Hidden Treasures: A photo exhibit of vintage churches

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Rafael Ortigas, Jr. started the ambitious project of documenting Spanish-era churches in the country, from Manila Cathedral to the most remote provincial parish.

He assigned photographers Betty Lalana and Boy Arboleda to photograph as many as they could locate using the Catholic directory, old maps and other sources.

Recently, a traveling exhibit dubbed "Hidden Treasures" features a small selection from this ongoing work, which has located and photographed over 300 Spanish-era churches, in addition to bell towers, elegant cemetery gates, and ancient ruins of foundries, fortifications, and watchtowers. Some of these very interesting structures were erected in Cagayan, Camarines, Catanduanes, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Misamis Occidental.

According to Lalana and Arboleda in a note on this 10-year odyssey: "Most of us know that for 400 years the Spaniards held dominion over much of the Philippines, yet we never dreamed that so many churches built during the Spanish era still exist even in the farthest reaches of our country."

"From the initiative of Ortigas Foundation, Inc. president Atty. Rafael Ortigas Jr., we embarked on what has now been a continuing 10-year quest to document the multitude of Spanish-era churches," Lalana said.

"We have been left in awe by the dedication of the zealous Spanish friars and the extensive reach of their work --- still in evidence today in their churches and conventos. These missionaries traveled to distant places and islands at a time when there were hardly any roads and when most travel was done by water. They were exposed for the first time to the tropical heat and diseases; these treacherous journeys exacted a high death toll. And yet many persevered to establish towns in distant places to spread Christianity and create these monuments of faith."

"How did they do it?" was always the question imprinted on their mind. She said that they would often wonder at that thought while marveling at the sheer bulk of the structures, each one seemingly unique. "Side by side with the locals, without benefit of modern construction equipment, the Spanish missionaries toiled and built these churches. Each block of stone was hewn to an exact measure, and primitive cement that would last centuries was made from - among other materials - crushed seashells, egg shells, and egg whites. Even as the missionaries shared their knowledge of architecture, the Filipinos, in turn, surprised them with their craftsmanship and artistry to create these lasting edifices of both faith and culture."

To reach some of the churches they've photographed over the years, Lalana shared that they have had to take all conceivable means of travel like open provincial buses kicking up clouds of dust, overloaded jeeps, cramped tricycles, and even clinging for dear life to the back of motorcycle riders. "We took ferries and precarious bancas, were caught in a squall, and hung on through violent waves. We hiked up hills, trekked on narrow muddy trails, and hoisted ourselves onto unstable structures," she added.

According to Jonathan Best, curator of the exhibit, "Hidden Treasures" describes the churches found in obscure locations that have been rarely documented or visited by local and foreign tourists. "Traveling by every conceivable mode of transportation including by foot, they have managed to reach the most obscure parishes and photograph picturesque facades, architectural details, and timeless Filipino landscapes. Hopefully, this glimpse of the unspoiled Philippines will inspire more laymen and religious leaders to value and respect their ancient places of worship and preserve their spiritual integrity for generations to come," he said.

These photographs are contained in a book entitled "La Casa de Dios" by Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ. He is a renowned authority on church history. He deftly weaves together the stories of the different socio-economic interrelationships within the Philippines as well as with Spain, Mexico and other Asian countries that created Philippine culture as we know it today.

The fine photographs as well as essays complement his stories. Essays were written by different dominant religious orders that established the towns and churches all over our archipelago in order to spread Christianity. Cultural trail maps invite the reader to visit these great monuments of faith.

The book is Ortigas Foundation's "contribution to a better understanding of the roots of Philippine history and culture through the stories of different churches. It is also meant to highlight the critical need to preserve our fascinating but rapidly disappearing heritage," this was noted.

Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, RAFI's executive director of Culture and Heritage Unit, said that Ortigas Foundation's exhibit is in line with RAFI's advocacy to conserve symbols of Filipino cultural identity. It is also timed with the celebration of the International Day for Museums and Sites every April 18.

She added that it should be doubly interesting for Boholanos and Cebuanos as a number of the churches featured in the exhibit are in their own provinces. She expressed her delight in the Archdiocese of Cebu's assistance to bring the exhibit to many parishioners within its ecclesiastical domain. She pointed out that this is a great opportunity to inspire in people from different walks of life awareness and appreciation for their cultural heritage.

Feel at home with Primary Homes