Then it all Came Down: The Fall of Basilica Santo Niño Belfry

When the earth shook violently that Tuesday morning at Cebu, we thought everyone was safe from harm. We were wrong. The power of social media, and thanks to the stability of communication in the city, information steadily streamed my tab. Offices were immediately evacuated. That morning, we thought we will be seeing only minor damages, but never had we known that it has become Visayas’ most powerful in more than 20 years and has toppled several buildings. However, I was moved when I saw the photo of the belfry of Santo Niño de Cebu Basilica, ruined. I was stunned, shocked, and a bit teary-eyed.

I immediately hurried up from IT Park to downtown Cebu, not minding the aftershocks. When I was there, I saw my fellow colleague Ka Bino Guerrero, who was mourning at the damage of the tremor to the church. The belfry gone, the bells on the ground, and the rocks scattered.

I was teary eyed when I saw it.

However, it was a holiday. There weren’t much people around at that time. No one was seriously hurt. Then I saw this video. It was like I was watching a disaster flick of Roland Emmerich, yet it was all too real and too heartbreaking.

The Basilica’s belfry, along with its façade, has just been recently renovated. There have also been plans to have the area closed in preparation for a big celebration in which the Pope himself may visit the city. Yet, it all came crashing down.

Belfries have been known to be the first ones to fall during an earthquake. The Spanish priests were aware of it. That is why, some churches in the country had their belfries far from the church itself just like in Ilocos, Jaro in Iloilo, and perhaps Loboc and Baclayon in Bohol (with share of its heartbreaking stories)

The Head Priest of the Basilica, Father Mejares OSA, has made a statement that Mass would be held at the Pilgrim Center, located in front of the damaged church. He then also added that they will need the help of the stakeholders in order to rebuild it.

The video of the actual collapse of Santo Nino’s belfry. Video from ABS-CBN. Video by Alain Avelino.I then heard this, “We are also thankful for the Muslim holiday. If it wasn’t for this, there would be a lot of casualties, especially children, since every morning students and even street kids converge near the belfry. God has still been merciful.”

Indeed, for it was a holiday, lives were spared from the falling bell tower. No matter what faith we are, I think we are still thankful for casualties weren’t too great to ponder…yet still.

It was heartbreaking to see the belfry toppled down by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, but I know it will be rebuilt. It reminded me of one photo I took from Sinulog Festival just this year—prophetic as it may seem. The champion contingent performed a scene where the belfry was seen wobbling and yet it ended up standing. I guess that’s the Visayan resolve. We may wobble, but still we stand up.
We were heartbroken but hopeful. Then the first photos from Bohol came streaming. We were aghast and shocked…

The 15th of October 2013 is a day to be remembered in Visayan history. Many people perished, and at the same time a part of our culture crumbled down. Bohol’s churches were far worse. The day hasn’t ended.

Ka Bino and I embarked on a heritage inventory that day…

To be continued…