US Army Signal Corps Photos taken while in the town of Lipa in 1945

This is the second article featuring photographs taken by the United States Army Signal
Corps while stationed in Batangas. Those posted earlier, taken while the corps was stationed at
Camp R in Batangas City, were mostly taken from 1945 to 1947. The pictures contained in this
article, meanwhile, were taken in 1945 while the soldiers of the corps were stationed in the
then-town of Lipa. At the time most of the pictures were taken, the war was still ongoing.
All pictures have been downloaded from the United States National Archives, and the
descriptions used for each photograph are as they are provided from the National Archives.
Where necessary, such as when additional information is necessary, annotations are provided
to add to the description provided.
Ruins of the cathedral in Lipa, Batangas in May 1945. Image source: United States
National Archives.
 The history of the cathedral can be traced back to as far as April 30, 1605,
when it was administered by the Augustinians under the title “Convent of San
Sebastian in Comintang.” The original building was made from only light
materials. In 1910, the cathedral was chosen as the seat of the then-Diocese of
Lipa. During this time, the cathedral underwent significant renovations, including
adding a new altar and installing stained glass windows. The cathedral has been
visited by several popes throughout its history. Pope Pius X visited the cathedral
in 1903, while Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1981 and 1995.
 The Lipa Cathedral, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian,
is a Neo-Renaissance cathedral located in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines. It serves as the
seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa and is one of the most significant landmarks in the city.
The cathedral was chosen as the seat of the then Diocese of Lipa in 1910 and was
elevated to an archdiocese in 1972.
The Cathedral is an iconic structure that boasts a stunning facade and
impressive architecture. It was constructed in the Romanesque tradition, featuring a big
circular dome, giant walls and columns, balconies, and arches. Standing proudly in front
of the church is a bell tower, which, like the dome, is decorated with moldings. The
cathedral’s interior is just as impressive, with intricate details and beautiful stained glass
windows that add to its grandeur.

Secondary Sources

History
Earlier churches
Lipa was originally located close to the Laguna de Bombon, present-day Taal Lake. The
Augustinian Chapter accepted Lipa under the name of "Convento de San Sebastian de
Comintang" on April 30, 1605, with Gabriel Rodriguez as the first prior. In 1608, it was made a
vicariate directly under the father province. In 1610, it was given the right to vote in the
provincial chapters.

In 1754, Lipa was submerged after the eruption of Taal Volcano. To avoid a similar occurrence,
the town was transferred to its present site. A new church was begun by Ignacio Pallares in
1779 and by Manuel Galiana in 1787, and was completed in 1790. In 1865, Maueal Diez
Gonzalez completed the spacious transept.

Present church
Benito Baras completed the construction of the church in 1894 and later built a bridge linking
Lipa to Tanauan. On September 17, 1902, shortly after the Philippine Revolution of 1898, Pope
Leo XIII issued the apostolic constitution Quae Mari Sinico mandating the reorganization of the
church in the Philippines. His successor, Pius X, by papal declaration "Novas Erigere Ecclesias",
erected five new ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Philippines: the Dioceses of Lipa, Calbayog,
Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, and the Apostolic Prefecture of Palawan.

During the late 19th century, there was intense competition among the towns of Batangas,
Bauan, Lipa, Taal, and Tanauan for the selection of the seat of the new diocese in the Southern
Tagalog region (present-day Calabarzon). This competition motivated the people to build big
churches in those towns. After the creation of the new diocese on April 10, 1910, Lipa was
chosen among the five towns because of its cold climate. For this reason, the church was
elevated to a cathedral.

In 1944, the cathedral was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
as part of the Second World War. It was later rebuilt by Alejandro Olalla and Vergara, adding
two side aisles, and completed on December 14, 1957.