Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

The Queen City of the South is a confluence of the past and present, with well-preserved remnants of bygone times right in the heart of a modern and dynamic city. In a city where history is literally all around you, Cebu certainly is the perfect destination, for both locals and tourists alike, for an immersive cultural experience and to learn all about the Philippines’ colorful history. Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Situated just a stone’s throw away from the famed Colon Street, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, or the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Vitales, is a Roman Catholic Church which holds the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu, considered by many to be the Fount of Christianity in the Far East. The Second World War greatly damaged the cathedral, leaving mostly just the walls standing. the Church’s rich history is very much apparent from the its Spanish roots with Baroque-Rococo influences. The brilliant interior design of the cathedral also serves as an incredible backdrop for wedding photos, making it highly desirable for weddings to be officiated in. Be sure to pay the Metropolitan Cathedral a visit; you might just witness a holy union. Cebu was established as a diocese on August 14, 1595. It was elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese on April 28, 1934 with the dioceses of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran, and Talibon as suffragans. Before being raised as a primatial church in Cebu, the church was one of the first churches in the Philippines (besides the Basilica del Santo Niño) dedicated to St. Vitalis and built near the fort in April 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Fray Andrés de Urdaneta and Fray Diego de Herrera. The facade features a trefoil-shaped pediment, which is decorated with carved relieves of floral motifs, an IHS inscription and a pair of griffins. The Spanish Royal Coat of Arms is emblazoned in low relief above the main entrance, reflecting perhaps the contribution of the Spanish monarch to its construction. During World War II, much of the cathedral was destroyed by Allied bombings of the city. Only the belfry (built in 1835), the façade, and the walls remained. It was quickly rebuilt in the 1950s under the supervision of architect Jose Ma. Zaragosa, during the incumbency of Archbishop Gabriel Reyes. In 1982, a mausoleum was built at the back of the sacristy at the initiation of Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales. It serves as a final resting place for the remains of Cebu's bishops and clergy.

Everytime we visit the Basilica del Santo Nino, we stopped off in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to pay respect to it and visit its adoration chapel. If we decided to buy religious accesories, We proceed to what's beside of the cathedral because it is where a small shop can be found. We chose to buy there because their item is very affordable. aside from that, at the back of the Sacristy, It is where the mausoleum located. Sometimes we catched the mausoleum close and can't do anything about it and just lend our heart—to—heart visit outside the mausoleum. We entered the mausoleum once. It happens when the Requiem mass happened inside the Mausoleum leaded by Palo archbishop John F. Du.

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other photos: Belle Piccio (2013)