The stakeholders for the restoration of the Holy Cross Church of Maribojoc remained undaunted despite the pronouncement of His Excellency Archbishop Barney Auza that it takes years to achieve the project.
He said whatever losses the people suffered, we must thank God they are still alive. He said the people of Maribojoc must rejoice and help each other in rebuilding the colonial church despite the expected substantial toll in time, money and effort.
The Boholano Archbishop who is the Vatican Representative to the United Nations spoke during the turn-over ceremony of a $30,000 grant for the restoration of the main Altar or retablo of the church.
Margaret Lacson Ecarma, Executive Director, Bohol Restoration Group, in Washington DC turnover the check to Dr. Jaime Laya, Chairman, Escuela de Taller de Pilipinas based in Manila.
The amount will be used by Escuela de Taller to train out of school youths of Maribojoc who will be tasked to assist in the restoration of the church. The youths will be trained in masonry, carpentry, sculpture, and metal working, some of the almost forgotten skills of the Filipinos.
According to Director Laya, there are three objectives of Escuela de Taller, first, help preserve tangible cultural heritage, second – provide livelihood to out of school youths and third – contribute to our national pride. Laya said he takes pride being part in the formidable task to recover the lost heritage of Bohol, the most beautiful retablo in this part of the country.
Ecarma on her part said the first and foremost thing which her group can relay to the Maribojocanons is love, a feeling that traverses over the seas, the snow and seemingly unending distance. She urged Maribojocanons to continue the legacy from their ancestors more than two hundred years ago, and persevere for its restoration for future generations.
She said continue the long story of the Maribojocanons which is replete with the spirit of community work, and not political, and let it be etched eternally in the memory, the desire to help each other which certainly would make your ancestors happy while looking upon you.
Deacon Rick Medina, Executive Director, Catholic World Mission, based in Atlanta Georgia who attended the affair said it is very important to rebuild the church because it is the repository of countless memories for Maribojocanons.
He said the church is the center of the community life, such as the place for wedding ceremonies, convergence of the faithfuls during catholic gatherings and other activities of the parishioners.
As a side issue and part of the objectives of the Catholic World Mission, he granted scholarship to all dancers from the St. Vincent Institute who rendered dances such as the invocatory interpretative dance and the cultural dance depicting the romantic courting of boholanos during the program.
Board Member Yul Lopez who represented Gov, Edgar M. Chatto said the Provincial leadership of Bohol joins the Maribojoc faithful to express heartfelt gratitude not only to Escuella de Taller but also to all who in one way or another have contributed their share in the task of restoring of the church. He said such grant will serve as an inspiration to the Maribojocanons because it is considered as a gift from God. Mrs. Lorna Rances, Chairperson of the Heritage Committee of Santa Cruz Parish, thanked all those who attended and witnessed the affair
