Experts sought to help rebuild quake-hit churches

TAGBILARAN CITY – Authorities are seeking the assistance of experts in rebuilding the centuries-old churches here that were damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last year.

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said rehabilitation of old churches is quite complicated since the builders used special materials hundreds of years ago.

“Churches are difficult to rebuild because our forefathers used different technology. Imagine our forefathers built the churches in 30 years and then a 33-second earthquake destroyed them. So we are getting the experts’ agencies (to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the churches),” Chatto told reporters here.

Chatto said he is closely coordinating with the leadership of the Church to fast-track the rehabilitation of the churches in the province.

“The diocese is also doing their best to raise funds to establish alternate churches while the old churches that were damaged will, of course, be rehabilitated,” Chatto added.

Some 200 persons died, while 800 others were injured and three million people were affected as the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the province on Oct. 15, 2013.

Boholanons commemorated the first anniversary of the earthquake by holding mass in almost all churches in the province yesterday morning.

Calling it “a day of prayer and a day of thanksgiving,” bells in all churches were rung and public and private vehicles blew horns to signify the observance of the anniversary of the earthquake.

Among the damaged churches are the Church of San Pedro in Loboc and the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, both being conserved by the National Museum with funding from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Maribojoc Church and Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis were also reported to have suffered damage during last year’s earthquake.

A report from the Bohol.ph indicated that the Loboc Church is the second oldest church in Bohol, while the Baclayon Church is one of the best preserved Jesuit-built churches in the region.

The Maribojoc Church was founded in 1768. Its construction started in 1798 and lasted 18 years.

The Dauis church was influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture, while on its ceiling were frescoes painted by church artist Ray Francia in 1916.