Cebu Churches: Boljoon Church

Heritage is an important part in a Cebuano’s life, partly because these heritages combine the most significant parts of Cebu history as well as its role into molding the Cebuano culture. Other than that, icons and people also contribute to this development. Of course one of the things that will make this heritage stay longer is the structures that have been standing for decades.

We’ve known the oldest school, the oldest house, the oldest business building and others. And for this, the Boljoon Church has been standing in the southern part of Cebu for centuries to be known as one of the oldest existing stone-built churches. For a long time now, the people living around it have become accustomed to paying tribute into its patroness, Nuestra Senora Patrocinio de Maria.

Recently, it was reported that the government of Cebu is scheduled to release funds worth P60million to restore Boljoon Church and to further its existence not just for the people around it but for the Cebuanos as well.

A bit of history

It was during the year 1599 when the Spaniards constructed the church with a flavor of Rococo and Baroque styles. For years, it still gives the sense of the past where the Philippine colony was established. There were also buildings within the church compound, but were probably destroyed in 1782 when a Muslim raid attacked the whole town.

Later on, the Boljoon Church was installed with a rectangular belfry in the year 1701. It features fort windows that are used to parade battle canon to defend the establishment against the Moro invaders. The sound of the bells could echo towards the municipalities of both Alcoy and Oslob. However, these silver bells were stolen by a group of Muslims in 1802 and actually sank into the seas because of its massive weight.

The 408-year old Boljoon Church is not just regarded as a religious establishment, because it has been tested through years of continuous attacks from Muslim raiders during its early times. It was then that residents around it decided to build a chain of watchtowers that ran along the shoreline of Punta Tanong (Santander) towards Manhage then later expanded up to the area of Carcar, totaling the span of 96 kilometers.

Today

Recently in November 11, the Boljoon residents celebrated their fiesta together with tourists that have longed to see the centuries-old Boljoon Church. Also, the talks of restoring the church are now being executed. In fact, local workers who are involved in the restoration have undergone training last year to provide the delicate repair effectively and efficiently.