Earthquake Destroys Historic Church in the Philippines

A church with deep historical roots in the central Philippines was ruined last week after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck close to northern Cebu.

The Santa Rosa de Lima shrine, part of the archdiocese, collapsed as it sustained significant damage during the quake. Reports indicate that, thankfully, no one from the parish was hurt, according to Randy Nebrya, the parish priest.

“There’s a sense of sadness, particularly among the parishioners. It’s unfortunate, but I think we can still see a desire in them to rebuild the church,” he remarked.

This church, built in 1886, was recognized in 2022 as the shrine of the first archdiocese in the Philippines, dedicated to St. Rose of Lima. It’s not just a church; it serves as a pilgrimage site on Cebu and holds a special place in the history of Filipino Catholicism that dates back to the 16th century when Spanish colonizers arrived.

“Seeing our church in ruins is painful. In just moments, it was gone. It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that the church has collapsed,” reflected resident Vince Tolling.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, at least 68 lives were lost, and while there were complications in the initial counts, this is now noted as the deadliest earthquake in Cebu since 2013. It’s reported that over 20,000 people were displaced, with many having to sleep in open areas due to fears of aftershocks.

Aside from the Santa Rosa de Lima, several other historic churches experienced structural damage. These include St. Peter and Paul’s Parish Church in Bantayan (established in 1863), San Isidro Labrador Church in Tabgon (built in 1851, current structure from 1954), and some others that were affected as well.