The Heritage of Cebu

I was delighted at the thought of sharing the van with Mr. Regalado “Ricky” Trota Jose, the author of Simbahan which was published by the Ayala foundation and considered as the bible of anyone interested in Philippine colonial church art and history. He is also the respected author of countless other books and publications, and an accomplished professor at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila.

Together with a group of heritage advocates, we went to Oslob last May to check on the church and convent which was gutted by fire at the dawn of March 26, 2008. I was actually invited by a friend to join the trip and it was then that I learned that Mr. Jose along with Architect Mico Manalo were actually sent by the University of Sto. Tomas to help in assessing the condition of what was left of the church. Also with the group was Architect Melva Rodriguez-Java of the University of San Carlos and a member of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (CACCHC), and Ms. Bernadette Parco of Cebu Daily News.

When we arrived in Oslob, Mr. Jose wasted no time in describing the origin and style of the wooden saints that were saved from the fire. When we climbed the belfry he also described the bells and the period it was made based on its style. Right there and then I imagined that I was in a big auditorium with a professor giving a lecture though this time it was free and spontaneous. It was also a privilege that I was able to interact with him that day. “I should have brought a tape recorder and my own copy of Simbahan for an autograph,” I said to myself.

What was more amazing was that all throughout the trip he spoke in impeccable Cebuano. It’s not that I don’t want him to speak in Tagalog but I appreciated every effort he made to enable everyone to understand his point. He was an authority, a respected author, a professor, and a consultant but he was humble and soft spoken. At first I had the nagging thought that people like Mr. Jose were untouchable gods of wisdom but here he was sharing the seat with us and of course going to lunch on a simple dinner table provided by the parish priest of Oslob.

Below: Mr. Ricky Jose (a) documenting the image of the Immaculate Concepcion, which was spared from the fire that gutted the church of Oslob; and (b) explaining the probable period that it was carved based on the style and make.