The Basilica del Santo Niño bell tower was destroyed after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Visayas region last October 15, 2013.
Auring Dumagat, 49, was overwhelmed with emotion the moment she heard the pealing of the church bells from the restored belfry of the Basilica del Sto. Niño de Cebu.
After all, she waited for three years to hear that sound again and tears of joy just flowed the moment the bells were rang. It was the second time the bells tolled since the church’s belfry was destroyed by the earthquake of 2013 but it was first for Dumagat to hear it.
“Nindot kaayo sa feelings makadungog balik sa kampana diri sa Sto. Niño sukad sa linog. Nalipay g’yud ko nabalik na siya (It is so nice to hear the bells ringing again. I’m so happy that the bells are already restored),” Dumagat said.
To commemorate the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that crushed the church’s centuries-old bell tower on Oct. 15, 2013, the bells, which were restored early this year, pealed twice yesterday.
The three bells rang for three minutes before the first Mass at 5:30 a.m. and before the vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m.
The bell tower was restored January this year. And after almost two years of silence, it rang last Jan. 17 in time for the opening of the Sinulog Festival, the feast in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño, Cebu’s patron saint. The bells, however, were not rang again until yesterday.
Dumagat, a devout Catholic, said she normally attends the Saturday Mass at Santo Rosario Parish Church but chose to go to the Basilica because she wanted to hear the bells and attend the vigil Mass commemorating the earthquake.
“Giingnan man usab ko sa akong mga anak nga patingugon lagi ang kampana mao tong diri ko ni simba (I was told by my children that the bells will be rang today so I decided to attend the Mass here), ” Dumagat said.
A spotlight shone on the belfry of the Basilica as its three bells were rang. The tower was also surrounded by colorful light bulbs.
People who were waiting for the vigil Mass to start flocked at the main entrance of the Basilica to record or take photos of the tolling bells. Some were seen quietly saying their prayers while others even danced the Sinulog as the bells tolled.
During the Mass, people lighted candles as they silently prayed for those who died in the earthquake. At least 200 people died in the strongest quake to hit Cebu and Bohol in recent years.
Fr. Pacifico “Jun” Nohara, OSA, rector of the Basilica, lead the prayer for the victims and bereaved families of the earthquake.
The Augustinian fathers, who runs the Basilica, dedicated all their four Masses yesterday for the souls of those who perished in the earthquake and for the people who have yet to recover from the devastation.
Fr. Ric Reyes, who delivered the homily, recalled he was at the Basilica when the quake hit Cebu and Bohol and when he saw its belfry fell, he thought: “I wanted to give up when I saw that.”
He said he was alarmed when he saw the falling bell tower as the whole structure could crush into those who were then attending the 8 a.m. Mass.
But fortunately, even when the Basilica was full of churchgoers, no one was hurt.
Reyes said he marveled at how prayers helped people in overcoming disasters, with faith heavily tested during such trying times.