Goodbye

 

The town church of Oslob and its convent were ravaged by a huge fire early morning [2:00 am] of March 26. Except for the stone walls, nothing was left of the age-old structure.

On a similar note, a structure [one of the oldest in Cebu] in Boljoon was also reduced to ashes early morning of March 25.

This is so sad.

 Photos of the site by MCPB reader @haha

 

View of the convent

dsc02206largeam4.jpg picture by leylan

Main door and view of altar

dsc02204largejl6.jpg picture by leylan

Side

dsc02203largemr3.jpg picture by leylan

That’s the small plaza in front of the church

dsc02202largemb2.jpg picture by leylan

View of the church from the seawall

dsc02201largeny7.jpg picture by leylan

The place was still burning early in the morning.

dsc02200largezd2.jpg picture by leylan

 

Read Sunstar report here.

28 Comments so far

  1. Buchick on March 27, 2008

    That is terrible! It’s so sad to know that that beautiful church could’ve been saved if only there were working firetrucks. How could a fire station serve its’ purpose if the trucks are not working? How could it save peoples’ homes from fires? It’s so so sad.

  2. ianne on March 27, 2008

    It is sad to see a historical church gone! I hope it will be rebuilt, it might not be the same, but at least it will stand again to its glory.

  3. Bai on March 27, 2008

    Was the Immaculate Conception image saved or not? This is very sad…

  4. leylander on March 27, 2008

    Yes it was saved. Minor cracks.

  5. JFA on March 28, 2008

    it’s really sad to hear na nasunog ang atong simbahan… just read it from local newspaper (sunstar, freeman) and what bothers me that it could been saved or at least di ma-apil ang simbahan if our 2 firetrucks are working. another traits from pinoy na “not prepared” and looking for someone as scapegoat.

    let’s forgot about the issue… hopefully all sectors of government and the church group will work hand-in-hand to restore and rebuild the structure.

    - JFA from Miami -

  6. batang buotan on March 28, 2008

    It’s painful. Oslob church is among the church on my list that I must visit this year. But it turned to ashes. How sad.

  7. Inday Myrna on March 28, 2008

    To the people of Oslob, i feel what you feel.
    It’s a tragedy.

  8. Inday Myrna on March 28, 2008

    Thanks GOD the Image of Immaculate Conception is save and its a miracle

  9. Pilar on March 29, 2008

    di na ko matukib ang akong gibati makakita aning mga pictures nga wala na ang among simbahan sa oslob. makahilak jud ko mag tan-aw. part of my life is gone.

  10. Takdol on March 29, 2008

    Horrible. Just horrible.

  11. anton colubio on March 29, 2008

    dakong kasayang sa simbahan sa oslob

  12. anton colubio on March 29, 2008

    nakapuyo ra ba ako diha sa convent niadtong nag eskwela pa ako diha sa SMA. murag d ko makatoo na wala na

  13. Rod on March 29, 2008

    So sad…were those causes the real cause?
    hmmmpp…
    that is sooooo impossible…
    wasn’t anything else behind the scene???
    if you will analyze,what have happened,isn’t it scripted???
    Just like a ship liner trying to lost one of his old ships compromising other’s life , in order to buy couple of brandnew ships…
    these really hurts all oslobanons, anyways wa tay mahimo,but let us all stand again firmly kay dinhi sa kalibutan kita mismo ang tinood nga iglesia o simbahan ni Cristo Hesus ato pa gihapon nga mapasabwag ang gingharian sa Dios..AMEN…
    Tabang-tabang nalang ta pagpabarog og balik sa kanhi napatukod nga simbahan sa atong mga katigulangan..
    GOD BLESS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!

  14. anulem senipmulad on March 29, 2008

    Usa usab ako nga taga oslobanon. kong diha kamo sa pagkanusog mabati usab siguro ninyo sama sa akong gibati nga sa diha kami nagpadulong paingon sa simbahan arun sa pag saksi sa nag dilaab nga KALAYO, makabati ka ug kaluoy kaluya ug dili pagsabot sa imong gibati kong unsaun pag pahunong sa mabangis nga KALAYO. diha sa nagsakay ko ug bisiklita (kadlawon) igo ra gyud ang patulo sa luha ug pag ingon ug PASAYLO-A KAMING TANAN.

    Bisan tuod ug init kaayo milili mi sa atubangan ug diha samot nga kita makahilak sa panagway sa atong MAHAL NGA BIRHEN diha sa atubangan sa altar nga bisan sa kadako sa KALAYO wa gyud sya maapil ug mura pa gani iyang gitayhop ang kalayo nga mahalikay sya.

    PARA KANATONG TANAN NGA USA KA OSLOBANON HINA-UT UNTA NGA KITA MAGKAHIUSA UG MAG TINABANGAY UG ILABINA SA PAG-AMPO.

    GOD BLESS US………!!!!!!!!!PEACE!!!!!!!!

  15. AKO NI SI AKO! OSLOBANON! on March 29, 2008

    QUESTIONS?????????

