At the church ruins, Igbaras, Iloilo
At the grotto of Our Lady February 12, 2017 T he pictures here are taken at the Grotto of Our Lady, right side of the parish church of Igbaras, Iloilo (that is, facing the current church itself). The site used to be part of the altar of the old church that survived American bombs and the scorched-earth policy of the USAFFE at the end of WWII to deny the retreating Japanese troops sanctuary. The old church constructed in the Spanish era, was no match to West Panay Fault which moved on January 25, 1948, triggering a strong earthquake named "Lady Caycay". Lady Caycay, the only temblor to have a name, triggered fissures on the ground which looked like it was scratched by a giant chicken. "Caycay" is local for "scratch". The Spanish-era churches of Igbaras, Oton, San Miguel and Maasin crumbled beyond repair in its aftermath. Jaro Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco, reported that on Panay Island alone, 17 churches were destroyed by the quake. Oton chur...