The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew

St. Andrew's Cathedral, officially known as The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew, is considered one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was established in 1580 by Spanish Augustinian friars. The church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque, the local church that comprises Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, and the Las Piñas City.

Vision

With the guidance of Our Lady of Buen Suceso, patroness of the City of Parañaque and with St. Andrew the Apostle, patron of the parish, we, the community of the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew, the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Parañaque is one in prayer and liturgy and is united in the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ to spread the new evangelization of the "Kingdom of God" and in the renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Mission

In accordance with the parish's vision, we have come out with this set of mission statements and principles:

• Jesus Christ as the tree and the baptized believers being the fruits, the church is the communion and the root of the Word of God and the teachings of the church;
• Evangelization is one experience of faith in the salvation done by Jesus Christ;
• Spreading the Kingdom of God to the poverty stricken and the youth, and to families and communities needing the Holy Spirit's guidance;
• As the seat of the bishop of the Diocese, the parish should be the center of renewal of liturgy and prayer life, integral evangelization and Basic Ecclesial Communities;
• Setting St. Andrew the Apostle as an example to be "fishers of men;"
• And the devotion to the Lady of Buen Suceso, the role model of faith.

Core values

The concrete standards of which the said principles can be done is determined by the following set of core values:

• Open mindedness to unite with others and avoidance of being exclusive and the "kanya-kanya" system (working individually and apart from others);
• To share a living faith to all and avoidance of a privatized or self-centered faith expression.

Feasts

Every year, the parish community of St. Andrew's celebrates two main feasts. First of them is the feast of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso. There was a plenty of misinformation about the Feast of Our Lady of Buen Suceso. After the World War II up to the year 2004, the feast is celebrated every 29th day of November, therefore, there is no original feast and it depends upon the situation and the needs of the faithful. The feast day of Our Lady of Buen Suceso was then moved to August 10 in the year 2005, in line with her enthronement in this said parish by the Augustinians back in the year 1625. A novena prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin is prayed for nine days before the actual feast day. Traslacion happens during the first day of the novena from Sta. Monica chapel to Cathedral. During the feast day itself, a procession is held at around 4 p.m. and a Solemn Mass follows. The same is also done during the feast day of the parish's patron, St. Andrew the Apostle.

Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso

September 8, 2000 was the date when the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso was canonically crowned as the Patroness of the City of Parañaque. Last September 8, 2010, the official replica made by Tom Joven was blessed including the book of sacrifice, the petition box and the thanksgiving box by Msgr. Manuel Gabriel during the Solemn High Mass.

Renovation

Last January 25, 2009 Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, the Prelate of the Diocese of Parañaque, formally launched after a Holy Mass, the renovation of the Cathedral. The renovation will change the Major altar placing the Crucifix on its center, adding two side altars (Altar of Saints and Altar of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso), replacing the glass windows with stained glass featuring some of the important events in the Life of our Lord Jesus, placing new marble stone on the floor and replacing the roof and ceiling of the cathedral painting the interior walls, replacing the doors, placing air conditioning units and the restoration of the original image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso and St. Andrew the Apostle.

The newly renovated Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew was blessed on May 22, 2010 in line with the celebration of the 430th Dedication of St. Andrew's Parish.

Dedication of the Parish of St. Andrew

The Cathedral and Parañaqueños celebrated the 430th Anniversary of St. Andrew Parish as a Parish last May 11, 2010 with its theme: "Dakilang Pagdiriwang ng ika-430 taon ng Ebanghelisasyon at Biyaya...Tayo na, Pumalaot at Mamalakaya...". It is a one week celebration started from May 11, 2010 until the blessing of the Cathedral on May 22, 2010. The program included Parañaque traditions such as Grand Sunduan of all Sub-Parishes (San Dionisio, Sta. Monica, San Nicolas and San Antonio), Sayaw ng Pagbati Festival, Komedya ng San Dionisio, Food and Crafts Exhibit, Music Festival and the Parañaque/Palanyag Movie.

List of accommodations in Parañaque

• 188 Residence Inn - Doña Soledad Avenue, Better Living Subdivision, Don Bosco
• Carlston Hotel - Airport Road, Baclaran
• Casa Joaquin Bed and Breakfast - Caliraya Drive, Marian Lakeview Park, San Martin de Porres
• Chateau Elysee - Doña Soledad Avenue Extension, Bicutan
• Colors Hotel - Riverwiew Compound, Quirino Avenue, Tambo
• El Grande Hometel Inn - El Grande Avenue, BF Homes
• Happy Coconuts Hostel - El Grande Avenue, BF Homes
• Isabelle Garden Hotel and Suites - E. Rodriguez Avenue, Moonwalk
• Manila Airport Hotel - PAL Drive, Airplane Village, NAIA Terminal I Complex, Vitalez
• Nichols Airport Hotel - Quirino Avenue, Baclaran (near Tambo)
• Oyster Plaza Hotel - Ninoy Aquino Avenue corner Kabihasnan Road, Sucat
• Rodello's Bed and Breakfast - Armstrong Avenue (Moonwalk Access Road), Moonwalk Village Phase I, Moonwalk
• Savannah Resort Hotel - El Grande Avenue, BF Homes
• Southland Apartelle Hotel - A. Aguirre Avenue corner Jerusalem Street, BF Homes
• Villa Carolina Townhouse Hotel - Roxas Boulevard corner Bayview Drive, Tambo

Transportation

Rail Transport

Parañaque is served by the LRT-1 (via Baclaran Station, which is located in Pasay City) and the PNR (via Bicutan station).

Airport

Parañaque is also the location of one of Ninoy Aquino International Airport's terminal. This terminal is Terminal 1 located along Ninoy Aquino Avenue. The flights of major international airlines are located in this terminal.

Road Network

Parañaque is accessed by these following major roads:

• South Luzon Expressway
• Coastal Road
• Metro Manila Skyway
• Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue (Sucat Road)
• Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5 South Extension)
• C-6 Road

Busses, jeepneys, taxis and tricycles are available as a mode of transportation inside and outside the Parañaque.