Naga’s heritage sites worst hit by ‘Kristine’
Severe tropical storm “Kristine” (Trami), which hit the country in the last week of October, has affected many heritage sites in Luzon, mainly in the province of Camarines Sur.
Floods from the catastrophic storm inundated many churches in the province and destroyed the Spanish-era Waras Bridge linking Iriga City and Baao town.
It also flooded the old City Hall of Iriga and sections of the American-era Philippine National Railways line from Naga to Legazpi City in neighboring Albay province.
The flooded churches in Camarines Sur include the Santo Cristo Church of Nabua, San Bartolome Church of Baao, San Jose Church of Milaor, San Antonio de Padua Church of Camaligan, and Santa Maria Magdalena Church of Bula.
With the exception of Camaligan, which is unmarked, the churches of Baao, Bula, Milaor, and Nabua were marked by the then Philippines Historical Committee in 1939.
However, these are all presumed important cultural properties as these are at least 50 years old.
In Republic Act 11961, which amended the heritage law of 2009, marked structures are Grade II level cultural properties, and thus have priority protection, while those that are unmarked are considered Grade III level which are likewise safeguarded from damage or demolition.
In Albay, the St. Peter and St. Paul Church of Polangui and the San Miguel Arcangel Church of Oas are flooded.
Naga City
As the Naga River overflowed, floodwaters rose to the streets, flooding the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, the Universidad de Santa Isabel, and Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, all from the Spanish period.
At the latter, invaluable archival materials and religious artifacts were submerged as the first level housing the seminary’s museum and offices was flooded.
Architect and heritage advocate Ara Gamalinda said the affected items included 1800s manuscripts, books and Tridentine missals.
Gamalinda, the facilities consultant of the museum, added that other items were Spanish-era wooden religious images, with some broken, and the school grades of Jose Maria Panganiban (1863-1890). Panganiban, an orator, writer, propagandist, and scientist, was an important figure in Bicol as well as the country due to his contributions to the Filipino nationhood. His birthplace, Mambulao, Camarines Norte, was renamed in his honor on Dec. 1, 1934 through Acts No. 4145.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is already assisting the seminary in the retrieval and conservation of the soaked archival materials and objects which were all not disposed of.
Also devastated in Naga was the Savage Mind bookshop with its books damaged by flood, a worse repeat of what it suffered during the onslaught of severe tropical storm “Enteng” (Yagi) in early September.
A fund-raising activity is being held to help the store, dubbed as Bicol’s creative mind, get back on its feet.
After “Kristine” exited, another storm hit the country, particularly the northernmost parts. in late October.
Supertyphoon “Leon’s” (Kong-rey) powerful winds and rain destroyed the façade of the Santa Rita de Mayan Church of Itbayat, Batanes. Built by the Dominicans from 1872 to 1888, this church was marked by the National Historical Institute in 2008.
It was a coup de grace, as the church was already heavily damaged by the earthquakes on July 27, 2019.
A new church at the back of the old one was constructed while the old church remained damaged. It was still awaiting action from the national cultural agencies and other government agencies involved in its repair and reconstruction.
