SubscribeOslob’s icon up close
The beautiful centuries old icon of the Immaculate Concepcion of Oslob which was spared from the fire that gutted the church. The white sky is reflected on the plexiglass protecting it.
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.
I visited the Basilica del Sto. Nino, the Augustinian convent in Cebu last 31 October to take photos around the church for a future post at my travel blog, langyaw.com. When I went out, I was surprised that the centuries old icon of the Inmaculada Concepcion (Immaculate Concepcion) of Oslob Church was just outside, encased in clear plexiglass and there were two long lines infront where people waited to come close and touch it.
The church of Oslob will be rebuilt but it is estimated to cost as much as 30 million pesos. Other than the second collection during mass, the icon visits several churches within Cebu to raise funds. During the time that I was there, the Basilica was just one of the stops in Cebu City.
It’s the first time for me to get upclose and touch the icon. It’s really beautiful and ancient. It is made of hardwood and about 5-6 inches in thickness. The folk relief is just stunning. Except for a blackened portion at one part of the bottom, there’s no trace that will indicate that it just survived a fire. I was just beside it and I can’t just help but marvel at this masterpiece.
While people were lining up infront, there were also many who were gathering behind the icon, touching and taking photos. They were abuzz about one portion where a faint trace forming a woman’s face can be discerned. While many say that it might have formed there miraculously, I would say that it is nothing but just some random pattern.
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- The beautiful centuries old icon of the Immaculate Concepcion of Oslob which was spared from the fire that gutted the church.
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- Another shot of the Basilica del Sto. Nino, this time taken from the left side. People are pointing at the back of the wooden icon that some say, has a faint drawing of a woman’s face.
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- As the church in Oslob was gutted by fire, rebuilding it costs about P30 million. Here, donations were asked in raising funds for the church.
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- The icon of the Immaculate Concepcion is displayed at the front of the Basilica del Sto. Nino.
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- People were thronging, pointing and taking photos of a part of the icon’s back. There is a faint image like drawing that some say was divinely faint image of a face that some say might that be of the Virgin (in red circle).
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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