St. Joseph shrine outlines design for basilica status

CEBU, Philippines — The National Shrine of St. Joseph presented an initial look at the preliminary schematic plan of the church to the public during a stakeholders’ meeting held yesterday, March 19, as its application to become a basilica moves forward.

Fr. Ian Fel Balankig, a member of the shrine’s Team of Pastors, together with Architect Roy John de Guzman of RDG Ecclesiastical Architecture, shared the recent developments of the church during the meeting.

Fr. Balankig said the gathering was also intended to give stakeholders a sense of ownership of the project, especially since the construction is expected to cost more than P100 million. He added that once stakeholders take ownership of the project, completing the construction would be much easier.

He said the church welcomes families who wish to take ownership of specific components of the project or contribute any amount in donations to help fulfill the shared dream of the church.

“God willing, we will construct this simultaneously, if they would commit. That is why we laid out all the plans for all the development, (kahit) iba iba ang contractor but just follow this plan so that pasok tayo sa timeline,” Fr. Balankig said.

The priest added that Archbishop Abet Uy hopes that in less than six years, the application for basilica status can be presented to Rome. By 2029, they hope to submit the required documents.

The architect said they will retain the current interior design of the church and continue it to its exterior facilities, which follows a turn-of-the-century style influenced by Neoclassicism and the American period.

Last November, the team began studying the condition of the church to determine what is lacking and what still needs to be assessed, including structural and electrical concerns.

De Guzman explained that the design presented is not yet final, as consultations with stakeholders are still ongoing. Whatever decision is reached, he said, will determine their next steps.

“It is not yet the final design, but we have to have synodality with the stakeholders first. Again, the church is for the people,” the architect said.

Based on the initial schematic plan, the team intends to improve and extend the church façade and reorganize the entrance and exit to better manage traffic flow, the pilgrimage area, and bus parking.

De Guzman said that during major religious celebrations such as the Lenten season, the number of pilgrim buses visiting a basilica can reach three to four at a time. He said,  having a proper parking area or wider space is crucial.

They also plan to improve the existing candle area in a way that fosters greater reverence and aligns with Cebuano faith traditions.

The plans further include the construction of proper comfort rooms, a designated area for security personnel, a coffee shop in partnership with the private sector, a gift shop, and what is planned to be the biggest museum in the country dedicated to St. Joseph.

These facilities are expected to generate income for the soon-to-be basilica and ensure its long-term financial sustainability. According to Fr. Balankig, one of the requirements for becoming a basilica is the church structure itself.

“It is also part of the experience na ang pilgrims after nila og visit sa church, they go to the museum and buy some mementos and tokens with their tokens at the gift shop, and while waiting for the rest nga naa sa simbahan, they can visit the coffee shop,” Fr. Balankig said, noting that these facilities should be part of the pilgrims’ overall experience.

Other requirements include the history of the church and the devotion to its patron saint.

Fr. Balankig also highlighted the importance of support from the local government unit, particularly in developing the city’s tourism sector, noting that attaining basilica status also brings economic benefits.

Meanwhile, De Guzman said their case study for the project is the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross, whose structure was completed in 2018 and was elevated to a basilica in 2023.

The architect added that the Association of Shrines and Basilicas of the Philippines noted that the church attained basilica status within six years because of its complete facilities, which is why he intends to apply the same approach to the shrine.

“The architecture, hindi siya nagsisimula sa building, nagsisimula siya saan nanggaling ang mga users, ang mga pilgrims,” De Guzman said, adding that the basis of their study is the volume of people during the Traslacion in Mandaue during the Fiesta Señor of Señor Sto. Niño every January.

To recall, the application for basilica status began in 2019, and the shrine formally sent its letter of intention to Rome in 2023. The current development of the shrine are some of the requirements they need to fulfill to obtain basilica status. – IHM (CEBU NEWS)