Manila Cathedral ready for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - Just in time for Holy Week, the Manila Cathedral will reopen its doors on April 9, with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presiding over the inaugural mass at 6 p.m.

A short video of the restoration of the cathedral, also known as the Manila Metropolitan Basilica and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, will be shown to guests and churchgoers before the mass.

Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, April 13.

The cathedral is one of the churches often visited by the faithful during the traditional “Visita Iglesia” on Maundy Thursday.

Cathedral rector Monsignor Nestor Cerbo earlier said the discovery of new damage in its structure delayed the reopening of the cathedral on March 25.

Additional repairs were done on the baldachin or four-column canopy above the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The church was closed for renovation on Feb. 7, 2012.

Cerbo said at least P120 million was spent for the rehabilitation of the cathedral that lasted two years.

The cathedral will soon accept reservations for weddings and baptisms and hold regular masses, he said.