SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER CHRONICLE (2nd Week JUNE 21-29, 2014) As a kid, I grew up as an altar boy and practically living next door to the old church – where our ancestral house was just a minute walk away to the church’s heavy (bayong) iron wood and stone portals. Thus I may qualify myself to be a living witness of what the Pilar – Spanish Era Church has gone through and its vulnerability to the elements of nature and how its age old strength withstood natures’ harsh weather and typhoons and sadly, doubly tragic – the mindless and destructive hands of the creature called human being. But that’s another story because this chronicle will try daily to follow a group of creatures also called human beings with not destructive hands but with hands and minds not aimed to destroy but to restore and repair what last years’ natural force code named Yolanda and the unfortunate destruction it has brought to the Pilar Parish Church. Early morning in November last year, 8th day of the month to be exact, the church’s roof of GI sheets was torn and literally ripped away to the ground in less than ten minutes by Yolanda - easily accepted to be one of nature’s strongest in phil history. I saw in the following day after Yolanda’s wrath whole parts of GI roof still attached to its trashes piled unbelievably and neatly on top of each other right next the church grounds. How did she do it? A miracle? But the real miracle is - not one of several saints fell to the ground most notably Mother Mary that stood firmly on its pedestal-‘unmoved’-despite that there was nothing up anymore but the open sky. Fr Ricky celebrated the Parish Fiesta Mass, Misa de Gallo and Christmas 2013 mid-night mass outside right beside on the church grounds on a temporary makeshift native style altar hut. And plans for church repair and restoration began. Yolanda felled coco trees were chain sawed for scaffolding and bamboos as well were put up inside the church. But real carpentry work didn’t start right away. A 3 million budget was needed. A committee for such an endeavor hasdto be created - ASAP! And like they say- the rest is history or is it an on going story? THE CHRONICLES: June 21 - sat - 3pm first fully attended committee meeting. Discussed topics were- 1. volunteer workers, rice as rations for volunteering 2. on how to transpo hardware from mandawe 3. how much board ft of lumber needed June 22 - mon - start of the 2nd week of the repair with participation of district 5 volunteers. Master carpenter Jun and co has successfully put up 3 trusses directly up above the church main altar which for more than 6 months has been open to sun and rain. June 24 - tue - hardware material list by Mr. frascio handed to mr purchaser bagsik June 25 - wed - meet with fr ricky for final plans for the transpo/nego/sked with p-boat junmar from Danao to Cawit, Pilar. June 26 - thu - actual construction site: participation of esperanza chapel volunteers: Joebert Deiparine,Loloy Gamayo,Joerime Damillo Fermin Cabanday,Dante Tablon, Albert. June 27 - fri - east of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Parish wide celebration (photos posted earlier) June 28 - sat - committee meeting - Dr zay, tio pepe, fr ricky, mM. bagsik, Evelio, Nilda, Norma, Jun Mayone, Edwin July 4 departure of purchaser for cebu to get hardware materials. Some other things discussed: Service Committees from all seven areas in Poblacion are to be encouraged to take care of the needs of the volunteers from the chapels for their snacks and meals. To make the Parish a homey and welcoming for the workers who come to help in the repair and restoration work. (Written by Tiyo Pepe Paradela; edited by Fr. Ricky, MSC)
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 07:08:56 +0000
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