Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu City

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral - is the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu in Cebu City, which it is situated center in the busiest streets in D. Jakosalem St., Legazpi St., P. Burgos St., and P. Gomez St., in Cebu City.

As history tells, that the church is dedicated to Mary under her title, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and to Saint Vitalis of Milan. Inwhich Cebu was established as a diocese on August 14, 1595 and it was elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese on April 28, 1934, with the dioceses of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran, and Talibon as suffragans.

And before being raised as a primatial church in Cebu, the church was one of the first churches in the Philippines dedicated to St. Vitalis, and built near the fort in April 1565 by former Cebu Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Fray Andres de Urdaneta, and Fray Diego de Herrera.

Inwhich the construction of the cathedral took many years due to frequent interruptions, brought about by lack of funds and other unexpected events. At one time, funds meant for the building of the cathedral were diverted to the Moro wars, the death of an incumbent bishop who spearheaded the construction, and vacancies in the office were also some factors.

The architectural design of the church is typically inspired to Spanish colonial churches in the country, whereas, squat and with thick walls, to withstand typhoons, and other natural calamities.

The facade features a trefoil-shaped pediment, which is decorated with carved relieves of floral motifs, an IHS inscription, and a pair of griffins, the Spanish Royal Coat of Arms adorned in low relief above the main entrance, reflecting perhaps the contribution of the Spanish monarch to its construction.

During World War II, much of the cathedral was destroyed by allied bombings of the city, only the belfry, the facade, and the walls remain. Which it was then quickly rebuilt in the 1950s under the supervision of architect Jose Ma. Zaragosa.

However, the cathedral was renovated for the 75th anniversary celebration on April 28, 2009, of the elevation of Cebu into an archdiocese. Inwhich the application was pending at the Vatican for the cathedral's elevation into a minor basilica in honor of St. Vitalis, an early Christian martyr. His feast day coincides with the day the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu and was found almost 450 years ago, as well as the anniversary of the elevation of Cebu into an archdiocese.

And provides with the status of a full-fledged parish, the cathedral comprises the civil barangays of Tinago, San Roque, Santo Niño, T. Padilla, Day-as, Tejero, and Parian, which all located in the southeastern and downtown area of Cebu City.

The cathedral is known as that the first church because by 1598 there were two churches besides it in Cebu; the San Nicolas Church which founded in 1584, and the Sto. Niño Convent, to which the two churches would administer the natives, while the first Cebu bishop Pedro de Agurto would cater to the Spaniards in the St. Vitalis Church and as chosen as the cathedral.

When Cebuana anthropologist Astrid Sala-Boza effectively settled the controversy of the site where the image of the Holy Child was found, she also showed the Metropolitan Cathedral as the first erected church.

Which during in my visit, the interior of the cathedral is strictly prohibited to captured a photograph and videos, most likely during mass hour or mass is on going. Inwhich, this is a holy place and I must bear a discipline and respect at all times, most especially when I am on the church interior.

In fact, featuring some of the cathedral's facilities like, the historical bell tower, which it is been religious and architectural symbols in the landscape that summoned the faithful to celebrations, and fulfilled a crucial territorial significant task - and constructed to amplify the sound of the bells, allowing their chimes to relay throughout the community and often indicates time or signaling a particular events.

Particularly, bells were continue to be rung to alert people to what they may not easily see or hear, so that they may attend to the important and solemn action.

The church has provided a specific place for a quite and solemn meditation, a place for lighting of candles and for fervent prayers. Inwhich visitors can access at slightly side portion of the church, which it has an image and replica of saints displayed.

Inwhich the candles is symbolic of Jesus Christ as the light of the world, in fact, lighting candles in prayers, especially in holy places, like in churches - means that the candles stands for the faith that lights the candles.

Within the church vicinity, inwhich there was a replica of Virgin Lourdes which it emphasizes the importance of having a prayer, most especially the holy rosary, having doing any mistakes, humility, compassion for the sick, not physically fit, and sinners.

There was a souvenir item store which you can buy in the cathedral, from a leaflets, holy rosaries, and to a small figurine to big images of different saints of Cebu.

Inside the church vicinity, there is a place with a couple of benches and with plants and flowering plants, where pilgrims and senior citizen can be able to take a rest due to a travel. In fact, this particular place is not a dating place but a specific place for relaxation and meditation.

And you can see some lamppost installed in the side of this plaza which it gives a light during night time, where its design was inspired to Spanish architecture.

There was a signage that installed infront of the gate of the cathedral, just for an easy to locate for visitors and tourists.

It has a narrow entrance road which it is huge enough space to pass by all types of vehicle, and there was also a designated parking space infront of the church intended for four-wheel cars and motorcycles, in fact, it is wide, and open space parking area, even buses are welcome to come in and it is free to parked.

The toilet is well-maintained, cleaned, and sanitized which it has a utility worker that cleans on the post every now and then.