DOT to promote Cebu churches

CEBU – Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said the Department of Tourism can start promoting historical churches as tourism destinations in Cebu.

Durano said that right now, churches are not part of the itinerary of DOT because Cebu is currently popular to tourists for its beaches and resorts.

Durano, having seen the role of the Church in nation building announced yesterday of his plans to start promoting the cultural richness of churches in Cebu through hosting a dinner at the Cathedral Museum of Cebu where paintings of 24 historical churches in Cebu were displayed for an exhibit.

The dinner will be held during the United Nations Tourism Conference set for October 22 to 25 wherein 1,400 major players and stakeholders in the tourism industry, representing 57 countries, will come to Cebu.

Durano took part in the launching and opening of a one-man art exhibit by Tony Alcoseba entitled “Simbahan: The heritage churches in Cebu,” a collection of paintings of churches around Cebu Province painted in watercolor.

Durano said its time that the Church is given attention because ever since it has given the country so many cultural assets. He said he also wants the country to develop spiritual asset where the Church will fully come in as this can start with promoting ecclesiastical museum like the Cathedral Museum.

Cathedral Museum director and chairman of Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church Carlito Puno said Cebu is always ready for the challenge of developing its churches for tourism purposes. He said that ever since, churches have been the number one historical sites in the country.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said he wants the youth to see these historical churches and learn to appreciate them. Vidal also congratulated Alcoseba for his exhibit.

Alcoseba said he made the paintings to convey to the present generation the history of Cebu.

“Because we cannot predict as to when all of these will be gone, like what happened in Oslob Church, might as well record it now so we have something to tell the future generation of how Cebu had been culturally rich,” said Alcoseba.

Last March 26 a fire gutted the Oslob Church. Damage to the convent alone was set at P2 million.

Alcoseba said he also wants to provide information to future artists of the architectural designs used in these churches.

The paintings will be sold at P65,000 each. Proceeds will directly go to the exhibitors but the museum will getting a percentage, Puno said.

Alcoseba also added that he considers his artworks as paintings for a cause and he will also donate funds to churches that need rehabilitation and development. — Jessica Ann Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)