The Manila Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed
Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Immaculate Conception located inside the Walled City
– Intramuros, Manila. This church with a complete name of The Manila Metropolitan
Cathedral – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the official seat of the present
Manila Archbishop – Luis Antonio Tagle. I’ve been wandering inside Intramuros
and visited places like Casa Manila and San Agustin Church for a reason that
requirement for school projects but never came in my mind to stop over at the
Manila Cathedral. And this made me realized that it should be part in my
seven churches visitation.
This is the fourth church after Muntinlupa, Las
Piñas, and Parañaque. I was already thinking to take cab from Baclaran Church
all the way to Manila Cathedral. Luckily one of the vendors told me that there
are FX’s and vans traveling all the way to Intramuros. Then after a couple of
minutes waiting on the side of the road under the fiery sun, I saw UV Express
van approaching going to Intramuros. I paid Php 25 and thanks to the driver
because he brought me right in front of the cathedral.
When I get at the façade of the cathedral, I was surprised by the countless people visiting the church. I was just expecting of local
devotees but there were also a huge number of foreign tourists taking pictures and
observing holy week in the country. People were coming in and out, there were
vendors outside hawking different dollies for the youngsters and photographers
with huge cameras hanging on their necks. Getting near the entrance I’m quite amazed with the
architecture especially the inscription of the tympanum on the main door.
The cathedral reopened to the general public on April 9, 2014 after
two years of renovation, the mass then led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio
Tagle attended by President Ninoy Aquino. Upon entering the basilica, the
architecture is pretty amazing, the structural design still in line with the
original pattern but added with interior LED lightings. These lightings enhance
the exquisiteness of the basilica with yellow lights on the pillars. I am also captivated
and focus most of my attention by the stained glass windows pinned all over the
ceilings and on the sides. It is made of different colors and when the sun
focuses its sunlight into these glasses it will surely made some astonishing
lights that will envelop the whole church. There are also flat screen monitors
that will cover the mass so people at the back can still the ministers in front.
Manila Cathedral is just one of the places to
check inside the rich history of the walled city. Intramuros has monuments and
shrines that were witness in the past and yet still standing in the present-day telling the young generation how the people fought to attain the freedom. And
so will have to start in the churches of San Agustin and Manila Cathedral. I
should visit one of these days to attend mass.
THE MANILA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL - BASILICA
Cathedral - Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Address: Cabildo cor., Beaterio St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63.2.527.1796 / +63.2.527.3093 / +63.2.528.3876
Email: mlacathedral@yahoo.com / mlacathedral@gmail.com
Website: www.manilacathedral.org
2 COMMENTS:
Ganda sa loob ng church. The stained glass reminds me of Sagrada church in Barcelona we visited last year.
@Joy:
Wow, Barcelona Spain. For sure mas magaganda po ung mga simbahan dun. :)
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