Historic churches damaged by quake

LOON, Philippines -- The earthquake that struck the central Philippines and killed at least 144 people dealt a serious blow to the region's historical and religious legacy by heavily damaging a dozen or more churches, some of them hundreds of years old.

As rescuers reached some of the hardest-hit areas on Wednesday and the death toll from the quake a day earlier continued to rise, images of the wrecked religious buildings resonated across a nation where 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic.

The bell tower toppled from Cebu's 16th-century Basilica of the Holy Child -- a remnant of the Spanish colonial era and the country's oldest church building -- becoming a pile of rubble in the courtyard.

Other churches on the neighboring island of Bohol, epicenter of the quake and a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, also were damaged, some beyond repair.

"The heritage old churches are also very close to the hearts of the Boholanos," said Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto, using the term for residents of the island.

He said authorities would attempt to restore the historic churches, but some may never return to their former state.

"Every piece of the church should be left untouched so that restoration efforts can be easier," he said. "It may not be a total restoration, but closest to what it used to be before."

Emilia Dalagan was sweeping grass outside her home near the 300-year-old church called Our Lady of the Assumption Shrine in Dauis on the resort island of Panglao, near Bohol, when the ground shook.

"The funeral car was crushed by falling debris from the front of the church. The driver was able to get out," she said.

The back, front and the right wing of the church were destroyed. The structure is said to be made from corals cemented together with egg white.

Tuesday was a national holiday in the Philippines celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid ul Adha, which meant some of the most damaged structures, like schools and office buildings, were empty when the quake struck, which saved many lives.

"That is our only consolation," said Bohol provincial health officer Reymoses Cabagnot.