MANILA CATHEDRAL

Description: Manila Cathedral is the principal church of Manila and the seat of Archdiocese of Manila
Other name/s: - Catedral Mayor de Manila, Basilica Minore of the Immaculate Conception
Location: Beaterio St, Cabildo St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
Founded: 1571
Founder: Fray Juan de Vivero

History

Renovations

1. The Church before it became a Cathedral (1571)

 Name: Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

 How it started: Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, upon landing in Manila and established a
Spanish Authority, acquired a portion of land for the church of the new settlement under
the patronage of La Purisima Immaculada Concepcion. It administered the religious
affairs of Manila until a time wherein it was converted into a parish and Manila became a
diocese.
 Founder: Juan de Vivero (become the first vicar-general and the first ecclesiastical judge
of Manila)
 First Parish Priest: Secular Priest Juan de Villanueva
 Building Materials: Simple structure made of nipa and bamboo and materials readily
available during that time
 Events happened: November 30, 1574(Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle) – The Spanish
forces were able to quell Limahong’s invasion and to celebrate the fortunate turn of
events, the holy apostle St. Andrew became the patron saint of Manila. A Mass with
sermon was held in the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Manila.

2. The First Cathedral (1581-1583)

 Name: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 How: September 21, 1581 - with full pontifical and royal authority, Bishop Domingo
Salazar created an act to found anew Cathedral under the patronage of Immaculate
Conception to replace the old parish church. The parish church was raised formaly into a
cathedral on December 21, 1581.
 Founder: Fray Bishop Domingo de Salazar
 Building Materials: wood, bamboo, nipa and all materials which are being used in all
houses and other basic community in the city
 Events happened: The First Synod of Manila in 1582 – Ninety (90) ecclesiastical and
religious persons and 6 captains or heads, the oldest and most eminent, attended. It held
a duration of four years which lasted 1586. Teaching of catechism in native dialect and
the declaration of human rights of both native Christians and non-Christians were
deliberated.

The Fire of 1583 – a fire broke out in 1583 which destroyed the Cathedral Church
and razed the city. The flame was reportedly started in the funeral mass of Governor
General Ronquillo de Penalosa at San Agustin Church wherein a candle fell on the
catafalque, burning it and the church and immediately spread all over the Manila.
3. The Second Cathedral (1591-1600)

How: In 1591, Bishop Salazar sailed from Manila to Spain, accompanied by the Dominican Fray
Miguel de Benavides, to work for the erection of Manila into an archdiocese. He left the cathedral
building in a state of near completion, enough for mass to be celebrated in it.
Building Materials: stone cathedral with a central nave and two collateral ones
Events happened: 1597 Construction - sacred relics were given by the Holy See and brought to
Manila by the Jesuit Fray Alfonso Sanchez. A structure was built specifically to house the relics at
the side of the cathedral. When the structure was completed, the relics were formally deposited
there in 1597. Governor Juan Niño de Tabora and his wife Doña Magdalena Saldivar y Medoza
built another collateral structure to shelter subsequent relics.

Fray Ignacio de Santibañez – the First Archbishop of newly elected Archdiocese, who is
also the second archbishop assigned in Manila.

Earthquake in 1599 and 1600 - cathedral suffered during an earthquake in 1599 and, still
unfinished, experienced another strong earthquake the following year. On December 31, 1600, 29
years after Manila was established, a very strong earthquake hit the colonial capital, which almost
completely destroyed the cathedral.

4. The Third Cathedral 1614 – 1645

Architectural Character: The Cathedral was designed with four chapels on the right and three
on the left flanked of the central nave, a fourth and larger chapel with its sacristy, the Sagrario,
was erected on the left. Archbishop Juan Angel Rodriguez replaced the wooden dome with stone.
Events happened: August 1, 1621 - an earthquake caused serious damages on the cathedral’s
walls, columns, and roofs. The cathedral became so structurally weak and unsafe such that it
posed danger to anyone who desired to go inside the building. It was imperative to rebuild it since
repairs would not improve its miserable condition. At this period, the cathedral did not even have
a main retablo but only a canopy with an image of Christ.

The Manila Cathedral was so devastated that a camarin made of wood with bamboo and nipa for
a roof was built to temporarily house the flock in the plaza facing the Governor General’s Palace.
The cathedral was reduced to a memory together with all the structures in the city. The
earthquake impoverished the cathedral so much with its sources of income lost.

August 12, 1749 – The Taal Volcano erupted, accompanied by earthquake and aftershocks.
Archbishop Pedro Martinez de Arizala reported that the cathedral was beyond repair.

