The rose-colored Baguio Cathedral, located on top of a hill in the heart of the city, is one of the more familiar and most visited landmarks of Baguio. This beautiful structure has twin spires and is the most photographed structure in the city. From Session Road it is accessible by pedestrians who ascend a long concrete stairway of more than a hundred steps. Visitors and churchgoers who would rather avoid the difficult climb drive vehicles through an access road which passes behind the nearby post office building.

The construction of the cathedral by phases was begun on a hill which was originally referred to as “Kampo” by the native Ibalois. It was later called Mount Mary by a Belgian Catholic Mission headed by Fr. Carlu, CICM, who was then the parish priest. The cathedral was finally consecrated in 1936 and dedicated to Our Lady of Atonement. During World War II it became an evacuation center and withstood the Japanese carpet bombing of the city in 1945, thereby saving thousands of lives.

After the great earthquake of July 16, 1990, the Baguio Cathedral’s roof and east spire was damaged, although the building itself remained structurally sound. A sizable portion of the southwest corner lot gave way, an area reserved for a view deck overlooking Session Road and a parking lot. It would take more than five years before the lot and the Cathedral itself to be repaired.

Recent developments in the area surrounding the Baguio Cathedral include the Porta Vaga Mall (which is owned by the CICM), the redeveloped plaza in front of the Cathedral which also contains the Crucifixion statues as a centerpiece, and the rehabilitated staircases from Session Road and General Luna Street coming from Saint Louis University and the University of Baguio.

The Cathedral is also now flanked on all sides by ridiculously cheap looking awnings, severely destroying the views pre-war architecture. Also, the stairs leading from Session Road is also now covered by the said opaque plastic roofing, robbing pilgrims of the view of the church while going up the stairs.

Be warned though, parking is no longer free at the Cathedral premises.

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