‘Belen by the Ruins’

By Rock Drilon

Built in 1572, according to a marker placed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) when it was declared a National Landmark in 1983, the Ermita Ruins is considered the oldest existing stone church in Panay.

The ruins also serve as a historical marker for Dumangas, formerly Araut, as the first town in Panay where Christianity was preached.

To preserve the site, a structure was constructed over the ruins to prevent further exposure to the elements.

For Christmas 2024, in time for Simbang Gabi, parish priest Father Alex requested the Araut Visual Artists Collective (AVAC) group to conceptualize a belen (Nativity Scene) for the Dumangas Church in the town proper.

AVAC adapted the concept by creating a replica of the Ermita Shrine, placing the belen inside and dubbing it “Belen by the Ruins.”

Since the site’s preservation in the mid-1980s, several plans to develop the area have been proposed but have yet to be fully implemented.

The land on which the ruins stand is owned by the people of the Philippines as a National Landmark.

However, the immediate surrounding property is privately owned, complicating development efforts.

The late Father Pet initiated the first attempt to create a park around the ruins, remnants of which are still visible today.

The local government also started constructing a tourism center but halted the project midway.

A tourism road meant to provide direct access from the coastal road remains unfinished, with 320 meters left to complete.

Another stalled initiative is the development of an arboretum featuring endemic and native trees.

The arboretum, planned to cover 1.5 hectares and accommodate 400 trees representing 200 species, has seen the planting of 50 species so far. However, the project has been put on hold.

Recent efforts aim to unite stakeholders to revive these initiatives and bring them to fruition.

Thus again, the “Belen by the Ruins”.

Rock Drilon is an internationally renowned Ilonggo visual artist who has been quietly developing community-based arts, particularly in their hometown of Dumangas, Iloilo.