Location: Tondo, Manila (Region NCR)
Category: Buildings/Structures
Type: House of Worship
Status: Level II – Historical marker
Marker date: 1939
Installed by: Philippines Historical Committee (PHC)
Marker text:
CHURCH OF TONDO
THE FIRST CATHOLIC MINISTER OF TONDO WAS THE REV. ALONSO DE ALVARADO, O.S.A. TONDO WAS THE RESIDENCE OF LAKAN-DULA WHO WAS BAPTIZED BY THE REV. MARTIN DE RADA, O.S.A. IN THE EARLY DAYS ITS ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION EXTENDED UP TO PASIG, CAINTA AND TAYTAY. TONDO WAS AN ACTIVE CENTER OF CATHOLIC ACTIVITIES AMONG THE CHINESE. THE FORMER CONVENT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1662 BY GOVERNOR SABINIANO MANRIQUE DE LARA AS A MILITARY PRECAUTION AGAINST THE EXPECTED ATTACK ON MANILA BY KUE-SING. THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT BY THE REV. MANUEL DIEZ, O.S.A., AND THE REV. CASIMIRO HERRERO, O.S.A., IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. SINCE THE EARLY DAYS THE TRADITIONAL FLUVIAL PROCESSION OF STO. NIÑO HAS ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO TONDO.