The Manila Cathedral in Intramuros turned red on Wednesday in observance of "Red Wednesday," an annual campaign for persecuted Christians worldwide.
Unlike in the past, it was the interior of the church that was lit in red instead of the facade.
"Red means love, and love comes from the heart. This year, the heart of the Cathedral, the interior of the church, turns red," the cathedral said in a Facebook post.
"Red for the sick. Red for the frontliners. Red for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters around the world," it added.
During Red Wednesday, church edifices are illuminated in red light, a color that the Church associates with martyrdom.
An initiative of the Aid to the Church in Need, the papal charity for persecuted Christians, Red Wednesday is a global event to remember those who cannot practice their faith freely throughout the world.
This year's Red Wednesday is also dedicated to the recent victims of typhoons, COVID-19 victims, and front-liners.
First organized in the United Kingdom in 2016, the Philippines started joining the campaign the following year.
On Jan. 25, 2020, the Philippine bishops’ conference officially institutionalized the annual celebration of Red Wednesday in all dioceses.