SOUTHERN LEYTE – An ordinance was recently passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod officially declaring Maasin City as the “City of Faith.”
Atty. Rafael Cromwell Gerong, the primary author of Ordinance 2024-241, said that the “City of Faith” branding represents the Maasinhon’s strong faith—not just in religion but also in the city’s bright future. He said that Maasin’s proximity to Limasawa, the birthplace of Christianity in Asia, and its Maasin Cathedral, now a recognized national shrine, further solidify Maasin City’s status as a religious and cultural hub.
The Maasin Cathedral is a baroque style Roman Catholic Church built in the 1700s by the Jesuit Missionaries. The cathedral is now known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Assumption, a religious landmark that “houses century-old images of the patron saint, which were pontifically crowned in 2022.” Its declaration as national shrine has significantly boosted the influx of pilgrims and tourists, showcasing our unique heritage and faith,” Atty. Gerong said.
One must-see pilgrimage site is the Monte Cueva Shrine, now called as Most Precious Blood of Jesus Shrine, located in the middle of a wooded slope of a mountain in Sitio Basak, Barangay Rizal. The land was originally owned by Atty. Joaquin Chung, Jr., who built the shrine from a dream and later reportedly passed its ownership and management to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maasin. Located on a hill, pilgrims climb around 500 steps, with embedded 14 Stations of the Cross, up to the cave that was transformed into a unique chapel.
Looming the city on top the Jalleca Hills is the 36-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of Assumption that can be seen from afar either from sea or land. And the most popular religious site during Holy Week is the St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Barangay Hanginan, where thousands flock, after going on a 7.7 kilometer-walk up the mountain to reach the chapel during Good Friday. The city also has a large Muslim population and a prominent mosque that is known as the “Mecca” for Muslims in Region 8.
As reflected in the ordinance, Maasin City as the “City of Faith” reflects deep religious roots, vibrant spirit of cooperation, compassion, and hospitality that resonates with all its residents.” (Jeraiah Hilot/ The College of Maasin, GMReyes)
