San Vicente de Paul Parish: A study on the first “earthquake-resistant”

parish church in the Philippines

Arante, Armel Alfredo. Cabaobao, Kurt Bryan. Gasendo, Alyanna Ray. Lobo, Croix Ambrose.

Paltingca, Rica Mae. Romero, Earl Cedric. Valdez, Klent Ivan

12 STEM - ENGINEERING 04

Research Paper in Inquires, Investigation, and Immersion

Senior High School Department

Adamson University

INTRODUCTION
 San Vicente de Paul Parish, located seismic isolator that was first attached to the

in San Marcelino, Ermita, Manila, is a pillars of the church. Due to this, San

church under the episcopal jurisdiction of Vicente de Paul Parish was announced as

the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. the first “earthquake-resistant” parish church

Originally a chapel under the parochial in the Philippines. This technology is only

territory of San Fernando de Dilao Parish, used in Japan and the United States of

located in Paco, Manila, it was built in 1883. America.

It was used as a parish church between 1898

to 1909. The Parish of San Vicente de Paul The problem of the study is to

was erected in 1909, and the present church determine how effective the earthquake

was built in concrete in 1912, in accordance resistance of the seismic isolator is that is

with the 50th anniversary of the arrival in used in the pillar of the parish church. Given

the Philippines of the Vincentians and that the Philippines belongs to the Pacific

Sisters of Charity. In 1945, in the midst of Ring of Fire and frequently experiences

the second world war, the church was earthquakes, the anti-seismic device could

heavily damaged during the Battle of help prevent much more damage if another

Manila; beginning in 1946, the dome, ground-shaking event happens. The factors

belfries, and roof of the church were and challenges give information about the

restored and fitted with stained glass environment and guide the evaluation of

windows. In September 2022, Engr. Ruel what should be done. The seismic isolator is

Ramirez of the RBRA Pioneer in Anti- safe for the church structure. According to

Earthquake Technology showed the ‘rubber’ Ramirez (2021), the anti-seismic device
absorbs the earthquake shock, ensuring zero This study will be undertaken to

damage to the building. Its purpose is to discuss whether the seismic isolators can

isolate the building from the damaging withstand natural and man-made calamities.

effects of ground movement by allowing it The following sectors can benefit from this

to slide with the ground. study, Civil Engineers and Architects, San

Vicente de Paul Parish, Adamson

The objective of this study is to University, and parishioners. This study will

determine the impact of an earthquake on be much more beneficial for Civil Engineers

the anti-seismic pillars. This will help in and Architects Regardless of whether they

reducing structural damage, thus preventing can use rubber seismic isolators in other

damage to the building and its contents. The buildings other than churches for their

next one is to evaluate the factors in building earthquake-resistant and calamities design

the structural pillars and challenges that may and planning. For San Vicente de Paul

affect the working environment in Parish, the outcome of this research will

experimenting with seismic isolators on the notify the world that seismic isolators are

pillars. The evaluation may see the useful for old establishments and the San

following result of the study. Lastly, to Vicente de Paul Parish can withstand

determine how conventional the method of different earthquakes. Adamson University

the seismic isolator is against the swaying of will use this research in order to use these

the ground. seismic isolators in different establishments

around the University and they can also

judge if the seismic isolators will be

essential for their establishments. For isolators that are available come in circular

Congregants, when a sudden earthquake and/or square shapes, however, the

occurs, this study can help to ensure the anisotropic isolation system has been

effectiveness of the seismic isolators if it can conventionally designed by using

safely assist the congregators. symmetrical shaped seismic isolators that

are not suitable for any structure systems

According to Bridgestone, a that are in a tunnel-form due to the shape

multinational company that is known for and arrangement of these different type of

being a manufacturer of auto and truck parts, structures.

the Seismic Isolation Rubber Bearing is

made up of alternating layers of thin rubber There are three important elements of a

layers and steel plates, which are bonded theory of earthquake (1) the loading of

together to provide vertical rigidity and tectonic stress, (2) the friction law governing

horizontal flexibility. fault slip, and (3) the structural

heterogeneity of the earthquake source

According to the study of D. region.

