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MANILA, Philippines - Who was the architect that led the reconstruction of the current Manila Cathedral?
The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, informally known as Manila Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the principal patroness of the Philippines. The cathedral serves as the see of the Archbishop of Manila, the de facto Primate of the Philippines.
The present cathedral was reconstructed from 1954 to 1958 under Cardinal Rufino Jiao Santos and under the supervision of the notable Filipino architect.
Located at Plaza de Roma in the Intramuros district of the City of Manila, the cathedral was originally a parish church owned and governed by the Archdiocese of Mexico in 1571, until it became a separate diocese on Feb. 6, 1579 upon the issuance of the papal bull, Illius Fulti Praesido by Pope Gregory XIII.
The cathedral was damaged and destroyed several times since the original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and current instance of the cathedral was completed in 1958.
The basilica has merited three papal endorsements and two apostolic visits from Pope Gregory XIII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, who through the papal bull Quod Ipsum declared the cathedral a minor basilica by his own Motu Proprio on April 27, 1981.
The second cathedral, which was made of stone, was built in 1592. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. Construction of the third cathedral began in 1614. The new structure, consisting of three naves and seven chapels, was blessed in 1614. It was toppled by another earthquake which shook Manila in 1645. The fourth cathedral was constructed from 1654 to 1671.
It was severely damaged in 1863 by a very strong earthquake that also damaged the palace of the Governor General of the Philippines. In 1880, another earthquake toppled its bell tower, rendering the cathedral towerless until 1958. The seventh cathedral was constructed from 1870 to 1879. It was solemnly blessed in December 1879. The cross atop the central dome is a reference point of astronomical longitudes of the archipelago.
In 1937, the International Eucharistic Congress was held in the Philippines in which the cathedral played an integral part in promoting eucharistic beliefs. Both a cathedral stamp and medal were struck in commemoration of the event and was made by the official manufacturer of medals for the Congress of the Philippines at the time, the sculptor Críspulo Zamora.
This incarnation of the cathedral was reduced to rubble by Allied bombardment in 1945 during the Battle of Manila, as the Second World War neared its conclusion.
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Last week’s question: Who is the American-Armenian celebrity chef known for his dynamic Modern American cuisine in restaurants like Country, Patroon, the Lambs Club, TOWN, and Tudor Club?
Answer: Geoffrey Zakarian
Winner: Anna Marie Ganzon of Norzagaray, Bulacan
