Author and Manager of USC Press Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales gave his welcome remarks during the photo exhibit at Paseo Solana Ayala center, and the Book launching of ‘PAGSULAY.’ (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Page after page, the church heritage of Bohol province is shown in its broken glory.
A total of 26 churches, many of them built with coral stone during the Spanish era, are photographed with signs of damage or total destruction from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which struck Bohol in October last year.
The coffee table book ‘Pagsulay’ Churches of Bohol Before and After was launched yesterday as a fund raising gift with proceeds for the Archdiocese of Tagbilaran and Talibon.
“The destruction was depressing,” said Fr. Generoso Rebayla Jr., SVD, one of the book’s two photographers, with Estan Cabigas.
“But looking at it positively, it was simply a test of faith.”
The author Jose Eleazar Bersales, who heads the University of San Carlos Press, recalled how they had to pass diversionary roads and risk entering ruined buildings amidst aftershocks – all for love of the book project and what it would mean for Bohol and those who value Philippine cultural heritage.
“My hair stood on end in Loon. Two towers become mounds of rubble. But our most fearful experience was in Loay because the ground was still shaking,” said Bersales.
The Baclayon church before (left) and after (right) a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol in 2013. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY ESTAN CABIGAS AND FR. JUN REBAYLA)
He urged the public to buy “all 5,000 copies” of the book to contribute to rebuilding the churches.
Cabigas, a Cebuano photographer based in Makati, blogs about church architecture.
“These heritage churches are not just structures. The churches are a vital part of the community fabric, the community identity. That’s why it needs to be preserved,” Cabigas told Cebu Daily News.
A photo exhibit of selected images is on display at the Paseo Solana in Ayala Center Cebu. Copies of the book are available for the whole week during the exhibition area. It is also available at the USC Pres (032) 2300100 loc 290 and USC Museum (032) 253-1000 loc, 191 and soon at Islands Souvenirs, Benchmark and other book distribution outlets.
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