via Licas News, 17 May 2023: The Catholic Church in the Philippines actively emphasizes the value of historical churches and sites, aiming to encourage their preservation and appreciation by the people, as stated by Father Milan Ted Torralba, executive secretary of the Commission on Cultural Heritage of the bishops’ conference, following the recent declaration of several churches in Bohol as significant national treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines.
A Catholic priest said the Philippine Church continues to value churches and sites in the country that hold significant historical importance.
Father Milan Ted Torralba, executive secretary of the Commission on Cultural Heritage of the bishops’ conference, said efforts of the Church to declare the importance of old buildings are aimed at encouraging people to preserve and appreciate them.
“My personal motivation behind these declarations (as national cultural treasure or important cultural property) for buildings built during the Spanish colonial period is to remind every Filipino that the Church takes the lead in valuing and not forgetting the heritage that continues to benefit the people and the clergy,” said the priest in an interview with Radio Veritas 846.
