Monday, July 6, 2009

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral - Weekend Snapshot


click on photo to enlarge
Driving through Cebu City on Friday afternoon, I noticed this church and asked my companion when was the Basilica de Sto. Nino renovated. As I remember, the facade of the basilica was gray stone, now it's cream. My companion absentmindedly told me that we just passed by the Cebu Cathedral, not the Basilica de Sto. Nino. Oh, I didn't know there is a Cebu Cathedral! So on Saturday afternoon, I retraced my steps and visited Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. This church is centuries old since Cebu was established as a diocese in 1595. The first bishop, an Augustinian, arrived in Cebu from Mexico in 1598. Construction of this church took almost a century to complete because of frequent interruptions. Work on the construction was suspended when funds were diverted to military campaigns against slave raiders and Moro pirates. The church was designed in 1719, and it was finished in 1811. The architecture of the church is typical with baroque colonial churches in the country---squat, cruciform, and with thick walls to withstand typhoon and other natural calamities. Much of the cathedral was destroyed by American bombings in WW II, with only the belfry (built in 1835), the facade, and the walls remaining. It was quickly rebuilt in the 1950's under the supervision of architect Jose Zaragoza, during the incumbency of Archbishop Gabriel Reyes. The interior of the church, although not the original structure, is beautiful. I would have taken photos of the glowing altar but it was a bit awkward with a mass going on, and preparations for a wedding were underway.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

12 comments:

Ebie said...

You did justice with the photos. Very beautiful and very informative.
P.S. Zee signed up for free tickets but did not get an email notice. I will be reporting early to work to beat the crowd and will tag along my camera and view the crowd through my window. Or go live streaming.

SASSY MOM said...

It indeed had a face lift... Very nice photos.
Thanks for dropping by..

witsandnuts said...

That explains. That's why the moment I saw the first photo from my reader I was like "parang nagbago yung church". Time to revisit Cebu. =)

Kero said...

i've never been to Cebu but hubby has been there for business trips. He says there are plenty of interesting places to see like the one you shared here. it is absolutely grand!

i hope to visit Cebu on our next PInas vacay. Thank you too for the visit, Luna! Have a great week!

bang said...

We haven't been to Cebu yet. I will include it on my list for our next travel.

Thanks for visiting Luna!

Anonymous said...

wow CEBU a port to be seen and visited a dream of a indian like me....i heard lot about it now becoz of u i had seen few pictures bravo...one day i vl....when this universe wont have boundaries and no visit visa and immagration required...a day will come...thanks

Shey said...

I remember this church. It's beautifully renovated. Love the architecture.

Have a happy week ahead! :)

Eve said...

What a beautiful and detailed building!

Arlene said...

Beautiful church! I think i have passed this way but never had the chance to get off the vehicle and take photos. Maybe one day in the futuere, i can visit Cebu and go around. :)

Nice WS photo!

Indrani said...

Lovely informative post and beautiful shots too.

Gmirage said...

So grand! (Hope llife is treating you well Luna, thanks btw.)

maiylah said...

i think i've been there before ... been ages!

thanks for visiting my WS, LM
so sorry for the late visit ...