Dingras Church Facade Set for Demolition ( Save our Heritage Sites )

Dingras Church Façade set for Demolition
By Augusto VillalonPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:48:00 02/09/2009Filed Under:

By Augusto Villalon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:48:00 02/09/2009



ONLY THE FAÇADE survives of the ruined church of Dingras in Ilocos Norte. A shed was constructed within the ruined walls behind the surviving façade to serve as today’s church.

But even the original façade is now to be demolished to give way to construction of a new church that will reconstruct a replacement of the demolished façade rather than conserve the original.

National-heritage organizations, the International Council for Monuments and Sites (Icomos) Philippines and the Heritage Conservation Society have been informed of the development.

Architect Manuel Maximo Lopez del Castillo-Noche, a faculty member of the College of Architecture at UST, HCS director and member of Icomos Philippines, gives his assessment:

“Alarms have once again been sounded for threatened historic structures in the country. More alarming is that the threats happen almost simultaneously in the same province, Ilocos Norte.

“First is the planned demolition of Laoag Central High School, a perfectly usable, intact and beautiful example of 1920s education architecture, to make way for a mall. Second is the proposed demolition of the centuries-old façade of the Church of San José de Dingras to be replaced by what would most likely be a poor replica of the former.

Picturesque

“A brief background of the church of Dingras: It is one of the most picturesque façades in the country, not entirely due to its Baroque grandeur, but because of its perfectly beautiful proportions, the patina of the ancient bricks and, more importantly, its enduring and eternal visage of a ruin.

“The church of Dingras, like churches in most colonial towns in the country, experienced numerous re-buildings during its course in history. Like similar structures in Ilocos, it has conflicting historic information.

“An earlier structure, presumably made of light materials, was built before 1620, damaged during the earthquake of Nov. 11 of the same year. A conflicting report by Capitan Don Lucas Mariano de Ochoa in 1710 mentioned that the church of Dingras was constructed by Fray Alonso Cortes, OSA, 30 years ago, c. 1678-1680, and by the year of Ochoa’s writing, 1710, only the brick walls remained.

“Noted Church historian Regalado Trota-José mentioned a brick church being built in the late 1670s, collapsing in the earthquake of 1707. It is presumed this solid structure was the second church of Dingras. This structure may have undergone rebuilding but it was subsequently consumed, together with the entire town, by fire in 1838.

“Fr. Pedro Galende, OSA, mentions that in 1879, Fray Damask Vieytez, OSA, built the present church, which was described as huge and massive. But Trota José corrects this by stating the church was built sometime during the priorship of Fray Vieytez from 1846 to 1854, the year the builder died.

“The church once again underwent renovation—the roof was fixed and replaced with metal sheets—during the incumbencies of Fray Ricardo Diaz, OSA, (1879-1893) and Fray Fidel Franco, OSA, (1894-1898), whom Galende identifies as Saturnino Franco.

Destroyed by elements

“Fire and earthquake destroyed the church in 1914 and 1931, respectively, which made the structure unsafe and subsequently abandoned. A smaller concrete structure was built on the plaza across the street, which served as the house of worship. The ruins of the old church remained standing throughout this time, becoming a beautiful and nostalgic setting for pictorials and concerts.

“In the past decade the church was reopened, and masses have again been conducted inside the old church, which has been retrofitted with a gym-like structure.

“The architecture of Dingras is significant not only in Philippine architectural history, but more important, in Ilocos architecture, for together with the façades of the churches of San Nicolas, Piddig, and the original pre-1984 façades of Sarrat and Vintar, Dingras follows the manner and character of the Vignola masterpiece of the Church of Il Gesù in Rome.

“Sadly, with the proposed demolition of the façade, gone would be this fine architectural example, leaving the Church of San Nicolas as the only remnant to this once popular style.

Still massively strong

“Why demolish this ancient brick façade? It appears the ruin is precariously leaning on the new gym-like shed built by the parish during the early parts of this century. After withstanding buffeting typhoons, earthquakes, wars, pollution and other elements, the original façade, though showing its age, is still massively strong. Proper methods of conservation and shoring would allow it to continue serving the populace of Dingras, encouraging them to appreciate and understand the meaning of continuity by preserving the past and ensuring its eternal place in the sun.

“Other leaning façades have been shored up and made safe for people to appreciate, gaze at and wonder. Macau’s world-renowned ruins of the Jesuit Church of Saint Paul is a prime example of how a façade could be shored up, strengthened and saved for generations to come.

“What was done in Macau can be done in Dingras. Economically speaking, it may even be more prudent to just build a retaining inner wall rather than tear down a heavy masonry-worked façade and rebuild it in an attempt to follow the same lines and specifications of the original. Artistically and technically speaking, the methods, know-how and artistry of today sadly fare poorly to the craftsmanship of the 19th century.

“Finally, do the people of Dingras understand the repercussions of losing a vital piece of their heritage once the original façade is replaced with a replica? A replica can never replace the original. The original and the authentic are where historic value exists, not in replicas that are considered ‘fakes.’

“One wonders why this project is even being considered. True, the need to shore up the façade is pressing. Security and safety are paramount concerns of the parish to anyone visiting this shrine of faith.

“But do national and local agencies know of the proposed demolition of this historic façade? If they do, have they suggested alternative processes of rehabilitation instead of demolition of a vital monument?

