Luneta Park
Located along Roxas Boulevard, Manila and adjacent to the century-old walled city of Intramuros, the Luneta National Park, or “Luneta” as many refer to it,
The Binondo Church, situated in Manila’s Binondo District near Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, holds a rich historical significance. Initially named Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, it is now recognized as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, honoring the first Filipino saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, who served as an altar boy here in his youth, is the church’s patron.
The Binondo Church, situated in Manila’s Binondo District near Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, holds a rich historical significance. Initially named Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, it is now recognized as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, honoring the first Filipino saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, who served as an altar boy here in his youth, is the church’s patron.
The Binondo Church, situated in Manila’s Binondo District near Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, holds a rich historical significance. Initially named Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, it is now recognized as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, honoring the first Filipino saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, who served as an altar boy here in his youth, is the church’s patron.
The church’s original structure succumbed to British bombardment in 1762, leading to the construction of a new granite church on the same spot in 1852. Unfortunately, this church suffered severe damage during World War II, leaving only the western façade and the octagonal belfry standing.
The roots of the Chinese community in Manila predate Spanish arrival, but their population grew with increased trade during Spanish colonization. To accommodate the growing number of Chinese converts to Christianity, the Dominicans established this church in 1596. Later, in the 18th century, the church was relocated to its present site, necessitating a new construction due to termite damage to the original wooden roof.
In 1781, Domingo Cruz y Gonzales oversaw the construction of the dome. The granite church built in 1852, featuring a pagoda-like bell tower, reflects the Chinese heritage of its parishioners. Despite facing destruction during the British invasion of 1762 and an earthquake in 1863, the church was rebuilt in the grandeur we see today.
Once hailed as one of the country’s most beautiful churches, it boasted a five-story octagonal bell tower with a mirador on top. Unfortunately, the tower’s roof was destroyed during the 1863 earthquake. The church endured further devastation during the bombing on September 22, 1944, leaving only stone walls and the octagonal bell tower intact. Post-war, Binondo parishioners lived without a roof until the church’s reconstruction in the 1950s.
Today, the Binondo Church stands as a symbol of the city’s tradition of tolerance and cultural diversity. It continues to be a place of worship for the Filipino-Chinese community, embodying an essential landmark that honors the contributions of the Chinese community to the country’s history.
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