Vigan Cathedral

Roman Catholic church in Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Church in Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Vigan Cathedral

Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of the Conversion of Saint Paul
Saint Paul Cathedral

Catedral Metropolitana de la Conversión de San Pablo Apóstol (Spanish)

Church façade in 2018

Vigan Cathedral

Location in Luzon

Show map of Luzon

Vigan Cathedral

Location in the Philippines

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17°34′29″N 120°23′20″E﻿ / ﻿17.574843°N 120.388841°E﻿ / 17.574843; 120.388841
Location| Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Country| Philippines
Denomination| Roman Catholic
History
Status| Cathedral
Founded| 1575
Dedication| Saint Paul
Relics held| Servant of God Alfredo Verzosa
Architecture
Functional status| Active
Architectural type| Church building
Style| Renaissance
Earthquake Baroque
Groundbreaking| 1790
Completed| 1800
Demolished| 2022 (partial due to earthquake)
Specifications
Number of towers| 1
Bells| 7
Administration
Province| Nueva Segovia
Metropolis| Nueva Segovia
Archdiocese| Nueva Segovia
Deanery| St. Paul the Apostle
Parish| St. Paul the Apostle
Clergy
Archbishop| Marlo Mendoza Peralta
Rector| Msgr. Cosmenio Rosimo
Priest(s)|

* Fr. Bryan Habungan Garibay
* Fr. Ian Paul Filart
* Fr. Danilo Martinez
* Fr. Rosmel Cairel

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name| Historic City of Vigan
Criteria| Cultural: (ii), (iv)
Reference| 502rev
Inscription| 1999 (23rd Session)

The Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of the Conversion of Saint Paul, commonly known as Vigan Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It contains the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia cathedra. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan in 1999.[1]

## History

[edit]

Cathedral PHC historical marker installed in 1949

When Juan de Salcedo came to Vigan, he renamed the town to Villa Fernandina in honor of the young son of King Philip II. Upon the orders of Salcedo in 1574, the first temporary church of Vigan was built out of wood and thatch.[2][3] With Salcedo is Augustinian priest Alonso de Alvarado who first attempted to Christianize the Ilocos region.[3] The need to construct a permanent church and convent in Vigan was decided by the Augustinian Chapter on April 30, 1575. It became the first parish in Northern Luzon.[4] The plans to construct the church failed since in 1577, the Augustinians vacated Ilocos.[3] The Franciscans then came to Ilocos with Father Sebastian de Baesa as priest of Vigan. In 1591, the supervision was transferred to the secular clergy. Father Gabriel dela Cruz became the first secular priest of Vigan until 1598. When the Augustinians returned to Ilocos in 1586, they also handled Vigan alternately with the secular clergy. On February 14, 1622, Vigan was officially transferred from the Augustinians to the secular.[5]

The first church was built in 1641[5] and was damaged by earthquake in 1619 and 1627. A third church was burned in 1739. Upon the request of then Bishop Juan de la Fuente Yepes, the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Lal-lo, Cagayan to Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan (present-day Vigan) through a ceremonial procession on September 7, 1758.[6] With the transfer of the seat of the Diocese, the church of Vigan became a cathedral on that same year. Governor General Jose de Basco ordered the establishment of a new church in 1786. The fourth and present-day church was built from 1790 to 1800 under the Augustinians.[7] It was occupied by the revolutionists under Colonel Juan Villamor in 1896 and by the American forces under Lieutenant Colonel James Parker in 1899.[2]

The cathedral undergoing repairs following the July 2022 earthquake

On July 27, 2022, the church was damaged by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit parts of Luzon.[8][9] Three hours after the earthquake, the Cathedral's rector and parish priest Msgr. Gary Noel S. Formoso announced its temporary closure through the Cathedral's official Facebook page, with its reopening upon the advice from structural engineers on its safety for future use.[10] A week after the earthquake, the Vigan City LGU began implementing a color coding scheme that will assess the structural integrity and safety of the city's buildings; due to extensive damage,[11] both the Cathedral and the adjacent Vigan City Bell Tower were placed under the highest level of "Code Red": the affected structures were closed and cordoned off, all functions and activities within were temporarily ceased, and the surrounding areas were placed off-limits to the general public.[12][13]

In 1884, Leona Florentino, the mother of Philippine women's literature, was buried within the cathedral.[14] The cathedral of Vigan will celebrate its 450 years as a parish on April 30th, 2025 since its foundation in 1575.

