Nowhere else in Asia can you find an all-steel, Neo-gothic revival Basilica but in the Quiapo district of Manila. After three of its predecessors gets destroyed by fires and earthquakes, it was decided that steel, an unconventional material be used to create a church that would withstand the shaky foundation of Manila.
The church is reputedly related to the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Eiffel tower in Paris. How? It is said that in the church’s plans, Eiffel was responsible for the metalworks, a task only a few during that period could handle. It is also said that the church is the first and only prefabricated steel church in the world.
The design of the church was by Don Genaro Palacios of Spain who was inspired by the Gothic Burgos cathedral in Burgos, Spain. The Academy of Lorenzo Rocha on the other hand was in charge of the interiors of the church. The steel used for the frames is from Belgium while the stained glass came from Germany.
This church, a stone’s throw away from the Legarda Station of the LRT2, is a terrific example of man’s ingenuity and resourcefulness as well as the Filipino history’s multi-cultural encounters. The church is unfortunately on the World Monument Fund’s watchlist for the steel which it is made of has rust and corrosion as its main enemy. Make sure to drop by this incredible structure while on your stay in the Philippine capital.
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