Dec 30 2006
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the ecclesiastical seat of the metropolitan archdiocese of Cebu. It is under the titulage of St. Vitalis, whose feast day on April 28 coincides with the very same day that the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, currently kept at a basilica nearby, was found almost 450 years ago, and the elevation of Cebu to an archdiocese.
Cebu was established as a diocese on August 14, 1595 and elevated to a metropolitan archdiocese on April 28, 1934 with the dioceses of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran, and Talibon as suffragans.
Construction of the cathedral took long due to frequent interruptions brought about by lack of funds and other unexpected events. At one point in time, funds meant for the building of the cathedral were diverted to the moro wars in Mindanao. The death of an incumbent bishop who spearheaded the construction/reconstruction and vacancies in the office were also factors.
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. The trefoil-shaped pediment 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 owing perhaps to the contribution of the Spanish monarch to its construction. Much of the cathedral was destroyed by Allied bombings in World War II with only the belfry (built in 1835), the facade, and the walls remaining. It was quickly rebuilt in the 1950s under the supervision of Architect Jose Zaragosa during the incumbency of Archbishop Gabriel Reyes .
In 1982, a mausoleum was built at the back of the sacristy of the cathedral by then Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales. It serves as a final resting place for the mortal remains of Cebu’s bishops and clergy. Cardinal Rosales himself, who died three months after the mausoleum was inaugurated, is buried there along with Archbishop Manuel Salvador, coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu, and Archbishop Mariano Gaviola, Archbishop of Lipa. The bones of Bishop Juan Gorordo, the first Filipino and Cebuano bishop of Cebu, are also interred in the mausoleum.
The cathedral recently underwent a major renovation in time for the 75th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Cebu on April 28, 2009. A petition was also sent to Pope Benedict XVI for its elevation into a basilica minore in honor of St. Vitalis.
Below: The newly embellished interiors. The cathedral recently underwent a major renovation in time for the 75th anniversary of the archdiocese of Cebu.
Below: The new main altar retablo.
Below: The pipe organ, built and assembled by a Filipino organbuilding company in 1995.
July 15th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Notice the two towers on the original plan you’ve posted, that drawing posted at skyscraper must have been the original design for the cathedral. Just my observation. Thanks!
July 15th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
^^
di na mao bai.. that plan was drawn by Ciscara in 1719 during the time of Bishop Sebastian Foronda.
The Ciscara plan was never carried out..
Here’s a quote from Mr. Bersales’ text above:
“1719. Juan de Ciscara, a military engineer in Cebu (probably at the invitation of the bishop), draws up plans for a new cathedral. The Ciscara plan, never carried out, shows a rectangular form with three naves and two collateral chapels, suggesting the arms of a transept, and twin bell towers flanking the façade.”
July 16th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I saw the photo showing the old interior and noticed the space in the middle with the pews facing the middle, not the altar. You know, sometime back I had emailed a historian whether in Spanish times people just stood inside the church, with some few pews reserved for the Spaniards and local principalia, who had donated these pews in the first place–meaning, donated them for their own use.
There was no answer as probably the question was lost among the other things discussed. But this photo seems to answer my question. I assumed democracy in the church only started with the Americans, too.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Yes VIP,
That’s the silla principalia or silla de principalia, pardon me for my blunder, I don’t speak Spanish, hehe..
A colleague told me that only the “aristocrats” can sit on that chair while the natives stood at the sides.
Such set-up has been replicated at the Cathedral Museum, here’s the link:
http://cebuheritage.wordpress.com/heritage-of-cebu/old-houses/cathedral-museum-of-cebu/
July 18th, 2007 at 3:10 am
also in Ricky Trota’s book Simbahan, he showed an archival photo (or was it an illustration) of a church where the males and females were segragated, standing at the church floor.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
^^
Musta Stan?
Are you back in Manila already or still here in Cebu?
July 18th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
The first and only time I stepped into the cathedral was in 2006. I was disappointed in how it looks. Yes, somebody thought that tiles are the height of liturgical decor.
