Friday, March 28, 2008 New Oslob church 'up within the year'
CEBU Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal yesterday challenged the public to help rebuild the Oslob parish church within the year, as investigators identified an electrical short-circuit as the cause behind last Wednesday’s fire.
“I was on my way to Manila when I heard about the fire on the radio. I could hardly believe it,” the prelate told ABS-CBN during a visit to what remained of the Immaculate Conception Parish.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 Director Eleuterio Iturriaga sent Provincial Fire Marshal Victor Vibares to conduct a separate investigation, after initial reports said that firefighters and residents had to push one of the town’s two firetrucks just to reach the church, some 50 meters away.
Oslob Fire Marshal Jaime Sucayno, in his report, traced the flames to an electrical short-circuit in the second-floor bedroom of the convent occupied by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Val Gemelo.
Sucayno’s report didn’t say how much the fire destroyed, pending an inventory of the antiques and other valuables lost during the eight-hour blaze.
In its local newscast yesterday, ABS-CBN aired footage of Cardinal Vidal walking beside the charred stone walls of what remained of the church, one of the oldest in Cebu.
“If only the fire trucks came...and the parish priest was also inside...it would not have reached the church,” Vidal mused.
Rebuilding
He plans to meet with the administrative board of the Archdiocese today to discuss how they can rebuild the Oslob church. He also announced that the church is open to donations to help rebuild the structure.
He told the TV crew that he had to ask an architect or an engineer if the church’s original structure could still be used as a foundation, as it was clearly a thick wall.
Cardinal Vidal was visibly saddened at seeing the damage and said that he clearly remembered what the church looked like. The last time Vidal visited the Immaculate Conception Parish was during its fiesta on Dec. 8 last year.
The prelate also checked on the condition of the antique icons and asked the parish priest to try and stick to the normal parish activities.
Meanwhile, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, tourism officials and some town mayors in the province questioned Msgr. Achilles Dakay for saying that the Provincial Government should focus on urgent problems during the Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo, instead of the food and other attractions.
Offer
Dakay has said that the fire that razed the Oslob parish should serve as a wake-up call for the Provincial Government. He serves as the media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Garcia said that Dakay may have been misinformed of the activities, which is why she is inviting the monsignor to the Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo Northern Heritage Trail on April 8-10.
The tourism promotion program allows provincial officials to find out what each town needs, she explained.
Though the governor explained that the Province is not extending financial aid for the Oslob church project—citing the separation of church and state—she said she is willing to give a month’s salary to the effort.
She pointed out that the Provincial Government gave P3.2 million for the rehabilitation of Boljoon Church, after the National Heritage Council declared it as one of heritage sites in the province.
Dawnie Roa, director of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas, said that the monsignor may have been frustrated over what happened to the church, so he issued that comment.
Tragic timing
Roa added, however, that the lechon served during the tour “is just a component of the entire program.” What the Suroy-Suroy aims to do is showcase each town’s culture and heritage.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the committee on tourism and international affairs, said the tour is meant to promote Cebu as “a wholesome destination.”
She added that about 24 fire trucks were donated by the Provincial Government to several towns, including Oslob.
Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren said that it was unfortunate that the fire occurred while the town’s two firetrucks were undergoing repair.
The first dump truck, recently donated by the Capitol, needs a clutch repair kit, while the older one needs to have its hose replaced. Guaren said that local officials already requested for the purchase of the replacement parts.
He also said that his office is willing to allocate funds to help with the repairs, but is studying how this can be done without violating the law.
The mayor said that local officials also tapped the services of the Parish Pastoral Council for the inventory and turnover of the images of the saints.
Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos, Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos and Dalaguete Mayor Andrade Alcantara all defended the governor and the tourism promotion program, with Galeos adding that he found the monsignor’s comment “unfair.” (MEA/With GMD)
