NHCP, Loay Parish brings in

curated exhibit of old icons

LOAY, Bohol (PIA)—Life sized wooden images of the characters who figured out in Christ’s passion, all dressed in period-correct tunics and cloaks like they were when they first came out for the Holy week processions in the 18th century Loay are now on exhibit at the second floor of the Museo ng Pamana at Kasaysayan’g Boholano, Casa Tribunal of the Holy Trinity Parish Church Compound here, until March 26.

Presented and curated by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), with the Holy Trinity of Loay and the benevolent encargados who now have in their keep these revered icons as family devotions passed on across the ages, the exhibit entitled Pag-antos: Remembrance, Preservation and Passing of the Lenten Traditions in Loay, allows these seldom seen centuries old carved wooden images to be seen up close by devotees, weeks before these are to occupy their decorated caros during the Holy week processions.

The exhibit, which opened March 12 feature the Lenten traditions from the palms, to the events that lead to the crucifixion and death of Christ, which is the central theme of the Lenten tradition introduced by the Spanish missionaries in Bohol in the 16th century.

The wooden icons, some a few decades after the establishment of the stone church on top of a hill here, have been commissioned by the parish or donations by rich parishioners in the 16th to the early 19th century, still feature the reverse-painted glass eyes and gems as tears, which are quaint devotional practices.

Some of the images still sport that some delicate skin tone paint jobs when they were commissioned, and most are over a hundred years old, the icons already considered cultural heritage assets, according to the NHCP.

We are very thankful that the families of the encargados gave in to our request, NHCP Loay Museum in-charge Perlina Alo shared, adding that encargados do not usually allow their image to be out of their sight.

Loay, like almost all heritage churches in Bohol practiced the entrustment of these priceless sacred icons to families as the church does not have the capacity to guard these from theft.

Sacred images from Bohol are among the hottest objects in the arts thievery black market.

We talked to each one of the encargados and offered help if we see any thing that needs to be restored in these images so they can get back the lend image in a much better state, she added.

The images, entrusted to families in town, only come out for the Lenten activities beginning with the Passos on Spy Wednesday and the Good Friday to the Easter procession leading to Sugat.

And while other parishes allow the improper vesting of the icons using the fashionable gowns, it is always our desire to get back to the core: make these images as catechetical aids in relearning of the lives and the roles these saints performed during the lenten commemoration, explains NHCP Materials Conservation Research Division chief, Mark Aquino.

The NHCP, which keeps a conservation laboratory in Loay Museum, also dished out some pointers to the encargados on the care and upkeep of the priceless images.

The NHCP also gave a lecture on care and preservation of the Holy Week images for encargados, which was also joined by encargados of the different parishes in Bohol.

The Pag-antos exhibit in Loay runs until March 26 and opens starting 9 am to 4 PM Tuesday to Sunday. (PIAbohol)

RARE EXHIBIT. Sacred images which are the main feature of the Passos procession for the Holy Week come out from the vaults of the families in Loay who have been, through the ages, entrusted with the upkeep of these priceless antique images for a few weeks of exhibit before the Holy Week and then again, they disappear from public view. Curated by the NHCP, Pag-antos exhibit at the Casa Tribuna of the Holy Trinity Parish Compound in Loay, runs until, March 26, 9-4PM Tuesdays to Sundays. (PIAbohol)