HERITAGE GEM. The famous Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, located at the heart of the city, sustained minor damage, with some bricks falling off, from the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Abra and other parts of Luzon on Wednesday (July 27, 2022). A new retrofit is needed to preserve the national treasure, according to authorities. (Photo courtesy of Alaric Yanos) LAOAG CITY - Surviving Wednesday's magnitude 7 earthquake, the iconic Sinking Bell Tower here continues to stand the test of time as a national treasure since it was built by the Augustinians in 1612. The 45-meter tower, which provides a birds' eye view of downtown Laoag, however, continues to deteriorate and badly needs a new retrofit to save it from the next major quake. On Friday, Bishop Renato Mayugba and Laoag Mayor Michael Keon jointly conducted an ocular inspection of the site, finding severe cracks inside the bell tower. The tower was believed to have been built with bricks on a sandy foundation, caus
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