Cortesanons to celebrate Misa de

Gallo in restored Sto. Niño church

Christmas dawn masses for Cortes town would be a bit meaningful this year.

Parishioners, several of them devout, professed to have the resolve not to miss any of the nine day’s dawn masses inside the old coral stone church, would finally be back in the warm yet cavernous embrace of the newly restored church which the earthquake of 2013 damaged.

It could also be a teary walk back into the past from many who have since not seen the insides of the church that still keeps its 1920s ceiling paintings by Ray Francia.

Church authorities in 2013 decided to barricade the ruined church whose foundations took a severe test when the early morning October 15, 2013 earthquake shook Bohol.

When the dust settled, parishioners saw that the church’s portico façade has become an ugly pile of stone tablets and limestone, the galvanized iron roof shriveled and the old wooden trusses sticking out from the pile of rubbles.

The earthquake also revealed the church’s original façade which could be made by the Jesuits, and effectively hidden when the Augustinian Recollects came in early 1800.

Inside, the left wall of the altar sank a few inches deep and toppled the side walls of the late 17^th century baptismal chamber and across the gospel side. 

With its foundations declared as compromised, local church authorities have to set up a temporary church in the plaza, one that has since become the venue for the dawn masses in the next three years that followed.

Built from light materials, if only to assure that the church could still offer its services, one that kept the community’s faith alive.

A few years later, a philanthropic family from the town donated for the alternative church which now stands near that old ruined church, at times, would have to ring the bells from the far side of the church plaza where the old tower still stands.

“It’s always nostalgic every time the somber bells ring, calling the community to assemble for the weekly masses. The church, although sustaining what many would call as minor damages, needed a thorough structural assessment, one which could be costly,” admits a young architect who came to inspect and assess the damage.

Unsaon na man nato pagpabalik sa karaang simbahan nga maglisud na man gani tag pangita’g makaon? (How can we rebuild the old church when we could hardly get food?) a regular church goer finally aired what many people have kept to themselves.

Cortes is a fifth class town and ranks among the province’s poor. 

Unknown to many however, months before the earthquake, Rev. Fr, Milan Ted Torralba of the Diocesan Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, the committee that keeps track of the religious heritage of the church, has submitted Cortes’ Santo Niño Church for the National Museum’s declaration as among the country’s Important Cultural Properties (ICP).

Mag-ampo ta nga milagrohan ni Santo Niño, aron maapil ang atong simbahan sa mga isipon nga katigayunan sa simbahan, (Let us all pray for a miracle from the Holy Child, that the church would be included in the list of the church’s important cultural properties), Fr. Cañizares urged the faithful.

Fr. Milan Ted Torralba and then Parish Priest Fr. Linuel Cañizares did not leave any option uncovered if only to rebuild the ruined church. 

Donations from well-meaning parishioners and Cortesanons abroad started trickling, but the rebuilding amount was just too huge that hope for the restoration of the heritage structure thinned. 

The declaration documents however did not come until the local church with the help of a philanthropic family from the town has built an alternative church, which has become the semi-temporary venue for church gatherings and masses.    

In 2015, then parish priest Fr. Cañizares broke the good news: the National Government through the National Museum has declared the Santo Niño church as among the country’s important cultural properties and is eligible for restoration funds from the national government.

When by December 3 of 2017, under the new parish priest Fr. Roderick Pizarras, church authorities and the National Museum representatives laid the time capsule containing the detailed plans of the church restoration, the faint hope which the people kept in their hearts glittered, recalled Isidoro Lungay, former Parish Pastoral Council president.

Malipayon, kay matrabaho na gyud og balik ang simbahan. Luoy gyud siya tan-awon nga mura’g nakalimtan na lang samtang ang mga tawo naginabuhi nga mapahiuli ang ilang mga kinabuhi. (Elated, finally the church would be restored. The old building is a pitiful structure, seemingly forgotten as the people struggled to rise from the pains left by the disaster), shared one parishioner during the ground breaking ceremonies. 

When the construction workers started fencing the church and the hammering started, parishioners, who consider the church as a treasure, ascertained that the construction would follow the agreed standards and that the old form is retained.   

Two years later, Fr. Pizarras announced again that the contractor: 401 Development Corporation and the Diocese of Tagbilaran authorities are now just about ready to turn over the restored church.  

By December 14 of this year, church authorities would be receiving from the National Museum the restored church which has cost the national government millions of funds in restoration.

The turn-over also happens six years and two months after the fateful day in October when the church barred its doors for the parishioners, for safety reasons.

Now, with the church gleaming in polished stone and already sporting the old bell tower based upon the pictures in the archives, the church also boasts of ceiling paintings in its gospel and epistle sides, as well as a last supper painting reproduction by one of the sons of local church painter and restorer Rosalio Ortiz.

