Romblon Cathedral

The Romblon Cathedral (Filipino: Katedral ng Romblon), officially the Saint Joseph Cathedral Parish (Filipino: Parokyang Katedral ni San Jose), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Romblon town, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. One of the province's known landmarks, it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Romblon[1] and was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001 by the National Museum of the Philippines.[2][3]

Romblon Cathedral
Saint Joseph Cathedral Parish
Parokyang Katedral ni San Jose
Catedral Parroquial de San Jose
Romblon Cathedral in 2012
Romblon Cathedral is located in Luzon
Romblon Cathedral
Romblon Cathedral
Location in Luzon
Romblon Cathedral is located in Philippines
Romblon Cathedral
Romblon Cathedral
Romblon Cathedral (Philippines)
12°34′33″N 122°16′10″E
LocationRomblon, Romblon
Country Philippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusCathedral
Founded1635
DedicationSaint Joseph
Dedicated1644
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationNational Cultural Treasure
Architectural typeChurch
StyleBaroque, Fortress church
Administration
ArchdioceseCapiz
DioceseRomblon
Clergy
Bishop(s)Narciso Villaver Abellana

History

In 1631, the Christian community in Romblon island where the cathedral stands today was formally organized. The island faced the same fate with the adjacent Tablas, Sibuyan and nearby Marinduque, having been frequented by Moro raiders from the south. When the Portuguese Recollect friar Agustin de San Pedro from Cagayan de Misamis in Mindanao was transferred to Romblon in 1644, he immediately spearheaded the construction of the Romblon's church and belfry due to the said raid attacks. Also because of the attacks, he trained the natives to defend themselves with military armaments and ordered constructions of structures that fortified the island, earning him the moniker "El Padre Capitan". Constructions of the Fuerza San Andres and Fuerza Santiago overlooking the town in 1644, Banton's church and convent including its perimeter walls, and the fortress at Banton's hills, were all under his helm. The church's rear side was placed against the mountainside for stability while the front of the bay inlet facing the town was constructed with a continuous wall-gate for protection.

The first decades of the 18th century saw most of the constructions that comprise the cathedral today. In 1726, the retablo mayor was built, alongside the two smaller retablos facing each other at the transept. Another level of the belfry was added in the following year, 1727. Romblon received a replica image of the famed Cebu Santo Niño and enshrined it in the church in 1728. The church and its parts were damaged caused by typhoons in 1780 and 1829, which were all rebuilt and reconstructed throughout the 19th century.[4][5][6]

In 1974, the church of Romblon became a cathedral when the Diocese of Romblon was founded.[1] In 1992, the cathedral-enshrined image of Santo Niño de Romblon went missing and was returned to Romblon in 2013.[7] The cathedral was installed with its National Cultural Treasure marker in 2013 even though it was designated as such in 2001.[3]

  • National Cultural Treasure marker
    National Cultural Treasure marker
  • Archways at the cathedral's facade
    Archways at the cathedral's facade
  • Romblon Cathedral convent
    Romblon Cathedral convent
  • The cathedral's belfry
    The cathedral's belfry
  • Buttresses at the cathedral's lateral wall
    Buttresses at the cathedral's lateral wall
  • Laminated image of Sto. Niño de Romblon that was lost for almost 22 years
    Laminated image of Sto. Niño de Romblon that was lost for almost 22 years[7]
  • The cathedral's choir loft
    The cathedral's choir loft

References
  1. "St. Joseph Cathedral Romblon, ROMBLON, MIMAROPA, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. "The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP)". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  3. "Romblon cathedral, ancient Hispanic forts declared National Cultural Treasures". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  4. "Romblon Province". Romblon Provincial Government. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. "Fr Agustin de San Pedro Marker". Wikimedia Commons.
  6. "Romblon Cathedral". iCatholicPH Roman Catholic Church News. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. "Stolen Santo Niño image found, returned after 22 years". GMA News. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
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