Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral/ Katedral ng Vigan/ The Cathedral of Vigan

The Cathedral of Vigan:

The Cathedral of Vigan

The Belltower of the Saint Paul’s Cathedral

 

About the Cathedral:

The St. Paul’s Cathedral is also known as the metropolitan Cathedral. It is considered a major religious landmark not only of northern Luzon but the country as well. Visitors must include a visit to the cathedral when in Vigan as it has been a center of Roman Catholic devotion for centuries.

The church as it stands now was completed in 1800. The original structure was built in 1574 upon the command of the Spanish founder of Vigan, Juan de Salcedo. It was a mere chapel then, made of wood and thatch. In 1641, the chapel was replaced by a church.

When the seat of the Nueva Segovia Diocese was transferred to Villa Fernandina de Vigan from Cagayan’s Lal-lo in 1758, the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral and became the center of Catholic faith in the north. Another structure was ordered by then Governor Jose de Basco to be built to replace the existing church in 1786. With the Augustinians, the cornerstone of the new church was laid in the beginning of 1790.

Overall, the cathedral follows a Baroque architectural design that has been modified by Ilocanos to strengthen the structure against earthquakes. This is now known as earthquake Baroque. Testament to the style’s effectivity is the fact that the structure’s original interior walls have remained complete.

Other influences can be observed from the architecture of St. Paul Cathedral, that of neo-Gothic, pseudo-Romanesque and Chinese craftsmanship.

Facing the cathedral, visitors are greeted by the statue of St. Paul above the main opening. There are also carvings of Fu dogs or lion dogs by the outermost doors. In the alcove are scenes of Saint Paul’s conversion.

Though some people may find that the façade is not as impressive as other churches, the cathedral’s interior is something to be admired. The presence of a silver-paneled main altar, three naves, 12 minor altars and brass communion handrails forged in China gives the inside of the church a feeling of grandeur. The area for the choir is located at the loft, making use of the big church’s acoustics.

Surrounding St. Paul Cathedral are the other historic buildings of the city. There are the Episcopal Palace or the bishop’s residence, the diocesan seminary and the Vigan Municipal Hall. It is also beside two plazas, one named after Vigan’s founder, Plaza Salcedo, and another named after a revolutionary hero, Plaza Burgos. It shows how central the cathedral’s role is not only in the religious life of the people, but the social, economic, educational and political aspects as well.

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

The Cathedral of Vigan

Welcome Sign to the Cathedral

Historical Marker of the Cathedral

The Belltower of the Saint Paul’s Cathedral

 

 

Saint William Cathedral/ Katedral ng Laoag/ The Cathedral of Laoag (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte)

The Cathedral of Laoag:

The Cathedral of Laoag

About the Cathedral:

Laoag Cathedral, canonically known as St. William Cathedral is a church in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel. It is known for its Italian Renaissance design and its Sinking Bell Tower, which sinks into the ground at a rate of an inch a year.

St. William Cathedral serves as the seat or central church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. Since Most Rev. Sergio Utleg’s transfer to the Archdiocese of Tuguerarao, the diocese at present is vacant. The diocesan administrator is Very Rev. Fr. Noel Ian Rabago and the cathedral rector is Very Rev. Fr. Policarpio M. Albano.

The church has an unusual two-storey façade, supported by two pairs of columns on each side of the arched entrance. The top of the façade holds a recessed niche that showcases the image of the city’s patron saint, San Guillermo (Saint William). It has windows made from capiz with wrought iron screens.

The cathedral was built to support a growing Christian population in Laoag, which was known as Ylaua at the time. The settlement was a mission detachment of Vigan during the Spanish era. The church was originally built using lime mixed with molasses for strength, with big stones, gravel and sand. Wood was used for trusses to support the roof, which originally was made of cogon grass and was later replaced with nipa. Much later the roofing was again changed to taleb, a corrugated galvanised iron sheet made with whole bamboo.