Nothing in Vatican II mandated wreckovations of the sort we see in the cathedral. I suspect that the wreckovations we see in the Philippines are influenced from the Americans who came up with Environment and Art in Catholic Worship trash.
It is not the destruction of a church that is tragic, it is that we cannot dream to come up with something as beautiful or better. Nothing prevents Cebu from realizing the entire or part of the Ciscara plan.
The seating and standing arrangements of the old cathedral are interesting. It was the custom in Jesus’ time for the lecturer to sit and the listeners to stand; hence the cathedra/chair of the bishop as symbol of his preaching office. Supposedly, standing was the posture of worship of the early Chrisitans. Congregants in Orthodox churches stand for hours during the Divine Liturgy. These were some of the reasons brought out by the loathsome liturgical historians to stop people from kneeling. So I guess the old Cebuanos were actually liturgically correct in posture if they were standing during the homily.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:42 am
^^
Regarding the “tiles” I think you guys are referring to that side-altar near the Archbishop’s throne.. The brown one?
Hehehe, bitaw ngano tiles kaha ang gigamit. Bati sad jud kaayo pagkahimo ang katu nga side-altar. I think the one in Guadalupe (specially made for the statue) is much better.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
It’s the seat of the archdiocese of Cebu, the cradle of christianity in the Philippines. Its archbishop is a Cardinal, a prince of the church.
It was one of the original dioceses erected during the Spanish colonial times along with Manila, Nueva Segovia (Vigan), and Nueva Caceres (Naga).
It had the most extensive territory because the Marianas Islands was once part of its jurisdiction.
From it were created other dioceses and archdioceses.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Hey dude, I’ve been reading the archives at the Skyscrapercity threads, I’m not sure if you already know the significance of the “ruins” beside the belfry of the Metropolitan Cathedral, but I have a picture with me with a very interesting edifice just beside that belfry. Send me an email and I’ll send you the picture. See ya around Bo’s hahaha
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
is it from the old pic found in the museum? bai, i’ve seen one pic of a dead mestizo bishop with his family in mourning. was it bishop gorordo?
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
^^
Yes bai. Si Bishop Gorordo tu..
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:12 pm
bai, the image at the center of the old retablo is the our lady of the miraculous medal also known as the our lady of grace. like the one in asilo.
please post some pre-renovation pics of the cathedral. all i could remeber is that it was dark inside when i was a child.. hehe thanks
August 8th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Actually it is the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and ang image sa left is kang san Vidal, patron sa Cathedral.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Hi, I’m a visitor from Japan!
I’ve been roaming around the world through the internet to find something new about Cebu.
I mean, I used to stay in Cebu for a year for studying English!!
As a reslut I was attracted by Cebu when I was there!
By the way, I have a web-blog about Cebu, please visit my site if you like.
Don’t angry at me what I wrote..
August 12th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
^^
Welcome!
September 9th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
thank you for your resources : )
November 14th, 2008 at 3:21 am
i think the cathedral would look grander minus the trees in the front. it would be better if these trees would be transferred elsewhere.. di lang putlon. then the courtyard be paved with those red bricks or in varried colors so as to serve as both courtyard and parking area. the bells as well restored or have a carillon.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
siguro kortihan lag maayo ang kahuy para nindot tan awun murag mga kahuy sa ayala.unya ilandscape ang courtyard
February 16th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Pls add mass sked, confession sked and confirmation sked that will be very informative..
March 6th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
mass schedule:
mon-sat
morning: 530,6,630,7,730,8,930.
afternoon:1215,4,5,6,7
sunday, morning-5,630,8,930,11
afternoon:1,230,4,530,7,830pm
June 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
[...] is showing signs of regentrification. There is newly opened Cathedral Museum, the newly restored Cathedral (small but elegant) the very pleasant Plaza Subu just right beside the Santo Nino [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 11:54 am
The interiors of that church is beautiful. Looks golden.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
@Kathangisip
Indeed. The cathedral was recently renovated.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
i was twice a ring bearer of a wedding in this church during the 70’s. .
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
i remember we use to sit beside the old pipe organ and listen to this huge old man who sings like nat king cole while a middle aged lady playing the pipe organ.