Nagpakadati-dati (Part 3)

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. My apologies for today’s title. It’s the only way I can get your attention. Anyway today’s column still has something to do with an earlier column (many called it a rant) regarding the project at the Cathedral.

Last Monday, I enumerated the various findings as contained in the Technical Report submitted by the Conservation Specialist Group to Bishop Isabelo Abarquez. It will be recalled that the group was invited by the Bishop to inspect the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral after some Calbayognons expressed concern about the ongoing LANDSCAPING project. Yup, mga concerned Calbayognon KUNU nga nagpakadati-dati as they were supposedly referred to by some people in the parish.

Anyway, let me now continue with the Conservation Specialist Group’s recommendations:

Recommendations:

1. Short Term Recommendations

• It is the team’s recommendation that the stripping of the cement plaster be continued since this type of plaster is not compatible with the coral stones, bricks and river stones used on the original fabric.
• It is recommended that the people involved in the stripping of the cement plaster be educated in the manner of stripping so as not to further damage the disintegrating surface of the bricks.
• Once stripped of cement plaster, it is recommended that the brick and rubble stone buttresses be re-plastered using lime to ensure the prevention of further decay.
• Please review the additions, ornamentations of the front facade, as well as the finishes used on the Portecochere so that it integrates homogeneously with the original architecture of the cathedral.

2. Long Term Recommendations
It is highly recommended that the custodians of the Cathedral come up with a Conservation Master Plan with a Preventive Maintenance Program to ensure the manageable conservation of the Cathedral.

• The Conservation Master Plan should already envision the repair works and interventions, immediate and long term, that are to be undertaken;
• Review the installation of the Rib-type Galvanized Iron Roof to prevent further leakage. This might require re-installation to correct over-lapping system;
• Review design of Ceiling system. It is recommended that the cement plaster ceiling be replaced with Marine Plywood once the rotten wood nailers have been replaced.
• It is recommended that heat insulation should be integrated into the Roof System.
• An Inventory of all Church Holdings i.e. moveable objects, furniture, retablos, altar table, chandeliers, etc. should be undertaken.
• It is recommended that a small Interpretation Corner or a small Exhibit of the Interventions being undertaken for the conservation of the Cathedral be put into place. This “media section” makes a brief explanation of what is being done and how the church will look like once all the works are completed.

Let me feature once again the names of the three architects who visited the Cathedral on October 2, 2009:

Professor Eric Zerrudo, the Director of the UST Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics. He is the Administrative Director of Escuela Taller de Intramuros.

Architect Rino Fernandez, Professor at the UST College of Architecture. He is the Academic Coordinator of Escuela Taller de Intramuros.

Architect Carmen Betina Bulaong, Senior Lecturer at the UP College of Architecture . She is the Workshop Coordinator of Escuela Taller de Intramuros.

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Wedding Bells. Armel Custodio and Jane Hambre will get married tomorrow. Fr. Bloi Guiuan will preside over their wedding mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be held at the CKC Auditorium.

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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!