HISTORICAL SITE (CEBU METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL)

The old Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral with no symmetry - renovation was needed then in
1829
Photo: Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos, Cebu City

Interior of the Cathedral back then (taken in 1945)

Source: Cebuano Studies Center, San Carlos University

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The new renovated Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Photo by Mark Anthony Maranga

Interior of Cathedral now

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BRIEF SUMMARY
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is a large Spanish colonial-style religious structure. It is one
of the most important symbols of Catholicism in the Philippines, construction began between the
17th and 20th centuries. Examine the religious figures statues that complement the square outside
the church. The 'Cebu Cathedral,' as it is generally known, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Cebu
Archdiocese in the Philippines. The church was established as the seat of Cebu bishop when the
province became one of the suffragan dioceses under the archdiocese of Manila in 1595. The
cathedral's construction was repeatedly halted due to a lack of funds over the centuries. It didn't
get finished until the early 1900s. Allied bombings during World War II partially destroyed it, but
the belfry (built in 1835), the façade, and the walls were the only things that remained. In the
1950s, it was quickly rebuilt under the supervision of architect Jose Ma. Zaragosa. Its squat shape
and thick walls aid in the protection of the structure from typhoons and other natural disasters. The
walls range in thickness from 2 to 3 meters. Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is in the San Roque
neighbor A mausoleum has been built behind the sacristy, as ordered by Archbishop Julio Cardinal
Rosales in 1982. It serves as the burial or resting place for Cebu's bishops and clergy, as it should.
The cathedral was renovated and elevated to an archdiocese as part of its 75th anniversary
celebrations on April 28, 2009. Officials from the Cebu Catholic Church have applied to the
Vatican to have the cathedral elevated to the status of a minor basilica in honor of St. Vitalis, an
early Christian martyr. In 1981, Ricardo Vidal, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus, was the Cathedral's
parish priest, and he was the one who started the renovation by putting a 'symmetry' to the
unbalanced structure. He requested permission to construct an extension on the opposite side of
the belfry structure, where a baptismal extension is held, in accordance with the structure's original
architecture. In addition, Cardinal Vidal was in charge of the construction of another level as a
conference or meeting area for clergy, the purchase of a 3-million-peso pipe organ from Holland,
and the expansion of the Cathedral's plaza. In 2009, some renovations were carried out under the
direction of Monsignor Roberto Alesna in order to prepare the Cebu Archdiocese for its Diamond
Jubilee celebrations. Monsignor Alesna improved the plaza's sidewalk, restored the 19th-century
fence, built a new courtyard, and installed the 21-bell digitan carillon (musical instrument) that
replaced the previous three. On the belfry, he also added a large clock. More renovations, repairs,
and additions to the Cathedral's interior include a new mahogany retablo, new chandeliers and
lamps, a new wooden canopy above the archbishop’s seat, new stained-glass windows, and the
replacement of wooden trusses with steel, among other things.

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IMPACT OF THE HISTORICAL SITE TO THE CITY
Cathedrals have stood in our towns and cities for centuries, visible reminders of our
Christian heritage and the focal point of the church in their surroundings. They were centers of
learning and inspiration in the Middle Ages, it is because of art and architecture. They were
frequently the destination of pilgrims on their way to the shrines of the saints. Men, women, and
children from all walks of life, rich and poor, good, and bad, traveled together on these pilgrimages.
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is a significant building for the parish, for the Catholic Diocese of
Cebu, for the City of Cebu, and for the communities. It is a house of worship for the parish, as well
as a place to celebrate wedding ceremonies, christenings, and memorial services. It is a spiritual
source of faith for the diocese, as well as a symbol of belonging to the larger Catholic family. The
Cathedral is a significant landmark and symbol for the city. It serves as a reminder of God's love
and presence for all people, regardless of whether religious or not. It is a place for people who
have no other ties to organized religion can come to sit, reflect, pray, and enjoy the peace and quiet
of this special place. Today, our cathedral remains at the heart of the area's Christian life, serving
local communities as well as the thousands of visitors who come from all over the world each year.
People of all faiths and none offer a warm welcome, hospitality, and a place for worship, deep
contemplation, or meditation to these modern-day pilgrims. There are guided tours on a variety of
local, national, and international issues, as well as presentations on a variety of topics.

