Puerto Princesa Cathedral

The Puerto Princesa Cathedral (Filipino: Katedral ng Puerto Princesa), also known as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish (Filipino: Parokyang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan in western Philippines. It is in the Neo-Gothic architectural tradition and is the mother church of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa which covers the municipalities of Palawan west of Puerto Princesa City.[1] It is located at the border of Barangay Matiyaga Poblacion and Liwanag Poblacion, near the Port of Puerto Princesa. At 118° east longitude, it is the westernmost cathedral in the country.[1]

Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish
Parokyang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi
Parroquia Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
Puerto Princesa Cathedral in 2012
Puerto Princesa Cathedral is located in Palawan
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Location in Palawan
Puerto Princesa Cathedral is located in Philippines
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Puerto Princesa Cathedral (Philippines)
9°44′26″N 118°43′48″E
LocationPuerto Princesa, Palawan
Country Philippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusCathedral
Founded1872
DedicationImmaculate Conception
Dedicated1872, 1961
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch
StyleNeo-Gothic
Completed1961
Administration
DioceseApostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
Clergy
Bishop(s)Socrates Calamba Mesiona

History

The first mass in Puerto Princesa, initially a barrio, was held at the site of the present cathedral on March 10, 1872 by the Augustinian Recollect Fray Ezequiél Moreno (now a saint), six days after the Spanish expedition arrived in the area.[2] Subsequently, Moreno established the town and its parish mission under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.[3]

Archival photo of the Church of Puerto Princesa, showing the facade in 1904. This was destroyed during the bombing of the Japanese during the Second World War.

During World War II, on December 14, 1944, the parish witnessed the Palawan massacre at the adjacent Plaza Cuartel where more or less 150 American soldiers were burned by the Imperial Japanese forces.[4][5]

The church has been rebuilt several times since its establishment, wherein the present structure took almost a century before it was completed in 1961 to serve as a cathedral of the then Palawan Apostolic Vicariate under the helm of Most Rev. Gregorio I. Espiga. The facade and interior are reminiscent of the architecture of churches in Medieval Europe.[5]

On December 8, 2014, on the cathedral's patronal feast day, the NHCP unveiled a historical marker of Saint Ezequiél Moreno, underlining his contribution to the founding of the city.[3] At present, the cathedral and the Rizal Park at its front, is usually included in the itinerary of city tour packages around Puerto Princesa, including, but not limited to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Palawan Heritage Center, Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village, and Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (Crocodile Farm).[6][7]

  • The cathedral and the Rizal Park as seen from a distance
    The cathedral and the Rizal Park as seen from a distance
  • The Neo-Gothic interior of the cathedral in 2008
    The Neo-Gothic interior of the cathedral in 2008
  • A view of the cathedral's left belfry
    A view of the cathedral's left belfry
  • A view of the cathedral's right belfry
    A view of the cathedral's right belfry

References
  1. "Immaculate Conception Cathedral Puerto Princesa City, PALAWAN, MIMAROPA, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. "Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral". Puerto Princesa City Tourism Department. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. "NHCP Unveils the San Exequiel Moreno Historical Marker". NHCP. November 28, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-29. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. "Plaza Cuartel marker". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  5. "Puerto Princesa's Historic Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral". Pinay Travelista. February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. "Puerto Princesa Cathedral". Ivan Travel. November 4, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. "Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral Palawan". thebackpackadventures. April 5, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
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