Don Genaro Palacios y Guerra

Don Genaro Palacios is a Spanish architect who designed the steel Basilica Minore de San Sebastian in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines. His architectural design for this Basilica is a fine example of the revival of Gothic architecture in the Philippines. He was approached by Fr. Esteban Martinez, the parish priest during those times, to design a new church building. He planned to make an earthquake and fire resistant church made entirely of steel.

On June 12, 1888, the first shipment of the church steel parts from Belgium came and the construction started. On June 24, 1890, Pope Leo XIII raised the church in to the status of a minor basilica and on August 15, 1891, it was blessed and inaugurated. The church was declared a National Historical Landmark as per Presidential Decree no. 260.

According to the Spanish Census, he resided in Zaragosa, Aragon, Spain in 1899.

Other accomplishments:

• On December 14, 1881, he approved a plan dated December 10, 1881 for the town of Talavera, Nueva Ecija including the construction of a church building and a convent. The plan was based on a report for the civil government dated June 17, 1881.

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References:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20070927084534/http://www.filipiniana.n...
• Errecciones de los Pueblos, Nueva Ecija (tomo 1). Philippine National Archives
• http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/07/04/san-sebastia... Data accessed: August 15, 2019.
• Spain, Aragon, Electoral Censuses, 1890-1934 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W37P-ZMMM Date accessed: December 2, 2020.