Description of the attraction
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Tagbilaran is one of the first parishes founded on the island of Bohol by the Jesuit mission in 1595. It stands in the very center of the city - at the intersection of Carlos Garcia Avenue and Torralba Street. The main square of Tagbilaran, famous for its flocks of pigeons, stretches right in front of him, and the provincial Capitol rises opposite.
In 1767, the cathedral was dedicated to Joseph the Betrothed, one of the most revered saints by the Jesuits. After the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines, their place was taken by monks from the order of recollects. The current cathedral stands on the site of the first church built in Tagbilaran and demolished in 1798. Like most of the old churches, the cathedral is shaped like a cross at the base. In 1872, a 2-storey monastery was added to it, and in 1888 the construction of the bell tower was completed. In the same year, the reconstruction of the cathedral began, during which iron cornices, wooden ceilings and candelabra were installed. The cross, installed in front of the cathedral in 1828, was restored much later - in 1949. Unfortunately, during the renovation work undertaken after the Second World War, century-old frescoes depicting biblical scenes were destroyed. In the 1970s, the facade of the cathedral was completely redesigned and the massive stone walls that had once served as a defense against pirate raids were removed.
The current facade of the cathedral, decorated with arched vaults, is made in a neo-Romanesque style. A portico was built in front of the main entrance, where you can see the statue of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the city and the entire island of Bohol. Inside, there are altars made in the 18th century in the Baroque style. The main altar, simple yet elegant, is adorned with gold. In the center is the image of St. Joseph - it has also survived to this day from the 18th century. To the left of it you can see the image of St. Roch and St. Vincent. And above them rises the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes.