Altalabani et al. from the Department of

Civil Engineering of the University of Putra, From an examination of the

Malaysia (2021), one of the most successful displacement of the ground surface which

techniques in improving structural stability accompanied the 1906 earthquake, Henry

and performance against lateral loads are Fielding Reid, Professor of Geology at

rubber base isolators. Although the standard Johns Hopkins University, concluded that
the earthquake must have involved an the incorporation of computers into

"elastic rebound" of previously stored elastic educational games has the potential to

stress. increase students' intrinsic motivation,

improve their ability to think critically, solve

The group that is most at risk from problems, and use metacognition, as well as

seismic disasters in schools is students. As a make it easier for students to comprehend

result, teachers should pay particular complex ideas.

emphasis to helping students have a better

understanding of earthquakes and how to be According to the study by Soliman,

prepared for them. This situation has E. (2019), through various methods, the

motivated numerous research to be carried examination of the stability of a structure

out in order to evaluate and identify has been discovered. The formation of the

approaches and tactics to enhance spaces addresses the issues regarding the

conceptual comprehension and earthquake strength of every structure that is being built.

readiness among students. This will assist in Churches that were built during the Spanish

lowering risk and fostering student Colonial period have distinctive features due

resilience to disasters. Therefore, to their unique architectural design and

incorporating the use of machines in the structural stability. Including that is a

game learning module can aid students in buttress, one of the widely used supporting

comprehending key ideas about earthquakes structures in colonial churches, is not used

and the precautions that must be followed in only for design but as a support to resist

the event of an earthquake. This is because earthquakes as well. Following that, the use
of wood for support. Historically, wood was instead of a remote. It also measures the

used during the construction of early acceleration of a simulation of an

churches in the Philippines. This type of earthquake. The platform that is used for the

material can prove its robustness; regardless earthquake simulation uses NI MyDAQ as a

of its strength, it does not resist strong link to acquire signals for showing and

typhoons and winds. The use of wood as a producing instantaneously. The system of

dominant material for the whole structure of the MyQuake has five (5) parts: a) the

the church is not that common nowadays, Simulation Earthquake Platform of

because of its non-resistance to the heavy MyQuake, b) the Power Supply of the

rains, strong winds, and typhoons that the device, c) the Three-Axis Accelerometer, d)

Philippines experiences, but it is still used the control board of MyQuake, e) the NI

as merely a part of the building. Currently, MyDAQ.

there are still churches in the Philippines

that still use wood for the structure of the According to the study of K. Yao et

church, Alburquerque Church in Bohol, its al. (2015), the software for the device called

central columns consist of wood and have “LabVIEW” is the control system for the

been proven for the past years to be stable. simulation. The said software makes the

simulation low-priced, strong in analyzing

According to the study that was data, and fast in processing its data.

conducted by K. Yao et al. (2015), the

accelerometer is a device that measures The study was about the analysis of

acceleration. The device operates by itself, the effectiveness of the earthquake “rubber”
seismic isolator that is used in the pillars of which is located at 900 San Marcelino St,

the parish church by the twelfth-grade Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila. The

students of Adamson University. The research began on October 8, 2022, until all

research takes place in Manila, Philippines. of the data had been gathered.

The place of study was Adamson University

2. After multiple earthquakes, will the

“Rubber” Seismic Isolator still have

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM the durability that it had before

With the endangerment of complete experiencing the earthquakes?

destruction of the San Vicente de Paul 3. Can Rubber Seismic Isolators

Parish in Ermita, Manila, it was immediately maintain the Structure of San

called to restoration with the use of Vicente de Paul Parish after an

earthquake ‘rubber’ seismic isolators, earthquake?

making it the first “earthquake-resistant”

parish in the Philippines. To acquire the

necessary knowledge, data, and information, HYPOTHESIS

the study sought to answer the following In light of the problem presented, the

questions: researchers conclude that:

1. Will the seismic isolator withstand

earthquakes, with an estimated Alternative Hypothesis: There is a

magnitude of 6.0 and an intensity of significant difference between the Different

VI or more? magnitudes of an Earthquake and the

strength of the Seismic Isolators of San

Vicente de Paul Parish.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The illustration above shows the Conceptual

Framework of the Study. This Study has

been conducted to determine the

effectiveness of the earthquake ‘rubber’ Figure 1.1

seismic isolator that is used in the pillars of

the parish church. The input is the MATERIALS AND METHOD

interpretation of the data regarding the

effectiveness of the seismic isolators that Research design

can withstand earthquakes regardless of its

magnitude and intensity. For the process, the The researchers used quasi-

researcher will gather data from other experimental quantitative research as the

studies related to the effectiveness of the research design for this topic. The

seismic isolator. The output will be able to independent variable for this research will

determine and assess the effectiveness of the be manipulated in order to compare it to the

earthquake “rubber” seismic isolator used in dependent variable that occurred naturally or

the pillars of the parish church. was created already. This will comply with
the subjective quality of quasi-experimental the researchers are going to create a device

in approximating the capacity of the two (2) that demonstrates different levels of

independent variables which are the magnitude of an earthquake. For the Scale

Strength of the Seismic Isolators of the San Model, the researchers built a base that is

