The Philippines, being colonized by Spain, has become the only country in Asia blessed with an organ patrimony since 1581 with Bishop Salazar’s bringing along a portable organ when he set up the Diocese of Manila. This first organ, however, was destroyed together with the nipa-built church in a fire two years later. The three centuries of Spanish colonization is also the glorious era of pipe organ acquisition and building in the country—not only in Luzon but also in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao. It is safe to assume that all Spanish-built churches in the country before World War II have organs in support of Tridentine liturgy.
Structure
These organs was constructed with trumpets structured horizontally, divided keyboard and without pedal board typical of Spanish organs. They were usually placed not in the middle of the choir loft but at the side of the nave instead.
Repair
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| San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila |
Of these countless historical—a hundred years old or more—pipe organs in the country, only 15 managed to survive the test of time. Six of these were restored—thanks to a scholarship program introduced in Las Piñas in support of its annual Bamboo Organ Festival. The famous bamboo organ itself needed repair and was brought to Bonn, Germany in 1973 and stayed there until 1975 while the St. Joseph Church is also undergoing renovation. The repair ushered the new dawn for Philippine organs. Many of these organs were in such condition that it is almost impossible to have them reconstructed as some of the parts are somewhere else if not totally wrecked and many of which are so small that only seasoned organ craftsmen would be able to identify. Strict restoration procedure is employed like the use of original materials and joining techniques. Some parts are made of materials that cannot be found locally; they had to be imported.
Inventory
The country’s inventory of historical pipe organs includes those in Manila—in the churches of San Agustin (restored in 1998) and San Sebastian; in Las Piñas—the bamboo organ in St. Joseph Church (restored 1975/2004); in Cebu—Argao, Boljoon and Dalaguete; in Negros Oriental—Bacong (restored 2008); in Bohol—Baclayon (restored 2008), Dimiao, Garcia Hernandez, Loay (restored 1999), Loboc (restored 2003), Loon and Maribojoc, in Zamboanga del Norte—Dapitan; and in Misamis Oriental—Jimenez (restored 2011).
Actors in the Restoration
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| Guy Bovet, the Swiss organ master. |
The restoration of the pipe organs does not end in repair making them playable again. It would be useless and meaningless without Filipino organists to play these instruments; hence, there is a training program for would-be organists composed of young Filipinos who come from the different parts of the country where these priceless gems are located. Swiss organist Guy Bovet thought of recording his own recitals using the restored organs around the country to come up with CD collection project entitled as “Historical Organs of the Philippines”. For every purchase, a contribution would be made for the said training program.
The Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc., is the only company of its kind in the Philippines. Founded in 1994 by Filipino Cealwyn Tagle, the second recipient of such scholarship, after six years of study and training with master organ craftsmen in Austria and Germany, it is responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the country’s six historical organs. With this Filipino organ builders and the training of organists in place, the survival of our organ patrimony is ensured.
Patronize!
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| The author holding Mr. Bovet's CDs |
The locus of these historical organs in Philippine tourism is that they form part of our cultural heritage that places our country in a unique and advantageous position among Asian nations. Hence, the Department of Tourism encourages and supports the preservation and restoration of constructions of historical significance such as these. Definitely, local communities should contribute in these efforts, if not by direct financial assistance, at least by supporting the creative expressions of these gems for as long as we patronize them today they will live on tomorrow for our posterity to enjoy and share with their guests...reinforcing the Philippines: the Pearl of the Orient.
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