We must rebuild all damaged churches

Late Tuesday evening, my family decided to eat out only to learn that so many establishments, like shopping malls and building complexes, decided to shut down in order to check the structural integrity of their buildings. Now if everyone waited for the structural engineers from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) then we’re going to wait for these people forever because there are not too many of them in City Hall. So the cry of the times is “Wanted Structural Engineers.” Until and unless your building has been thoroughly checked … it is best to delay the reopening until it is given an okay signal.

What complicate things are the aftershocks that have never ceased. I was TV taping My Catechism yesterday morning and we counted at least three aftershocks. As I’m finishing this column by 2:35 p.m., a very short 1-second aftershock jolted me in our office. So if there’s anything hanging perilously, it is best to bring it down before it crashes to the ground. The problem with aftershocks is … it is quite disturbing because you can easily dismiss it as a simple ripple that with the knowledge that the ground is still trying to settle down. But what if … it would develop into another big one? This is what is bugging everyone these days … will we get hit by a bigger one?

Meanwhile as I slept on Tuesday evening, I gathered that there were only 20 casualties Visayas wide. As I woke up in the morning the news reports already collated at least 93 casualties of that huge quake. I’m sure there’s more! Most of those who perished came from Bohol with people living by the hillside. When the earthquake struck, the side of the hill fell on their houses … and many families were killed that way. For sure, the heritage churches in Bohol that were destroyed also had people inside them when the quake struck.

Meanwhile as of yesterday, many establishments still did not operate. In fact I went to the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch in Mango Ave. and I was surprised that they put a sign that they would close at 2:00 p.m. Apparently, most banks also suffered earthquake damage, where they could not open their vaults which were moved during the earthquake. Indeed, there is no sense in opening your business if it can’t offer any service.

There is no doubt that the biggest casualty of that earthquake are the heritage churches in Bohol … the famous Loboc Church, Baclayon, the Clarin Church, Dauis Church and the whole church in Loon which was toppled to the ground. It will surely take a superhuman effort to rebuild or restore those churches back to its pre-earthquake state … not to mention the enormous cost that it would entail. But this shouldn’t stop us from taking the challenge to rebuild Cebu and Bohol.

Well someone in Facebook already suggested that we can rebuild these heritage churches by using the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF). I’m not sure whether the person making that proposal was joking or was he serious. If he was serious, I would still oppose that move. First of all, I’m sure that someone out there would oppose the plan that gives public funds to a religious structure … even if it is historical or cultural. Of course, we can include the damage spires of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) along Mango Ave. in order to neutralize those oppositors.

I have confidence in the indomitable spirit of the Cebuanos when we are faced with adversity. I know that Pres. PNoy Aquino was in Bohol and Cebu and, as of presstime, I have no idea how much money he released from his trillion PDAF? But we must bounce back from this natural disaster and rise again. We can and should support the efforts to restore our damage churches … or build new ones in place of those that crumbled because of the earthquake because that is what is expected of us Catholics.

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THE BLACKBOX:

I’d like to announce to our friends that the wake of our dear friend, Ramon “Monching” Medalla who died last Saturday has been moved from St. Peter’s Funeral home to Rolling Hills in Mandaue. The reason for the move was due to the earthquake where St. Peter’s Funeral Home showed some huge cracks on the walls. Call it the greatest of timing that when Mrs. Bopeep Medalla, the bereaved wife of Monching arrived in Cebu from a long flight from Houston, Texas, less than five minutes upon their arrival at his wake, the earthquake struck and the entire building shook the members of the family.

By Tuesday afternoon, they decided to move the vigil to Rolling Hills and that’s where I finally met Bopeep and her son Ray. As for the funeral arrangements, the family has decided to hold it this coming Saturday after the 2:00 p.m. mass after which Monching’s remains will be cremated and brought back to Houston for final burial. Again, may we request the pious readers to please pray for the repose of the soul of Ramon Medalla.

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