2012-04-28).The Resilient Cathedral of Manila. The

Philippines And Then Some.
[9] (1968). Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Ociale, pp. 536-539. The Vatican Archives. Retrieved on
2012-02-03.
[10] (1990). Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Ociale - Ioannem Paulum Secundum, Papam. Decretum
de Titulo Basilicae Minoris. pp. 436-440. The Vatican
Archives. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.

[11] (2008-04-29). Activities lined up for Manila Cathedrals

50th restoration anniversary. GMA News Online.
[12] Ocial Stone Marker at the Manila Cathedral. Publicly
installed by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, former Archbishop of Manila (2011). Located on the left side of the
front door of the Basilica
[13] Manila Cathedral closes for a year. ABS-CBN News.
Retrieved February 16, 2012.
[14] Manila Cathedral to be closed for one year. Philippine
Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
[15] Manila Cathedral not safe, to be shut for repairs. Business World Online. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
[16] Manila Cathedral still remains under repair. Retrieved
December 17, 2013.
[17] http://www.interaksyon.com/article/79041/
manila-cathedral-to-open-in-march
[18] http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/03/24/14/
facelift-over-manila-cathedral-gets-brighter
-Manila
Cathedral renovations completed
[19] Rie Takumi (April 9, 2014). Manila Cathedral reopens
after two years of reconstruction work. GMA News. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
[20] Pius XII, Papam (1942-09-12). Acta Apostolicae Sedis,
Impositi Nobis: Insularum Philippinarum Beatissima
Virgo Maria Titulo Immaculata Conceptio Primaria Universalisque Patrona et Sanctae Virgines Pudentiana ac
Rosa Limana Patronae Secundarias Declarantur.. pp.
336-337. The Vatican Archives. Retrieved on 2012-0203.
[21] Quezon, Manolo (2009-08-13). Notes on the Aquino funeral. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. INQUIRER.net.
Retrieved 2009-08-15.
[22] Statues. Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
[23] Baldacchino Altar (1980s)". Flickr.com. Retrieved on
2012-02-03.
[24] Manila Cathedral Ordination. Flickr.com. Retrieved on
2012-02-03.
[25] Ortiguero, Romsanne. With more resilient foundation,
Manila Cathedral is all set for Holy Week and Easter
Masses. Interaksyon.com. Retrieved May 3, 2014.

External links
Ocial website of Manila Cathedral

10

10
10.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

Manila Cathedral Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila%20Cathedral?oldid=650054324 Contributors: William Avery, Seav,

Bearcat, Pmanderson, D6, Woohookitty, Pol098, Rjwilmsi, DeadlyAssassin, Afterwriting, Marcus Cyron, Anime, SmackBot, HeartofaDog, OrphanBot, Howard the Duck, WayKurat, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, HelloAnnyong, Darth Narutorious, Jk, Cydebot, DumbBOT, Richard Relucio, Dinispachadoro, Madalino, Xeno, Magioladitis, Kuyabribri, Jllm06, Nyttend, The Anomebot2, Lenticel, R'n'B,
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Folio Secundus, Addbot, Enzofroilan, Ace Mendiola, WikiEditor50, Yobot, AnakngAraw, Jim1138, JackieBot, Neptune5000, Fighter
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LittleWink, Meljayna, Jc Altura, Kevin Silva, Athene cheval, Tbhotch, Esoglou, John of Reading, Look2See1, Dewritech, ZroBot, Jcgd,
GrayFullbuster, Rabanus Flavus, Kinaro, BG19bot, Mootboot12, Cordenuit, LoveforMary, RioHondo, Miguel raul, Hmainsbot1, Tomlin87721, Byralaal, MataHungSook, QvisDevs, LimosaCorel, Baracudas44, Monkbot, Jashfranco, Carlojoseph14, J-Ronn, RonCharles02,
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10.2

Images

File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Archdiocese_of_Manila.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Coat_of_

Arms_of_the_Archdiocese_of_Manila.svg License: CC BY-SA 2.5 Contributors: Own work Original artist: SajoR
File:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg License:
Public domain Contributors: The design was taken from [1] and the colors were also taken from a Government website Original artist:
User:Achim1999
File:InmaculadaConcepcionngMaynilaFilipinas2012.jpg
Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/
InmaculadaConcepcionngMaynilaFilipinas2012.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: HeartyBowl1989
File:MG_8236_(Cathedral-Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_and_informally_as_Manila_Cathedral).jpg
Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/MG_8236_%28Cathedral-Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_and_
informally_as_Manila_Cathedral%29.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Ricardo C. Eusebio
File:ManilaCathedraljf0249_04.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/ManilaCathedraljf0249_04.JPG
License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Ramon FVelasquez
File:Manila_Cathedral_Tympanum_and_its_inscription.JPG
Source:
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ff/Manila_Cathedral_Tympanum_and_its_inscription.JPG License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist:
PillsBILLYdoughboy
File:Manila_Cathedral_after.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Manila_Cathedral_after.jpg License:
CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Mepurina
File:Manila_Cathedral_before.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Manila_Cathedral_before.jpg License: CC0 Contributors: Fathers W.W. II Photos Original artist: Bob Meza
File:Manila_Cathedral_before_the_1880_earthquake.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Manila_
Cathedral_before_the_1880_earthquake.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Scanned from the book Intramuros Original artist:
Unknown
File:Metro_Manila_location_map.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Metro_Manila_location_map.
svg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors:
Map derived from File:BlankMap-MetroManila.png Original artist: Philtro
File:Red_pog.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/Red_pog.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?

10.3

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