Restoring Jolo's Cathedral of Peace

1/30/2008

Speak of Jolo, Sulu and some of the fist things that come to mind are kidnapping and the Abu Sayaf.  The beauty and character of the island are overshadowed by its reputation for banditry and disorder. This is unfortunate, since the real Jolo is like a pearl still encased in its oyster or like a diamond in the rough. I was lucky to have visited the island as a child 40 years ago and to have caught a glimpse of its charm. The impression has stayed with me through the years, of beautiful white sand beaches, quaint, peaceful towns, chirping maya birds, and exotic fruits. Last week, I was able to return to its shores, only to discover how sad it is when time stands still.

While the rest of the country has grown its cities and urban centers, Jolo has remained as small and bucolic as in the 60’s. Seeing it today gave me a feeling like a part of my home had been neglected and that a renovation was long overdue. Naturally, the biggest hindrance to change is the resistance from some sectors of its community. It is obvious that peace and order are a prerequisite to growth and development. Regrettably, Jolo still needs to settle its conflicts before it can catch up with the rest of the world.

One group of missionaries that has never given up on the area is the order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. They have established and maintained their presence on the island for more than 70 years. They have taken up the community as one of the biggest challenges of their mission. The conversion of Moslems to Catholicism is not their main objective, but rather the improvement of the living standard of the people, regardless of religion.

This is a place where real estate development, such as public housing, schools, training facilities, and even solid waste management, is conducted by the Catholic Church. The Oblates have priests who double as architects and builders, as well as physicians and dentists. They founded and sustain prestigious schools, like the Notre Dame of Jolo College. They have brought the same dedication to similar works in other nearby islands, such as Tawi-Tawi.

As a testimony to the work of the Oblates, a cathedral stands in the center of the city. It is known as the Mt. Carmel Cathedral of Jolo. This cathedral was designed by my father, Archt. Marcos C. de Guzman, Sr., back in 1964. He was commissioned by the Rev. Bishop Francis McSorley, one of the first Oblates in the Philippines and the first bishop of Sulu. It has withstood the burning of the city in 1974 and several years of sporadic fighting. Bullet holes and grenade shrapnel are still evinced in the cathedral walls. The marks of bomb blasts are found within its grounds. But its beauty and serenity remain.

The building is shaped like the bow of a boat. Its mosaic tile and glass washout finish shimmers like gold in the sunlight. The structure, blessed by the faith and strength of the Catholics of Jolo, gives its surroundings a sense of hope and focus. It inspires the peace-loving sectors of the community to a vision of a better place, a better time, an ideal situation. The cathedral represents the spirit and the efforts of the Oblate Missionaries in the Philippines, who in spite of all the danger and challenges, still remain there, united with the people of Jolo.

Last week, I visited Jolo to help in the restoration of the cathedral. Hopefully, with prayers and funding from other peace-loving sectors all over the country, we can bring it back to its original grandeur.