• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The San Diego Pro-Cathedral, in Silay City, Negros Occidental, marked its 100th anniversary on January 12 with a newly illuminated exterior.
The project is a collaboration between Negros Power, Silay City government, and the San Diego Parish, which also marked its 250th founding anniversary.
Engr. Bernard Bailey Del Castillo, who represented the Negros Power, turned over the illumination project to Parish Priest, Fr. Angelo Ansula, Mayor Joedith Gallego, and Tourism Officer Gerle Sulmaca, among local church leaders, after its blessing which was also attended by Reverend Father John Rixi Padparan.
In his speech, Fr. Ansula emphasized the significance of the San Diego Pro-Cathedral, which is not just as a place of worship, but as a symbol of hope, truth, and the enduring spirit of the community.
This beautiful illumination serves as a reminder of our unity and commitment to uplift our community’s spirit, Ansula said.
The San Diego Pro-Cathedral is an early 20th-century Romanesque structure designed by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi. It is notable as the only pro-cathedral in the Philippines and is unique in Negros Occidental for its distinct cupola (dome), which rises 40 meters above the nave.
Del Castillo, in his speech, said the illumination project showed how the San Diego Pro-Cathedral, the local government, and Negros Power worked together to celebrate and promote cultural heritage tourism.*
