Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral

Archdiocese of Capiz

The church and parish of Roxas City (then named as Municipality of Capiz) is one of the oldest
in Panay Island, having been founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1707.
The cathedral, as it was in its first inception, is in the historic center of Roxas City and fronts the
city plaza, opposite the Panay River and the Capiz Bridge.
The current structure was built in 1827. In 1898, it was within the diocese of Jaro, being run
by secular priests. Loctugan and Ivisan were Capiz's visitas. From 1918 to 1920, Gabriel Reyes,
(who became Bishop of Cebu in 1932 and Archbishop of Manila in 1949) served as its parish
priest. The cathedral had undergone restoration and reconstruction works in 1954.
In the November 28, 2020 consistory, Archbishop Jose Lazaro Fuerte Advincula became the first
Archbishop of Capiz to be created as a cardinal but received his red biretta and ring from
Archbishop Charles John Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, only on June 18, 2021,
at the cathedral. Before this, he was named the 33rd Archbishop of Manila on March 25, 2021.
On May 3, 2023, Bishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico, formerly the Bishop of Baguio, was installed
as the new Archbishop of Capiz in the same cathedral after he was appointed by Pope
Francis on March 3, 2023.
Changes or Initiative:
 Preserving the structure to feel more historic
 Renovate the areas that has damage inside the Church but don’t change it all
 Provide more chairs and electric fans
 Keep informed
 Deal with people issues
 Spread the word of God outside the Church to reach its community