Cathedral Parish of St. Roch

Commonly known as Caloocan Cathedral, it is the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalookan.  The cathedral, dedicated St. Roch (San Roque in the Philippines), started as a small visita (chapel-of-ease) initiated by Manuel Vaquero (assistant priest of Tondo, Manila) in 1765 in Libis Aromahan (Sitio de Espinas), one of the districts of Caloocan. In 1819, a new and bigger church was constructed by Vicente de San Francisco Xavier on its present site in Paltok, an elevated district in the town of Caloocan, and was finished in 1847 under Cipriano Garcia.

Historical plaque installed by the National Historical Commission in 2022

During the Philippine Revolution against the Spaniards, San Roque Church served as the meeting place of the Katipuneros coming from the west coast of Manila going to Balintawak. On February 10, 1899, during the Philippine–American War, the church was partly destroyed by US forces when Gen. Antonio Luna sought refuge at the church.

The main entrance

After its capture, the Americans used the whole area around the church as a field hospital. In 1900, American Gen. Arthur MacArthur, Jr. invaded Caloocan and San Roque Church was made caballeriza by the regiment of Col. Frederick Funston.

Entrance portico and driveway

In 1914, after the war, the church was reconstructed by the Confradia de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus under the administration of parish priest Fr.Victor Raymundo.

In 1934, Eusebio Carreon put black and white tiles along the aisles and, in 1947, Pedro Abad renovated the façade.  In 1962, Pedro Vicedo built additional wings on both sides of the church. In 1979, Fr. Boanerges “Ben” A. Lechuga renovated the church and, on November 30, 1981, it was blessed by Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin.

The new cathedral wing

In the Jubilee Year 2000, San Roque Church was declared one of the Jubilee Churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.  After the new Diocese of Kalookan was created by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 2003, the church was elevated to a cathedral. On December 11, 2015, a relic from the bone of St. Roch, a gift from Pope Francis for the 200th anniversary of the parish, was brought out for public veneration in a vigil and deposited to the altar table during the dedication rite of the cathedral. On August 13, 2017, another bone relic of St. Roch was given to the cathedral from the Chapel of the Holy Relics in Cebu.

1899 photo of the church facade

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

The 1947 and 1979 renovations may have made a number of changes to church’s 1899 Baroque-style façade.   The first level still features statued niches and Tuscan and flat pilasters.  However, the entrance portico and flanking undulating walls and wings are new additions. The portico features Composite columns and is topped by a triangular pediment with a raking cornice topped by a balustrade.  The main entrance, formerly semicircular arched, now has a segmental arch.  

The second level, with its original massive flat pilasters, now features semicircular arched windows instead of rectangular ones.  The pediment still has its massive, central, two-level bell tower with semicircular blind and open windows.  The second level, with a balustrade, houses the bell. However, the tower is now topped by an empty niche and a cross.

The cathedral interior

Cathedral Parish of St. Roch: cor. of 10th Ave. and A. Mabini St., Poblacion, 1400 Caloocan City,  Tel: 8288-5252 and 8287-3693.  Feast of St. Roch: August 16.

How to Get There: Callocan City is located 27.7 kms. (a 50-mins. drive from Manila, 19.2 kms. (a 45-min. drive) from Malabon City and 10.5 kms. (a 35-min. drive) from Valenzuela City.