MORE than four months after a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northern Cebu, restoration workers have reached a major milestone at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, church leadership announced that workers have successfully cleared about half of the debris from the site. While they have recovered several key centuries-old embellishments buried beneath the rubble, one important piece remains lost.
Search for San Isidro Labrador
Despite the progress, the concrete image of San Isidro Labrador remains the only major architectural element still unaccounted for.
This specific statue was installed in the 1970s. As the cleanup continues, finding this missing image remains a top priority for the restoration team.
Uncovering 19th-century treasures
Restoration efforts are currently focused on locating the remaining pieces of the 1886 cartouche and other decorative elements that were part of the original facade.
The team is busy documenting and retrieving 30 architectural components that reflect the shrine’s 19th-century design. These historic finds include:
[]The cartouche above the Porta Mayor, which bears the church’s primary inscription.
[]Eight maroon-painted facade rosettes finished with a rare tie-dye technique.
[]12 curled-leaf column embellishments from the second level.
[]Gold rose-leaf bas-reliefs.
In a recent Facebook update, the church also shared good news: workers recently uncovered the copper cross and floral bouquet that once crowned the tip of the facade.
Progress after the quake
The historic coral-stone church sustained heavy damage when the earthquake hit on Sept. 30, 2025. The tremors caused portions of the facade to collapse, forcing the suspension of liturgical services.
Cleanup crews have now cleared Calle Santa Rosa of church debris. The street is expected to reopen once Phase 1 of the restoration is completed.
Warning to visitors
As a 19th-century structure, the shrine is protected under Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
The church has strongly advised visitors not to touch or remove fragments from the site to keep as souvenirs. Unauthorized appropriation of cultural property is prohibited under the law and carries legal penalties. The leadership urges the public to respect the site as they work to bring the shrine back to its former glory. / BRYCE KEN ABELLON
MORE than four months after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, restoration workers have cleared about half the debris from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan and recovered key centuries-old embellishments buried beneath the rubble, the church leadership said Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
The concrete image of San Isidro Labrador, installed in the 1970s, remains the only major architectural element still unaccounted for.
Restoration efforts are focused on locating the remaining pieces of the 1886 cartouche and other decorative elements that formed part of the original facade.
The team is documenting and retrieving 30 architectural components reflecting the shrine’s 19th-century design, including the cartouche above the Porta Mayor bearing the church’s primary inscription, eight maroon-painted facade rosettes finished with a rare tie-dye technique, 12 curled-leaf column embellishments on the second level and gold rose-leaf bas-reliefs.
The coral-stone church sustained heavy damage when the quake hit Sept. 30, 2025, collapsing portions of its historic facade and forcing the suspension of liturgical services. In a Facebook update, the church said workers recently uncovered the copper cross and floral bouquet that once crowned the tip of the facade.
Calle Santa Rosa has been cleared of church debris and is expected to reopen after Phase 1 of restoration is completed. As a 19th-century structure, the shrine is protected under Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
The church advised visitors not to touch or remove fragments from the site as souvenirs, saying unauthorized appropriation of cultural property is prohibited under the law and carries legal penalties. / BKA