⛪ Devastating Bohol's Churches After The 7.2 Magnitude Earthquakes.

Three in the afternoon, Tuesday, October 15, 2013. I woke up from a night of deep sleep (since I am a nocturnal being). I opened the television to watch my favorite show when a special coverage is running on the screen with the subtitle “7.2 magnitude earthquakes hit the province of Bohol and Cebu”. At first, I just ignored the news when the said coverage flashed a few photos of the damaged “Baclayon Church” and “Loboc Church”. I was shocked and I can’t even believe while watching the news - those devastating images simultaneously the reporter mentioned the phrase “Bohol and Cebu now is under the State of Calamity with continuous numbers of casualties due to the 7.2 earthquake”.

During my visit to Baclayon Church. I was under the impression that this
architecture is perpetual and will last longer.

A flashback happened when I quickly grabbed my memory card, insert it into my phone, and browsing with my Photo archives during my Bohol Travel. I was crying ( I admit it) looking at my travel photos at the same time comparing the images flashed on the TV screen.

I can’t still believe it, my hometown is Bohol. Bohol is top of the line choice in tourism due to its stunning old churches, but look at now, most of the major sports and heritage of Boholanos are gone in just a short span of time.

The Altar of Baclayon church. I am not able to go inside
because Short Pants are not allowed

Bridge that connects the two sides of the River. Loboc Church is on the
other side

When we were in Bohol (in Baclayon Church specifically) w/ my friends, I can still remember when our travel guide/driver proudly told us that “ Nako sir, Ilang Bagyo na at Lindol ang nangyare pero di parin natitinag ang Simbahan na to!” or simply “ As a matter of fact sir! Innumerable Typhoons and Earthquakes happened here but the Church is still stunning”.

Baclayon is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines wherein the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is situated. Almost two-century is the existence of the said building. It is one of the oldest preserved Jesuit-built churches in the Philippines. The said church exterior is made and the design is really great. It is made up of corrals, stone, and huge Narra lumber, and the binder that they use was an egg white. So basically, the durability of the Baclayon church is very famous in terms of engineering.

So when I went ahead online after I watch the news, there are images of Baclayon Church circulating online showed the half-collapsed bell tower.
Advertisement by Google: Meanwhile, another church that I’ve been to in Bohol is also a victim of the tragedy the Loboc Church was also heavily damaged after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the province.

The Philippine Information Agency or simply PIA in Central Visayas over social media Twitter said, “The century-old church in LOBOC is heavily damaged as per Jun Dy of a community rescue group in Bohol.” As a matter of fact, the Parts of its roof can also be seen in front of the structure totally damaged

Moreover, Loboc Church is the second oldest church in Bohol rebuilt in 1638 after a fire gutted its original structure.

It is adjacent to the famous Loboc River and both have become major tourist attractions for the province.

While looking towards the effect of the Earthquake, I hope the Boholanos (my kababayan) can recover from the devastating situation. I know that tourism status will decline as of right now, but in due time I know everything will be OK.

And I hope the family of the casualties can also move on towards their predicament.

I LOVE YOU BOHOL!! BANGON DAHIL PAGSUBOK LANG YAN

Photo From Jed Cortiz

Photo by JAMICH Twitter

The bell tower of the Church of San Pedro Apostol in Loboc, Boho Photo by Robert Michael Poole

A couple of centuries-old churches in Bohol such as Loboc Church, seen in the photo, were heavily damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol Tuesday morning. AFP PHOTO ( Photo From Inquirer)