Entering the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, one never fails to appreciate the beauty and the massiveness of a musical instrument at the choir loft just right above the foyer near the main entrance. It stands majestically and blends graciously along with the baroque interiors of the cathedral. A liturgical music enthusiast will surely not escape his eyes on this instrument hoping to hear how it produces sound at the singing of the Gloria, the Sanctus, and the Pater Noster. Continue Reading »

Above: A bas-relief depicting the martyrdom of St. Vitalis, the patron saint of the cathedral, flanked on both sides by his sons, the twin martyr saints Protacio and Gervacio. Above is his wife St. Valeria, another martyr.

When the then Diocese of Cebu was about to be elevated into an archdiocese in 1936, then Bishop Gabriel Reyes (who would later become the first archbishop of Cebu) ordered the rehabilitation of the cathedral. The façade was improved while the interiors were renovated. The 19th century main altar retablo was torn down and replaced with a very simple marble altar with three stained glass windows above it. Continue Reading »

Above: The new main altar retablo of the cathedral — grand and majestic!

During the Spanish colonial era, the cathedral of Cebu used to be described as “nothing but a barn.” When plans for expansion and renovation were presented, such a plan was criticized as being too “grandiose” and too “big” for a town of merely a few thousand faithful. Continue Reading »

“This is the second of three parts featuring old photos of the Cebu Cathedral…”

Above: An early 1900s photo of the interiors of the cathedral showing the 19th century main altar retablo.

The cathedral of Cebu underwent a lot of changes even during the Spanish colonial times. In the 1930s, the cathedral underwent a major renovation in preparation for the elevation of the then diocese of Cebu into an archdiocese with Gabriel Reyes as the first archbishop. The facade of the cathedral was expanded towards the belfry thus making it look bigger.

Inside, the 19th century retablo was torn down and replaced with a simple altar made of Carrara marble from Italy. Above it were three stained glass windows featuring Jesus Christ at the middle and the archangels Michael and Gabriel on each side side. The chair of the archbishop was then located near the main altar. Continue Reading »

“This is the first of three parts featuring old photos of the Cebu Cathedral…”

The renovation works at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in time for the 75th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Cebu on April 28, 2009 is nearing completion. As of this writing, the facade now looks very clean and the plaza has been remodeled and redeveloped. A new comfort room, away from the church, is also now open for public use.

A few weeks from now, a new retablo carved from wood by a Pampanga artist will be installed. Thanks to Fr. Brian Brigoli and the team behind the preparations for the archdiocese’s diamond anniversary, the cathedral has now been brought back to its old grandeur worthy of the title as the seat of the archbishop of one of the greatest archdiocese in the country

In this connection, I will be dedicating three series to commemorate the cathedral of Cebu through the years through vintage photos that show how it used to look before. Continue Reading »