Above: The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu and monastery.

To go beyond the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu by entering the hallowed monastery is always a rare opportunity for anyone given that it’s not open to the public unlike its counterpart in Intramuros in Manila — the San Agustin Church & Monastery — which has been converted into a museum. Being a resident of Cebu, I have been to the basilica itself quite a number of times already. As such I have always wondered what lies beyond the iron grille fence that guards the portal leading up to the monastery.

The very rare opportunity came last year when I was invited by a friend to witness a photo shoot of the original image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu at the monastery’s library located right at the back of the main altar of the basilica. Though I was not able to tour the monastery during this time, I was however able to go inside the monastery again during a luncheon held to commemorate the 443rd anniversary of the finding of the image of the Sto. Niño — a celebration known as Kaplag — and the start of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu.

Below: The main staircase made of ebony.

Below: Fu-dog.

Below: A bench with elaborate carvings.

From the hallway at the ground floor we were ushered to the main staircase, described by Florence Kimball Russel as having a massive hand-rail of carved ebony that would make the heart of a collector leap for joy in her book entitled “A Woman’s Journey to the Philippines” published in 1907. Quite interesting are the Fu-dogs, obviously a Chinese influence, that top the six main posts of the staircase. Portraits of Gregor Mendel, the Austrian monk regarded as the father of genetics, and of other Augustinian friars hang in the walls. A bench with elaborate carvings sits on a corner. True enough, the staircase itself with all its elaborate carvings, which according to a historian was carved using a bolo as chisel, is indeed a priceless piece of treasure that deserves to be appreciated by everyone.

Below: The main cloister of the monastery.

Up into the main cloister we were led to a very spacious receiving room containing centuries old tables, chairs, and paintings of Augustinian saints. It’s quite a big hall that it could already pass for a ballroom if all the fixtures were cleared. The monastery is rectangular with several rooms lining the cloister. A very spacious dining hall is located at the far end at the western side. Going north of the cloister leads one to the choir loft of the church where a very huge pipe organ sits idly, unused, probably damaged through time. Just like the main staircase, the choir loft itself is also another priceless piece of treasure with all the elaborate carvings adorning it. Ordinary churchgoers can appreciate this beautiful piece of art by just looking up.

Below: Chandelier.

Below: Round table with bentwood chairs.

The view of the church from the choir loft is simply breathtaking. One can get a clear glimpse of the main altar retablo and of the pious faithful below. A small door at the wall beside the pipe organ leads to a narrow passageway up into the top of the belfry but we begged off from going there since our stomachs were already crumbling and lunch was already being served.

Below: The pipe organ.

Below: View of the interiors of the basilica from the choir loft.