Newly Restored San Agustin Choir Loft Inaugurated
The newly restored San Agustin choir loft was inaugurated June 18 at San Agustin Church and will soon be open to the public as a part of San Agustin Museum in Intramuros.
The inauguration was an intimate program, with the attendees consisting of Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo, Augustinians from the Order of St. Augustine, and the leaders and workers of the restoration project from Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc.
The program also served as a celebration of 450 years of relationship of the Philippines and Spain and Spain’s contribution to Philippine artistry, architecture and infrastructure, which is manifested in San Agustin Church itself.
A blessing ceremony was done before the viewing of the newly-restored choir loft.
A brief history of San Agustin Church and the choir loft
When we think of “choir,” we think singers. But did you know that for the friars and members of the church hundreds of years ago, choir meant prayer? The choir loft used to be a place for friars, praying in solemnity five times every day. Sometimes, friars gathered together around the choir loft to sing their prayers.
San Agustin Church was built in the late 1500’s and now stands as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The church has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Cultural Treasure.
Repairs, reinterpretation and preservation
Repairs were made on furniture with intricate designs and carvings. Although many of the workers were trained and experts, project manager Dr. Esperanza Gatbonton revealed that they also got help from YouTube tutorials.
Works on the wall and ceiling decorations were done through consultation with stone experts and testing of materials. The ceiling mural, done by Giovanni Alberoni and Cesare Dibella in 1875-1876, was reinterpreted by Filipino artist Guy Custodio.
The restoration work was a labor of love that took three years. The whole project was grounded on the principle that the integrity of the structure should be preserved while ensuring its long term stability, function and preservation.
Wooden choir stalls have been repaired.
The ceiling art has been beautifully restored.
Adeudatus Children’s Choir from Baseco sang while Fr. Nino Andrada played the piano.
The people behind the work
The people that take the greatest pride in this restoration project are the marginalized youth of Manila and other provinces who were trained by Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc.
People applauded for the workers from Escuela Taller who were present during the inauguration.
Escuela Taller is a non-stock, non-profit foundation based in Intramuros that trains out of school youth from marginalized communities, focusing on traditional construction skills. Some of the heritage workers that graduated from Escuela Taller are also part of conservation works in Malate church and San Pablo Cathedral in Laguna.
The restoration project was led by Dr. Esperanza Gatbonton. The Ministry of Labor of the Spanish government supported the project by giving a grant through the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).
Read more about San Agustin Church here.
Written by: Rizelle “Rei” Leaño
