Santa Cruz Church was built by Jesuit monks in 1608 as a parish church for Chinese immigrants in Manila, many of whom who converted to the Christian faith. When the Jesuits were expelled from the Philippine Islands, the church was taken over by Dominican friars. The church building was twice nearly destroyed by violent earthquakes and was severely damaged during the famous Battle of Manila in February 1945, which ended the nearly three-year occupation of the city by the Japanese.
When Manila was declared the capital of the Philippine archipelago in 1571, it began to transform itself into a medieval European city with churches, palaces and town halls built in the Spanish Baroque style. The current building Santa Cruz Church, renovated in 1957, has been restored to its original form. However, in its tower one can see traces of a typically Asian architectural style. The church's altar appears at first glance to be somewhat understated at first glance, but its lighting design is magnificent.
The Santa Cruz Church is located in Piazza Lacson (formerly Piazza Goite), near the famous Carriedo Fountain, built in 1882 in honour of "the greatest benefactor of the Philippines", Francisco Carriedo, who donated 10,000 pesos to build Manila's first water supply system.
