Cultural treasure markers for three churches pending

CEBU, Philippines — After the formal turnover of the "National Cultural Treasure" (MCT) marker for Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Parish in Carcar City, Cebu recently, several other markers are yet to be turned over in other churches in the provinces.

In particular, the parish churches of Sibonga (Our Lady of the Pillar church), Argao (St. Michael the Archangel), and Dalaguete (San Guillermo church) have also been declared as NCTs but their markers have not yet been unveiled and put in place.

National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) Cebu Head Audrey Dawn Tomada clarified to The Freeman that in scheduling the turnover, they dealt with the parish or the archdiocese and not with the city government of Carcar since the church is a parish property.

They are also doing the same for the other churches.

The NTC declaration is the "highest recognition bestowed by the NMP for cultural properties that are of outstanding cultural and artistic features and significance."

Tomada said the Sta. Catalina de Alejandria church had already been declared as an NCT by the National Museum of the Philippine in 2019 but the turnover and unveiling of the marker was only done during its fiesta celebration last week, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from Sta. Catalina, Oslob’s church’s NCT marker was unveiled last May.

NCTs in Cebu include the Fort San Pedro and the Malacañang Sa Sugbo/Aduana building.

Meanwhile, while not an NCT, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral was identified as an "Important Cultural Property" (ICP), with its marker unveiling done last March.

An ICP is defined as “a cultural property that possesses “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance”.

Tomada said the ICPs in Cebu City include the Compaña Maritima and the Gotiaoco buildings. — (FREEMAN)