Bohol earthquake: ‘What’s the message here?’

I grew up in Lila, Bohol. Three wonderful influences framed our childhood as Boholanos—the sea, the mountain and the church. We had the finest of them all, and we relished their grandeur. They so captivated our hearts and minds such that to this day, wherever we are, whether here in our home country or abroad, we always long to see the sea or climb the mountain or go inside the church—in Bohol. These influences also developed our love and appreciation of nature.

But why were churches the main “victims” of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol last Oct. 15? What is the message here?

Boholanos are a very religious people. We feel a special connection with the Church. Major, very significant events in our lives, now etched pleasantly in our consciousness—and memories—happened inside the church—baptism, confirmation, wedding, even innocent trysts with high school crushes. The church also served at times as a “hiding place” for school slackers. To the child in us then, the church was not only a place of worship, it was a vibrant source of spiritual strength like a reservoir that never runs out of water.

Over the years since then, the island of Bohol became a tourist destination.  Our mountains and hills, seas and churches became tourist attractions.

There is nothing wrong when tourists come and visit our island. What is wrong is when we use our resources purely for commercial purposes, gradually discarding our religiosity. It is not wrong for tourist to go inside our churches and take pictures there. What is wrong is when we think our faith belongs to the past and we allow “picture-takers” to distract us in prayer. It is not wrong for foreigners to settle in our island. What is  wrong is when foreigners take control of most of our lands and beaches. We welcome other cultures and practices and faiths, but let us not lose our identity.

Not only has the destruction of our churches pained our hearts, it has shaken our identity as Boholanos as well.

Yes, the earthquake destroyed the churches on our island maybe because they were too old. But never will the people who make up the Church ever be.

In this crisis, people of different places and faiths are extending helping hands, for which we are grateful. Help us build our churches and help us save our identity.

—CARLOS ERWIN I. FAJARDO, [email protected]