When there were no visible drainage systems then which threatened the integrity of the church foundations, the restorers now made sure one would be built.

The church naves now also sport spot lighting which enhances the panels in the ceiling paintings. 

The church has prepared a short but fitting rites for the turn-over, even as the contractor has rushed the construction of the bell-tower where the antique church bells used to hang.

One more mass and the somber sound of the bells which I use as an alarm clock when I was a kid, and I would be ready to die, an old lady servant of the old church shared.

By then, I would be among the very few who have been baptized inside the church and maybe, get my last rites inside the same church, she added.

Whatever that be, the church would be the national government’s biggest Christmas gift to the faithful of Cortes. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

RISING FROM THE RUBBLES. From the rubbles of the old church rises the restored structure whose builders used every bit of stone from the old structure to build the new. Toppled by the October 2013 earthquake, it took the government over 6 years to complete the restoration of the church which it declared as an important cultural property. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Temporary ban on pork meat 

products to Bohol, til June 30 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 7 (PIA)—The ban on the entry of live hogs, meat whether raw or processed as well as pork related products to Bohol has been extended. 

While Executive Orders Number 7 and 8 in August 20, 2019 and Executive Order No. 22 on September 19 has mandated a temporary ban on the transportation of pork and pork related products as well as its entry or the entry of swine feeds from Luzon for a period of 100 days, Executive Order No 55 series of 2019 signed by Governor Arthur Yap November 15, has extended the implementation of Executive Orders 7 and 22 until June 30, 2019. 

The new executive order said based on the latest advisory of the Department of Agriculture, the African Swine Fever virus has now spread in more areas in Luzon. 

The increase in the number of affected areas in Luzon is just an indication that the ASF situation has not yet been contained, the EO contended. 

With the onset of the Christmas holidays and the low prices of hogs and pork meat products has made its attractive and tempting for entrepreneurs and even travelers to bring in pork and pork meat products to Bohol from Luzon, considering the accessibility through the Philippine Trans-national Highway and the linking ferry services. 

With the stakes too high considering the over 50,000 hog growers and producers in Bohol, most of them backyard raisers, we have to exercise diligent restraint, bared Bohol Provincial veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz. 

Bohol backyard raisers account to the 86% production and the annual 50,501 metric tons of pork meat produced accounts to 82% of the total meat supply here, Dr. Lapiz stressed. 

One single case of ASF in Bohol, and it would have the potency to wipe out the entire hog industry and that would be devastating to the thousands of industry workers and backyard growers whose income come from hog raising, the female vet who has led Bohol into its pro-active stance against the disease explained. 

With the extension of the temporary ban, the governor has also called on the stakeholders to continue the effectivity and enforcement of the unaffected provisions of EO 7 and 22 and all other provisions of OE 7 and 22 in so far as they are consistent with the new EO remains to the in full force and effect, the EO stated. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

STRICT BIOSECURITY MEASURES EXTENDED. With EO 55 by Gov Arthur Yap, the ban on the entry of pork meat products to Bohol remain enforced while strict biosecurity measures in farms remain enforceable, said Dr Stella Marie Lapiz. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

DILG launches in Bohol its 

‘Disiplina Muna’ campaign 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, December 7 (PIA)—The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 7, along with the local provincial field office launches in Bohol its Disiplina Muna National Advocacy Campaign in Bohol, the first after the national launching in Manila last November. 

According to DILG Regional Director Leocadio Trovela, the national campaign intends to bring back discipline, which would be a host for change towards more sustainable development. 

Speaking in front of a gathering of local chief executives, legislative chiefs, local legislators, officials and representatives of the sectors and the academe, Trovela said the Bohol launching is a decision they made because the government has firm belief that there is not much of a discipline problem in Bohol. 

The descendants of Dagohoy are strongly disciplined so there is no estero problem, the environment is cleaner and the people are cooperative. 

“Bohol is one of a kind, ramdam dito ang respect, respect that is more than love,” Trovela said, citing not much of garbage problem here. 

“Throwing of garbage is a sign of disrespect, he emphasized, guiding his audience into recalling an earlier presentation about issues in discipline causing traffic, garbage, dirt and peace and order. 

Disiplina Muna intends to make disciplined communities and people who are law-abiding, where the dreamt change can start, he said. 

Change can only come as soon as people change their mindsets and their attitudes where the true and sustainable change for development can be sustained. 

With the campaign, the government hopes this will start the return of the culture of discipline and engage the people into a shared responsibility for a lasting development and sustain the peace, DILG said. 

The same incidentally dovetails into the vision of the Duterte Administration which pushes for the cooperation and collaboration between the people and its government towards change. 

