SILANG, Cavite — This Cavite eastern town’s bid to restore and preserve its centuries-old Nuestra Seǹora de Candelaria Church here has gained grounds with the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) approval of the PHP 250,000 financial support.
The historic church at the Poblacion II here received the initial fund support for its “As Built Plans for Silang Church Complex” project proposal that will defray part of the expenses for the architectural and engineering floor plan for the three-century old church complex.
Phillip Lacson Medina, art scholar and restoration project chair, disclosed on Wednesday that the undertaking has gained headway in its bid to collaborate with interested groups of heritage work practitioners, architects, engineers to collaborate on the project.
The ‘As-Built Plans’ was submitted by the Municipal Government of Silang through Mayor Omil Poblete and Vice Mayor Aidel Paul G. Belamide, the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Parish Church officiating clergy Reverend Father Marty Dimaranan, and the Silang Parish Council for Culture and the Arts headed by Larry Pallera.
It is expected to provide horizontal and vertical perspectives of the structures inside the entire complex with the purpose of creating a detailed floor plan documenting the following but not limited to architectural, structural, civil, electrical, and plumbing aspects of the church and the old convent.
The project proposal also aims to provide a comprehensive study on its two side and main “retablos” (from the Latin words “retro” and “table,” retablo literally means “at the back of the table”, in English it means altarpiece) noting general area and specific measurements and an outline on design references of all architectural elements present in the church altar.
The church altar centerpiece table is considered a cultural masterpiece and exquisite beauty of the woodwork by creative genius of the early Silangueños.
The church cultural artifact provides a harmony of the baroque features with the baroque church and a showcase of authentic religious implements.
“As the oldest standing church structure in the province of Cavite where contemporary churches went through the ravages of war and disaster, the plan will provide the local community with that valuable architectural and engineering information,” Medina said.
The masterpiece offers traces of the 17th century construction concepts made by the Jesuit friar Fr. Juan de Salazar and the cultural pieces have withstood natural and man-made disasters, providing data and drawings that give proof to the integral strength of this 300 plus-years-old design, adds Medina.
In an earlier interview, Dimaranan disclosed that the NCCA support would help the local government, church, and its culture and arts council to know “kung ano ang puede, at hindi naming puedeng gawin” (what we can do, and what we cannot do).
The floor plan will be crucial in documenting the current status of the church and its complex as present-day architectural documentation is imperative that in case of unpredictable destruction due to earthquake, typhoon or armed hostilities, relevant data can be retrieved for reconstruction purposes.
The data shall serve as baseline information or limitation for future construction projects, thereby protecting the integrity of the complex as a National Cultural Treasure.
Although the project was targeted to start last February, the availability of NCCA’s support will signal the plan’s commencement.
The two-phase program will be carried out in two to three months from the date of actual survey to submission of the plans and drawing, with ample room for delays given the aspirations to fully document the retablos of Silang.
Phase One of the ‘As-Built Plans’ of the Silang Church and old convent should commence with a two to three-day survey of the structures while Phase Two would cover the detailed study of the Three Retablos.
The process shall involve public announcement of such study as this may hamper scheduled services like weddings and funerals and of course, the regular masses. The decision to restrict access during the study would be decided upon by the body.
Overall, the project is targeted to complete from initial surveys to actual drawings in five months.
An initial pre-work meeting on all members of the joint government-private-religious groups active in the conservation works of Silang Church, along with its team of professionals from the architecture and engineering fields, will be held to level expectations and convey the requirements of the two-phase program.
The project is the first step in retrofitting and restoring the church, recently declared National Cultural Treasure, said Belarmide as he shares the piece of good news to all Silangueǹos and heritage advocates. (PNA)
