On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo unleashed one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, blanketing Central Luzon in ash and forever reshaping the landscape.
Pampanga was among the provinces who bore the brunt of the devastation, with entire towns buried under thick layers of ash and lahar flows that followed in the months and years after. Bacolor became a symbol of the disaster’s fury, as rising lahar engulfed homes, churches, schools, and even the original campus of Don Bosco Academy, forcing its relocation and leaving behind haunting reminders of a community transformed by nature’s force.
At the heart of the old Don Bosco Academy in Bacolor stood its chapel, known as the Sacred Heart Chapel, where students and educators once gathered in prayer and celebration. Inside was a cherished Crucifix, placed side by side with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, both serving as spiritual anchors for the school community.
When the lahar flows engulfed the campus, the Crucifix was lost—likely buried beneath tons of volcanic debris—and has remained missing ever since. Its absence is deeply felt, symbolizing not only the physical loss of the chapel but also the painful memory of a community uprooted by the disaster.
Decades after the lahar devastation, the Crucifix was found to have been homed at St. Joseph Parish the Worker Parish in Cabalantian, Bacolor. The Crucifix was well taken care of.
And on September 14, the Crucifix has returned home to Don Bosco Bacolor, where it remains a cherished symbol of faith, resilience, and God’s enduring presence.