“The Church of San José de Dingras may not have played significantly in Philippine history, but regardless, one should remember that time is the greatest arbiter of history. And with time, the lasting appeal of ancient architecture, ruined as it may be, becomes significantly eternal.”

Piddig, Ilocos Norte (Philippines)

The earliest settlers of the place were the Itnegs.
As early as 1770, they cleared the land, tilled the soil and
enjoyed bountiful harvests. Years later, the villagers from
nearby La Union and Ilocos Sur arrived at the settlement and
drove the Itnegs away. Fearing for their lives, the Itnegs
fled to the hills and mountains. They called their new
sanctuary Pidipid, an Ilocano term for a hilly place.
The town was called Pidipid for hundreds of years until
the Americans arrived and changed its name to Piddig, which
literally means a hilly place at the foot of the mountains.
















The people of Piddig are known to be religious
as well as God-fearing. Records of Augustinian monks
indicate that they had an easy time converting the people
to Christianity. In 1902, another religious sect was
organized by Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay. His was the
Philippine Independent Church with Rev. Jose Castro as
the first priest.





























Like the Itnegs before them, the people of Piddig consider
agriculture their most important industry. The farmers raise
corn, rice, sugarcane and tobacco. Basi, an Ilocano wine,
is grown in almost all barangays and is considered one of
the town's principal products.

Piddig, a small town in Ilocos Norte,
specializes in a homemade wine called basi which
is made from crushed sugar cane juice mixed
with barks and berries from local trees.
This backyard brew is a mellow,
pale red drink prized for its tonic and
restorative qualities. They are fermented
and stored in jars kept under the house
until ready to use. Connoisseurs claim
that the best basi is achieved only after
three years of aging.

In Ilocano, the term burnay also refers to a
tree (antidesma bunius) which is small to
medium in size (10 meters tall).
The same tree is called bignay in the
Tagalog-speaking region. Its flowers turn
into berries which grow in clusters on a spike.
Red, fleshy, acidic and edible when ripe,
they are said to make an excellent jam or wine.
Although they grow all over the country,
they are more abundant in certain areas.
It has been an old practice in the Philippines
to name after plants or fruits places where
these are commonly found.

A World Class Mabuhay! (NAIA Terminal 3)

Terminal 3 is built on a 63.5-hectare lot that sits on Villamor Air Base. The terminal building has a total floor area of 182,500 m2, having a total length of 1.2 kilometers. A 4-level shopping mall connects the terminal and parking buildings. The parking building has a capacity of 2,000 cars while the outdoor parking area has a capacity of 1,200 cars. The terminal is capable of servicing 33,000 passengers daily at peak or 6,000 passengers per hour.

Its apron area has a size of 147,400 m2, 34 air bridges, 20 contact gates with the ability of servicing 28 planes at any given time. The terminal has 70 flight information terminals, 314 display monitors, with 300 kilometers of fiber optic I.T. cabling. It also has 29 restroom blocks. The departure area has five entrances all equipped with X-ray machines with the final security check having 18 X-ray machines while its baggage claim has 7 large baggage carousels, each with its own flight display monitor. According to opinions of other tourists, if the terminal 3 opens, there would be more airlines to serve the Philippines which will make the economy boost.



Despite of all the controversies attached to this airport. I'm positive that the new facade of our country will attract more investors, tourist and foreign travelers that will make them wow the moment they land on the Philippine soil and more Filipinos will be proud to see were the government spent our Taxes.

Butterfly Message

Early morning of June 11, 2008. I knew that it's my Lola Rufina's 1st year death anniversary. My mom and dad went to the church to pray for her. Then suddenly I've notice that there is a butterfly inside our kitchen. I knew that my Lola send a message for me to pray for her soul. Obviously "tumayo ang balahibo ko" then suddenly I wispered Lola "walang namang takutan .... ipagsisismba po kita". After that I told the story to my mom then she replied " Si Lola mo yan .... baka daw di mo na siya naaalala." On my way to the office I went to the church in Greenbelt to pray for her soul. I texted my sister to do the same and make some offering and she did. I really missed my grandma, I know that she is watching us above. I LOVE YOU LOLA RUFINA. :)

Published in Friendster June 12, 2007

My grandmother passed away last Monday morning, she was 87 years old although very frail and had enough I am absolutely devastated she is now gone.

"A light from the family is gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in the home Which never can be filled We have to mourn the loss of one We would’ve loved to keep But God who surely loved her best Has finally made her sleep."

Wherever you are Lola Rufina thank you for taking care of me, for being proud of me, for all the stories, lessons, laughter’s and all the good things you’ve done I know that you wont hear this no more but I know that you see me writing this piece I LOVE YOU LOLA mami-miss kita...

How to Kill a Super Inggiterang Relatives.....would you know??!!

I know that the title is so "rude" forgive me folks. I just can't take and understand how my 2nd level low rated, sick in the mind relatives behave!!!! Instead of focusing their time and energy in improving their own lives they try to re-invent stories and pull us down.
A friend of mine told me to "pray for them" in fact I did but they keep on pursuing thier plan to ruin my family. Oh! boy you dont have an idea about the extent or damage they have done to my parents.
Forgive me Lord for all the things I've said about them but if it's part of your plan that is designed for me and for me to become strong please light and guide my way to overcome these test.