5. The Fourth Cathedral 1681 – 1751

How the renovation started: The new Archbishop Miguel de Poblete on July 24, 1653 arrived in
the city of Manila. Upon arriving in the port of Cavite, he noticed the sad view of ruins of the old
cathedral and the temporary cimarin in the middle of the plaza. He then ordered the ugly cimarin
to be removed along with the temporarily installed church services. He immediately planned to
reconstruct the stone cathedral.
Architectural Character: The Cathedral was built of quarried stone, lime, and gravel. It was 40
brazas long, 15 brazas wide, and 9 branzas high. It had three naves, one at the center and one
each on both sides. Each side had seven beautiful columns. The main portal or entrance was
adorned with three doors. Each door corresponded to the naves opening out to the plaza. At
approximately the middle of the edifice were side doors each leading to the city streets. It had two
Sanctuaries – one for Spaniards and another, for natives. There were 8 windows, 4 on each side.
Chapels lined the sides with a one-braza elevation from the side streets. The woodwork was all of
molave. It had a splendid presbytery, the table of which was 5 steps elevated. The Choir was 3
steps higher than the floor with 52 carved wooden chairs. There were two Pontifical thrones – one
on each side of the choir.
Events: The term of Archbishop Diego Camacho y Avila, 1697-1706, the archbishop solicited
funds to perfect the cathedral and finish the bell tower. It was also during Camacho’s term that
the bell tower was completed in 1706.

Repairs under Archbishop Rodriguez - Fray Juan Angel Rodriguez ascended to the archbishopric
of Manila in 1736 and initiated repairs and renovations on the cathedral. He replaced the
deteriorated wooden parts of the structure and was able to obtain 13 large bells. He also solicited
 the government’s unused stones, bricks and limes originally intended for the royal works, but he
did not live long enough for his vision for the cathedral.

6. The Fifth Cathedral

How the renovation started: Archbishop Pedro de la Santisima Trinidad Martinez de Arisala
seated as the Manila’s vicar in 1747. He decided to reconstruct the dilapidating state of the
Cathedral and requested fine architects to avoid any future defects in the edifice every time a
calamity happen in the city.

Architects and Engineer: Florentine architect and engineer Juan de Uguccioni – assessed the
Cathedral and noted that the rectangular structure had a height unproportioned to its length
making it uninhabitable and totally indecent. He initially proposed a totally new edifice but the
constraints in the budget forced him to just renovate the old structure with necessary
modifications and renovations.

Architectural Character: Uguiccioni renovated the cathedral with a its basic crucifixion plan,
semi circular apse, and additional office annexed to the cathedral church.
“The lead and stained glass of the cathedral were imported from Java. Marble slabs for paving
the cathedral’s central nave and the front steps of the choir and presbytery were quarried from
Bosoboso where twenty men were hired to cut and hew them. The remaining steps in the
presybetery were paved with beautiful piedra china or Chinese granite which a generous patron
donated. The cathedral organ was itself assigned to an expert organ maestro, who was the only
one in the islands. A new cupola was built at the transept and nave crossing.”

“The choir area was installed with iron grilles. The central nave was lined with railings to separate
it from other areas. Hardwood flooring paved the lateral naves and rear areas. The windows with
their stained glass were fixed with wire screens as a means to security. For the exterior,
whitewash was applied all over. By 1758, the cathedral’s main body was complete with its interior
vaultings, coffered ceilings, and paneled walls.”

Events happened: The British Invasion of 1762 – The British invation caused damage to the
cathedral. Under the threat of death, Archbishop Rojo was forced by the British to hand over its
collection of silver and jewels valued at 31,309 pesos. The structure, however, underwent repairs.
Areas which were eaten by termites and other pests were repaired, and the cupola of the
cathedral was given a new sheathing of lead in the shape of fish scales. All these works were
supervised by Juan de Uguccioni.

The Earthquake of 1852 - On the night of September 16, 1852, an earthquake shook, damaged,
and destroyed churches and other edifices in Manila, leaving the main façade and other areas of
the cathedral in very severe condition.

7. The Sixth Cathedral 1858 – 1863

How the renovation started: Gov. Gen. Antonio de Urbiztondo ordered the Corps of Engineer
led by command chief Don Nicolas Valdes to conduct another inspection to the Cathedral. The
plan for renovation pushed through with the contributions of half of collected sanctorum for work.
Funds were also subsidized by the Obras Pias and the Real Hacienda.
Archcitect/Engineer: Nicolas Valdes
Architectural Character: The restored cathedral possessed an entirely new façade. – the
pediments and columns framing the side portals and baroque mouldings. A new Neo-classical
façade was introduced with its architrave and triangular pediment. The new dome of the façade
was a circular/hemispherical dome composed of brickwork replacing Ugguccioni’s truncated
cupola.
Events: August of 1862, the Cathedral Chapter vacated the cathedral premises so that work
could commence immediately because of founded leaks in the Cathedral. The restored cathedral
opened formally again to the flock on March 19, 1863.

