Manila is the site of prominent Catholic churches and institutions . The Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and the oldest established church in the country . Aside from the Manila Cathedral , there are also three other basilicas in the city : Quiapo Church , Binondo Church , and the Minor Basilica of San Sebastián . The San Agustín Church in Intramuros is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the two fully air @-@ conditioned Catholic churches in the city . Manila also has other parishes located throughout the city , with some of them dating back to the Spanish Colonial Period when the city serves as the base for numerous Catholic missions both within the Philippines and to Asia beyond .