Experts finish Argao church’s facelift

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=919437
• Monday, September 5, 2016

By Justin K. Vestil

THREE years after an earthquake damaged it, the facade of the century-old Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel in Argao has been completely restored.

The repair and rehabilitation of the Spanish-era church ended just in time for the town’s fiesta celebration this month.

Rommel Aquino, materials conservator of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), told Sun. Star Cebu that they finished the restoration works last June 17.

Aside from the facade, the church’s old convent and Capilla Mortuario (mortuary chapel) were also fully restored and repaired.

The NHCP spent close to P17.5 million for the repairs and restoration of the three buildings, Aquino said.

Based on NHCP’s scope of work, repairs and restorations were done on the old church’s choir loft, pulpit, roof, eaves, facade, internal ceiling, walls and belfry, which were all damaged when the 7.2 magnitude quake struck Cebu and Bohol on Oct. 15, 2013.

Aquino said that compared to their extensive work in Bohol, which involved collapsed churches, the repair of the old church is Argao was manageable.

What was difficult, he said, was restoring the old structure of damaged portions of the church, which required extensive work and study.

Aquino said that even though NHCP’s focus is to make the old churches more disaster-proof, they cannot ignore the fact that they are also dealing with a piece of history that needs restoration.

“Aside from engineering experts, we have to consult international experts on masonry, wood and stone to get exact details on the portions of the church that we want to restore,” Aquino said.

The NHCP has also started training 12 people, composed of artisans and other craftsmen, who can help maintain the relics that were restored and those that survived the earthquake.

Aquino said that they also came up with detailed catalogue of all relics, including old structures and items that have historical value.

The catalogue will be turned over to the Municipal Government for their safekeeping and reference, Aquino said.