Restoring the Sto. Niño belfry piece by piece

The fastest way to restore the centuries-old belfry of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño is to simply use cement in putting the concrete structure together.

But experts in restoring heritage sites chose a more tedious way in bringing back what has been part of Cebu’s history.

Architect Melva Java, director of the University of San Carlos’ Conservation Heritage Research Institute and Workshop, said original coral stones from the collapsed belfry will still be used in an attempt to restore the old design.

“USC were able to document the original belfry. We have the photographs and measurement of the belfry before it collapsed. Based on those documents, we can restore the stones from its original position although not all of them. Some of the pieces were ruined but many of the stones can still be identified,” she told reporters yesterday.

“That is the restoration method. It may take a longer time to finish but this is the proper way to do it. The fastest way is just to cement it and take the stones but it is not authentic. The cement and the existing coral stones are not compatible so it will not work,” she added.

Representatives from Escuela Taller de Intramuros, a school of various trades in the construction industry which undertook the restoration of Intramuros and other heritage sites in the Philippines, is supervising clearing operations at the basilica to ensure that the debris will be preserved after the Oct. 15 earthquake.

Experts from the Fuji Catholic University of Japan, who are experienced in restoring churches damaged by earthquakes in Russia and Europe, are assisting in restoring the basilica’s belfry.

Java yesterday met with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale at the Capitol to discuss how the local government and the Archdiocese of Cebu can work together to restore damaged churches in the province.

Java, also a member of the Archdiocesan commission on cultural heritage of the church, identified at least five Cebu churches with significant damage caused by the earthquake.

She said the belfries in Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Samboan, Boljoon, and Sibonga towns have cracks that need to be addressed.

“The belfry in Dalaguete sustained major damage, including its facade, which is leaning a little bit forward,” Java said.