Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño

Cebu is considered the "Cradle of Christianity" in Asia because it is the place where several "firsts" in the Catholic faith happened. 

Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 erected the Philippines' first cross in Cebu. It is also home to the first church built in the country. 

For those considering doing a "Visita Iglesia" or a seven-church visitation in Cebu for this year's Holy Week, here is a list of places of worship to visit.

 Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño

Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño

The Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño, located in downtown Cebu City, is the first church to be built in the Philippines in 1565 by Augustinian priest Andres de Urdaneta. 

"When you are in Cebu, you do not miss the basilica because it is the head and the mother of all churches in the Philippines," said Rev. Fr. Ion Miranda OSA, spokesperson of the church.

It is also here where the Santo Niño de Cebu is kept for veneration. The image of the Holy Child is believed to be miraculous and serves as a symbol of a magnet of love. 

Millions of devotees flock to the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño every January to celebrate its feast. The celebration is known for the so-called "Sinug" dance in which candlemakers offer dance prayers to the Santo Niño to grant their requests.

"It is a historical place and a holy ground where we meet the image of the Lord in the form of Santo Niño," Miranda said.

The minor basilica features Romanesque and neo-classical designs, including a belfry that was reconstructed after being damaged by a strong earthquake in 2013.

The Magellan's Cross is located behind the Basilica Minore Del Santo complex.

Visitors can pause and reflect in a small garden beside the church.

Masses are held at the pilgrim center as the main church gets easily crowded.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

One of the largest churches in the city, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is only a few steps away from the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño.

"It is the church which has the chair of the Archbishop," said Monsignor Raul Go, a member of the team of pastors at the cathedral.

The chair on which Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma sits during big events is covered in gold and adorned with other embellishments.

The cathedral's Baroque-inspired facade was completed in the 1700s. It underwent multiple repairs and facelifts after it was damaged during World War II. 

Aside from its historical significance, it is also a tourist attraction. The Cathedral’s old convent is now a museum.

“It is an old church, but hindi talaga original na very old. This has been the cathedral ever since the diocese started,” added Go. 

Cebu became a diocese in 1595 and was elevated to an archdiocese in 1934.

In the late 1990s, a mezzanine was added to the church to increase its capacity. It can now accommodate up to 2,500 churchgoers.

National Shrine of Saint Joseph

Located in the heart of Mandaue City is the National Shrine of Saint Joseph. It stands between the city’s “Presidencia” or City Hall and its city plaza. 

Like other churches, its original structure was also destroyed by frequent bombings in the Second World War. 

It may not have retained its Spanish-inspired facade from centuries ago, but the church has preserved a rare treasure. Its altar features the oldest publicly venerated image of Saint Joseph, which was brought by the Jesuits in 1600. 

"The National Shrine of St. Joseph is one of the oldest parishes in this province. Since the 1600s, this particular locale has cultivated the faith in the hearts of its constituents and precisely for that reason our parish church is acknowledged as such," said Rev. Fr. Josephus Remonde, parochial vicar.

Aside from the old image of St. Joseph, it also has a life-size rendition of the Last Supper with Jesus and the 12 apostles called the Señor de Cena. This is the only existing life-sized rendition of the Last Supper in the country. The National Shrine also has a gallery of saints.

“We are inviting a wider audience of people so they can be edified too, by Saint Joseph,” added Fr. Remonde.

This parish has applied to become a minor basilica.

Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Pedro Calungsod

To honor San Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan martyr and saint, a shrine was built in early 2000. It was called the Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Pedro Calungsod.

The late Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal planned the erection of the Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Pedro Calungsod located within the Archbishops' Palace. 

While the church is quaint, accommodating only up to 200 people, it boasts a beautiful altar. 

Above the tabernacle are huge golden rays and a fire-colored glass inscribed with the name of Jesus.

The church's interior features subtle symbols of Calungsod’s martyrdom, such as the palm branch — his signature and a sign of offering. Inscriptions related to Calungsod's life also adorn the church.

“It’s not just about the checklist but you will have him as a prayer warrior, our intercessor up there in heaven in all our prayers,” said Rev. Fr. Jonathan Rubin, the parish’s pastoral director.

At the side of the church is a garden called the “Eukaristiya,” which was built to commemorate the hosting of the Cebu Archdiocese at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

The serene garden has a 40-meter tall cross tower in the middle of the life-size stations of the cross which depicts the different events in Jesus Christ’s journey to resurrection.

“We ask San Pedro Calungsod not just for our personal petitions but to ask him that we can surely immerse ourselves into the spirit of what holy week is,” added Rubin.

The feast of Saint Pedro Calungsod coincides with the Holy Week. 

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu

Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu

Nestled at the tip of V. Rama Avenue, also in Barangay Guadalupe, is the home of the patroness of Cebu, Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu.

This concrete church is painted in blue and white, colors symbolizing the patroness. It is emblazoned with stained glass windows depicting the image of the Lady of Guadalupe. 

Above its altar is a large dome, believed to be one of the largest in Cebu.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu was believed to have been gifted by Augustinian missionaries in the 1700s. However, it was only in 1933 that a parish was established to enshrine the image.

“You should not miss visiting this church because we all have life and since the patroness of life and the protectress of the unborn is here, that is why all must come and pay a visit,” said Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Eli Suico.

On each side of the church, there are two small gardens where worshippers can reflect. A new baptism area has also been constructed, featuring a life-sized statue of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was believed to have stopped the cholera epidemic in 1902, Suico added. This is one of the main reasons why it was chosen as the patroness of Cebu, he said.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In the southern district of Cebu lies another shrine for the blessed mother: the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Located at Barangay Punta Princesa, the church is famous for its continuous parabolic shell as found in its facade.

The building of the parish started when a family from Manila brought their devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes to Cebu City before the Second World War, according to its parish priest, Rev. Fr. Jhun Paradiang.

In 1957, a makeshift church was built in honor of the blessed mother. The parish completed its construction into what it is today in 2007.

What could easily catch one’s attention is the curved grotto in front of the church, where the Blessed Mother is depicted as being venerated by St. Bernadette Soubirous, kneeling. Inside the church, rocks are also used to symbolize this apparition.

A hanging rosary is also noticeable atop the altar.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

A gem located in the interior of Barangay Lahug, Cebu City is the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. 

This chapel was built by Dr. Virgilio Gonzales and his wife to fulfill a promise.

However, it suffered damage during the World War. Despite this, its bell tower, facade featuring the statue of St. Therese, pillars, and flooring remain intact to this day. The community came together to rebuild the church, completing the restoration by 1961.

Today, it is a crowd favorite because of its cozy interior. Above the altar, a quote by St. Therese is inscribed on the wall, while natural light seeps in the glass windows behind the cross. 

The exterior of the shrine features a modernist architectural touch. The arch windows near the door are filled with colorful stained glass with symbols that depict Saint Therese. — All photos by Annie Perez