The church was damaged by hurricane in 1640, by earthquake in 1706, by fire in 1843. The church was restored in 1880. (Source: Wikipedia)

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

The Cathedral of Laoag

Image of Saint William

 

 

Metropolitan Cathedral of Palo/ The Cathedral of Palo/ Our Lord’s Transfiguration Cathedral (Palo, Leyte)

The Cathedral of Palo:

The Palo Cathedral

About the Cathedral:

The Palo Cathedral also known as Our Lord’s Transfiguration Cathedral in Palo, Leyte was constructed in 1596 under the direction of the Jesuits who founded Palo, used for sometime as their residence. Taken over by the Augustinians, 1768; by the Franciscans, 1843. Repaired by Fr. Agustin de Consuegra, who built the two towers, 1850; by Fr. Pantaleon dela Fuente, who installed a clock on the facade, 1896. Proclaimed a cathedral 25 March 1938. Msgr. Manuel Cascariñas, first bishop. Used as hospital, October 1944 to March 1945, by American Liberation Forces. It was renovated into a Neo-Gothic design and was elevated to an archdiocese in 1987. An impressive tabernacle held by Renaissance-styled gilded angels is added to the altarpiece. (Source: Wiki Pilipinas)

How to Get to Palo:  You can ride a Jeep going to Palo, Just look for the sign saying Tacloban-Palo. Fare is more or less P14.Palo is 12 Kms from Tacloban.

Other Sights to see in Palo: MacArthur Landing Memorial Park  – this is where the famous Life Like Statues of Gen MacArthur and his men can be located. This Memorial marks the spot where MacArthur landed.

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

The Palo Cathedral

The Palo Cathedral with the Statue of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the front.

Sign of the Cathedral

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral/ Katedral ng Dumaguete/ The Cathedral of Dumaguete (Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental)

The Cathedral of Dumaguete:

The Cathedral of Dumaguete

About the Church:

The town was formerly under the spiritual care of the parish of Tanjay until it was founded as a parish in 1620. Its parochial administration included the island of Siquijor and all the southeastern part of Negros from Sibulan to Bayawan. The parish was first entrusted to the secular clergy with Fr. Juan de Roa y Herreras as its first parish priest from 1620 until 1623. A Spanish diocesan priest Fr. Jose Fernandez de Septien built a strong church.

The Augustinian Recollects took over the administration of the parish in 1855 with Fr. Antonio Ubeda as the first Recollect parish priest until 1856. More Recollects came to administer the parish. Famous among them was Fr. Antonio Moreno, parish priest in 1860-1866. He was considered as “a very zealous and active Recollect missionary.” Among others he embellished the church with precious ornaments, constructed two beautiful and spacious schools made of concrete materials. He started the construction of the cemetery, which was left unfinished because of his untimely demised on October 12, 1866. Father Mariano Bernad succeeded him as parish priest for sixteen years (1866-1867, 1879-1891, and 1894-1897). He was preoccupied with many concerns of the parish. He introduced many improvements in the church and cemetery, completed the portico of the church, and changed the roof of the church to galvanized iron, and tiles for the flooring. He provided the parish with good quality and enough liturgical vestments and vessels and vestment for the patroness, St. Catherine of Alexandria. The many streets, principal avenues, bridges and culverts of the city were even attributed to him, but his greatest work was his fruitful evangelization of the people of Dumaguete. The devotion to St. Joseph and perpetual adoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were two famous devotions introduced by Fr. Bernad. His election as Prior Provincial in 1891 cut short his missionary activities in Dumaguete. But soon after his term expired as prior provincial, he returned to Dumaguete and remained there until 1897. Father Juan Felix de la Encarnacion changed the flooring with fine and special wood and redesigned the beautiful tabernacle during his term as parish priest in 1867 until 1879.

When the Revolution broke out in 1898, the Recollects left the parish to the care of the secular clergy. They only resumed the administration of the parish when the last Filipino clergy died in 1890. Father Calixto Gaspar was the first Recollect to arrive in Dumaguete after the war. Father Francisco Ortuoste was the parish priest from 1925 until 1931 who completed the construction of the belfry, just a few meters away from the church. Finally, the Recollects turned over the administration of the parish to the secular clergy in 1954. Father Alejandro Oses was the last Recollect parish priest of Dumaguete from 1949 to 1954.
The parish church of St. Catherine of Alexandria became a cathedral when Dumaguete was erected as a diocese in 1955.

Source: Dennis Madrigal (ed.) Handurawan Visita Iglesia Negros y Recoletos (2006), p. 68.

How to get to the Cathedral: the easiest way to get to the Cathedral is by tricycle. Just hail a tricycle and just say to take you to the Cathedral.

