The Philippines and its Character of Ruins
Cebu and Bohol Islands are among the foremost tourist and expatriates destination in Central Visayas. The tranquility and serenity in this island provinces
Apart from rescue, reconstruction and retrieval activities, efforts are said to have been underway to restore those churches with the National Historical Commission taking the lead. The urgent enthusiasm and the undaunted desire to put those old churches to what it is, before it crumbled is laudable, and even more are welcomed by most Filipinos. The unanimous and compelling desire to resuscitate, at least aesthetically, those old churches exudes the Filipino’s love for history and the romanticism that surrounds it.
Surely, most tourists that had traveled to these islands for a glimpse of those old churches among others had shared the same emotions and feelings. It was a window and an accurate testament to the past. But then, such was the case, should it be appropriate to restore those churches? Will it give justice to the past and the future? Would the introduction of modern materials, labor and masonry truly restores a perceived degradation in historical worth; or rather... would it instead diminished it in terms of character and authenticity, to the point that a perception of loss becomes the reality? Are they not interfering with a fulfilled destiny? Could it be more suitable to accept its present state; and focus on the word "preservation" , and... with less vanity, choose to lean on to the word by deed?
Apart from rescue, reconstruction and retrieval activities, efforts are said to have been underway to restore those churches with the National Historical Commission taking the lead. The urgent enthusiasm and the undaunted desire to put those old churches to what it is, before it crumbled is laudable, and even more are welcomed by most Filipinos. The unanimous and compelling desire to resuscitate, at least aesthetically, those old churches exudes the Filipino’s love for history and the romanticism that surrounds it.
Surely, most tourists that had traveled to these islands for a glimpse of those old churches among others had shared the same emotions and feelings. It was a window and an accurate testament to the past. But then, such was the case, should it be appropriate to restore those churches? Will it give justice to the past and the future? Would the introduction of modern materials, labor and masonry truly restores a perceived degradation in historical worth; or rather... would it instead diminished it in terms of character and authenticity, to the point that a perception of loss becomes the reality? Are they not interfering with a fulfilled destiny? Could it be more suitable to accept its present state; and focus on the word "preservation" , and... with less vanity, choose to lean on to the word by deed?
Preservation is to maintain those churches as monuments, a constant reminder to the Filipinos of their past, where they came from
and what they were before. Those churches may not be altered and tainted with modernity unless they want to risk the effect of obscuring and redirecting history. Those churches as monuments should reflect what transpired in the life of the Filipinos as a Christian nation; those must become a
representation and a compatible proof of what is written, which in turn would be taught to their children and their children's children, long after they were all gone. Those must be reflective of events in places where it actually occurred. Uncertain is what made them believe that physically restoring those churches would be the only way to preserve its place in Philippine history. Should they not by culture be wanting of character? Should they not by sense of true nationalism honor the spirit
of the people who build those churches by letting it be. By conscience, there is really nothing to restore, because the cause and its effect are all part of history, it is there! … the events ... the consequences… the character ... its there! … in and around the ruins.
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