Cebu has always been more than just a tourist destination.

It is a living museum — a province where every coral stone, wooden beam and church façade whisper century of devotion, artistry and resilience.

Often called the heritage capital of the Visayas, Cebu stands as a powerful reminder of how faith and culture intertwine to shape community identity.

This rich history makes the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Northern Cebu on 30 September a cultural heartbreak.

Five heritage churches damaged by earthquake

The Department of Tourism (DoT)–Central Visayas has identified several heritage structures and tourist sites severely damaged by the quake, including five historically and culturally significant churches. Among them are the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, a coral-stone church built in 1858; Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church in Bantayan, constructed in 1863; San Isidro Labrador Church in Tabogon, whose parish dates back to 1851; San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remegio, built partly of coral stone in 1864; and the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer in Bogo City, originally built in 1858 and later reconstructed after World War II.

Many of these centuries-old churches, made of fragile coral stone, sustained both structural and cosmetic damage, based on a rapid assessment conducted by the Archdiocese of Cebu in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and members of the Cabinet — including a team from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) — inspected the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer in Bogo City, considered the epicenter of the quake.

During the briefing led by the President, Secretary Frasco said: “We have already deployed teams from TIEZA, our attached agency, to do a rapid assessment and inspection, and we are endorsing as well to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other relevant heritage agencies so that, together, we can ensure the restoration and rehabilitation of these symbols and living edifices of our faith and culture — so they can rise again.”

She emphasized Cebu’s reputation as the cradle of Christianity in Asia, embodied by its centuries-old churches that continue to stand as testaments of faith.

The President also ordered a comprehensive rehabilitation of infrastructure, including heritage restoration.

Beyond these church sites, five tourist landmarks in Cebu City — the Kabilin Center, Museo Sugbo, National Museum of the Philippines–Cebu, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, and Casa Gorordo — were closed indefinitely for “structural integrity assessments.”

How restoration can and should happen

For Cebu, these damages are not just physical losses.

These churches have long been anchors of community life — places where generations were baptized, married, and mourned.

When they are damaged, a piece of collective history is shaken as well.

Heritage experts from the NHCP and NCCA have stressed that the restoration process should follow the principles of authenticity and integrity.

The NHCP, which has already begun surveys in Cebu, underscores the importance of proper documentation, traditional building methods, and structural retrofitting to preserve both form and spirit.

Under Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act, the NCCA mandates that restoration efforts respect the original materials and craftsmanship of heritage sites.

International groups such as ICOMOS Philippines have also guided heritage conservation, particularly in post-disaster situations.

Focus

Funding and coordination will be critical.

Past examples show that restoration projects often require phased funding and technical oversight. The NHCP, for instance, previously allocated P40 million for the rehabilitation of Sta. Monica Church in Ilocos after it sustained earthquake damage. These precedents can guide Cebu’s rebuilding process.

Local governments and parishes in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, and San Remegio are expected to collaborate closely with national agencies, while groups like TIEZA will focus on infrastructure support.

Secretary Frasco revealed that an estimated 1,206 tourism workers across Cebu have been displaced due to the quake.

“We have determined that many tourism establishments have been affected, leading to the loss of livelihoods for our tourism workers. Therefore, we have included them as a priority for immediate relief through the DSWD, and for the eventual provision of cash and alternative livelihood assistance in the weeks and months to come,” she said.

If heritage is a thread linking the past to the present and future, then these damaged churches stand at a fragile crossroads.

They represent Cebu’s soul — a living testament to centuries of artistry, belief, and endurance.

Losing them would mean erasing chapters of who we are as a people. But as history has shown, Cebuanos are resilient.

Just as these coral-stone walls have withstood storms and wars, they can rise again through collective effort, faith, and love for heritage.

After the earthquake, Filipinos are reminded why Cebu matters: it is the heart of Philippine Christianity and a keeper of stories that must never be forgotten. Rebuilding these sacred spaces means honoring the generations who built them, the communities who live by them, and the future Filipinos who deserve to see them standing strong once more.