The restored belfry of St. Catherine of Alexandria, one of the most recognized landmarks in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was officially turned over June 15 to the Diocese of Dumaguete, and recognized as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) in the country.
The unveiling of the ICP Marker was led by Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes, provincial and city officials, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) executives, among others.
Government and cultural heritage officials, in a Philippine News Agency report June 16, called for a collective effort to protect and preserve the belltower that underwent nearly two years of restoration, with P15 million budget from the NMP.
NCCA deputy executive director Bernan Joseph Corpuz said the belltower should be safeguarded for future generations through the cooperation of the Church, local government, heritage advocates, stakeholders, and the community.
He noted that Dumaguete has shown a strong commitment to preserving its cultural heritage, and stressed that the belltower is not only a treasure of the city but also part of the country’s heritage.
“Dumaguete has distinguished itself as a place that values its culture and history, not only through the preservation of significant cultural artifacts and heritage structures, but also through the commitment of its people to understanding and passing on the stories these treasures carry,” Corpuz said.
He added that the landmark can further boost Dumaguete’s cultural tourism and contribute to its socio-economic development.
In his acceptance speech, Cortes said the edifice’s restoration “is not simply the repair of stone and structure but the careful guiding of identity and the unfolding history of our people.”
He said the belltower has stood as witness to generations of Dumagueteños, and remains a symbol of faith and community.
“More than a restored structure, the Belfry now stands as a renewed beacon of Dumaguete’s timeless story — where culture, faith, and history continue to thrive for generations to come,” the Capitol said.
NMP deputy director general Arvin Manuel Galon said the nearly 200-year-old structure is the only remaining watchtower of the three that once stood in Dumaguete during the Spanish colonial period.
Built in 1811, the belltower is the oldest surviving structure in the city. It originally served as both a watchtower and a belfry for the nearby cathedral, and helped protect coastal communities from raiders during the Spanish colonial period.
Meanwhile, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, chairperson of the Diocesan Commission on Church Cultural Heritage, said the Diocese of Dumaguete and the city government will formulate management and conservation guidelines for the bell tower through a memorandum of agreement.
The turnover ceremony also featured the signing of a certificate of turnover by representatives of the NMP, NCCA, the diocese, and the city government. ||
