Wong Chu King Foundation turned over church in Naic

One of the historical landmarks in Naic was recently turned over by the people behind Mighty Corp’s charitable arm, Wong Chu King Foundation.

The Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Heart in Naic, Cavite is one of the country’s oldest and largest churches. It was an ante-bellum Spanish colonial structure and as a reminder of the Dominican Parish in 1849.

The Wong Chu King Foundation called their deed as a duty to church and society.

“We cannot allow this historic church to go into a state of disrepair,” said Alex Wongchuking, Executive Director of the said foundation.

The charitable institution has been devoted its resources to rebuilding churches in the country since 2009. Also, they are helping the poor get education and doing other charitable works.

“The church strengthened the Filipino faith and it stands as a mute witness to the martyrdom of the defenders of Philippine freedom and nationhood,” Wongchuking said.

The said church was built by the Spanish friars which has a low-roofed stone structure in 1835. Eventually, it was rebuilt and completed with a neo-Gothic convent complex in 1872. The church in Naic played a big role in the fight of Filipinos for independence against Spanish, American and Japanese conquerors.

Aside from the fact the foundation is the social arm of Mighty Corporation, the church in Naic started to renovate last February 2014 and made a symbolic turnover to church officials last March 30, the foundation’s 24th anniversary.

According to Cavite Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista says that he was grateful and said the restoration of the church to its original architecture will “encourage people to grow in their faith, in a life of prayer and in a life of holiness, which is God’s desire for all of us.”

He also added that the church’s the roof and the walls were crumbling and the church’s interior gradually deteriorating. Suddenly, Wong Chu King Foundation came in and offered them to rebuild the church.

“With this beautiful church, one can say that the presence of God is really felt by the people,” Bishop Evangelista said.

In addition to rebuilding the church, the foundation also built a new garden with a fountain, Navarette said.

“The project aims to maintain the original structure, essence and sanctity of the church,” he said.