About Mirador
Mirador Jesuit Villa Retreat House
Mirador Jesuit Villa and Retreat House stands on Mirador Hill in Baguio City, a site first named “El Mirador” (“the lookout”) in 1876 because of its sweeping views (vista) of the surrounding mountains. The Jesuits acquired the Mirador Hill property in 1906 and built a small house at the base of the hill for the Manila Observatory in 1907, marking the beginning of Mirador as a Jesuit community and place of rest for Jesuits working in the Philippines.
In 1909, a larger stone residence was completed at the summit of the hill to serve as a summer villa and sanatorium, while part of the complex also housed facilities of the Manila Observatory, which had earlier established a meteorological and seismic station at the foot of the hill. In 1913, Fr. José Algué, SJ built the Lourdes Grotto, with the image of Our Lady of Lourdes carved by Filipino sculptor Isabelo Tampinco, making the area an important pilgrimage site in Baguio.
The villa house was destroyed during World War II but rebuilt in 1951–1952 through the design of architect Gines Rivera. In the following decades, Mirador served various roles—including hosting Jesuits expelled from Communist China and housing Bellarmine College, a Jesuit house of studies—before being formally opened in 1967 as a retreat house for Jesuits, clergy, religious, and lay groups. Mirador underwent a 3-year major renovation of its facilities from 2017-2019, after 65 years since its reconstruction in 1952. Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J. and Fr. Rene Javellana, S.J. supervised the renovation work of the building complex with funds donated by LH Foundation, friends and benefactors.
The Lourdes Grotto and Mirador complex site were declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2018. The property became more accessible to the public with the opening of the Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park in December 2020 amid COVID 19 Pandemic.
Today, Mirador continues its mission as a center for Ignatian spirituality integrating heritage, science, arts, ecology, and contemplative space for visitors and pilgrims. Following its rebranding as “Loyola Vista de Baguio”, Mirador reorients itself as a sacred sanctuary where one can have a better, clearer and healthier “vista” or perspective of one’s own life, relationship with family, co-workers, community, advocacies, friends, creation and God. AMDG!