MAASIN City will now be officially labeled as the 'City of Faith' as part of a new branding campaign.Ordinance 241 highlights the significance of designating Maasin as the City of Faith, given the city's various religious sites.These locations have long drawn pilgrims and visitors, not just from Southern Leyte and the rest of the Philippines, but also from all over the world.Councilor Rafael Cromwell Gerong, the ordinance's primary author, explained that one of Maasin's most important religious landmarks is the Maasin Cathedral, also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Assumption, which was officially designated to national shrine status in August 2023.'The cathedral houses century-old images of the patron saint, which were pontifically crowned in 2022,' Gerong said.'The declaration of the cathedral as a national shrine has significantly boosted the influx of pilgrims and tourists, showcasing our unique heritage and faith,' he added.Aside from the cathedral, Maasin City is home to numerous additional pilgrimage sites, including the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Shrine in Monte Cueva, the 36-foot-tall picture of Our Lady of Assumption in the Jalleca Hills, and the St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Hanginan.Maasin is known as the gateway to Limasawa Island, which historians believe hosted the country's first mass on March 31, 1521.The city also has a large Muslim population and a prominent mosque that is known as the 'Mecca' for Muslims in the region.'Maasin City is not just about religious observance but also about inclusivity and unity,' the ordinance highlighted.'It reflects a vibrant spirit of cooperation, compassion, and hospitality that resonates with all its residents,' it added.
