(Eagle News) – The Catholic Archdiocesan Committee on Church Heritage (ACCH) – Pampanga has recommended a “lockdown” of all heritage churches in Pampanga following the 6.1 magnitude quake that damaged many structures in the province.
In its Facebook page, the ACCH said that it is recommending the lockdown for “everyone’s safety.”
The ACCH also received reports of cracks in some of the structures of the old Catholic chuches, many of which had been built during the Spanish colonial period. Many statues inside and outside the churches suffered cracks or were toppled down.
“Upon consulting our technical experts, the ACCH Secretariat is recommending a lockdown of all heritage churches (no activities inside and cordon off to secure the whole premises) until they are deemed safe,” its announcement posted on its FB page said.
“The Technical Secretariat is coordinating with experts and national agencies to assure everyone’s safety,” it said.
The ACCH included the “complete list of all heritage churches of Pampanga” which had been recommended to be on lockdown because of possible damages after the strong quake.
The list includes the following:
District 1
Holy Rosary Parish
Angeles City
Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish
Mabalacat City
San Bartolome Apostol Parish
Magalang, Pampanga
District 2
San Agustin Parish
Lubao, Pampanga
Sta. Lucia Parish
Sasmuan, Pampanga
Immaculada Concepcion Parish
Guagua, Pampanga
Santiago Apostol Parish
Betis, Guagua, Pampanga
San Jose Labrador Parish
Floridablanca, Pampanga
Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Parish
Porac, Pampanga
Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish
Sta. Rita, Pampanga
District 3
Metropolitan Cathedral
City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Sta. Catalina Alexandria Parish
Arayat, Pampanga
San Guillermo Parish
Bacolor, Pampanga
Sta. Monica Parish
Mexico, Pampanga
Sta. Ana Parish
Sta. Ana, Pampanga
San Vicente Ferrer Parish
Calulut, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
District 4
San Pedro Apostol Parish
Apalit, Pampanga
San Andres Parish
Candaba, Pampanga
San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish
Macabebe, Pampanga
San Miguel Arkanghel Parish
Masantol, Pampanga
Sta. Monica Parish
Minalin, Pampanga
San Luis Gonzaga Parish
San Luis, Pampanga
Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parish
San Simon, Pampanga
Sto. Tomas Apostol Parish
Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
The 18th century Sta Catalina de Alexandria in Porac, Pampanga was severely damaged, including its belfry which the quake toppled down.
It also reported that the sanctuary table of Apung Mamacalulu Shrine in Angeles City had “sustained damage from the earthquake.”
Cracks were also seen from the belfry of Santa Rita de Cascia parish church in Santa Rita, Pampanga after the quake.
“The Linterna of the Belfry of San Agustin Parish Church in Lubao, Pampanga, was also damaged by the earthquake,” it added.
Initial reports also said that the Saint James the Apostle Parish in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga had visible damages around the Parish church bulding, as well as the convent after an initial inspection conducted right after the quake.
“Cracks were also seen on the interior of the parish church of the Holy Rosary -Pisamban Maragul, Angeles City after the earthquake,” it said in its FB page.
Cracks were noted on the ceiling of the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando seen during the inspection which was done right after the quake. Pictures posted by the ACCH also showed statues inside the church which fell down.
The perimeter wall of the Monasterio de Santa Clara in Betis, Guagua,Pampanga was also damaged by the earthquake, it said.
ACCH also said that the “side entrance of the chapel in Hacienda Dolores was seen to sustain damage from yesterday’s calamity.”
In San Guillermo Parish, Bacolor Pampanga, there was reported wall damage on the old convent, “with toppled down and broken icons from the retablo.”
“From the parish of San Luis Gonzaga, San Luis, Pampanga, cracks from the belfry and on the wall with fallen debris from the ceiling were noted after the earthquake. Assessment is still ongoing,” it added.
Fallen debris were also seen after the earthquake from Pio Chapel in Pio,Porac Pampanga.