Tuguegarao: St. Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

I’ve known Tuguegarao since I was a kid for having the highest recorded temperature in the Philippines, it was on April 29, 1912 and May 11, 1969 at screaming 42.2°C. The average temperature is hitting 38°C during March and April. I never thought of visiting this very hot city until we booked a plane ticket to Tuguegarao for piso fare.

After we landed at the city of Tuguegarao, we went straight to our hotel just to drop our backpacks and started our city tour. First on the list is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Tuguegarao or also known as the St. Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. Its facade is made of red bricks highlighted with white columns. It is located at the St. Peter and Paul Complex, Rizal Street in the town proper. 

  

It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. This cathedral with the belfry is the biggest Spanish-built church in Region II. It was built by Spanish colonist and was constructed by the supervision of Fr. Antonio Lobato, OP on January 1761 to 1767.   

St. Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral also played an important role in Roman Catholic Church for evangelizing the people of Tuguegarao, Cagayan and the rest of the region.

After the wrath of World War II, it suffered an enormous destruction and was reconstructed by Msgr. Bishop Constnace Jurgen who was entombed inside the church. The picture of the Cathedral appears at the Rome Basilica for it is considered one of the most astonishing works of art in the world.