Tragic Earthquake of 1863 – June 3, 1863, the night of past 7 pm, an earthquake had shaken the
whole city. Leaving deaths of many indios and Chinese who were at the night market, cathedral
chapters and choir boys were buried by the massive heap of rubble.
8. The Seventh Cathedral 1879-1945

How the renovation started: The plan started with the initiative order of Governor Carlos Maria de la
Torre giving the necessary authorization to begin the leveling of the cathedral ruins in April 13, 1870.

Architect/ Engineer: Don Vicente Serrano y Salaverri – the official new director of the project.
Proposals and plans submitted by Serrano was the modifications in buttresses and framework of the
roof. Instead of the iron columns specified by Serrano, columns of molave to be sheathed with iron
would be used. The zocalos of granite stone would be replaced by zocalos of Meycauayan stone. All
other specifications made by Serrano were approved. In May of 1873, the final plans for the project
were elevated to the Minister of Overseas and the construction of the new cathedral commenced
immediately thereafter.

1873 by Eduardo Lopez Navarro, chief engineer of roads, canals, and ports in the colony

Manuel Ramirez y Bazan, inspector general of public works, with his assistant Ramon Hermosa.

Architectural Character:

 The cathedral was cruciform in plan, with a central nave and two collateral ones
 Arcaded colonnades separated the central nave from the other tow.
 It had a raised main altar, a semi-circular apse, and transept ends which follow the same
semi-circular pattern.
 Major access ways to the cathedral were nine: three in the façade, one at each lateral
side, one at each transept end, and two in the apse. Four minor entrances, which were
those leading to the Chapel of St. Peter and the other auxiliary areas of the cathedral,
made up a total of thirteen entrances to the structure.
 The interior of the cathedral was richly ornamented, with gildings, sculptures, and
frescoes. The Italian artist Giovanni Dibella executed the paintings in the nave and
dome.The study of the four evangelists painted in the dome were by the director of the
Academia del Dibuhos, Señor Agustin Saez and executed by Dibella. The paintings in
the chapels were done by native artists.
 Illuminating the nave were tall clerestory windows with their stained glass panes
providing a rich and colorful luminosity in the cathedral. The side chapels were
illuminated by large ojos de buey or ox-eye windows.
 The church had a spacious and raised nave, with the choir area located at the center of
the nave. The nave columns and pilasters were tall and slender and raised on granite
bases. The arches were majestic and highly ornamented. Its elevated dome was raised
on an octagonal drum, each face of which had three tall windows.
 The choir had benches and a finely wrought railing. Six seats of honor under the
baldachino were imported from Paris, while the rest of molave were sculpted by the
famous Manila artist Isabelo Tampingco who also did some of the ornamental details in
the church like the wooden capitals of the nave columns.
 The image of the Immaculate Conception, which was a copy of the Spanish painter
Bartolome Esteban Murillo’s work, was executed in Manila by Señor Juan Sales, a
Filipino.
 The main altar had a lovely marble table and was raised by a series of steps made from
the same material. Both were the works of Rodoreda.

Events:

The Secularization Issue and the Execution of Gomburza - The Manila Cathedral was witness to
the movement to Filipinize parishes and to the tragic aftermath of its persecution. Fathers Pedro
Pelaez of the Manila Cathedral and Mariano Gomez of Cavite were executed because of the The
issue of secularization in the Philippines.

The Earthquake of 1880 - he cathedral fell victim again to another earthquake. Its bell tower
which survived the 1863 earthquake crumbled to the ground and a makeshift one of wood
replaced it. The dome underwent repairs after this incident.
9. The Eight Cathedral 1958 – present

The present Manila Cathedral rose phoenix-like from the desolate ruins of the old cathedral,
which was bombed mercilessly along with the rest of the Walled City during the Battle of
Liberation in 1945.

Architectural Character:

 The Manila Cathedral covers an area of almost 3,000 square meters.

 The present structure has a Latin-cross plan which closely follows the distribution of spaces
of the previous cathedral-aisles are separated from the nave by arcaded colonnades, and
several chapels flank the nave.
 The beauty and wonder of marble as a building material stand out in the Manila Cathedral.
 The chapels are paved by highly polished Carrara marble prefabricated in Italy.
 The main altar, which has a two-meter high statue of the Immaculae Conception, is featured
with lovely columns built out of green Carrara marble.
 Paving the rest of the cathedral floor are cream slabs of marble. Marble also found its way
in the altars of the side chapels where reliefs and mosaic panels add further decorative
accents. The pulpit and the Episcopal throne are made out of Italian marble.
The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral was solemnly consecrated on December 7, 1958 before the
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a tribute to Our Lady under whose guidance and patronage
the Cathedral of Manila was able to reign as queen of the Walled City, refuge of Manila’s denizens,
and symbolic seat of the Catholic Church in Manila.