The administration which promotes discipline and cooperation in building a strong nation, will also push the people into getting into the processes of government which is the true essence of a well-managed governance. 

In his presentation on Disiplina Muna, Center for Federalism and Constitutional Reforms Supervising Project Officer Reymark Radjuli said that the Disiplina Muna advocacy campaign is the strategy in the government’s campaign to clear its streets and facilitate the flow of traffic, Oplan Listo and the disaster and risk mitigation among communities, the anti-smoking campaign, ease of doing business, alcoholism and in cleaning up tourism areas as well as the functionality of the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) in the country’s drive against illegal drugs. 

The campaign now focuses on the youth, young professionals and the general public, according to Radjuli. 

During the launching at the Bohol Tropics Resort, authorities from the provincial, municipal and barangay governments, civil society organizations and people’s organizations including the media signed their pledge of commitment in supporting the advocacy campaign. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol) 

ADVOCATING DISCIPLINE. DILG regional Director Leocadio Trovela leads the Boholanos in launching Disiplina Muna as part of the national advocacy campaign to restore discipline, one with the Duterte Administration identifies as that while has kept the country from being great again. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

DISCIPLINE LINE. Bohol local officials and people’s organizations line up and wait for their turn to sign their pledge of commitment to support the national advocacy campaign for Disiplina Muna during the regional launching at the Bohol Tropics Friday. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

BTr offers low risk hi-interest 

Premyo Bonds, to win condo 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 7 (PIA)—How far can your P500 go? 

Not much. A bag of groceries, few cups of brewed coffee. And with less than 1% interest per annum in a savings account, at most, a month. 

But with the rare offer of the Bureau of Treasury through its Premyo Bonds, your P500 can win you a million, a condo unit or a house and lot. 

At least, according to BTr’s provincial chief Hermilina Bulasa, your P500 can get you 3% interest after investing it for a full year. 

Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA on studio at the DyTR, Bulasa, who came with the agency’s information officer Chloe Redeja explained that the Premyo Bonds are part of the Government’s savings mobilization program designed to make government securities available to small investors, in its efforts for financial inclusion. 

Issued by the Republic of the Philippines through the BTr, Premyo Bonds, unlike your usual cash in the bank, can not be withdrawn until it matures in December of 2020. 

Direct, unconditional and general obligations of the Republic of the Philippines, Premyo Bonds are low-risk and high yielding easily affordable investment, where the investor is assured a very high 3% interest as against commercial bank’s less than 1% annual interest rate, Bulasa said. 

Great. But what is the catch? 

The catch is that the public offer period is only from November 25 to December 13. 

Purchased Premyo Bonds which are issued in the minimum amount of P500 or more in the denominations of 500 earns an e-raffle ticket or P10 million with 20,000 raffle entries would be eligible for the National Registry of Script-less Securities (NRoSS) and are automatically included in the rewards draw, added Redeja. 

From among the investors, the government would pick one winner for P1 million per quarter, ten winners of P100,000 per quarter and 50 winners of P20,000 per quarter. 

According to the BTr, non-cash reward is real property in a form of a condo unit, or house and lot to be given by participating institutions for the quarterly winners. 

For interested investors of the Premyo Bonds, they may go to any of the government’s participating selling agents, banks mostly. 

Investors without any peso accounts need to open one, while those with existing peso accounts have to open with the Selling agent where the principal payments and interest are made. 

Then the investor fills in the documentary requirements in buying the Premyo Bonds, and these will be registered under the BTrs NRoSS, the investor getting a registry account opening conformation, conformation of sale, summary of transactions and statement of account. 

As the government intends to also promote financial literacy, Premyo Bonds commit the investment which can not be withdrawn, until it matures a year later. 

With this, investors will have to force themselves to spend wiser knowing that the investment can not be redeemed until it matures, one very common weakness with depositors keeping automated teller machine (ATM) accounts, Redeja added. 

Over this, BTr Bohol is also urging Boholanos especially those who are getting bigger cash flow this Christmas season to think hard about spending in unnecessary purchases, while the government is still putting up the Premyo Bonds on public offer. 

Investors wanting to know the list of selling agents can log on to www.treasury.gov.ph, and decide upon which agent they will buy their bonds. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

PREMYO BONDS OR REBOND? That is the question. While the government has made available a financial assistance program that pays out outstanding loans, the excess amount government employees are getting as Christmas bonuses can go to Premyo Bonds or to rebond. The choice, indicates one’s financial literacy. Here BTr information Office Chloe Redeja and Bohol Chief Hermilina Mylene Bulasa explained the Premyo Bonds during the recent Kapihan sa PIA. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)