Manila Cathedral (Intramuros, Manila)

With its intricate stone carvings, stained glass mosaics and rosette windows, the Manila Cathedral is a favorite venue for grand weddings. Located inside the historical walls of Intramuros, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila. When viewed from the air, the cathedral is said to be shaped like a giant cross. The Church of Manila was established by the secular Juan de Vivero who had the honor of baptizing Rajah Matanda. Vivero first arrived in these shores in 1566 as chaplain of the nao or galleon of San Geronimo which had come to support the Spanish colonization of the newly discovered islands. He was given the special privilege and sole faculty by the Archbishop of Miexico to establish the spiritual administration of the new Philippine colony. Later, Vivero would become the first vicar-general and the first ecclesiastical judge of Manila .