An ornate gothic marble tombstone at one of the pillar. The text is in Cebuano.

Like most old churches in the country, one can find many tombs of notable people of the town inside Carcar Church. Creepy as it may sound but it has been the practice especially for those individuals and their families who contributed greatly to the church through it’s construction or donated something for the church’s use.

The photos used in this series were taken between 2005 and 2008 as the author visits this church from time to time. Special thanx to Lorens Gibb Lapinid for the assistance in 2008. In the history of the simbahan in the country, the camposanto or cemetery used to be located within the church grounds but due to sanitation and health reasons, it was outlawed in late 18th century. However, several iterations of the decree was done because there was no total compliance. This also included burying the dead inside the church of which one of the finest examples can be found in San Agustin.

In the case of Carcar, I’m not sure if this was followed but looking at the tombstones located at various columns, walls and flooring, I noticed that many have been interred or transferred during the American colonial period. It also seemed that this practice was continued into the late 20th century with one consisting of the bones of three individuals including a wife who died in 1987.

Closer view of the tombstone. Text is detailed above.

This beautiful marble tombstone done in the gothic style is written in Cebuano which is rather curious. Does this signify a break of Spanish influence 21 years after the colonizers sold the country to the Americans?Unfortunately, part of it has already broken off. Below is the text followed with the translation. Note that the family name for the two people interred is spelled differently.

P. S. K. (Pahulay sa kalinaw)
Petrona Alegado ug Arcadio Alegrado
Dinhi sa ubos ania ang ilang mga bukog ug abug nga gibalhin dinhi sa Junio 1 1919
Petrona Alegado natao sa Carcar sa Enero 18 1854. Namatay sa Carcar sa Abril 14 1906
Arcadio Alegrado natao sa Carcar sa Nov. 13 1862. Namatay sa S. Nicolas Cebu sa Marzo 14 1908
Handumanan sa mga anak, apo, ug mga igsoon

This translates to:

R. I. P. (Rest in Peace)
Petrona Alegado and Arcadio Alegrado
Here are their bones and dust which was transferred here in June 1, 1919.
Petrona Alegado born in Carcar in January 18, 1854. Died in Carcar in April 14, 1906.
Arcadio Alegrado born in Carcar in November 13, 1862. Died in San Nicolas, Cebu in march 14, 1908.
Remembrance from their children, grandchildren and siblings.

The images in this post are just a representation of those found inside Carcar Church.

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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