THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY (continued)
February
2009
The Ruins of Cagsawa: A Testament to the Filipinos’ devotion to God
Mr. Ketel took Boktor and me to Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay (a ten minute drive from Legazpi) where the ruins of what was once a huge church is located. According to the memorial plaque, the church was built in 1724 by Fray Francisco Blanco, OFM (Ordo Fraternum Minor, otherwise known as the Franciscans). The church stands at the foot of Mt. Mayon. When Mt. Mayon erupted on 1 February 1814, most of the church was submerged in lava. The only part of the church that was not buried is the belfrie and the top most portion of the church pillars. According to this article, there were about 1,200 people who sought sanctuary in the church and were buried alive there when Mt. Mayon erupted in 1814. If you want to read more about Cagsawa, click on this and this.
If I remember my history correctly, the manner by which the Spaniards colonize the Philippines was to make Filipinos Catholic converts. For that reason, the Spaniards would literally build towns around churches. Not only was the church the physical center of each Filipino community then, the lives of the converted Filipinos would also revolve around the church and their devotion to God. I do not, therefore, doubt that when Mt. Mayon started to erupt, people trouped to the church to find sanctuary. Such was their faith and devotion to God. Even today, Filipinos like myself would immediately turn to God when tragedy strikes.
When we were about to leave Cagsawa, Boktor noticed two cross and asked me why they were standing amidst the ruins. I told him then that it was probably because people had died there. Now, I would like to think that those crosses and what is left of the church are a testament to the Filipinos’ devotion to God.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:08 am and is filed under The Adventures of Boktor and Pandora in Legazpi, Albay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Wow! Mayon without Mayon! hehe! Nice pics though.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:43 am
I’m glad you took the photos. It looks like it’s from a postcard. Reading through it though makes it eerie.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Hi zzzbluetooth. The the place where the ruins of Cagsawa is found is a beautiful and peaceful place. It is not eerie at all. I think that you will like it there.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 am
These are amazing pics…then again I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve taken up photography — or if photography’s taken you up.
I agree with you, there’s something about the sight of these symbols of Christianity (amid a wilderness of sorts) that testifies to faith and its deep roots in our people. Considering that we ARE the only predominantly Catholic nation in Asia, that’s almost like entrenching a lone cross across a vast continent…
I know this is out of topic, but I’m curious. What made you decide to start a blog? (And when do you even find the time to keep it up with everything going on at the sweat shop?
February 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Regarding the pictures, tsamba lang yan. Boktor will attest that I am an awful photographer. I took a picture of him with Mt. Mayon as the background. Only his head was in the picture. To this day, he does not make me forget that photo.
On what made me put up a blog, it helps keep me sane. As to how I find the time to blog, I’ll tell you about it when I have the time.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Hi Pandora, as i promised you, here is the information on the church that was posted (but due to maintenance work, it was obstructed)
“CHURCH OF CAGSAUA (Philippines Historical Committee)
The spiritual administration of Cagsaua from 1587 to 1595 was under the Parish of Camalig. An early church was burned, 25 July 1636, by the Dutch who ransacked the towns bordering Legaspi Bay. This church built after 1724 by Fray Francisco Blanco, O.F.M., was buried by rocks and lava during the eruption of Mayon Volcano, 1 February 1814. The authorities of Cagsaua meeting at Ligao, 6 July 1814 decided to incorporate their town as part of Oaraga. The first centenary of the destruction of the chuch was commemorated, 1 February 1914, with a huge pilgrimage to the ruins where high mass was celebrated.”