The Cathedral of San Sebastian (Bacolod City)
Fr. Mauridio Ferrero, O.A.R., the parish work of Bacolod (1871-1898; 1902-1910) was responsible for the striking structure of the Cathedra of San Sebastian. In 1825, the original church was constructed by Fr. Julian Gonzaga (parish priest 1818-1836). The ancient church was made of wood and galvanized roofing. It had one medium-sized bell until Fr. Roman Manuel Locsin donated a large bell and another priest, Fr. Mariano de Avila gave one when he became the parish priest in 1863 after the death of Fr. Locsin. The bell of Fr. De Avila was installed in the tower when the Cathedral was constructed in 1876, but lowered in 1969 when the towers were built. It was never returned there until 1976 when the Sugarlandia Lions Club of Bacolod constructed a special belfry where it hangs today with Fr. Ferrero’s small bell.
When Fr. Mauricio Ferrero took over in 1871, he initiated plans for the building of a bigger church made of coral stones. The plan was submitted to Bishop Mariano Cuartero of Jaro. It was on April 27, 1876 when the foundation stone was laid. Fr. Mauricio made an agreement with the politico-military governor, Roman Pastor for the use of the prisoners in the church construction. The governor agreed provided that Fr. Maurico also design and supervise the construction of a stone prison. The coral stones of the cathedral were cut from the deposits of Guimaras and brought by barge and lurches to Bacolod. The wooden parts were made from hardwood cut in Palawan.
On the eve of the feast of San Sebastian, January 19, 1882, Bishop Cuartero blessed the biggest church in the province. A pontifical mass was celebrated by the bishop the following day before a packed audience composed of government and church officials of the province and Iloilo. Parish priests and leading citizens of other towns joined the festivities.
The two towers that is present today were set up three years later. The right tower of the church was constructed first. Don Luis Ruiz de Luzurriaga, donated a huge clock that became the main keeper of the town. The left tower was constructed later. Both towers were made of aluminum sheet with hardwood framings. It was also in 1885 that the big organ was installed on a nave just above the church entrance. The organ was disassembled during the reconstruction of the church in 1969 and never returned.
In 1969, the two towers were demolished as a public hazard upon orders of the Bacolod City Engineer’s office. The rector of the cathedral, Fr. Antonio Santes raised funds to build the towers. A cathedral tower reconstruction committee engaged in fund raising activities.
The San Sebastian Cathedral was declared the cathedral church in 1933 when Bacolod became a diocese. In 1956, the second bishop of Bacolod, Bishop Manuel Yap, increased the prestige of the church when the consecrated it in solemn ceremonies after it was reconstructed. The main altar was simplified and a life-size statue of San Sebastian was enshrined. In the bosom of the Cathedral are the remains of Bishop Casimiro Lladoc, the first bishop of Bacolod and Bishop Manuel Yap, the second Bishop, as well as the remains of generous benefactors of the past decades.
The parish rectory, now the Bishop’s house was also constructed by Fr. Ferrero. The construction started on May 21, 1891 and was finished in 1894. The materials were taken from Palawan, while the coral stones were from Guimaras. Some of the bricks were locally made, masonry was mostly by Chinese artisans.
