After almost a year of laborious restoration works, the Philippine National Museum on Tuesday morning turned over to the Diocese of Dumaguete four fully-restored side altars of the St. Augustine of Hippo Parish Church in the municipality of Bacong, Negros Oriental.
The project was undertaken by the Philippine National Museum, in collaboration with the Bacong local government unit, who both gave an accumulated total of some Php 1.8 million funding for the restoration of the retablos or altars.
A simple turn-over ceremony was held following a concelebrated mass presided by Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes and members of the Dumaguete clergy at the Bacong Church, which has been previously declared a National Cultural Treasure.
Bacong Mayor Jocelyn Alviola, Vice-Mayor Lenin Alviola, members of the Bacong municipal council and other guests were present during the ceremonial turn-over by Engr. Orly Avignon, who personally supervised the restoration works.
Engr. Avignon, who is now retired from the Philippine National Museum, disclosed that funding is easy to source for restoration projects from the National Commission for Culture & the Arts if the Church or any LGU can submit a proposed plan.
Avignon explained that the National Museum and the National Heritage Commission do not have funding but offer technical support and undertake projects that are funded by the NCCA.
According to him, Negros Oriental has plenty of churches and other structures that speak of its rich heritage and that there should conservation and preservation efforts.
He offered his services for free, which Bishop Cortes, in an interview after the mass, lauded as he extended gratitude in behalf of the diocese and the people of Bacong and the province.
Bishop Cortes highlighted the importance of educating the people on the importance of cultural heritage that can be passed on to the next generations.
The Dumaguete prelate said the diocese is considering future restoration and preservation projects through its Cultural Heritage Commission headed by Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, the parish priest of Bacong.
Msgr. Heruela, meanwhile, also expressed thanks for the restoration of the four side altars, which he said took long to complete because trained restorers had to look for hard wood that would closely match the original pillars and other parts while gold leaf used for gilding also had to be imported.
The St. Augustine of Hippo Church in Bacong is one of more than 20 colonial churches in the Philippines chosen for restoration by the NCCA, said Engr. Avignon.
A few years ago, the retablo mayor or main altar of the said historical church was restored.
The church in Bacong is also popular for its restored pipe organ, which originally came from Zaragoza, Spain in the late 1890’s.
The St. Augustine of Hippo Church in historic Bacong is one of the oldest in the Diocese of Dumaguete. (With a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
