GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Collapsed Bohol churches had stood for over 300 years before quake
Officials of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are distraught by the extent of damage to the centuries-old churches in Bohol in the aftermath of the 7.2 magnitude quake that struck the island on Tuesday, October 15.
The agency is calling on the public to stay away from the damaged churches to keep safe as well as to avoid further damage to the structures.
“These are declared National Cultural Treasures which is the highest recognition a country can bestow on cultural properties.”
Further engineering assessment has yet to be done in order to know the extent of the damage, said Angeles.
The agency is calling on the public to stay away from the damaged churches to keep safe as well as to avoid further damage to the structures.
“Naiiyak nga ako ngayon,” said Atty. Trixie Angeles, NCCA Legal Consultant and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Monuments and Sites. All airports and seaports are damaged by the earthquake, leaving heritage officials unable to go to Bohol.
Further engineering assessment has yet to be done in order to know the extent of the damage, said Angeles.
Among the damaged churches are the Church of San Pedro in Loboc and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, both being conserved by the National Museum with the funding of NCCA.
Maribojoc Church and Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis were also reported to have suffered damage.
The front section of the historical Loboc Church in Bohol collapsed following a magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck the Visayas region early Tuesday, October 15. Robert Michael Poole via Twitter
The Loboc Church is the second oldest church in Bohol, while the Baclayon Church is one of the best preserved Jesuit-built churches in the region, according to an article in Bohol.ph.
The Maribojoc Church was founded in 1768. Its construction started in 1798 and lasted 18 years.
Last major quake was in 1700
The Dauis church's style was influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. On its ceiling were frescoes painted by church artist Ray Francia in 1916, the same article said.
The last major earthquake to hit the area was in 1700. Many churches were also destroyed during that time, said Angeles.
The earthquake was also felt in Cebu, where the Sto. Niño Church suffered damage as well. Kim Filoteo via YouScoop
Previous conservation efforts
All conservation efforts were done to reverse inappropriate human intervention and vegetation.
Also part of the rubble are other cultural properties, including repablos, containers of figures of saints with elaborate carvings done in the Philippine Baroque Period (1600 to early 1900).
Any chance of restoration or revival after the damage has yet to be assessed. “It depends. Wala pang engineering assessment. We don't know if it's recoverable.”
The main concern at present is to prevent further injuries.
“Right now wala pa kaming assessment. All we know of the damages is based on the pictures lang. We can't say with finality the extent of that damage,” Angeles said.
Appeal to public: Help protect damaged churches
“Right now wala pa kaming assessment. All we know of the damages is based on the pictures lang. We can't say with finality the extent of that damage,” Angeles said.
Bohol has become a star in the Philippine tourism universe partly because of its exquisite historical churches, some dating back to the early years of Spanish colonialism five centuries ago. In some Bohol towns on Tuesday, all that heritage came tumbling down. The map prepared by Lory Tan shows the locations of historical Spanish-era churches damaged by the Bohol earthquake. The information is based on posted photographs and news reports. Three or four, including those in Loon and Loboc, are reported to have completely collapsed. Lory Tan
Heritage Task Force to be deployed Thursday
A team of experts will inspect the damage of the heritage sites starting Thursday, October 17, according to the Official Statement of the Board of Commissioners of the NCCA, the contents of which were dictated by Angeles through a phone call with GMA News Online.
The official statement is also posted on the Official Gazette.
The Heritage Task Force is tasked to:
- establish the severity of damage
- identify property that may immediately need to be secured
- draw up priorities for restoration
- estimate the amount of human and financial resources necessary
- establish important linkages with stakeholders
They are expected to coordinate closely with the church, national, and local government agencies with the rescue and restorations effort.
The NCCA is to provide a mobilization fund for the initial assessment of the heritage sites, pending the national government’s decision on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts as a whole.
The cultural agencies shall convene upon the return of the heritage taskforce, and make an official report to the office of the president, the statement said.
Appeal to public: Help protect damaged churches
“We appeal to the public to safeguard the national cultural treasures and important cultural property in Bohol. We ask that the public cooperate in preventing unnecessary incursions into the damaged sites to keep themselves safe from injury,” Angeles said in a text message to GMA News Online.
The NCCA and its affiliates, including the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the National Museum, the National Archives Library, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), and the private sector who are members of the NCCA board, will hold an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the aftereffects of the earthquake. — TJD/VC/HS, GMA News
