NM hands restored Dimiao, 

Albur churches to Diocese 

DIMIAO, Bohol, September 1 (PIA)—In a span of 5 days, the National Museum turned over the restored and refurbished churches of Alburquerque and Dimiao, to the Diocese of Tagbilaran in what Bishop Alberto Uy would refer as a stroke of good or bad luck. 

Bishop Uy, along with bishop emeritus Leonardo Medroso, authorities of the diocese, Rev. Fr. Jomari Polo, local officials led by Mayor Danilo Guivencan and the faithful of Dimiao accepted the newly completed restored church of San Nicolas de Tolentino in solemn rites followed by a mass inside the reopened church, four years, a month and 15 days after it closed October 15, 2013. 

While the 2013 earthquake which ruined the churches handed bad experiences of trauma, pain and fear, it also was good luck for Bohol for the restoration of the now very beautiful churches and heritage structures, the bishop said. 

Five days ago, the National Museum represented by Assistant Director Angel Bautista and Bohol Field Office personnel led by Engr Joel Dahiroc, handed the restored Santa Monica Church in Alburquerque, which has also been restored closest to its original form, to the diocese. 

The opening of the restored old Spanish structure also coincided with the first day novenario of the partronal saint San Nicolas de Tolentino, NM Bohol Officer in Charge and Dimiaonon Engr Joel Dahiroc. 

According to Dimiao Church parish priest Fr Polo, the Dimiao Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino was built in 1750, formally establishing a residence for the priests who used to come only for services as a visita of Loay and Loboc churches. 

The church, along with the nearby Ermita ruins, have been declared as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the NM, that when the earthquake affected some of its fortified walls and threatened the church walls to crumble, the national government is now obligated to fund its restoration and refurbishment 

At the opening program held at the church’s puerta mayor, Director Bautista, Bishop Uy, Fr. Polo and Mayor Guivencan signed the acceptance documents and as witnesses to the historic moment. 

The group also re-unveiled the NCT marker which the NM handed to the church last June 28, 2011, before formally entering the church and celebrating the commemorative mass. 

In his message, Director Bautista, who first immersed himself in Dimiao in 1998 as the head of the newly formed archeology department of the NM, his work on the church documentation and the Ermita ruins, as well as the Spanish colonial bridges in town allowed him to know the local culture and the people. 

His experience of an unfunded excavation came out big with the local government partly funding their documentation initiatives. 

His team’s work led to the declaration of the church and the ermita ruins as NCT and the colonial stone arch bridges as important cultural property of the country. 

Possibly the smallest Spanish Church in terms of floor space, from its façade, the church of Santo Tomas de Tolentino appears huge especially with the illusion built by the church’s position on the edge of an open space. 

The church restoration by the NM also includes the soon to be finished old pipe organ, the wall attached pulpit complete with wrought iron balusters, the stations of the cross, and the repainted ceilings. 

The NM has since restored and turned over other restored churches, watch towers, the old tribuna which was the Old Capitol, and now houses the satellite office of the NM in Bohol, and is set to do the restoration and rebuilding of the ruined churches in Loboc, Loon, Cortes, Maribojoc, an old municipio and convent in Panglao and the Rizal Park in Tagbilaran. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

Bishop Albert Uy, Dimiao Parish Priest Jomari Polo, NM Assistant Director Angel Bautista sign the turn-over and acceptance documents, while Dimiao Mayor Danilo Guevancan and Capitol representative Isabelo Tongco led the witnesses during the historic event. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

TWO BISHOPS and the exultant community reoccupied the San Nicolas de Tolentino Church after the NM turned over the restored earthquake-damaged church to the Diocese of Tagbilaran. The turn-over came 4 years 11 months and 15 days after the Oct 15 earthquake. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

Bishop Leonardo Medroso, NM Asst Dir Angel bautista, Dimiao Mayor Danilo Guivencan, Tagbilaran Bishop Albert Uy and Dimiao parish priest Jomari Polo unveiled the National Cultural Treasure marker for Dimiao Church and Ermita Ruines. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE HOLY CHURCH. The faithful of Dimiao take shelter from the harsh sun a few hours before authorities re-opened the church doors about 5 years after it was closed due to the effects of the earthquake to the integrity of the structure. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)