The Silent Sentinel: The Old Belfry of Jaro Cathedral

Standing on the edge of a busy urban plaza in one Philippine city lies one of the tallest stand-alone belfries or campanarios in the country, the Jaro Belfry at the City of Iloilo.

The structure was made not only as a bell tower for the Church, which lies across the road, but also as a watchtower for marauding Moros which were frequent during the Spanish times until the mid-19th Century.

The belfry stands alone from the church for one reason might be is that of earthquakes in which belfries are the first ones to collapse during the tremor. Yet its distinct architecture which can be found nowhere else in the Visayas makes it stand out and thus a landmark of what once the "Forbes Park" of Iloilo.

The belfry has 3 segments made of coral stones and red bricks. On corner of the top of the first story/segment were once stands the statues of saints. On the second and third segement were the bells which was a symbol of the Catholic authority in Spanish Philippines.
Yet in 1948, one of the strongest tremors ever recorded in Philippine history struck the island of Panay. Devastating magnificent structures such as the once magnificent Oton Church and other churches in the island. The belfry was no exception. The second and third segments collapsed to the ground, destroying the campanille.

For years only the first story was left of the original belfry. Until in the early 1990’s when the local government restored its former glory.

Yet the question is: Does it only serve only for aesthetic purposes? As the Ilonggos know that the Jaro Cathedral built its own belfry in the Cathedral itself. The old yet restored belfry stands silently across the road. Using the people’s money (and presumably some private institutions as well/this is not confirmed yet) to reconstruct Jaro’s landmark, the question is what is the purpose of the restored belfry? Its not yet even open for the public, why? You can’t get even inside to get the glimpse of the structure.

Some say it will be used as a Tourist Information Center, I don’t know. Maybe another question raised that: Is it expensive to maintain such heritage that the Ilonggos are proud of? Some say it was a waste of money, some say its good to restore one of Iloilo’s distinct landmark. Yet it can’t serve its original purpose, to house the church bells. So what is it for?

Its not that I’m saying I’m against its reconstruction, I’m even proud of the belfry standing again. I just hope that the belfry will see its purpose being resurrected from the ruins. Other than being the Salognon or rather Ilonggo’s heritage, since reconstructed, hopefully the local government will utilize it before another tremblor might strike again. Reconstructing it again would take years and maybe highly debatable.