We motored to Oslob, Cebu, the other day with some school officials, the members of the UV Chorale, and The FREEMAN executives and writers led by editor Jerry Tundag. Our mission: To pay homage to the icons of the Virgin Mary in Lindogon, Sibonga, and in Oslob, and to witness the turn-over of the proceeds of the "Bulawanong Dalit" concert held to raise funds for the rebuilding of Oslob church.
Dr. Jose (Dodong) Gullas and wife Nena were supposed to lead the pilgrim convoy but the night before the proponent of "Dalit" came down with a high temperature so we proceeded on our way, as advised, all feeling rather uncomfortable without the couple's company.
We first went up to Lindogon where an Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Brian Brigoli was held in the newly constructed church of the miraculous image. It was only about a year ago when we last visited the shrine, but now the entire surrounding and the church itself had undergone such massive improvements that we were simply amazed of what we saw. For instance, there was now an artificial lake in front of the edifice into which a mini waterfall was cascading; where once stood unsightly comfort rooms there was now a sleek concrete enclosure housing images of saints; the walk leading to the church had now been concreted and lined with a decorative pavement with rows of angelic statues, the church itself was now floored with high-grade marble slabs (courtesy of Dodong Gullas and family) over which loomed a huge circular disc painted with celestial images from the center of which hung an imported chandelier whose myriad crystals emitted multicolored sensations when exposed to light.
Yet it was not so much the architectural artistry as the faith of the people that touched the heart. Our visit happened on a Wednesday, yet hundreds of pilgrims were there. Like us they had come up to pray and do homage to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.
The Mother of God, known in Oslob as the Immaculate Conception, was also the reason for our trek to that town. We arrived at about three p.m. after more than an hour of ride through a scenic coastal road overlooking a sparkling sea. Since the program was to start at four o'clock, we had ample time to look around, and of course, the ruined church was the first to catch our attention.
Guided by a fellow from the parish council, we made our way inside the ruins and saw the extent of the destruction. The adobe walls were still standing but they looked shaky and smudges on their surface betrayed the fiery rage to which they were exposed. The floor was now a mess of broken slabs and concrete fragments because the century-old tiles had peeled off or cracked. Above us yawned an awkward space highlighted by an afternoon sun. Then farther off we saw the altar.
It was exactly how His Eminence Cardinal Vidal described it. The entire roof assembly with its zinc roofing intact had fallen over the area, but somehow this got stuck right above the topmost pedestal with both sides of the contraption hanging protectively over the sacred section. We came up to the elevated section right next to the retable. The entire altar façade from the ciborium down including the wooden carvings was untouched by the fire. But the tiles on the altar base had cracked and peeled off most probably because of the heat.
The most surprising of all was the icon of the Immaculate Conception, a carving on a slab of wood about four by three meters in dimension. This was completely preserved without a trace of being exposed to the rage of the flame! (We saw this on close up when later we went up the town stage, where the image was temporarily enthroned, with Sir Dodong and Nena and the others to pay homage to it).
Before the program, a Concelebrated Mass was said by Fr. Val Gemelo, the parish priest, and three others led by Mons. Joseph Tan who represented Cardinal Vidal. For intention, Fr. Gemelo invoked health and well-being for Dodong Gullas and family and those of the visitors, a gesture which God must have anticipated because towards the offertory, lo and behold, the couple arrived!
With the Mass said, the choral concert followed. And of course, the Oslobanon, like the more sophisticated audiences' of the UV Chorale here and abroad, went wild with their appreciation and acclaim. But it was the turn-over of the "Dalit" proceeds - a good P737, 000 - which sent the town folks on a standing ovation as Dodong Gullas and Nena turned over the check to Fr. Gemelo, Mayor Guarin, and the members of the parish council.
Our pilgrim caravan made it back to the city towards ten o'clock - all tired but somehow happy and light-hearted.
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Email: edioko_uv@yahoo.com