Patrocinio de Maria, Boljoon, Cebu

Boljoon Church Complex

Visiting an Ecclesiastical Heritage Site like the Boljoon Church Complex was very enriching. It was good to know that several hundreds of years ago, this place near the sea was occupied by settlers most probably from Borneo. Gold necklaces, bracelets, a lone ear piece such as one worn by a chieftain like Humabon and Lapu-lapu were found there. Human remains were found in the area. A young tour guide assigned by the museum curator explained to us how the human skeletons were found. He said it was not exactly a graveyard as we understand it today. It was believed that people of long ago buried their dead under their homes, He said, if they were buried elsewhere, their spirits will not be at rest according to their common belief.  There must have been a village in that area before the Spaniards came. He explained further that women were buried  with pots or Chinese porcelain because women were related to the preparation of food. Men, on the other hand were buried with hands and arms crossed over their chest with  farming tools over the head.

With the coming of the Spanish Missionaries, a big Church was built and the people seemed to welcome the Christian faith. The vast Church Complex included the Church of Patrocinio de Maria which means Patronage of Mary. It has a seating capacity of more or less 500 persons. In my calculations, there were about 25 pews on the left and another 25 pews on the right which can sit about 10 regular person per pew.The Convento was huge. The walls were super thick and were constructed from the limestone which must have been cut from the mountain near the area.The Museum was located at the ground-floor of the Convento and the Guide explained that during Moro Raids, the Parish Priest passed through an escape passage which he showed us. There was a big open area in front of the church and at the left side 

El Gran Baluarte was located much further near the sea. According to the marker I read near the building it was the largest extant Spanish watchtower in the Philippines built by Fr. Julian Bermejo, OSA in 1808. According to the marker, it was the main fortress in the vast church complex's fortification. The marker pointed out that during the height of the Moro Raids, the structure served as Fr. Bermejo's command center in his elaborate defense of the Visayan seas. (This portion was not part of our museum tour. After dispersal from our museum tour, I saw this building from afar and I run to take a picture. Then, I discovered the marker where I got the info I wrote above.) The marker even added that the basement was used as a prison and that there was a mural painting made by the prisoners themselves at the same basement of the watchtower.

I found the Escuela Catolico. It was an old wooden building with two big staircases. It was built in 1909 so it was a later addition. I would have gone inside if not for the limited time. I could imagine St. Pedro Calungsod with his companion catechists being instructed there before being sent to the Marianas. If I was not aware that he was martyred in Guam many centuries back, I would have believed my imagination. Who would know for certain what took place in these sacred grounds of history or herstory? If only the walls can tell what really happened then. Now, imagination is the only limit. Why don't the Historical Commission reconstruct this Spanish Village? The residents can dress up like they were in the Spanish Era like the way they preserved Fort Santiago. Perhaps more tourists and pilgrims will be interested to come and film makers will make historical movies shoot here.

The original records found in the museum are in bad state because of the humidity. There are no air conditioning units to cool the place and preserve the museum pieces. The steel trusses they placed on the ceiling must be removed to restore the beauty and grandeur of the painted ceiling. The paintings that were stolen from the old pulpit must be replaced to restore the aesthetics. More pilgrims should come to visit Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon, Cebu.