Priests to train on preserving heritage

CEBU, Philippines – Trainings on heritage preservation for priests will be supported by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia after the Capitol saw its value on Cebuano culture and history.

The governor expresses her willingness to support the church heritage and preservation training to be conducted among the priests in the entire province of Cebu in a meeting with Msgr. Carlito Pono, the chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.

Garcia believes that trainings could help teach priests how to appreciate antiques.

This after a parish priest in the municipality of Catmon reportedly destroyed a 50-year-old altar and its reredo saying it was "too old". An unidentified buyer was willing to buy it for P100,000.

Garcia said the province will sponsor the seminar for the diocesan priests and to formally work with the archdiocese for the preservation of heritage structures in the island and churches are considered as the most important and beautiful structure that Cebu can be proud of.

Specifically the St. Gregory the Great Parish in Ginatilan, The Church of Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon, St. Rose of Lima parish in Daanbantayan and other churches with deep features of Spanish colonization.

She added that the reformation of the churches should be regulated by the local government unit but if churches in the province are declared as heritage structures, the province will have authority to protect and enhance them.

Carlito also agrees to work with the province having the same goal with the archdiocese.

There are estimated 350 priests all throughout the province who will undergo training starting this November.

Also present during the meeting were Provincial Board members Agnes Magpale and Peter John Calderon and members of the Committee on Sites, Relics and Structures headed by Jobers Bersales.

Meanwhile, training for heritage infrastructure and development will be conducted for the municipal engineers in the province in accordance with the easement zone of national roads that should be free from any new construction especially if these structures obscure the heritage sites along the highways.

Garcia also informed the representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways not to demolish heritage structures along the national roads. (FREEMAN)