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HIGHLIGHTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY
Miguel López de Legazpi and the friar Andrés de Urdaneta arrived on Cebu on April 27, 1565
and established the Philippines' first Spanish settlement and Catholic mission. The Spanish crown
ordered Legazpi to build a church near the assigned fort before dispatching him to the Philippines.
It was the feast of Saint Vitalis (April 28, 1565) when the Spaniards arrived in Cebu, and "they
honored the saint as their patron and advocate." His feast day is observed every year."
On May 8, 1565, "'the sites for the Spanish quarters and the church of St. Vitalis were
chosen,' as well as the site of the house where the Sto. Nino was discovered as the location of the
Monastery of the Name of Jesus [now Basilica del Santo Nino], and from the said house the child
Jesus was brought to the church in solemn procession, and with the great devotion, joy, and
gladness of all the men. When they arrived at the church, they all adored it and placed it on the
main altar, vowing to commemorate, sanctify, and celebrate solemnly the day on which it was
discovered each year as a feast day.'" Juan de Medina, prior of the Sto. The Nino convent (circa
1603) alluded to the days of the Sto. Nino's discovery. The tradition of the image being "taken out,
and carried in procession to the cathedral, after a paper has been signed, by decree of the justice,
that it will be given back to the same religious" was continued. The expedition then traveled to
Leyte, Cabalian, Mazaua, Camiguin, and Bohol, where the famous Sandugo or blood compact was
signed on March 16, 1565, between López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol.
On April 15, 1565, the Spanish arrived in Cebu. They then attempted to negotiate with the
local ruler, Rajah Tupas, but discovered that he and the rest of the town's inhabitants had fled.
When the island was taken over on behalf of the Spanish King on May 8, the feast of the Apparition
of Saint Michael the Archangel, Rajah Tupas appeared at their camp. On July 3, 1565, the Treaty
of Cebu was signed. The new city was given the name "Villa de San Miguel de Cebu" by López
de Legazpi's party (later renamed "Ciudad del Santsimo Nombre de Jess"). In 1567, the Cebu
garrison was reinforced with the arrival of 2,100 soldiers from New Spain (Mexico), and the
colony was fortified by Fort San Pedro. By 1598, Cebu had two churches: San Nicolas (founded
in 1584). When Cebuana anthropologist Astrid Sala-Boza successfully resolved the debate over
where the Holy Child's image was discovered, she also proved that the metropolitan cathedral was
the first church built. Even after being elevated to the status of cathedral, the church was repeatedly
destroyed and rebuilt.
By 1569, the Spanish settlement in Cebu had established itself as a safe port for ships
arriving from Mexico, as well as a base for further exploration of the archipelago. Juan de Salcedo
led small expeditions to Mindoro and Luzon, where he and Martn de Goiti were instrumental in
the conquest of the Kingdoms of Tundun and Seludong in 1570. López de Legazpi left Cebu a
year later to negotiate a peace treaty with the defeated Rajahs. The establishment of a new
settlement and the construction of the Christian walled city of Intramuros on the razed remains of
Islamic Manila, then a vassal-state of the Sultanate of Brunei, were made possible by an agreement
between the conquistadors and the Rajahs to form a city council. The Castilian War began in 1571,
when the Spanish brought infantry from Mexico to raise an army of Christian Visayan warriors

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from Cebu and Iloilo, as well as mercenaries from the Tagalog region, to attack the Sultanate of
Brunei. The war also sparked the Spanish–Moro Wars, which saw the Moros burn towns and
conduct slave raids in the Visayas islands, selling the slaves to the Sultanates of the Malay
Archipelago, while the Visayans fought back by establishing Christian fort-cities in Mindanao,
such as Zamboanga City. Pope Clement VIII established the diocese of Cebu as a suffragan of the
Archdiocese of Manila on August 14, 1595.
Local revolutionaries led by Negrense Leon Kilat revolted against the Spanish colonial
authorities on April 3, 1898, and after three days of fighting took control of the city center. The
uprising was only put down when Leon Kilat was assassinated and soldiers from Iloilo arrived.
General Montero, the Spanish Governor, evacuated his troops to Zamboanga on December 26,
1898, and handed over government property to Pablo Mejia. The next day, Luis Flores was elected
president, General Juan Climaco was named military chief of staff, and Julio Llorente was elected
mayor.
The globalized world is full of discrepancies and injustices. Humanity requires a merciful
and provident God who will bring people together and raise awareness of their shared vocation as
brothers and sisters. Christianity is responsible for much of modern civilization. The Church has
given life to the tradition of humanitarian and educational works by humanizing social and political
structures.

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REFERENCES:
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral: https://www.expedia.com.ph/Cebu-Metropolitan-Cathedral-
Downtown-Cebu.d6115094.Place-To-Visit
Great Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral: https://www.travelingcebu.com/cebu-metropolitan-
cathedral.html

Cebu City: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu_City#Culture