Shrine for Christ’s Precursor in Lian, Batangas, inaugurated

Facade of the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Lian, Batangas. Photo by Lester Babiera

He may already be tired and bruised from visiting almost every home in Lian, Batangas, and neighboring towns, but his charisma, which endears him to the faithful, is far from fading.

Such is how Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of the Archdiocese of Lipa described Lian’s patron, St. John the Baptist, in his homily last Aug. 29 after the official declaration of the very first shrine of the Precursor of Christ.

La Naval’s 76-year-old pipe organ to be restored

The historic musical instrument at Sto. Domingo.

The Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila, at Santo Domingo Church features a musical masterpiece with much historical value—the 76-year-old organ that makes use of over a thousand pipes. The musical instrument, a cultural heritage, is set to undergo restoration.

To raise funds for the expensive restoration, the officials of the shrine, headed by Fr. Giuseppe Pietro V. Arsciwals, OP, launched the adopt-a-pipe project.

The cost to  complete the project amounts to P3.5 million. The Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., curator of the world-famous bamboo organ of Las Piñas, has been commissioned to execute the restoration.

Antonio Hila, historian and former choirmaster of the Tiples de Santo Domingo (1987 2000), the Philippines’ oldest boys choir, says the restoration is a must.

“It’s about time [to restore the organ],” he explains. “For a church as big as Santo Domingo Church, we need that organ for the massive sound that would accompany the choirs so that the music would be more appreciated.”