Today in Filipino History: the Corpus Christi earthquake of 1863

Pepe Alas

Jun 3

^{Manila Cathedral, Philippines, following the July 3, 1863 earthquake, artist's impression.}

TODAY IN FILIPINO HISTORY – On the night of 3 June 1863, the feast of Corpus Christi, a massive intensity 10 earthquake struck Intramuros –the original City of Manila– and its surrounding provinces of Bulacán, eastern Cavite, La Laguna, and Manila as well as the politico-military district of Morong. Several government infrastructures, churches, and houses were obliterated or damaged (this includes the churches inside the Walled City and the Governor's Palace). Around 400 people were killed and more than two thousand people were injured.

The most well-known casualty of this natural disaster was the Manila Cathedral and its creole parish priest, Fr. Pedro Peláez, the mentor of Fr. José Burgos (of GomBurZa fame).

Many of those who perished were crushed when the roofs of their own homes came crashing down on them. These roofs were made of heavy red tile bricks. After this tragedy, the government discouraged the use of red tile bricks as roofing. This is why today's remaining "bahay na bató" ancestral houses have few red tile brick roofs.

_{Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.}