The Manila Cathedral @ Intramuros, Manila

The Manila Metropolitan Cathedtal-Basilica (Basilica Minore of the Immaculate Conception) was closed for two years due to extensive renovation. It recently opened on April 9, 2014.

On April 11, 2014, after my review classes, me and my friend decided to visit the cathedral and see the changes. Of course, it became more grand, even having flat screen televisions for church goers who are seated far way from the altar.

(yes I also take awesome shots. Sometimes I am just too tired to use the good ones on the previous posts XD)

Ehem...moving on....

The Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of the Philippines. It is also one of the 12 Minor Basilicas in the Philippines (the others are the churches of San Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo), The Black Nazarene (Quiapo), Our Lady of Piat (Cagayan), Our Lady of Penafrancia (Camarines Sur), S. Martin of Tours (Taal), S. Michael Archangel (Tayabas), Our Lady of Charity (Agoo), Malolos Cathedral, S. Nino (Cebu), S. Sebastian (Quiapo) and Batangas City Cathedral. FYI)

It was destroyed seven times during the course of its history during the Spanish occupation, namely due to these reasons:

Manila Cathedral 1.0: (1581-1588) damaged by fire; destroyed by typhoon

Manila Cathedral 2.0: (1591-1600) destroyed by earthquake

Manila Cathedral 3.0: (1641-1645) destroyed by another earthquake

Manila Cathedral 4.0: (1681-1751) became structurally unsound due to typhoons & earthquakes; had to be demolished

Manila Cathedral 5.0: (1760-1852) destroyed by earthquake

Manila Cathedral 6.0: (1858-1870) destroyed by earthquake

Manila Cathedral 7.0: (1879-1945) casualty of war during the Battle for Manila

(The Urban Roamer, 2011)

Then on 2012, it was closed for renovations ( we don't want what happened to the Bohol churches to happen to the cathedral, right?) The church of San Francisco de Dilao in Paco served as the cathedral during the time of the renovation (that's why it is now called a Pro-cathedral).

When we got there, it started raining lightly. We thought it would stop immediately, but when we looked outside, it was raining HEAVILY. We were trapped in the cathedral for more than an hour.

So, we decided to roam around a bit. We noticed some changes. The cathedral became more illuminated. TV screens and CCTV cameras were also added. Some of the chapels were also open so we decided to enter each open one.

Stained Glass Window at one of the chapels

One of the chapels (probably the baptistery)

A list of the archbishops of Manila

 One of the many statues which adorn the Cathedral

 The pulpit 

The tympanum of one of the side doors


The tympanum of the main door of the entrance has a description that says:
"Tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac consecramus" L.
Which means "We consecrate to your immaculate heart and entrust to you (Mary) for safekeeping"

More photos:

Before the earthquake which destroyed the belfry (courtesy of Wikipedia)

 ...after the earthquake (courtesy of sepiaera)


The cathedral before the war (courtesy of Wikipedia)



The old interior (courtesy of pinoyshooter)


After the war....(courtesy of secretconfessionofshopaholicgoddess)
 

The 8th church under construction (courtesy of Dennis Raymond)



All the racket which is happening in the cathedral during the 2-year renovation (courtesy of Manila Bulletin)