The wooden pyramidal dome or cemborium of the church

On 26 March 08, an 8 hour fire gutted the more than a century old kumbento (parish house) and church of Oslob in Cebu. What was left were the thick stone walls and belfry as well as an icon of the parish patron. This is my tribute to this beautiful and historic church with photos taken in 2005 and 2006. This is the 3rd installment of a series.

The cemborrio or dome, located at the crossing of the transept and nave is quadrilateral with a pyramidal form unlike most that we might be accustomed it to be. Its topmost part is crowned by a stylized cross, left. Like the roof covering the nave, it sits on the shoulders of the coral stone walls and is mainly constructed of wood. Originally, the church was tejado (with roof tiles) but in 1932, Fr. Pablo Alava replaced it with corrugated sheets. The style of the dome is Neo-Classic.

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph was published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.

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