Inside the San Sebastian Church (Photo from San Sebastian Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc.)
While some of the heritage buildings in the country are being refurbished and gaining new attention, one of which is the Metropolitan Theater in Manila City, the same cannot be said for San Sebastian Basilica. The historic church launched an online petition last January to stop the construction of a 31-story condominium behind it that, according to the church, poses danger to its site and community.
Faith and design
Built in 1891 by architect Genaro Palacios, the San Sebastian Basilica is among the buildings in the country that present a neo-gothic style. Owned and run by the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, the church is known for being built by a team of mixed nationalities, each adding their own flavor into its design and making it a one of a kind church in the country and the world.
Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo
The prelate said the government can use as basis the lack of spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases despite the holding of the Black Nazarene and the Sto. Niño feasts last month.
“That can be used as a basis that churches are not spreaders because services are well managed,” Pabillo said in an interview.
“The Quiapo and Sto. Niño events were well managed in spite of many people,” he added.
Participation in religious services are still limited in adherence to the safety and health protocols set by the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Published February 3, 2021 4:02pm By JULIA MARI ORNEDO, GMA News The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 530,118 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,266 new infections as seven laboratories failed to submit reports on time. The total number of recoveries also rose to 487,721 after 130 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease. The death toll climbed to 10,942 with 68 new fatalities. “Moreover, 19 cases that were previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH added. There are also 31,455 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine. The OCTA Research group said there was no surge in infections caused by the holiday season and the Black Nazarene feast last month.
Published February 3, 2021 2:25pm
Updated February 3, 2021 2:47pm By MA. ANGELICA GARCIA, GMA News The trend of new COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has leveled off, with the previous fear of a possible spike after the holidays and the Black Nazarene feast not materializing, according to the latest OCTA Research report. According to the team, Metro Manila’s R-naught, which describes the reproduction of COVID-19 cases, remained steady at 1 over the past week. The group also said despite the pre-holiday increase in new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region, “there was no spike due to the holidays or the Black Nazarene festival.”
endIndex:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) The country’s COVID-19 cases topped 530,000 on Wednesday after the Department of Health confirmed 1,266 more infections.
The official tally now stands at 530,118, of which 31,455 or 5.9% are active cases. This does not yet include the latest data from seven testing laboratories which failed to submit on time, the DOH said.
The nationwide death toll also rose to 10,942 with 68 new fatalities, including 19 who were previously tagged as recoveries. Meanwhile, 130 more survivors pushed the recovery count to 487,721.
After final validation, the DOH also said it removed one duplicate recovery from the overall tally.
In its latest report, the independent research group OCTA said the trend in new cases in the National Capital Region remained steady over the past week with the positivity rate or the percentage of those infected out of all tested staying at 4%. This is still in line with the ideal rate of below 5% as recommende