Carcar church certified as national cultural treasure

CEBU, Philippines —  The long wait is finally over for the Carcaranons as the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu formally certified the church complex of Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Carcar City as a National Cultural Treasure.

An “NCT declaration is the highest recognition bestowed by the NMP for cultural properties that are of outstanding cultural and artistic features and significance,” part of NMP-Cebu’s post reads.

The Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Church and its convent are true to such as it presents a mid-19th century Graeco-Roman structure made of coral stones with twin bell towers, intact ceiling paintings and retablo, and a well-built rectory.

The said parish actually had already been declared in 2019 as an NCT, but the formal turn-over of its marker and official unveiling ceremony only took place last Saturday due to the Covid-19 pandemic as explained by NMP-Cebu head Audrey Dawn Tomada to The Freeman.

The marker was turned over to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu led by Archbishop Jose Palma.

The administrator of Santa Catalina de Alejandria Parish church, on the other hand, accepted the responsibility to preserve and maintain the said structure.

Tomada said the unveiling of the marker was also unveiled late as the markers were delivered here either late last year or early this year.

The City of Carcar led by Mayor Patrick Barcenas wanted the unveiling of the marker more significant that they decided to do it on its fiesta celebration in honor of Santa Catalina or St. Catherine de Alejandria.

“Carcar wanted it na significant event/milestone ilang pag unveil..maong sabay sa ilang fiesta,” Tomada said.

Archbishop Palma together with the people of Carcar City also took pride in Sta. Catalina de Alejandria being a National Cultural Treasure.

During the pontifical mass held after the unveiling ceremony, Palma recognized Carcar as a cultural city, reinforced by the (NCT) declaration as “faith should be expressed in culture" he said.

Palma said they are all elated for such a declaration.

“Tungod niinging paghatag ug dungang nga garbo hinungdan sa kalipay sa atong simbahan,nga gi deklarar as National Cultural Treasure sa simbahan Santa Catalina dela Alejandria…Garbo nato, garbo sa syudad sa Carcar nga angay nato pasalamatan and National Museum of the Philippines-represented by Cebu head, Dawn Tomada,” Palma said. (CEBU NEWS)