Evan Speer traveled to the Philippines in September 2019, to the small island of Bohol to support the historic preservation nonprofit organization Bakás Pilipinas. Evan was conducting a site visit to the Nuestra Señora del Rosario parish church in the town of Antequera, which was heavily damaged after the 2013 Bohol Earthquake. The island of Bohol is well known for its Roman Catholic architectural heritage, with churches dating from the Spanish Colonial Period through the period of American rule in the early 1900’s. The Nuestra Señora del Rosario parish church was one of the earliest known uses of concrete in the area.
Evan assisted Bakas Pilipinas in updating existing conditions survey information for foundations and the complex timber roof truss system, conducted a seismic evaluation, and provided retrofitting recommendations for the church with support from Greg Coons and Dan Say. The church, built in stages due to changing political landscapes around the turn of the 20th century, consists of early concrete walls being built atop earlier stone foundations. The trip also included visits to observe other churches in different stages of preservation around the island. This increased his understanding of local craftsmanship and trades to develop a feasible and suitable retrofitting scheme for the church. The church restoration will ultimately be completed by Bakas Pilipinas in collaboration with local Filipino engineers and local parishioners.
Roman Catholic churches in Bohol
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish
IMAGE CREDITS
Homer Balais and Evan Speer