## Architecture and design

[edit]

Cathedral nave in 2021 Altar in 2024

The church is predominantly in Earthquake Baroque style with large buttresses on its side. It also has Neo-Gothic, Romanesque and Chinese inspired embellishments. In its interior are silver-paneled main altar, three naves, 12 minor altars and brass communion handrails. The sanctuary has 4 paintings of the Evangelists flanking either side of the altar while each column in the nave has a painting of each of the Twelve Apostles. [7] Located south of the cathedral is the Vigan City Bell Tower, a separate 25 metres (82 ft) bell tower with a square base and an octagonal form, with a weather vane on top in the form of a rooster, which symbolizes Saint Peter. Seven bells are hung and five can be seen outside; two big bells can be found inside. Located beside the cathedral is the Palacio de Arzobispado de Nueva Segovia, the only remaining Spanish colonial era Archbishop's Palace in the Philippines, and which still retains its original function as the official residence of the archbishop of Nueva Segovia (though his private quarters are housed outside);[15] the palace also houses a chapel usually open to the public, the archdiocesan archives, and an ecclesiastical museum which includes the palace's original throne room and artifacts from various churches in Ilocos Sur.[15] The church also contains remains of former bishops of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia,[5] as well as the remains of Ilocano poet Leona Florentino (she and her husband Elias de los Reyes' grave marker can be seen on a column near the side door facing Plaza Burgos).

## Church bells

[edit]

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Bell tower in 2023

Vigan Cathedral currently has seven bells plus one atop the clockface, the two largest bells, dedicated to Saint Barbara cast in 1836 and Nuestra Señora del Rosario, a bell without its clapper along with five others that still produce good sound despite of their age. All the aforementioned bells were probably cast in the early 19th century in an unknown foundry probably in Manila at the time. At the clock, the chimes were of those in Whittington. In addition of the feast of Saint Paul every January the twenty-fifth, and special occasions led by the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia like opening of holy doors and installations, the largest bell is rung especially in processions, funerals and to announce disasters like fires. It is always rung every 8:00 in the evening and to announce the Angelus every 6:00. The bell is rung as early as 4:30 in the morning to signal the opening of the cathedral, its sound could be heard throughout the poblacion and some of the nearby barrios.

The bell was rung in January 25, 2025 after years of silence since the earthquake in 2022, as it was last rung on the same date of the same year. 3 days later, in January the 28th, all the tower bells along with the largest pealed for the Los Patrones Procession signifying the start of Ilocos Sur Festival 2025, to welcome the saints.

## Burials

[edit]

* Leona Florentino (19 April 1849 – 4 October 1884) was a Filipina foundational poet, dramatist, satirist, and playwright who is also known as the Mother of Philippine Women's Literature. Her works have been met with wide public acclaim from France, Spain, and the United States.[16]
* Alfredo Verzosa (December 9, 1877 - June 27, 1954) was the fourth native Filipino to be elevated as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from Northern Luzon – the first Ilocano. He founded the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH). His cause for beatification is currently underway, having been declared Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI.
* Esteban Pichay Villanueva (d. 1878) was the painter of the fourteen scenes of the Basi Revolt of 1807 led by Pedro Mateo and Ambaristo. The said paintings are now displayed at the former Provincial Jail beside Padre Burgos House.
* Juan de la Fuente y Yepes (1702-1757) was the Bishop who requested the see to be moved to Vigan from Cagayan that was granted a year later in 1758. His remains were originally buried in the central nave of Binmaley Church in Pangasinan until in 1995, as written on his final will to be buried in the cathedral, he was reburied on the right side room beside the main altar, where the other bishops were also buried.

Bishops of Nueva Segovia buried in the cathedral

* Francisco Pizaro de Orellana (1680-1683)
* Pedro Mejorada (1717-1719)
* Miguel Garcia de San Esteban, OP (1768-1779)
* Juan García Ruiz (1784-1796)
* Cayetano Pallás, OP (1806-1814)
* Vicente Barreiro y Perez, OSA (1848-1856)
* Juan Jose Aragones, OSA (1865-1872)
* Mariano Cuartero (1874-1887)
* Santiago C. Sancho, D.D. (1951-1966)
* Juan C. Sison, D.D. (1966-1981)
* Edmundo Abaya, D.D. (1999-2005)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Historic Town of Vigan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
2. ^ a b National Historical Institute 1993, p. 88
3. ^ a b c Dela Torre 2006, p. 153
4. ^ Dela Torre 2006, p. 2
5. ^ a b c Dela Torre 2006, p. 154
6. ^ "Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia". CBCP Online. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
7. ^ a b "St. Paul's Cathedral". Vigan.ph. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
8. ^ "Magnitude-7 Earthquake Hits Philippines' Main Island". Bloomberg.com. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
9. ^ Sadongdong, Martin (July 27, 2022). "Strong Abra quake damages Vigan Cathedral, Bantay Bell Tower in Ilocos Sur". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
10. ^ "ANNOUNCEMENT". Vigan Cathedral. Facebook. July 27, 2022. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
11. ^ Pardilla, Cleizl (August 4, 2022). "NHCP at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, ininspeksiyon ang 2 historical landmarks sa Vigan City..." [NHCP and other government agencies inspected the 2 historical landmarks of Vigan City...]. Ulat Bayan (in Filipino). Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. PTV. Retrieved August 5, 2022. "Natuklap ang entrada ng simbahan, may mga malalaking bitak sa loob ng katedral, wasak at gumuho ang ilang bahagi ng biga ng simbahan, bumagsak naman ang ilang imahen."
12. ^ Pardilla, Cleizl (August 3, 2022). "Vigan Cathedral at Vigan City Bell tower, kabilang sa mga inilagay sa Code Red kung saan hindi..." [Vigan Cathedral and Vigan City Bell Tower among those placed under Code Red where it is not...]. Sentro Balita (in Filipino). Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. PTV. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
13. ^ Singson, Jose "Bonito" C. Jr. (August 3, 2022). "Vigan LGU, nagpatupad ng color coding sa pagtukoy ng mga establisimyentong ligtas..." [Vigan LGU implements color coding to identify establishments that are safe...]. Ulat Bayan (Interview) (in Filipino). Interviewed by Cleizl Pardilla. Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines: PTV. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
14. ^ Mabanglo, R. E. (2020). Leona Florentino: Mother of Filipina poetry. Philippine Graphic.
15. ^ a b Torres, Judith (September 21, 2019). "Blood, sweat, and dreams: The Palacio de Arzobispado de Nueva Segovia". BluPrint. Philippines: One MEGA Group, Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
16. ^ Mabanglo, R. E. (2020). Leona Florentino: Mother of Filipina poetry. Philippine Graphic.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Dela Torre, Visitacion (2006). The Ilocos Heritage. Makati City: Tower Book House. ISBN 978-971-91030-9-7.
* Historical Markers: Regions I-IV and CAR (in Filipino). Manila: National Historical Institute (Philippines). 1993. p. 88\. ISBN 971-538-061-1.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Vigan Metropolitan Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons
* Vigan Cathedral on Facebook

