1 year on, Tagbilaran to recall quake

Damage to the roof and structure of the Church of San Pedro in the town Loboc, Bohol is seen after a major 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the region on October 15, 2013. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The diocese of Tagbilaran will commemorate, through artistic presentations and contests, the tragedy wrought by the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol and nearby Visayan provinces in October last year.

Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso, in a post on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, said the commemoration was expected to make the people more disaster-conscious through a program showcasing their talents in theater and the arts.

Almost a year after the disaster, much has yet to be done in the province in terms of rebuilding structures, many of which were centuries-old heritage churches that were either damaged or destroyed by the quake, Medroso said.

Awaiting funds

“We are still rebuilding what we lost during the earthquake on October 15…. We know we still have a long way to go, but our people are more positive in their approach and that’s what’s most important,” he said.

The prelate said the reconstruction of Bohol’s heritage churches had been put on hold pending the receipt of the funds apportioned by the national government.

Medroso, who also chairs the CBCP’s Permanent Committee on the Cultural Heritage of the Church, said that the Tagbilaran diocese had been able to build 13 “alternative” churches.

He said these structures could be converted to Catholic schools once the rehabilitation of the old churches was completed.