By Ahnica Claudeth Almanzor | The Paulinian
Cover Photo from Official Facebook Page of St. Paul University Manila
ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY MANILA – On February 17, 2026, the blessing and inauguration of the SPUM Pipe Organ was held at the Chapel of the Crucified Christ. After the blessing, Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ presided over a Thanksgiving Mass.
Sr. Ma. Evangeline L. Anastacio, SPC, University President, gave the Opening Remarks, which began with “Your presence makes this celebration even more meaningful, because this instrument is not only for us—it is for the Church, for our students, and for all who will pray and worship in this sacred space in the years to come. We also remember with gratitude the life and legacy of Father Louis Chauvet, the founder of the SPC Congregation. Yesterday marked his birthday, and today is the celebration of his baptism—a providential coincidence for this occasion.”
Sr. Evangeline shared that Fr. Ric Marpa was instrumental in SPUM’s acquisition of the Pipe Organ. “A brand-new organ would indeed have been a treasure—and one requiring an extraordinary investment. Yet in humble and providential ways, we were led instead to a remarkable opportunity: a historic pipe organ formerly installed at Gee Cross Methodist Church on Stockport Road in Hyde, United Kingdom, a church founded in 1882 but closed down in 2021. The instrument proved perfectly suited to our chapel in both scale and character—neither too large nor too small — as though it had been waiting for its next home.” The Pipe Organ was transported from the United Kingdom to Manila and to our beloved chapel. “Welcome, and thank you for sharing in this historic moment with us.”
Mr. Cealwyn Tagle, President of Diego Cera Organbuilders, described the restoration of the Pipe Organ. With his late colleague Edgar Montiano, he established the company that restores pipe organs. “I grew up listening to a pipe organ, the Bamboo Organ, and, as a member of the Las Piñas Boys Choir in my childhood, I always thought a pipe organ accompanied church music. Little did I know that we were just lucky and blessed in Las Piñas that Father Diego Cera, an Augustinian Recollect missionary from Spain, came to our town 200 years ago and built the Bamboo Organ and started a school to train locals in the art of building pipe organs.”
He then described the work they did on the Pipe Organ from the UK. “Our restoration primarily centered on making the instrument more adaptable to our humid tropical climate. Wood preservatives were applied, and leather parts were replaced with local leather that lasts longer. All wooden pipes were dismantled to basic parts and were put back together using tropicalized wood glue since the old glue from 100 years ago does not hold well in our warmer and humid climate.” He further explained—they restored the windchests, the heart of the organ, to ensure that vital parts will last longer than they foresee. He stated that each organ is designed for specific conditions, sizes, and classifications, which have become symbols of harmony in a sacred place. He ended his speech thanking Sister Evangeline and the community of St. Paul of Chartres for the opportunity to restore the imported historic Pipe Organ, which is now the Crown Jewel of the Chapel of the Crucified Christ.
