( Simbahan nga human sa gugma;Templo sang malig-on nga pag-isa)
The Catholic church of Tigbauan has a Fil-Hispano inspired baroque facade which was completed in 1897. During the Second World War, it was gutted when the Japanese Imperial Forces bombarded it in 1943. Then, on January 25, 1948, an intensity 6 earthquake occurred which caused added devastation to the already crumbled edifice. Only its facade and belfry remained standing tall and steadfast, refusing to succumb to the catastrophe brought about by man and nature. Defying total demolition, the facade and belfry survived to serve as a living testimony for the posterity, of the sweat, blood and tears ( due to the forced labor under the blazing sun and the inclement weather in spite of illness or fatigue ) of their forefathers that trickled and blended with the "igang" blocks they laid with their calloused and wounded (by the Spanish "Cabo"s "ikog-pagi" whip) hands when they built the mighty walls of the church.
After two subsequent disasters it endured, the ruined church was rebuilt little by little through the support of the parishioners led by the parish priest. The gradual reconstruction was made possible through various ways and means. For instance, in 1979, the proceeds from the Miss Liberation contest was turned over by the then Mayor Eugenio Torrento to the parish priest for the repair of the church.
The Catholic Women's League of Tigbauan launched its annual search for "Boy Sto. Nino" starting in 1973 in order to raise funds for the continuing recostruction of the church.
The St. Cecilia's Choir had its own lion's share of the fund raising campaign since 1981, through a house-to-house "Daigon" and "Dine for the Church" which contributed more than 2 million pesos for the church repair. In 1993,the Choir produced a Christmas musical play ( Gintuman nga Sa-ad) which earned additional funds for the church.
For several times the proceeds from the Miss Tigbauan contest were also donated by the Municipal Council to the church.
In 1995, the Department of Tourism gave 10,000 pesos for the improvement of the church.
The greatest benefactors for the reconstruction of the church are the parishioners who, together with the devotees of Sto. Nino and San Juan de Sahagun, continuously give their support.
During the term of Rev. Fr. Eleuterio Carton, the facade of the original church was restored.The interior was redesigned based on a concept patterned from the Basilica of St. Peter with approval from the Vatican and conformed by Archbishop Alberto J. Peamonte of Jaro.
With unswerving enthusiasm and fervent desire to realize his obsessive dream of seeing the church renewed like the Risen Christ, he toiled incessantly, even reaching out to benevolent Tigbauanons abroad, soliciting, gathering, collecting, accummulating and saving charitable gifts, love offerings and donations with the untiring assistance of the faithful parishioners as his strength and inspiration, until at last the reconstruction was finished, against all odds.
The background of the altar is a mosaic visualizing the lines of the Apostles' Creed. The upper right and left walls of the building, also done in mosaic,present the Stations of the Cross.
The mosaic at the background and sides of the altar and the upper walls are made of small pieces of square coral stone tiles with the same sizes symbolizing the equality of all men before the eyes of God .On the other hand, the walls and posts of the church are layered with mosaic pieces that are of varied shapes and sizes ,just like the contributions of the people that come in different amounts, yet even the smallest piece has its special and important place in the completion of the church which, to the Tigbauanons, is a "Simbahan nga human sa gugma; Templo sang malig-on nga pag-isa".
Coincidentally, the reconstruction of the church was completed in 1997, 100 years after its inception in 1897. Like a beaming bride on her wedding day, the church rose from its rubbles, radiant and triumphant, spreading its gown in awesome magnificence on its grandiose blessing and inauguration on Feb. 3, 1997.
That was more than 22 years ago today, so it can already be qualified in the Nationl Commission on Culture, History and Arts (NCCHA) as a heritage structure of Tigbauan. Most of those who labored hard and gave a piece of their heart to this church are already dust.Only this church stands as their silent legacy. Shall we desecrate their memory and bury their noble deeds in oblivion? Would you efface the symbol of their unwavering faith, love and devotion to this church with computerized architecture, for vanity's sake?
