Cebu Churches, severely affected by 6.9 earthquake

by Clyde Ericson Nolasco

Like a thief in the night, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the northern part of Cebu province on September 30 at 9:59 PM. As of writing, the death toll is now at 70, while hundreds were reported injured. With an epicenter northeast of Bogo City and a depth of 5 km, the earthquake toppled buildings and establishments, including heritage churches in the province.

Reports from media and posts from netizens show damaged and collapsed facades, belfries, and buildings of the following churches:

1. The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, Daanbantayan, was shown in photos with a collapsed facade. Erected in 1858, this coral-stone church was completed in 1886. This church helped in the propagation of the devotion to St. Rose of Lima not just in the area but also in other areas of Leyte and Masbate. In 2022, it was officially elevated to an Archdiocesan Shrine.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Bantayan, also collapsed during the earthquake, as seen in a now-viral video by Bonal Robel. It showed how the ancient church on the island trembled and eventually crumbled down. This parish was founded by the Augustinians in 1580 with their sole patron saint, St. Peter the Apostle. They started constructing the present coral-stone building in 1839, and it was completed in 1863. In 1980, St. Paul the Apostle was added as co-patron.

   
   
   
   

3. The Capilenha de Fatima replica in San Remigio town was also reported to have been damaged by the earthquake. Photos from their Facebook page showed cracks in the ceiling, walls, and church foundations. The chapel is the local replica of the Marian shrine in Portugal dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. The chapel was constructed in 2020 and was consecrated in 2022.

   
   
   

   
   
   

4. San Ignacio de Loyola Church in Barangay Kawit, Medellin, was also heavily damaged in a photo shared by Jenelyn Romanos Calipayan. The parish was established in 1962, hence a newer place of worship compared to many Spanish colonial-era churches in the province.

   
   

   

   
   

5. San Isidro Labrador Parish in Tabogon was severely damaged, as shown in photos by their municipal government. Parts of the facade and the roofing collapsed, with debris scattered on their parish grounds. The parish was erected in 1851; however, the existing structure was built between 1954 and 1955, with two bell towers and stained-glass windows.

   
   

   

   
   

6. San Juan Nepomuceno Parish, San Remigio, was also affected by the earthquake. The parish sustained “visible interior damage,” thus affecting its altar due to tremors, as shared on their Facebook page. The church was built in 1864. The facade has a triangular shape with eight pilasters creating seven vertical sections.

   
   

The newly installed Archbishop, Most Rev. Alberto Uy, rushed to visit those who were affected, especially the parishes in the areas of Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Bogo, and Tabogon. The Archbishop, in a video, appealed for the faithful's continuous prayer and any help for those affected. 

Responding to this call, we can extend our help through Caritas Manila with the following details: