MANILA (UCAN): “We are appealing to the kind hearts of our fellow Filipinos to give us help in order to restore our damaged churches. This [earthquake] adds to the present suffering of our people who are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic,” Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of Bangued, the Philippines, said recently.
The Diocese of Bangued in Abra province, and the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao in Cagayan province, in northern Philippines, appealed for aid to repair cracked walls and fallen belfries damaged by the earthquake which rocked several provinces in the country on October 25.
Bishop Jaucian said Filipinos should not only hear the cry for aid from Catholics but also from Protestants whose churches likewise suffered from the earthquake.
“Catholics and Protestants are one in praying and begging for help. Both our churches were damaged by the strong earthquake … This only proves that regardless of religion, Filipinos treat our places of worship as sacred,” the bishop added.
Bishop Jaucian was referring to the church of Iglesia Filipina Independiente [the Philippine Independent Church] also known as the Aglipayan Church, whose century-old structure crumbled during the earthquake.
The Santo Tomas church in Tuguegarao province was also not spared when its bricks sustained cracks. Its life-sized crucifix was also removed from the sanctuary together with several images of saints.
Catholics and Protestants are one in praying and begging for help. Both our churches were damaged by the strong earthquake … This only proves that regardless of religion, Filipinos treat our places of worship as sacred
Bishop Jaucian
“The chain of the crucifix broke. The image was antique and was damaged when it fell. Thus, the left arm of the statue of Christ broke. We need to repair this because this image is the symbol of the faith of the local people in town,” Sto. Niño parish priest, Father Lorenzo Caguioa, said.
Government structures were also not spared and authorities were forced to shut down schools and government offices after they sustained cracks and broken windows in both provinces.
“Our computer room was destroyed together with more than 30 laptops. The walls and the ceiling collapsed burying our laptops in rubble,” Esterio Apolinar, a school principal in a local town in Abra province, told reporters on October 26.
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Apolinar suspended classes for several days until the education department declared the buildings safe for students to return.
Caritas Philippines announced thatit had deployed teams to assess the damage caused by the earthquake. It has also been transporting building materials to be distributed among northern dioceses with damaged churches.
“Our social action centres are already capacitated to act accordingly. They would know already how to respond. Right now, we appeal for building materials for the safety of everyone,” Caritas chief, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, said in a statement.
Bishop Bagaforo also drew down Caritas’ funds from its Lenten programme, Alay Kapwa [offering of oneself to neighbour], when Filipino churchgoers donate money for victims of natural disasters.
“We have allotted funds from the pockets of our own people. We have trust funds for this kind of emergency but they are not enough especially with the current price of construction materials,” Bishop Bagaforo added.
