Binondo Church

Binondo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, stands at the heart of the district often called the world's oldest Chinatown. Founded in the late 16th century to serve Chinese converts to Catholicism, its octagonal bell tower and stone facade survived earthquakes and wartime destruction. It is associated with the first Filipino saint, a Chinese-Filipino martyr who once served there. The plaza before the church is a hub of the bustling commercial quarter, where temples, restaurants, and trading houses crowd the streets.