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Philippines |
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Restoration of church
ruins splits Dingras folk /2 |
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Source: Inquirer |
Author: Cristina Arzadon |
Date: 1999-10-12 |
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...continuation
Restoration
Early restoration works began in the 1950s but were stalled due
to lack of funds, old folks say.
Toward the end of the Marcos regime, former tourism minister
Jose Aspiras started promoting the landmark by holding cultural
shows just so the ruins could attract attention and, in the
process, generate funds for their preservation, former mayor and
now provincial board member Wilfredo Parado told the
INQUIRER.
A concert was also held, with the ruins as backdrop, in time for
the 25th anniversary of priesthood of Fr. Manuel Aspiras, a
cousin of Aspiras and the town's former parish priest.
That time, the tourism body promised to help in the preservation
after the church was made a background for a tourism brochure.
At one point, Parado said he closed the church to visitors after
its walls started collapsing. Houses north of the church are also
at risk due to falling slabs of bricks, he said.
''There were initiatives to restore the church then but often,
these did not prosper because of financial difficulties,'' he said.
The fund shortfall was compounded by the issue of church
ownership. ''We could not just introduce developments without
prior clearance from the church,'' Parado said.
To complicate things, there was the issue pointing to the church
as a historical landmark, thus prohibiting any alteration without
consulting proper authorities.
Msgr. Policarpio Albano, the present parish priest, said the
church was declared a historical site during the administration
of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
He said no one bothered to talk with church officials as far as its
upkeep was concerned.
''Idi panawen ti martial law ngamin, agi-enforce da latta ti
linteg. Nai-declare ti simbaan ti Dingras a historical site, ngem
saan met a napakpakaammuan ti simbaan (During martial law,
laws would just be enforced. The Dingras church was declared a
historical site although the church officials were not
consulted),'' Albano said.
A document showed that the then director of the National
Museum declared the ruins as ''an important cultural property''
on March 25, 1974.
That declaration provided that ''any demolition, repair or
restoration work may be undertaken upon the advice,
supervision and control of the National Museum and the
Department of Tourism.''
However, there was no specific guideline to govern the church
and protect it from any encroachment since, except for the
paper, there was no local body to enforce the declaration.
At that time, parishioners had shifted their attention to sprucing
up the smaller church which was then only halfway through
completion. But without funds to speak of, the residents were
again faced with another stumbling block, Albano recalled.
Left with no alternative, the residents ripped off materials from
the ruins and used these in building the church. The old roof,
steel bars and brick walls were transferred to the new edifice,
while some of the materials were stolen.
Albano said that move, which was seen as a desecration of the
church, angered a lot of parishioners and later caused division
among them.
On one side were those opposed to touching the church
because of its historical significance. On the other side were
those in dire need of another church, Albano said.
''Apay nga satsaten da latta'n nga kasta ket adun ti investment
ti tattao idta a simbaan (People have invested a lot in the
church, yet others are tearing it down just like that),'' Albano
said.
In 1976, the parish priest at that time who could no longer stand
the disorder left his flock and the church unfinished. It took two
more priests to take over for the church to be finally completed.
Meanwhile, time was catching up with the ruins.
to be continued...
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