SubscribeAdditional Oslob Church archival photos
The back of the "kumbento"
Thanx to Jobers Bersales, some Cebu archival images (scans) from the Ahlborn Collection was made available to me. Part of the collection are black and white images of Oslob Church, the mortuary chapel and the kumbento.
The kumbento photo shows the back, as seen from the nave, with its intact lower walls and, probably, tabique pampango upper walling. Compare this with the fourth image in my kumbento post and you can see very well the changes that have been implemented. Take note of the hollow block and new window in the lower part as well sa the cemented portions of the upper part. While the sliding capiz windows are still as is, the back windows, as seen in the sixth image has already been changed. Do note that after the fire of march 2008, the kumbento was razed to the ground.
Mortuary chapel that was labeled as armory.
The mortuary chapel located infront of the church is still existing until now. However, comparing the archival photo and the current structure, much has changed. The old image still has the original tejas (tiles) roofing, ableit, in bad condition, and the four walls the present one only has the facade and finials present.
Gospel side of the church showing the damaged portion of the pyramidal dome as a result of the 1955 fire
This photo is particularly interesting. Here, the pyramidal dome is still being constructed. Note that the church also got burned in 1955, due to unknown reasons, and here, about 10 years later, it is still not finished. You can see the finished dome in this post that existed prior to the March 2008 fire.
The rest of the images shows the facade as well as portions of the perimeter fence.
The Richard Ahlborn Collection (c. 1965) is a photographic survey of Filipino-Hispanic religious structures and art, specifically Spanish colonial era churches and artifacts. It consists of 568 black and white negatives and prints made by Abbye A Gorin and Harriet Blum which is now deposited in the Latin American Library of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The photo archive spans various islands and provinces in the country: Bohol, Cebu, Albay, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, La Union, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
From Richard E. Ahlborn (1933- ) Collection, c. 1965
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- The back of the “kumbento”
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- Mortuary chapel that was labeled as armory.
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- Stone perimenter fence of the church with exit to the cemetery
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- Gospel side of the church showing the damaged portion of the pyramidal dome as a result of the 1955 fire
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- Oslob Church with portion of the kumbento
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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My flagellant image is Editor's Choice in the National Geographic Magazine May 2010 issue.
