Basilica bells to ring again

CEBU, Philippines - People will hear again the tolling of the bells of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño and see the completely refurbished Magellan’s Cross either before the Fiesta Señor or before the 51st International Eucharistic Congress just a week later.

Currently, the structures are undergoing restoration, but Basilica rector Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA said works are set to be finished before one or both of the events.

He said the Manila-based 401 Development and Construction Corp. is currently restoring the roofing and upper portion of the belfry, while the roofing and painting of the Magellan’s Cross is nearing completion.

He admitted the belfry is no longer 100-percent coral stone.

“Dili naman gyod mahimo nga tanan original. In fact, the inner portion of the belfry is made of modern materials and gibawasan nila ang thickness pud. The outer part mao’y original,” he said.

The structural restoration required a comprehensive master plan, architectural archeology and detailed engineering design.

He said he recently received a letter from Maria Serena Diokno, chairwoman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, informing them about the turnover of the structures on January 23.

“The project is not totally under our control kay NHCP-funded man na. But they are confident na mahuman before the feast of Sto. Niño or the IEC,” he said.

NHCP funded the restoration and rehabilitation of the structures totaling over P10 million, he added.

The reconstruction works, supervised by the NHCP, began last July.

The rector, however, said that one of the belfry’s seven bells will no longer be installed for safety reasons. In particular the biggest bell will no longer be put back in place in the tower but will be preserved instead.

“The biggest bell will no longer be restored kay delikado na. So, we decided to have it placed within the Basilica as another historical site,” he told reporters.

The church went through a series of constructions and rehabilitations using different materials like wood, bricks, stones and coral stones since 1566 when the original basilica was built on the site where the image of the Holy Child was found.

The basilica has been the home of the centuries-old wooden image of the child Jesus which was given as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Queen Juana in 1521.

In 2013 a magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted the provinces of Cebu and Bohol, toppling the belfry and weakening the structural integrity of the historical landmark.

No  threats

Nearly five weeks before the IEC the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported they have not monitored possible threats to the event, said DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin during his visit to the AFP Central Command yesterday.

Gazmin said that AFP, along with the other law enforcement agencies, is conducting continuous monitoring in the country especially in Cebu for possible threats.

Gazmin said the security template they applied for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit will also be used to secure the delegates of the IEC.

The IEC organizers estimated delegates from all over the world could reach up to 15,000.

Around 1,000 police officers will be deployed in the different venues where the IEC will be held that includes road security.

The venues will include Cebu City where the major activities will be held and in Lapu-Lapu City where the International Eucharistic Congress Youth Day will take place.

From the Hoops Dome the estimated 5,000 IECYD delegates will be transported to Plaza Independencia in Cebu City for the culminating Mass.

Other areas include at least seven churches in Cebu City, the Capitol Grounds and the South Road Properties. —/BRP (FREEMAN)