Apr 03 2008
Oslob Church after the Fire
On March 26, 2008 a terrible fire, which started in one of the rooms of the rectory, gutted the church of Oslob. The rectory itself was reduced to ashes. The University of Sto. Tomas sent a team composed of Ricky Trota Jose, foremost authority on Spanish colonial churches in the Philippines and author of several books, and Conservation Architect Mico Manalo to assess the damage. Members of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage of the Church (CACCHC) led by Mrs. Louella Alix and her husband Mr. Rudy Alix and Fr. Brian Brigoli of the Cathedral Museum of Cebu accompanied Mr. Jose and Architect Manalo.
Everything inside the church were destroyed including the images of the Resurrected Christ and the Virgen Dolorosa which were displayed at the main altar right after the Easter dawn mass. Luckily, the image of the Immaculate Concepcion, which was displayed at the main altar and to whom the church was dedicated, survived the carnage. It is temporarily being kept at the office of the vice mayor of Oslob. Some images which were safely kept at the base of the belfy were spared however.
Below: The wooden panel with a relief of the Immaculate Concepcion.
Below: View of the church from the belfry.
Below: View of the interiors.
Below: From this vantage point, it seems like nothing is wrong with the church.
Below: View of the northern part of the church.
Below: The main altar.
Below: Charred remains of an image.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
This is sad, Arnold.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I hope they will rebuild the church back, because it is already part of the history, but also for our future generations
May 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I think a lot of churches here in Cebu are pulling there resources together in order to restore this magnificent church. It will only be a matter of time till they will be able to resurrect this church.;)
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
the old church has gone,goodbye.but we need to restore it again back to its perfect frame.thank you
August 17th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
[...] 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 [...]