SubscribeOslob church camposanto
Oslob’s camposanto with its main entrance arch, perimeter fence and mortuary chapel which are
all original.
Detail of relief atop the entrance arch. 
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, 2006 and 2008. This is the 11th installment of a series.
Oslob is one of the South Cebu municipalities that still retains its original camposanto or cemetery with its main entrance arch, perimeter fence and mortuary chapel located at the center. It was was built by Fray Mauricio Alvarez, the same parish priest who built the belfry and the stone perimeter fence surrounding the church.
Entrance to the cemetery is via a stone arch with columns about a meter thick. What is peculiar about this structure is the notable relief of a skull and crossbones, the letters RIP [Latin, requiescat in pace (rest in peace)] and the date, believed to be the time it was finished, 1870 located on top.
Stone perimeter fence leading to the cemetery from the church. The red circle denotes the location
of the inscribed street name (below).
Calle de Camposanto 1897 On one of the perimeter stone fence between the cemetery and the church is an inscription, though barely recognizable, bearing the name of the street and the year: Calle de Camposanto 1897.
The perimeter fence of the cemetery is similar to the one constructed around the church. The mortuary chapel, located at the center has already been renovated already with cemented parts and partitions as well as a badly made portico. Several modern niches have been constructed at the front flanking the main doorway of the chapel that only the capital of the columns can be seen, barely. The roof, originally tejado (made from tiles like the roof of the kumbento) is now replaced with galvanized iron sheets and steel frames.
The mortuary chapel facade has some similarities with that found in Argao.
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- Back of the mortuary chapel
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- Perimeter wall leading to the cemetery. Red circle denotes the location of the inscription bearing the name of the street.
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- Inscription reads: Calle de Camposanto 1897
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- Camposanto or the cemetery with original perimeter fence
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- Camposanto arch and entrance
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- Detail of relief found at the top of the arch with the words: RIP 1870
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- Back of the entrance arch
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- Detail of side of entrance arch
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- Detail of original perimeter fence
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- The renovated mortuary chapel
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- Inside the mortuary chapel showing the altar
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- Interior of mortuary chapel showing the entrance
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- Detail of mortuary chapel entrance arch
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- Detail of exposed column of mortuary chapel
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NOTE: Photo/s are the work of the author and are copyright. Hi-res images are available upon request. Contact me if you need to use any of these. I am also available for work or commissions. Check out my Photography Portfolio to see more samples of my work.Related posts
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The Author
My name is Estan Cabigas and I am a religious colonial architecture enthusiast.
An inveterate traveler, I have gone around the islands and marveled at the still extant religious heritage structures in the country.
More about the author and this blog.
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estan,
nice tribute for oslob church.
we’ve added your informative blog to the cathedral museum blog.
hurray for heritage!
dale
bai, thanx. I’ve also added the blog address to my blogroll.
Is it true that if you bury the dead near the seashore ma well preserve daw ang corpse?
Hehe..
Carl, that’s interesting but I think there might be some truth to it but not fully sure. Anyway, if its true, it might be because of the salt as long as it is not exposed to the elements.
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