Manila Cathedral to reopen in time for Holy Week

(Updated 6:32 p.m.) The historic Manila Cathedral—known formally as the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception—is set to open on April 9, more than two years after it was closed for major repairs.
 
In an interview aired on GMA News TV's News To Go, Manila Cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Cerbo said the structural retrofitting of the Cathedral has just been completed.
 

He added that the plumbing, lighting, marble, and electrical restoration is set to be done soon.

At least P70 million was spent for the major repairs, Cerbo noted.

He also said the Basilica has undergone three restoration phases.

The first phase is the structural retrofitting, which includes plumbing and electrical restoration, he explained. Meanwhile, the second phase is the enhancement of sound, video, and lighting system of the Cathedral, he added.

He noted that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were also installed within the church.
For the third phase, the Basilica underwent architectural restoration, which includes the rehabilitation of the coating of inner walls to prevent cracks, he said.

Cerbo assured that "restoration lang so as much as possible, mare-retain ang original form, walang nabago sa itsura."

Meanwhile, when asked if the newly-restored Cathedral would withstand an earthquake as strong as the one in Bohol last year, he just said they have adhered to the  National Structural Code of the Philippines.

Plans for Holy Week

Earlier, former ambassador Henrietta de Villa, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Manila Cathedral Basilica Foundation, said Holy Week services will be done at the Cathedral this year.

During the opening of the Basilica, she said there will be a program and a video presentation on the repair and restoration.

After the presentation, a mass to be led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will be heard, she added.

Meanwhile, de Villa also thanked the donors who have contributed to the rehabilitation of the Basilica.

"Dahil maraming nagbigay, nakakatuwa ang pagpapahalaga sa simbahan ng mga tao sa ganitong sitwasyon. Pati kontratista nagbigay ng service nila,"de Villa said in an interview with Radyo Veritas.

She added: “Akala ba natin malayo na ang damdamin ng mga tao sa simbahan? Hindi totoo, dahil nakita namin kung gaano kamahal ng tao ang simbahan,  nakita naming  bukas loob sa pagbibigay ng kanilang suporta sa pagpapagawa ng Manila Cathedral.”

The Archdiocese of Manila ordered the temporary closure of the Manila Cathedral beginning on February 7, 2012 after an engineering firm discovered that important sections of the building did not adhere to the 2010 edition of the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP).

Other heritage churches

Meanwhile, Atty. Trixie Angeles, NCCA Legal Consultant and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Monuments and Sites, said while some churches in Manila are undergoing restorations, attention is much more needed in churches located outside of Metro Manila.

"At least 'yung sa Manila, natututukan, marami ang nagbabantay," she said.

She noted that some churches, including the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, and the Malate Church, also in Manila, are undergoing restorations.

In 2013, centuries-old churches in Bohol were heavily damaged by the 7.2 magnitude quake that struck the island on Tuesday, October 15.

Among the damaged churches are the Church of San Pedro in Loboc and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, both currently 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 damages. — Amanda Fernandez/VC, GMA News