Vicente Parish and the Magnitude of an firm and stable for the complete replica of

Earthquake. Different Magnitudes of an the church and the materials inside the base

Earthquake will determine the strength of are a combination of Illustration boards and

the seismic isolators stored under the San Cardboard. Next, The materials needed to

Vicente de Paul Parish. The researchers will construct the structure are styrofoam and

change the magnitude of the pseudo- concrete pillars. Concrete Pillars are for the

earthquake simultaneously in order to stability and support of the church.

measure the Strength of the Seismic Styrofoams are used for showcasing the

Isolators of the San Vicente de Paul Parish layout of the church. For the Ceiling of the

church. Scale Model, The Model has the same

materials as the base (Cardboard and

MATERIALS AND SAMPLES Illustration boards). Lastly, the researchers

built the rubber seismic isolators beneath the

The researchers demonstrated in this model and the materials used are Foam

study how durable the Rubber Seismic tubes, Illustration Boards, and Rubber

Isolators of the San Vicente de Paul Parish Bonds. The materials required for the

Church are by creating a model replication experiment: (1) A Scale Model of St.

of the San Vicente de Paul Parish church, Vincent de Paul Parish.: a.) Illustration
Board, b.) Cardboard Paper, c.) Foam (for effectiveness of the seismic isolators that are

replication of the “seismic” rubber installed underneath the Parish Church is

isolator); (2) Accelerometer, (3) NI gathering and recording the data every time

MyDAQ, (4) Myquake Control Band an earthquake occurs, it gets recorded and a

thorough inspection of the entire building

Magnitude Test for any damages are recorded.

In the first test that the researchers

conducted, the limit and strength of the Intensity Test

seismic isolators placed beneath the San In the second test after preparing the

Vicente de Paul Parish will be tested materials and the samples, to verify whether

depending on the magnitude of an it affects the outcome, the researchers did an

earthquake. To assess the efficacy of the intensity test. By the use of wavelength

Parish's seismic isolators, researchers will scale, the intensity of the earthquake will be

simultaneously alter the magnitude of a measured with the use of scaling. With this

simulated earthquake in a small-scale technique, the researchers can understand

structure. With the data, the researchers can how to measure the intensity level of an

draw conclusions about the parish's earthquake.

earthquake resistance, the parish's seismic

isolation capabilities, and the highest Analysis of Variance

magnitude it can withstand before This study used the Analysis of

collapsing; Probably the most important variance or known as ANOVA statistical

aspect of the study in determining the technique such that the difference between
the two tests, the magnitude, and intensity
error
test, was compared to each other. To

understand whether there is a statistically

significant difference in the means

Therefore, if no true variance exists
earthquake-resistant, researchers can
between the independent and dependent group,
conduct an ANOVA method to be used in
the ANOVA's F-ratio should equal or close
calculating the dependent variable (strength
to one.
of the seismic isolator) changes depending

on the level of the independent variables.

Given the formula:

Ethical Considerations

Before conducting this study, the

researchers will seek approval from the

F = ANOVA
research adviser in order to lessen potential
Coefficient
causes of injury. While conducting the
MST = Mean sum experiment, the researchers must exercise
of squares due to caution in order to reduce the risk of damage
MST
F=
MSE treatment brought on by unexpected incidents. all

Information from other sources was properly

MSE = Mean sum
cited at the end of the study.
of squares due to
CITATIONS:

- Seismic Isolators: An anti-seismic technology to earthquake-proof buildings. (2021,

October 1). Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/01/seismic-isolators-an-anti-

seismic-technology-to-earthquake-proof-buildings/

- Elmer M. Soliman Jr. 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 294 012063

- Anonymous. (N.D.) https://rcam.org/sanvicentedepaulpar (ish/about-us/

- D. Altalabani et al., Development of new rectangular rubber isolators for a tunnel-for a

structure subjected to seismic excitations. (2021, April 13).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352012421002861

- K. Yao et al., Virtual Instrumentation Design on Earthquake Simulation System. (2015

January)