Manila Cathedral releases book on its restoration as cultural legacy

The Manila Cathedral on Saturday launched its coffee table book "Manila Cathedral: Restoring A Monument to Faith, Architecture and History" which focuses on the restoration works done in the Cathedral in 2012 to 2014.

The book will serve as a resource material for heritage conservation of the cathedral, which is also known as the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Caccia, former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, and GT Foundation’s Alfred Ty graced the book's launching.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Caccia, former CJ Artemio Panganiban, and GT Foundation’s Alfred Ty attend the launching of the book “Manila Cathedral: Restoring a Monument to Faith, Architecture and History” at the Manila Cathedral today pic.twitter.com/TtbgsOLZX6

— Jamil Santos (@Jamil_Santos02) March 9, 2019

The book includes the never-before-seen archival photos and old architectural plans on its rebuilding from 1952 to 1958 after being heavily damaged during the World War II.

Gerard Lico, a University of the Philippines professor, historian and heritage conservationist, was tapped to be the book's executive editor, while professional photographer Marc Henrich Go was responsible for the high-resolution photos of the different structural details, works of art, and precious vessels of the Cathedral.

Father Regie Malicdem, Rector of the Manila Cathedral, indicated that the book is significant for the Catholic faithful as it is the "Mother Church" or the first cathedral in the Philippines.

The coffee table book is available at P2,500. —LBG, GMA News