Binondo Church (Manila)

Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, located at Quentin Paredes St., Plaza Calderon de la Barca, Binondo. Another time capsule to Manila's Spanish heritage of the past, it was originally erected in 1596 under the rule of Spain, for the main purpose of the Spaniards to assimilate the growing numbers of Chinese migrants into Christianity for the fear of a Chinese-led rebellion.

Spaniards in Asia was to spread Catholicism, the Dominicans were assigned to evangelize the Chinese. They accepted the task, hoping that their work in the Philippines would help spread their reputation to China and eventually, would open a door for them to minister inside. They immersed themselves in learning the language and custom of the Chinese in order to be more effective.

If you love history and by chance visiting Manila, Binondo Church is one place with the richness of it's past. As mentioned churches are time capsules that bring you back in time, I would bet you din't expect what these magnificent stractures of the past could have just instore for you.