Santo Domingo Church

The Santo Domingo Church, also known as National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila (Spanish: Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de La Naval de Manila; Filipino: Pambansang Dambana ng Mahál na Birhen ng Santísimo Rosario ng La Naval), is the largest church in Metro Manila and one of the biggest churches in Asia. It is a massive church complex that includes the mother house of the Filipino Dominicans, which is the center of Dominican activities in the archipelago and the Filipino Dominicans who have been sent to other parts of the world.HistoryEarly church (1587)The first Catholic missionaries to arrive in Manila were Spanish Agustinians who came in 1571 with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The Francsicans came a few years later, in 1578. It was in 1587 that the first Dominicans arrived in Manila from Cádiz (Spain). They were welcomed by Domingo Salazar, Bishop of Manila. The order temporarily stayed at the Franciscan convent in Manila while some of them were sent to Pangasinan and Bataan to start their missionary work. Salazar sponsored 3,000 pesos for the construction of the church and 300 pesos for the purchase of land. A small church was erected on August 6, 1587, made from light materials. In January 1, 1588, the chapel was inaugurated and it enshrined the Miraculous image of Our Lady of the Rosary from Mexico.