Minor Basilica of San Sebastian — Attraction in Manila

STURDY SAN SEBASTIAN - The Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, better known as San Sebastian Church or San Sebastian Basilica, is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in Manila, Philippines. It is the church of the parish of San Sebastian. Noted for its Gothic Revival architecture and completed in 1891, San Sebastian Church is the only steel building church in the Philippines that was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011. San Sebastian Church is under the care of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who also operate the San Sebastian College adjacent to the basilica. It is located at Plaza del Carmen, at the eastern end of Recto Avenue, in Quiapo, Manila. In 1621, Bernardino Castillo, a generous patron and a devotee of 3rd century Roman martyr Saint Sebastian, donated the land upon which the church stands. The original structure, made of wood, burned in 1651 during a Chinese Filipino uprising. Succeeding structures, which were built of brick, were destroyed by fire and earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880. Spanish Architect Genaro Palacios was commissioned to build a church that will withstand the earthquakes and completed a design that fused Earthquake Baroque with the Neo-Gothic style. His final design was said to have been inspired by the famed Gothic Burgos Cathedral in Burgos, Spain. The first shipments of pre-fabricated steel sections arrived in 1888 and supervised by Belgian engineers, the first steel column was erected in 1890. The church was completed and consecrated on August 16, 1891. On May 16, 2006, San Sebastian Church was included by the National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) in the Philippines' Tentative List for possible designation as a World Heritage Site, on account of its architectural and historical heritage. As of 2017, the church is no longer included in the Tentative List. In recent years, San Sebastian Church has encountered threats to its structural integrity. The steel structure has been beset by rust and corrosion due to sea breezes from nearby Manila Bay. State funding was accorded to the church through the National Historical Institute which undertook restoration in 1982. The Recollect community has likewise expended funds for the church's maintenance and restoration. In 1998, it was placed on the biennial watchlist of the 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund, though it was not retained in the subsequent watchlists. It has long been reputed that Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer behind the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, was involved in the design and construction of San Sebastián, but this was never confirmed. However, it was confirmed later on that Eiffel was involved in designing and supplying the metal framework for San Ignacio Church in Intramuros not in...

Appointed as a Jubilee 2025 pilgrim church, the Minor Basilica and Parish of San Sebastian is also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and commonly known as San Sebastian Church, a Roman Catholic Church under the Archdiocese of Manila.

This grand, awesome church built entirely of steel and completed in 1891 still retains it’s grandeur in the interiors (or maybe the wear and tear is not so obvious in the dark) but is sadly in need of urgent restoration in the exteriors.

Assistance and support is currently underway in facebook, twitter and instagram #SaveSanSebastian or #savessbasilica.

I hope these fund raising efforts will be successful to restore the glory of this spectacular structure.

The interior has Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the center of the altar flanked by a multitude of saints. The votive offerings are located outside in the open air. The baptistery is located deep in the interior of the church and not easily accessible. Confessionals are to the left of the main entrance.

Today, being St Rita of Cascia’s feast day, her life size image is displayed in the forefront of the altar. Earlier in the day, there must have also have been a procession because another image of St Rita stands surrounded by fresh roses in a carriage outside the church.

Within the same compound as minor basilica is Sta Rita College which also has its own chapel on the 2nd floor of the building across the entrance of San Sebastian and there in the Sta Rita College chapel are 2 first class relics of Sta Rita de Cascia.

If in San Sebastian, the Sta Rita College chapel is definitely worth a visit. Normally the relics are not on display but try to ask the Augustinian sisters in charge. They’re very friendly and...

Minor Basilica of San Sebastian and Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Archdiocese of Manila) – I visited this place today, driven by an eagerness that did not disappoint me. The moment I laid eyes on it, I was hypnotized by its grandeur. This is perhaps the most intricate structure I’ve seen, both in its exterior and interior. At present, it’s still under reconstruction, so any donations to help preserve it are deeply appreciated.

Out of curiosity, I knocked on one of the pillars and discovered that the building is entirely made of metal—a fascinating detail. In fact, San Sebastian Basilica is the only all-steel church in Asia and the first pre-fabricated steel building in the world. Built in 1891, it showcases a stunning Neo-Gothic style with towering spires, pointed arches, and impressive stained glass windows crafted in Germany. The steel parts were manufactured in Belgium and shipped to Manila piece by piece, then assembled on-site, making it a marvel of 19th-century engineering.

Fun fact: Its construction was overseen by Spanish architect Genaro Palacios, and legend has it that Gustave Eiffel (yes, the man behind the Eiffel Tower) may have been consulted for the design. Whether true or not, the church remains a masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage candidate.

Parking is widely available for both cars and motorcycles, and there is no parking fee, making it very convenient...