Information about Binondo Church

Binondo Church

Binondo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, is located in the Binondo District of Manila, fronting Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, in the Philippines. Dominican priests founded this church in 1596 to support their Chinese converts to Christianity.

The original structure was demolished in 1762 by British bombardment. A new granite church was built on the same site in 1852, but it was extensively destroyed during WWII, with only the western exterior and the octagonal belfry remaining.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, a Filipino-Chinese descent, was educated in this church before going to a missionary in Japan, where he and his companions were martyred for declining to renounce Christianity. Lorenzo is the Philippines' first saint, and he was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987. A massive statue of the saint stands in front of the cathedral.

Masses are preserved in Filipino, Mandarin, Hokkien, and English. Rev. Fr. Andy O. Lim is the parish priest and rector at the moment.

How to get there

Take an FX/jeep to Divisoria from Taft Avenue and get off at Ongpin Street corner Q. Paredes. Binondo Church is the notable landmark here.

Best time to visit

You can visit Binondo Church anytime of day.