Last week, many Filipinos went on a Visita Iglesia as part of their observance of Holy Week. It was a welcome development to be able to go around again after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic. And so, many among the faithful took the opportunity to visit the seven churches on their itinerary.
In Metro Manila, some of the popular churches being included in the visitation are the Quiapo Church, Baclaran Church, Sta. Cruz Church, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Sto. Domingo Church, and Binondo Church. Of course, there are many other popular Metro Manila churches that people usually visit during Holy Week to fulfill their panata, or promise. It is not just being done as a form of devotion but also as a way to ask for divine favors like healing or guidance.
The Philippines is blessed with plenty of heritage churches scattered in different provinces. The oldest churches were built here in the 1600s, with San Agustin Church being regarded as the most ancient among the lot. These churches stand as a symbol of our country’s colonial past. To say that they are beautiful is an understatement—their structure or architecture, ornate designs, and rich history are a source of national pride.
Many of them have been ravaged by time, wars, and destructive disasters; some of them have even crumbled to the ground, like the Loon church in Bohol that was completely destroyed when the 2013 earthquake happened in Central Visayas. It is our responsibility to become the caretakers of our historic churches, especially those classified by the National Historical Commission as historic structures.
One way to look after these treasures is to restore them not just to preserve their charm and beauty, but also to increase their value and that of their surrounding areas and buildings. Restoration and conservation are, indeed, a form of investment for the sake of the community where the historic structure is built.
Aside from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Museum of the Philippines, the Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation Inc. is doing its part to help the abovementioned government organizations to manage, preserve, and restore the nation’s cultural heritage. Founded in 2009, ETFFI also trains out-of-school youth in skills related to heritage preservation to empower the marginalized Filipino youth and to benefit local communities.
Because of climate change, our heritage sites are more exposed to natural calamities. There isn’t a moment to lose; preventive measures have to be considered and implemented at the soonest possible time. It would be wise to support organizations like ETFFI, which, incidentally, faces challenges in terms of funding. To continue its programs—including training the youth and preserving not just historic structures but traditional building techniques—the private sector has to step in and help out.
ETFFI welcomes donations, CSR partnerships, and volunteers. The public can directly donate to Escuela Taller: through ESCUELA TALLER DE FILIPINAS FOUNDATION, INC. (account name), account number 200-7-200-52397-7 (Metrobank Intramuros). To know more about Escuela Taller de Filipinas, check out their web site , Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.