An Exclusive Look Inside Manila Cathedral's Hidden Spots!
- Patricia Herbolario
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
There is a running joke that, should you want to get married in Manila Cathedral, you should book your wedding date before you even find a spouse, because the waiting list is oh-so ridiculously long. Even I haven't been inside the Cathedral since its "new" renovation, so when my friends from Kanto asked me to cover this special tour with Renacimiento Manila, I couldn't say no!
Directly under the altar is the crypt dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, with a beautiful mural by Marcello Avenali. The crypt is the final resting place of the Archbishops of Manila, past and future. Grim, I know! During the pandemic, the crypt is also where the Manila Cathedral held its online masses. This area is closed off to the publi,c but we were lucky enough to be given a chance to see it! A fun fact about the Cathedral is that you don't have to see the crypt to pay respects to the Cardinals as their hats actually hang up in the cathedral right before the altar in a if-you-know-you-know moment. I believe that their respective seals also adorn the nave flooring.
Working our way up to the choir loft, we got to see the largest Pipe Organ in the Philippines, once the largest in Southeast Asia. The loft offers a beautiful view of the nave, and a stained glass window was actually our way up to the rose window. I was surprised to see cement pineapples atop the Manila Cathedral, as St. Paul's in London also has golden pineapples on top of its towers, which were meant to symbolize hospitality and luxury. In Manila Cathedral, the symbolism is much more "emotional". Apparently, pineapples once planted and picked from will always grow in the same spot. For gamers, this is like a save spot; you will always respawn in this same location. This is a symbolic reference to Manila Cathedral's multiple devastations (once burned down by a fire, another time bombed in 1945) and multiple renewals: the Church always regrows in the same spot.
Climbing up the Belfry tower to get closer to the Rose Window felt like a Wicked moment, climbing up stairs like Elphaba and Glinda! The Rose Window is composed of 12 petals, each symbolizing Jesus's Apostles and their martyrdom for their Faith. Each petal is connected to the center, symbolizing Christ. The rose window overlooks the plaza, as if watching over the people of Manila.
Although not part of the tour, I decided to get an iced coffee at the Belfry Tower to refresh myself after climbing up and down the Manila Cathedral as recommended by our tour guide, Architect Miguel. The Belfry Cafe houses seven bells which were removed from the main tower to lighten its load by 17 tons! Don't worry, the bells are retired so you can sip your coffee and snack in peace. Prices are standard cafe prices at Php185 for an ice blended coffee.
Renacimiento Manila is a group of creatives with a passion to preserve and present the cultural heritage of the Philippines to everyone. For more tours like this one, make sure to check their website and socials!
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