Philippine Tourism News

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu. The construction of the church took long due to lack of funds and some unexpected events like the death of the incumbent bishop who spearheaded the construction and some vacancies in the office.

The architecture of the church is typical with baroque colonial churches. it is squat, cruciform and built with thick walls so that it can withstand typhoons 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 in recognition with the help of the Spanish monarch in the construction of the church. During the World War II, much of the cathedral was destroyed. Only the belfry which was built in 1835, the facade and the walls remained intact. It was rebuilt in the 1950’s 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 Bautista Gorordo, the first Filipino and Cebuano bishop of Cebu, are also interred in the mausoleum.

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