* v
* t
* e

Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia

Archidioecesis Novae Segobiae

Territory|

* Ilocos Sur

Ordinaries|

* Miguel de Benavides
* Diego Soria
* Miguel García Serrano
* Juan Rentería
* Hernando Guerrero
* Diego Aduarte
* Fernando Montero Espinosa
* Rodrigo Cárdenas
* José Millán de Poblete (bishop-elect)
* Francisco Pizaro de Orellana
* Diego de Gorospe e Irala
* Pedro Mejorada
* Jeronimo Herrera y Lopez
* Manuel del Rio Flores
* Juan de Arechederra
* Juan de La Fuente Yepes
* Bernardo de Ustariz
* Miguel García San Esteban
* Juan García Ruiz
* Agustín Pedro Blaquier
* Cayetano Pallás
* Francisco Albán Barreiro
* Rafael Masoliver
* Vicente Barreiro y Pérez
* Juan José Aragonés
* Mariano Cuartero y Sierra
* José Hevía y Campomanes
* Dennis Joseph Dougherty
* James Jordan Carroll
* Peter Joseph Hurth
* Santiago Caragnan Sancho
* Juan Callanta Sison
* Jose Tomas Sanchez
* Orlando Quevedo
* Edmundo Abaya
* Ernesto Antolin Salgado
* Marlo Peralta

Cathedral|

* Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, Vigan

Basilica|

* Sinait
* Santa Maria

Shrines|

* Bantay
* Santa Lucia
* San Vicente
* Santa Maria
* Narvacan

Parishes|

| Vicariate of
St. Paul
the Apostle|

* Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, Vigan
* St. Dominic of Guzman (Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Ildephonse (San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Augustine (Bantay)
* St. Vincent Ferrer (San Vicente, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Catherine of Alexandria (Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of Hope (Caoayan)
* Christ the King (Bantay)

|

Vicariate of
St. Mark the
Evangelist|

* St. Nicolas of Tolentino (Sinait)
* St. Mark the Evangelist (Cabugao)
* St. John the Baptist (Cabugao)
* St. Isidore the Farmer (San Juan, Ilocos Sur)
* St. William the Hermit (Magsingal)
* St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Magsingal)
* San Padre Pio de Pietrelcina (Magsingal)

Vicariate of
Our Lady of
Assumption|

* St. Catherine of Alexandria (Santa, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Francis Xavier (Narvacan)
* Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Narvacan)
* St. Joseph (Nagbukel)
* Most Holy Name of Jesus (Burgos, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of the Assumption (Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Stephen Protomartyr (San Esteban, Ilocos Sur)

Vicariate of
St. Therese|

* Immaculate Conception (Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Joseph the Worker (Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of Guadalupe (Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Andrew the Apostle (Suyo, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Augustine (Tagudin)
* Immaculate Conception (Quirino, Ilocos Sur)
* Holy Child of Prague (Cervantes, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of Lourdes (Alilem)
* St. Anthony of Padua (Sugpon)

Vicariate of
St. Joseph|

* St. John of Sahagun (Candon)
* St. James the Greater (Santiago, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of Lourdes (Banayoyo)
* Our Lady of Fatima (Lidlidda)
* St. Michael the Archangel (San Emilio, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady Help of Christians (Candon)
* Sacred Heart of Jesus (Galimuyod)
* St. Joseph (Salcedo, Ilocos Sur)
* Our Lady of the Pillar (Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur)
* St. Joseph the Worker (Sigay)
* St. Lucy (Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur)

Images|

* El Santo Cristo Milagroso
* Nuestra Señora de la Caridad de Bantay

Suffragan
dioceses|

* Baguio
* Bangued
* Laoag

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