The Saint John the Baptist Cathedral and Diocesan Shrine of the Santo Niño de Kalibo, commonly known as the Kalibo Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines. The cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Kalibo, and is situated near the Aklan River.[1]

Kalibo Cathedral
  • Saint John the Baptist Cathedral
  • Diocesan Shrine of the Santo Niño de Kalibo
  • Parokya Katedral it San Juan Bautista (Filipino)
  • Parroquia Catedral de San Juan el Bautista (Spanish)
  • Santuario Diocesano del Santo Niño (Spanish)
Cathedral facade in 2022
Kalibo Cathedral is located in Visayas
Kalibo Cathedral
Kalibo Cathedral
Location in the Visayas
Kalibo Cathedral is located in Philippines
Kalibo Cathedral
Kalibo Cathedral
Location in the Philippines
11°42′37″N 122°21′49″E / 11.710278°N 122.363611°E / 11.710278; 122.363611
LocationKalibo, Aklan
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusCathedral
Founded1581, 1680, 1804
DedicationSaint John the Baptist
Consecrated1804
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleBaroque, Modern
Completed1804, 1886, 1947
Demolished1885, 1990
Administration
ArchdioceseCapiz
DioceseKalibo
Clergy
Bishop(s)Jose Corazon T. Tala-oc

History

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The cathedral in 2013 with orange painted pilasters

The cathedral stands as the oldest edifice of worship in the province of Aklan.[2] The mission in Kalibo was founded by the Augustinians in 1581. Saint John the Baptist was chosen as the patron saint when the Kalibo mission was promoted into a parish in 1680. The town site then was at Barrio Laguinbanua in Numancia, 2 kilometres (1 mile) away from the Kalibo present site.[3]

A church was constructed in Laguinbanua but when the town transferred site to its present location in 1804, another church was erected which is the cathedral at present. In 1826, both the church and convent were completed. On May 24, 1885, a massive fire razed the town including the convent which was reconstructed the following year, 1886.

 
Cathedral interior in 2022

In 1947, after the World War II, Gabriel M. Reyes, Archbishop of Cebu and later of Manila, personally took a hand in the church reconstruction and remodeling. In 1976, the parish church of Kalibo elevated into a cathedral when the Diocese of Kalibo was erected.[4] On June 14, 1990, an intensity 7.1 earthquake hit Panay Island at 3:41 P.M. with the epicenter at Culasi. The cathedral that is made of bricks suffered cracks on its walls. Then Kalibo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, restored and improved the church to accommodate more pilgrims who come to celebrate the feast of the Santo Niño.[3]

Retaining some of the lines characteristic of the post-war church that alludes to earlier church styles, the cathedral of Kalibo is of modern construction. Its architectural design was crafted by the renowned national artist Leandro V. Locsin.[2] Though the principal patron and titular of Kalibo is John the Baptist, the center of attention in this church is the image of the Santo Niño, in whose honor the annual Ati-atihan is celebrated every January.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Diocesan Shrine of Santo Niño Kalibo, AKLAN, WESTERN VISAYAS, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Vibrant Kalibo". Aklan Provincial Government. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Vibrant Kalibo". Kalibo Municipal Government. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Kalibo Cathedral Historical Timeline". Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist- Diocese of Kalibo. March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
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