Tags: Churches and Places of Worship
By KC Santos
CEBU CITY, CEBU – The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the oldest and most historical churches in the Philippines.
The people of Cebu were the first to be evangelized by Augustinian missionaries. Cebuanos were at first apprehensive with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s plan to spread Catholicism in the country.
With help from missionaries, young Cebuanos were taught basic lectures on Catechism and were later taken to missions to teach spread the faith using their native tongue.
Soon enough, convents were built throughout and the Diocese of Cebu was established.
Before the planning of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral started in 1719, many churches have been erected and left unfinished by previous bishops.
Even the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral took a century to complete due to lack of funds and civil society conflicts. Its most recent renovation was carried out in 2009.
Today, this cathedral is a must-go for the Visita Iglesia of devotees of Sto.Niño, Cebu’s patron saint.
The cathedral’s architecture made reference to the baroque style which was very popular during the 17th century. Only a portion of its historical interior remained after World War II but part of the paintwork remained the same. Just behind the church is a tomb where some of the most remains of Catholic bishops are buried.
Standing on the same ground of the cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, which is one of the two remaining pre-colonial Episcopal houses in the country. It doubles as a museum where historical religious artifacts and altars are being kept.
A visit to the cathedral is both a spiritual and educational experience.
There is also a “Visita Iglesia” tour package which includes the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Unknown to many tourists, proceeds of this tour package go to the conservation of another church in Boljoon Cebu called the Nuestra Sra. Patrocinia de Maria church which is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to get there: From SM City Cebu, the cathedral is just a 30-minute taxi or jeepney ride away.
(Photos taken from Visita Iglesia)
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