The San Sebastian Basilica
Quiapo, Manila
PUBLISHED August 15, 2016
PHOTOS | WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO
The steel frame and architectural details of this church make it an ideal setting for prayer, sightseeing—and photography. I was able to take beautiful photos from every angle and capture intricate details. The church’s rustic elements give it a real sense of history.
- Quiapo, Manila
San Sebastian Basilica is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located in Quiapo, Manila. It’s also known as Minor Basilica of San Sebastian or San Sebastian Church, and it’s both a parish church and a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nuestra Senora del Monte Carmelo.
A steel building church built in 1891 in the Philippines is one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country, and it is regarded as the only steel-built church in the Philippines. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011. The church is under the care of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who also operate the San Sebastian College-Recoletos adjacent to the basilica. It is located at Plaza del Carmen, at the eastern end of Recto Avenue, in Quiapo, Manila.
- Quiapo, Manila
The Beauty of
San Sebastian Basilica
The steel frame and architectural details of this church make it an ideal setting for prayer, sightseeing—and photography. I was able to take beautiful photos from every angle and capture intricate details. The church’s rustic elements give it a real sense of history.
PHOTOS | WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO
PUBLISHED August 15, 2016
San Sebastian Basilica is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located in Quiapo, Manila. It’s also known as Minor Basilica of San Sebastian or San Sebastian Church, and it’s both a parish church and a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nuestra Senora del Monte Carmelo.
A steel building church built in 1891 in the Philippines is one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country, and it is regarded as the only steel-built church in the Philippines. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011. The church is under the care of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who also operate the San Sebastian College-Recoletos adjacent to the basilica. It is located at Plaza del Carmen, at the eastern end of Recto Avenue, in Quiapo, Manila.
San Sebastian Basilica is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located in Quiapo, Manila. It’s also known as Minor Basilica of San Sebastian or San Sebastian Church, and it’s both a parish church and a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nuestra Senora del Monte Carmelo.
A steel building church built in 1891 in the Philippines is one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country, and it is regarded as the only steel-built church in the Philippines. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011. The church is under the care of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who also operate the San Sebastian College-Recoletos adjacent to the basilica. It is located at Plaza del Carmen, at the eastern end of Recto Avenue, in Quiapo, Manila.
ABOVE | The steel-made San Sebastian Basilica, with its towering spires and light blue facade, is unique among churches for its materials. It’s also a witness to history—a symbol of Filipino faith.
Those prefabricated steel sections were made in Binche, Belgium. From Belgium to the Philippines, 52 metric tons (51 long tons; 57 short tons) of prefabricated steel sections were shipped in eight shipments, the first of which arrived in 1888. In September 1890, Belgian engineers erected the first column of the church, which was filled with mixed sand, gravel, and cement. The stained glass windows were imported from Heinrich Oidtmann, a German stained glass company, and finishing touches were done by local artisans.
LEFT | Upon entering the basilica, one sees on the right a statue of Immaculate Heart of Mary and an ornate spiral staircase leading to the choir loft.
RIGHT | A large crucifix hangs on the right side of this basilica’s entrance, and it is made from wood—appears old and has been prayed over many times by people through history. The Filipino custom of touching Christ’s feet while praying shows respect for him; one feels that the crucifix bears witness to their devotion.
On June 24, 1890, Pope Leo XIII raised the church to the status of a minor basilica. On August 16, 1891, Bernardino Nozaleda y Villa OP, the 25th Archbishop of Manila, consecrated the Basilica Minor de San Sebastian.
ABOVE | The Basilica’s dome ceiling is formed with steel, giving it an rustic feel. The altar stands out from the rest of the space—its intricate lines and golden tones brilliantly illuminated by white lights; in its center stands the venerated image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen (Our Lady of Carmel).
The structure of San Sebastian Basilica consists of two openwork towers and steel vaulting. The nave of the basilica rises 12 meters (39 ft) above the floor to the dome, and 32 meters (105 ft) above the twin spires from its floor. As a result of the faux finished interior of the church, there are groined vaults crafted according to Gothic architecture style, which provides ample illumination through lateral windows.
ABOVE | The San Sebastian Basilica, one of Manila’s most famous landmarks, is grandeured by its huge stained-glass windows. They are said to be some of the most beautiful in all—and that’s not surprising: The basilica itself has rustic feels and glamour; this combination makes it a favorite among Filipinos.
There are confessionals, pulpit, altars, and five retablos, all of which were designed by Lorenzo Guerrero and Rocha in the Gothic revival style. The statues are carved by Eusebio Garcia. In the church, six holy water fountains are built from marble from Romblon.
ABOVE |Â Church leaders and other attendants prepared for the entrance procession into the San Sebastian Basilica. The basilica’s interior was illuminated by warm-toned lights during evening mass.
During the year 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos declared San Sebastian Basilica a historical landmark by issuing Presidential Decree No. 260 to mark it as a National Historical Landmark. Subsequently, on August 15, 2011, the National Museum of the Philippines declared the church a National Cultural Treasure, which was followed by the unveiling of its marker on January 20, 2012.
UPPER PHOTOS | The workers took a break from their work on the basilica, which was undergoing rehabilitation due to corrosion in its steel supports.
LOWER PHOTOS | During Black Nazarene feast in Manila, held every January, thousands of pilgrims travel from all over the country to take part in a procession called “Dungaw” that dates back to the Spanish colonial period. The reenactment involves an image of Nazareno as it passes by one of Our Lady Mt. Carmel—the basilica patroness.
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