Cebu Daily News / News

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Third fire in 66 years By Bernadette Parco Cebu Daily News Posted date: March 27, 2008 FIRE has struck thrice in this 161-year-old Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob town, southern Cebu. The first was in 1942 when Filipino guerillas burned down the church, said Trizer Dale Mansueto, History professor at the University of San Carlos. The reason was not stated in history books, he said but it was common knowledge that Japanese soldiers were holed up inside the church at that time. Only the walls and the columns, which were made of coral stones, were left of the church. In 1955, a fire of unknown origin gutted the whole complex except for the masonry wall of both buildings, according to the book, Angels in Stone by Father Pedro Galende, OSA. “The people were only able to save the relief of the Virgin Mary, their patroness. The image that is being venerated now in Oslob,” said Mansueto. But with the cooperation of the townsfolk, Fr. Benedicto Zapra restored the church. According to the Angels in Stone, Fr. Constantino Batoctoy renovated the convent in 1977 and completed the restoration of the church in 1980. The cornerstone of the church, which was built on the south coast of Cebu Island bounded by Nueva Caceres, the islands of Panglao and Siquijor and Dumaguete City, was laid by Augustinian Fray Julian Bermejo on May 4, 1830. The book described Fr. Bermejo as “dynamic priest who set up a defense fortress against Moro pirates in various parts of Cebu.” The plans were drawn by Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon who also designed the front and belfry of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the old bishop’s palace or the Patria de Cebu and probably the Museum, said Mansueto. “He also designed the kiosk that houses the Magellan’s Cross,” said Mansueto. The church, which was about 64 meters long, 15 meters wide and 9 meters high, was completed in 1847. Bishop Romualdo Ximeno officiated the blessing and the first Mass there. According to Angels in Stone, Fr. Apolinar Alvarez built the 30-meter high, three-story belfry tower in 1858. The book said the simplicity of the facade’s design, the emphasized vertical movement and the straight lines made the church attractive. In fact, the book said the increase in the population of Oslob from 4,178 in 1948 to 6,284 in 1896 was due to the “magnificent church with its transept, whose structure, made of selected stones, (was) well-finished.” After yesterday’s fire, the Oslob residents and historians are hopeful that the church would rise from the ashes, just like in 1942 and 1955. “We still have to see the extent of the damage before we can determine the amount of restoration work that has to be done on the structure. Hopefully, ma- rebuild gihapon ang simbahan,” said Mansueto.