The recent earthquakes in Central Visayas that destroyed or damaged many of the old churches in Bohol and Cebu reminds of the need to preserve such structures that are now considered part of our history and cultural heritage. Many of these churches, like the temples and castles in Japan, the temples in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar, and the mosques in Indonesia and Malaysia (to cite a few) are considered national treasures. These are very much part of the communities and are representative of what our countries have gone through as much as they also represent the faiths of nations.
I have seen some of these heritage churches and have written about them. These include the churches in Dauis, Baclayon and Loboc in Bohol, the churches in Bantay and Vigan in Ilocos Sur, the churches of Miag-ao and Cabatuan in Iloilo, and the shrine of Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga City, Camarines Sur. There are many others that I have visited but have not taken photos of, including churches in Capiz, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Quezon and Laguna. Perhaps it is not too late to make a bigger effort in preserving these treasures for the next generations through retrofitting and other measures to strengthen the structures and enable them to survive earthquakes. Perhaps the inspiration for the restoration work should be the restoration of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, which was heavily damaged by an earthquake in the 1990s and the challenge is similar to that from the voice heard by Francis of Assisi "Go and rebuild my church!"
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