THERE are diverse ways to describe an old, historic, and enchanting church building — that sprang back to life, following the devastating 2013 Bohol earthquake — like the Maribojoc church, in Maribojoc, Bohol, because each church distinctly exudes its own aura, style, and character.
But visiting Holy Cross Parish Church after it was rebuilt from the ground fascinates me because when I entered, I immediately sense the period, the age, the ambience of an old church — there wasn’t a fusion, no attempts…just a touch, a master stroke, or a combination of talents that seemed effortless in recreating the characteristic of an old church.
It must be what the five retablos radiated as I sat and began observing the place. The gold paint highlighting each retablo spoke to me from an era that witnessed many stories of devotion, prayers, heartaches, pain, joy, and victories. That’s me. I love to zero in on human emotions in all my stories. They simply resonate with my jaded soul.
As I gazed upon the ceiling, I noticed the subdued paintwork of the artists, so understated in their elegance. I must congratulate Earl Racho, together with eight other painters, for their approach on the ceiling. It is subtle, not attracting so much attention…like clouds, beautiful, soft, and easy on the eye.
As I sat soaking up the environment, an individual walked by, and when he looked my way, what would you know! It’s Felix Ruaya, a writer, an editor-in-chief, during my college and post-college days, who’s also a good friend of my father! Serendipity! I haven’t seen Felix since I left Bohol decades ago. Imagine seeing him there!
As a result of the chance meeting, Felix became my impromptu resource person. He shared that working as a church volunteer gave him peace of mind and contentment. He was present during the rededication of the church on December 12, 2021, eight years after it was flattened by an earthquake.
“The day it was rededicated, I joined the mass. It was hair-raising and awe-inspiring to be present — in the company of fellow churchgoers — in the fully restored and reopened church. Mass was celebrated every hour and yet, the church was filled each time,” Felix said.
Outside the church, I saw the restored St. Vincent Institute with its preserved wooden walls — lovely! I remember the days when my mom, then the Private Schools Area Supervisor of DepEd’s Division of Bohol, Rosalinda L. Sales, PhD., frequently visited the school for scheduled and random inspections.
The paved grounds also provided a flower bed which is all abloom! And to complete the setting, benches are offered! I love that! Paoay church did not keep benches on its grounds. I simply love benches. They, too, have their stories to tell. A bench quietly witnesses the brokenness, the elation, or the ambivalence of anyone sitting on it. If benches could only speak…
Back to the church, I gathered from an article that Jesuits founded a visita or mission station as early as 1600 in Maribojoc. The foundation of the original church was laid in 1768. Eighteen years of forced labor — I am convinced our forebears shed blood, sweat, and tears — were suffered by Boholanos in the hands of Spanish authorities to construct and finally complete the church building in 1816, effectively making Maribojoc a parish.
Felix directed us to a corner where three priests were interred in the 19th century: Padre Mauro de San Agustin; Padre Manuel Plaza de San Benito; and Padre Bartolome de Santa Ana. The three were reinterred on November 4, 2021, together with the skeletal remains of several persons with unmarked graves found outside the church walls when workers started excavating to make room for the structural foundation of the building.
I wonder what stories these people held, buried in unmarked graves. Did they suffer in the hands of Spanish authorities? Were they martyrs? Did people watch them as they died? How were they killed that earned them a spot outside the church walls? Unfortunately for us, the living, we will never know. Their stories will remain buried with them for more centuries to come. We can only hope that they have attained their peace.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