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Cathedral of Dumaguete

IFI-Cathedral of the Holy Child/ National Cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Child

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist/ The Cathedral of Kalibo (Kalibo, Aklan)

The Cathedral of Kalibo:

The Cathedral of Kalibo

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Cathedral of Kalibo

San Sebastian Cathedral/ The Cathedral of Tarlac (Tarlac City, Tarlac)

The Cathedral of Tarlac:

The Cathedral of Tarlac

About the Cathedral: The San Sebastian Cathedral is found at the heart of Tarlac City. It was once the site of the Revolutionary Congress. The highest Filipino seat of learning, the ‘Literario-Scientifico’ Universidad of Malolos in Bulacan was transferred here when San Sebastian Cathedral was formerly the Tarlac Catholic Convent in the late 1880’s. (Source: Visit-Tarlac.com)

Where is the Cathedral Located: The Cathedral of Tarlac is located along F. Tanedo Street cor P. Burgos Street, Tarlac City, Tarlac. It is infront of the Town Plaza. Beside it is the College of the Holy Spirit. Tarlac is 120 kms from Manila and Travel time will take 1.5-2 Hours.

Map Showing the location of the Cathedral:

The Cathedral of Tarlac – San Sebastian Cathedral

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Cathedral of Tarlac

The Main Altar of the Church (Photo from the Flickr Collection of Juan Paolo

Image of San Sebastian

The Cathedral of Tarlac

Saint William Cathedral/ Katedral ng San Fernando/ The Cathedral of San Fernando (San Fernando City, La Union)

The Cathedral of San Fernando City:

Saint William Cathedral

About the Cathedral of San Fernando: The Chapel was first made of Stone and Thatch in 1764 at Barrio San Vicente. It was then moved to Tanque then to Kabaroan. In its present site a Church made of Stone and Brick was built in 1773-1786 by Fr Juan Sorolla, Simon Guillermo and Pedro Fernando. The present Church was built in 1817 by Fr. Simon Torrado. The Church was damaged in 1860 by an Earthquake and rebuilt in 1873 by Father Luis Perez. The Church was Severely damaged by the Earthquake of March 16, 1892. The Church was occupied by the Revolutionists in 1898. The Church was destroyed during the Liberation (1945) of the Country and rebuilt in 1947-1949. 

My Thoughts About the Cathedral: The Cathedral of San Fernando is smaller compared to other Churches and Cathedrals but it stands proudly in the Center of the City. An Imposing structure of the City which is hard to miss. Its graceful lines and beautiful baroque facade gives the City a charm Unique to her.

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

Saint William Cathedral

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral / Katedral ni San Nicholas de Tolentino / Cathedral of Cabanatuan (Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija)

About the Cathedral: First built in 1866 by Father Jose de la Fuente. The Cathedral was destroyed during the July 19,1880 Earthquake and rebuilt 11 years later by Father Mariano Rivas. On June 5,1899, at the Plaza in front of the Cathedral, General Antonio Luna and Colonel Francisco Roman were assassinated by President Emilio Aguinaldo’s Presidential Guards. 

Other Blog Sites to Visit: Uncharmed Life Imriz on Foot, Backpacking Philippines, Asia and Beyond, Dreams of a brownman

The Cathedral of Cabanatuan, Katedral ni San Nicolas de Tolentino, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral:

Cathedral of Cabanatuan

Google Map of the Cathedral:

Cabanatuan Cathedral, Del Pilar Street, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

Cathedral of Cabanatuan

Cabanatuan Cathedral, Del Pilar Street, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

Saint Ignatius Cathedral / Catedral ni San Ignacio (Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City)

About the Church: The Cathedral dedicated to Saint Ignatius is located inside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.  The Cathedral is one of the popular wedding venues in Metro Manila.

My Thoughts on the Church: Tucked inside Camp Aguinaldo is the Cathedral of Saint Ignatius. A Fairly modern structure with simple architecture. Inside i was approached by a Man who was talking loudly with 2 ladies. He asked me where i will be using the pictures and if i had secured authorization since it was forbidden to take pictures (??!!??). There was nobody inside except he and his 2 Chatting Companions. I just walked away since i had already taken the picture of what i wanted. Anyway, by the time he stopped me it was already the last picture i need to take 🙂 Just wondering, isn’t it that during Weddings, Baptisms, etc . Pictures of the Church are taken? And isn’t it that while inside the church there should be no gossiping? 

Address: Capinpin Avenue, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Contact Number: 911-6001 local 6419

Saint Ignatius Cathedral

Other Pictures of the Church:

Saint Ignatius Cathedral