Bringing Capilla Mortuario back to life

The main chamber of the 110-year-old Capilla Mortuario, which is now restored to as close to how it looked when it was built in 1906. (CDN PHOTO/IZOBELLE T. PULGO)

On a rather downcast Friday, the gloomy morning, the rainy weather and the cloudy skies made for a perfect backdrop to the imposing structure inside the Carreta Cemetery that was recently turned over by the National Historical Commission to the Archdiocese of Cebu after its complete restoration — the Capilla Mortuario.

Built in 1906, Capilla Mortuario serves as an arched gateway to one of Cebu’s iconic heritage cemeteries, which is flanked on each side by two chambers.

Handel Advento, a history buff and one of the administrators of the Facebook page “Sementeryo: Heritage Cemeteries of the Philippines,” described the century-old structure as “a combination of both an entrance and twin mortuary facilities.”

“The interior of the arched gateway is flanked by two separate chambers linked by a common antechamber that corresponds to a feature found in early European churches: a narthex,” Advento explained in his post.

(CDN PHOTO/IZOBELLE T. PULGO)

“A narthex is an entrance hall or area leading to the main worship space, and in this particular case, two arched doorways lead to what may have originally been either one or two chapels. Whether this is a true narthex or not, the layout of the site is still historically significant,” he added.

The Restoration

According to cemetery administrator Jesus Desuyo, the reconstruction of the chapel started in January of this year. Suffering significant cracks and damage during the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the Visayas in October 2013, the NHC included the Capilla Mortuario among its restoration projects slated in the region.

Barely a year on, it was officially turned over to the Archdiocese of Cebu last November 22 after its restoration was completed.

“Mao na ni siya. Murag sa iyang pagka-original, mao na ni (This is it. Restored to how it was. I think this is how it originally looked),” Desuyo beamed.

It might have only taken less than a year to restore the chapel, but it was actually a difficult and complicated project to undertake, said Desuyo, because the workers had to be careful that the restoration was done without altering its appearance.

The inner chamber of Carreta Cemetery’s Capilla Mortuario, where remains of the priests who served the Cebu Archdiocese used to rest inside tombs stacked after one another. These tombs are now empty and painted white. (CDN PHOTO/IZOBELLE T. PULGO)

The Structure

One chamber of the structure is the actual chapel while the other chamber houses several tombs, albeit empty, of priests who had served the Archdiocese of Cebu.

When Desuyo took over the administration of the Carreta Cemetery in 2008, the chapel was used as a bodega (warehouse) that temporarily housed bones of those who have been dug up from their graves before they were transferred to another location within the cemetery.

Back then, Desuyo said the chapel had a loft, but this was removed during the restoration.

In the chapel chamber, an altar is attached to the front wall, peculiar in today’s times but which Desuyo explained was characteristic of the olden days when the priests hold their Mass in Latin and would actually have their back to the audience while officiating Mass.

An arched window occupy each of the two walls leading up to the altar while a single decorative light fixture hangs in the middle of the ceiling.

Opposite the chapel chamber is another chamber housing the empty tombs, another feature of religious structures back in the days when a space was provided as a burial chamber for departed priests.

The tombs had since been emptied, but they were retained, albeit now covered by a white decorative wall.

(CDN PHOTO/IZOBELLE T. PULGO)

The black-and-white-tiled floor completing its restored look, a feature which Desuyo pointed out was not part of its original design, is nonetheless a welcome addition.

Future Plans

With a capacity for about 50 people, Desuyo said that there are plans to use the Capilla Mortuario again as an actual chapel, where a Mass could be held every week and upon special arrangements by the families of those who were buried at the cemetery. The other chamber can be used as an office.

Desuyo pointed out that nothing is set in stone yet with regards to the use of chapel, as the archdiocese will still have to decide on it, along with additional furnishings that have to be put in place.

So far, Desuyo said, they found a need for at least four wall fans, one stand fan and lighting fixtures for the wall and the altar. Benches can be sourced from the existing inventory of the archdiocese, he added.

In addition, a historical marker is now being made and will be placed on the structure, Desuyo said.

The inner chamber of Carreta Cemetery’s Capilla Mortuario, where remains of the priests who served the Cebu Archdiocese used to rest inside tombs stacked after one another. These tombs are now empty and painted white. (CDN PHOTO/IZOBELLE T. PULGO)

Thankful despite creepy tales

With all the creepy stories surrounding cemeteries, being the place of the dead, Desuyo said that it can’t be helped that there are instances when unexplainable things happen, especially in a place as old as the Capilla Mortuario.

Although declining to specify about these incidents that he had come to experience in his almost eight years as cemetery’s administrator, Desuyo said dealing with these supernatural incidents all comes down to prayer.

“Naa’y mga panahon mga manglimbawot jud akong balhibo but mag-ampo lang gyud ta (There are times when my hair would stand on end, but I would just pray), ” he said.

And despite all these hair-raising experiences, Desuyo said there are reasons for him to be grateful. First, to the Archdiocese of Cebu for ensuring the continuous upkeep of Cebu City’s lone Catholic Church–run cemetery; and second, for having his prayers answered in the form of the generous NHC that gave the Capilla Mortuario a new lease on life.