Restore the Churches! Restore Bohol!

Philippine towns, more often than not, trace their beginning with the establishment of a church. That’s why the old churches are usually located just across the government building at the poblacion. Old churches are the silent witnesses of the comings and goings of time. They house the souls of the town and in their halls generations after generations of Filipinos were baptized, married and were given the final rites.

The destruction of old churches in many towns of Bohol due to last year’s earthquake is a painful blow to Boholanos. Losing their churches left a big hole in their hearts.

Loboc Church, before and after the earthquake. (Source: Bahay ng Diyos Foundation website)

Rebuilding ruined houses is not enough. Their spirit has to be rebuilt too and one way to do that is by restoring the old churches ruined by the earthquake. Bahay ng Diyos Foundation is doing just that and they are now in initial stages of restoring the heritage churches in the province of Bohol.

(Source: Bahay ng Diyos FB page)

Bahay ng Diyos Foundation is a Catholic organization that focuses of rebuilding, renovation, and refurbishing of churches and religious facilities around the country.

The restoration of heritage churches in Bohol is one of the many projects of Bahay ng Diyos Foundation. Their project map shows that they have projects in Pangasinan, Palawan, Bicol Region, Zamboanga, and Davao.

Rebuilding churches requires money and other resources. That’s why Bahay ng Diyos Foundation is calling on those with generous hearts to help them in their endeavour. Please visit the Bahay ng Diyos Foundation website for details on how to support their projects.
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Pray for Bohol and Cebu

Around 8:30 this morning I was awakened by the shaking in our hotel room here in Cagayan de Oro. I thought I was just imagining things but the truth dawn on me when I saw the curtains, the flat screen TV and other things shaking. There's an EARTHQUAKE.

No bad thing happened to me and my travel companion. The shaking stopped after a minute so we felt that were saved. That was good news for us but the bad news is that our kababayans in Bohol and Cebu were severely affected.

It was reported that some people died. Many structures collapsed  including the very old churches.

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(Source: Carlos Antonio Palad)

These churches were built during the Spanish period and they have been part of history of the Boholanos and Cebuanos. I visited a few of these churches, specifically the Baclayon Church and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

It is so sad that these heritage sites were already gone. It is also sad that so many perished.

What happened to our country this morning is heartbreaking but this should not be the cause of utter despair. There is still hope because God is listening.

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(Source: Walking in the SacRed PaTh with Jesus)

So let us call upon our Lord and ask His aid for the sake of our kababayans in Bohol and Cebu. Let us ask our Lord to have to the Filipino people.

At the same time, let us do what we can to help those who were affected. Gather clothes, food, medicines, toiletries and money that can be donated to earthquake victims.

Pray and act, that's what we can do for the sake of our kababayans.

May the Lord have mercy to all of us.

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For more info about fault lines and earthquakes in the Philippines, please read my post about PHIVOLCS list of fault lines and maps. I also have another post about the Marikina Fault Line that may cause great damage in Metro Manila.