    1) ASA KA ANANG PANAHUNA?
    2) DIIN SAD KO ANANG PANAHUNA?
    3) NGANO MAN NI NAHITABO?!?

    SA ANANG MGA PANGUTANAHA ATONG MATUBAG MAO RA GYUD KINI!

    di nato ni maipasangil nga kining hitabu-a kububut-on sa atong GINOO kay atong GINOO dili bya buot nga mawad-an syag BALAY.

    GOD BLESS US!

  16. ADETH F. I. on March 29, 2008

    DAKO AKONG KAHISAGMUYO SA NAHITABO SA AMONG PINALANGGA UG BUGTONG KABILIN SA AMONG MGA KATIGULANGAN ANG AMONG SIMBAHAN SA OSLOB. PERO DILI NATO ITINGUB ANG PAGBASUL NGADTO SA MGA BOMBERO UG SA MGA LGU’S, KAY KUNO NAGPABAYA SA NAHITABO. NGANO MAN DIAY, WA BA DIAY NAG PUYO SA KOMBENTO? KON DILI TUNGOD SA ILANG PAG PABAYA USAB DILI UNTA KINI MAHITABO NGA MASUNOG ANG AMONG SIMBAHAN.

    DAGHANG SALAMAT.

  17. Bisdak Babbles on March 29, 2008

    sayanga ana oi…
    ngano jud kaha sa na kung fire prevention month hinuon… mas daghan ang sunog.

  18. Juanito Bonpua Jr. on March 29, 2008

    It saddens me and brings tears to my eye to see our wonderful 160 year old church and convent burned to the ground. This was build by hand by our Oslobanon ancestors with the guidance of the Spanish in the 1840s. It was especially depressing the see the convent which was still all original it escape the 1955 fire. Miraculously the Lady of Gualaope that was brought by the Spaniards from Mexico was not harmed and most of the other religious icons was under the bell tower therefore was not burned. I spent a lot of time under the convent when I was in 1st and 2nd year of high school at SMA. The last time I was there to see our wonderful church was on my vacation July 2006. Now its time to stop the blame game as it can not bring the past. Let us all Oslobanons pull together and gather the funds to rebuild our church. Anyone willing to lead this?

    Juanito P. Bonpua Jr.
    Sacramento, CA

  19. montecillo on March 30, 2008

    Wow - such a lose - thanks for your diligence in sharing all the news!

    Take care.

  20. [...] whole story from the Sun.Star website. Also check out more pictures of the unfortunate news from Leylander’s Cebu Photo Blog. [...]

  21. smabatch02 on March 31, 2008

    “Opinion”

    i agree with u adeth, naay sayop ang bombero, pero naa man pud sayop ang taga combento, asa man diay ang mga tawo? cautious dapat sila. pathetic part was I read news from inquirer and could not find any part there, that the priest shows empathy to all oslobanon with what had happened. “He said, he was so sad because he lost his persian and siamese cats” lol - he should change that line though!

    salamat.

  22. mananapsapolitika on April 1, 2008

    leave the ruins alone.

  23. Luisa USA on April 2, 2008

    This is such a sad tragedy! No words can best describe what happened here…. peace.

    I totally agree with you “bisdak babbles” ngano ba oy kon fire prevention month w/c is supposedly Mar. daghan hino-on and sunog. My parents old house in Mandaue was a victim of this what they call “fire prevention month” sunog pod ilang balay ug daghan pa sa Banilad 2005, a month after the whole family left Cebu heading back to states.

  24. myrna abetria ramas on April 6, 2008

    This is in response to Mr. Bonpua. I’m trying to organize the oslobanons in the NY/NJ area and maybe we will connect with the westcoast. ty

  25. Eunie on April 8, 2008

    Myrn huwat lang ko sa imong update, ha??

  26. Al on April 13, 2008

    so depressing to know that this century old church was just eaten by fire. maypa ipatimbang na ninyo inyong fire truck para himoon og tansan. WHAT A SHAME!! nahurot kasunog ang simbahan tungod lang sa palpak nga mga truck.

  27. Marialita Villones , uk on April 21, 2008

    I’ve only heard the news about the Oslob Church this morning when I called my cousin and felt really sad. Who is to blame?? Accidents happen and in some cases it can be prevented. In this case, no regular checks on the wiring, the fire truck is left not working. Let’s face it guys, Oslob is full of corrupt officials like everywhere else. This incident reminds me when my mother became ill more than two years ago that I suggested to borrow the Oslob hospital ambulance to take my mother to cebu city and was told that the ambulance got a flat tire. Surprise! Surprise! Two years later, the fire truck is not working. So, what else is not working in oslob????????

  28. Inday Cazon Sabarre on April 28, 2008

    We will not blame on anybody when Oslob church was burned. It is a lesson for all of us. what we can do now is to support our Oslob church in any means. I am pretty sure that a new church will be built this year. I believe the Oslobanons are cooperatives and religious. Let us unite fellow Oslobanons!

    Inday Cazon Sabarre
    Asian College Of Technology
    Cebu City

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