Lazi unveils Heritage Marker on St. Isidore feast day

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, May 17 (PIA) -- The San Isidro Labrador Parish in Lazi, Siquijor unveiled its official church marker to mark the National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines on the feast of San Isidro Labrador on May 15, 2012. 

The unveiling ceremony followed the blessing of the Retablo Mayor and pulpits officiated by Most Rev Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo with special participation of U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Allan Holst. 

A certificate of declaration declaring the church as National Cultural Treasure was also presented. 

The restoration of the "retablo mayor” and the pulpits was implemented by the National Museum of the Philippines with financial assistance from the US Embassy in Manila. 

In a press release, the Embassy said it provided $15,000 last year for the project that was completed in March this year. 

The project supported the repair and restoration of the church’s roof, main altar and twin pulpits and intricate wooden flooring considered among the best in the country. 

The work was coordinated by the Siquijor Heritage Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Rev. Fr. Leonardo Tan, Parish Priest of San Isidro Labrador Church. 

Present during the ceremony were local officials and representatives of the province led by Gov. Orlando A. Fua, Jr. who proudly described the town of Lazi as the “heritage center of Siquijor.” 

Also present were National Museum Associate Director Cecilio G. Salcedo, Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo and a representative from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. 

On July 2001, the National Museum through Presidential Decree No. 374 declared San Isidro Labrador Church Complex as National Cultural Treasure due to its religious, historical and architectural importance not only to the province, but to the to the country. 

The Church was built during the second half of the 19th Century under the Augustinian Recollects. It has two pulpits, original wooden statuary and high reliefs and intricate wooden flooring. 

It is the best well-preserved church complex that is grandly conceived and occupies two blocks in the island. 

The convent across the church is the largest in the Visayas. 

The Lazi church complex also figures on the Baroque Churches of the Philippines list submitted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to UNESCO as a candidate for World Heritage Site classification. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)