Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle — Attraction in Vigan

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Nueva Segovia: A Testament of Faith and Resilience

As the stronghold of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, the Metropolitan Cathedral stands as a beacon of faith, even as it bears the scars of the 2022 earthquake. Though still undergoing restoration, it remains open to the public, allowing the faithful to pray and reflect within its sacred walls. Despite the ongoing repairs, pews are still available for visitors, and half of the cathedral remains accessible for worship.

At the heart of its marvelous altar are the historical images of Jesus of Nazareth and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, enshrined in the low mass altars. However, what truly sets this cathedral apart from others I’ve visited is its old Spanish-era paintings displaying the promises of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to His devotees. Seeing this made me realize why most Ilocano churches prominently enshrine the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in their main retablos—faith and tradition deeply intertwined.

Another remarkable treasure of the cathedral is the venerable remains of Archbishop Alfredo Versoza, a persecuted clergyman in his time for his testament to the apparition of Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace, in his former Archdiocese of Lipa. I prayed through his intercession, hoping for the full restoration of this sacred seat of faith and for a renewed devotion among Filipinos to Jesus’ Blessed Mother, the Mediatrix of All Grace.

I look forward to the cathedral’s complete restoration, and I will certainly update my review once that day comes. May this place continue to stand as a symbol of unwavering faith for both locals and...

[During pandemic] Like all churches in this period, the cathedral is only open on certain times of the day to a limited number of church goers.

This is also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. And because of its location, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The stone structure was built in the 17th century. From what I've read, it has been damaged by the major earthquakes of the period and consequently reinforced and rebuilt in baroque style of the 18th century. You'll notice too that the belfry is detached from the structure of the church. While the façade may not be as impressive as the other historical churches, the interior is just awesome. The main alter is stupendous with its silver panels. It has canonic choir loft that maximizes the big church's over all acoustics. As a whole, it is airy, bright and conducive for reflection and contemplation.

A tour of this historic town wouldn't be complete without stopping by the Vigan Cathedral. Anyway, all points of interests are actually adjacent...

Such a pretty place to visit. The old, narrow streets and the enchanting open capiz windows will transport you back to an era where people around you were busy going about their day wearing filipiñana and barong. How positively glorious would that be to witness that in person? Times like this i am reminded of how old my soul feels.

Just a piece of advice, make sure to visit this place in the afternoon. My companions and i arrived at abt 12 noon so the restaurants were packed with customers dining in and the streets deserted because of the unforgiving heat that has given me a massive headache but still was worth it! I will definitely be...