Some of the treasures of the history of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and the environments and spaces where it has carried out its work throughout history and today.
All for the love of God and the Virgen del Carmen! This declaration by the prior of San Sebastian Convent in Manila, during those challenging times, encapsulates the motives, efforts, and struggles that accompanied the construction of the current Basilica of San Sebastian, the magnificent monument intended to honour Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The desire to provide a temple worthy and capable of withstanding the elements, which had demolished the previous structures within twenty years (1863, 1880), spurred the undertaking of this unique and costly church project, made entirely of steel, regardless of the astronomical costs or the technical and administrative hurdles, until its completion in just under eight years.
The success of this venture was the result of the collective aspiration of all involved: from the Spanish engineer Genaro Palacios, the architect/designer of the project, to the superiors who readily financed it, and the numerous religious who, with their hard work and donations, contributed to its fruition.
The inauguration, which was well-attended, occurred on 15 August 1891, presided over by the Archbishop of Manila.
The basilica measures 55 metres in length, 25 metres in width, and 52 metres in height. It required one thousand three hundred and fifty tons (1,350) of steel, resembling a colossal Meccano construction system. The steel components were forged in Binche, Belgium, and the disassembled parts were shipped to Manila in several voyages, to be reassembled there piece by piece under the supervision of two technicians from the Belgian company, led by the English engineer John H. Foreman.
The furnishings and interior decoration were crafted by local artisans. Among them were the young painters from the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura de Manila, the Academy of Drawing and Painting of Manila, who completed their work promptly. The splendid stained-glass windows, illustrating the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, were sourced from Linnich, Germany.
This magnificent creation contributed to the friars’ glory and Manila’s splendour, in tribute to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose devotion had spread from her sanctuary across the entire archipelago.
Since its inception, it has been the only church in Asia made entirely of steel. In 1973, it was designated a National Historical Landmark, and since 1982, its restoration has been funded by public monies. Nevertheless, the San Sebastian Recollect community has traditionally borne the costs for its liturgical services, maintenance, and restoration. On 16 May 2006, it was included in the World Monument Watch list, but it was removed in 2015 due to structural deterioration. San Sebastian Basilica was proclaimed a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on 15 August 2011.
