HISTORY OF CARCAR CITY CEBU

The City of Carcar is 40.5 kilometers southeast of Cebu City. Its boundaries are the Municipality of San Francisco in the north, the Municipality of Sibonga in the south, the Bohol Strait in the east and the municipalities of Aloginsan and Barili in the west. Carcar City has a population of 100,632 people. The Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is home to various Spanish to American period structures. Carcar is administratively subdivided into 15 barangays namely Bolinawan, Buenavista, Calidngan, Can-asujan, Guadalupe, Liburon, Napo, Ocana, Perrelos, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Poblacion III, Tuyom, Valencia and Valladolid. Carcar's interesting history dates back to the pre-Spanish colonial period. the town originated from a seaside settlement called Sialo. The settlement was at the mouth of the Minag-a River and the natives early contact with the Chinese traders who frequent the place to barter goods in exchange for farm produce. When the Spaniards came in the middle of the 16th century, Sialo became the town of Valladolid, named after a town in Spain. The town's progress made it a target of raids of moro marauders, driving villagers to the uplands. Soon, a new settlement was established in a site, which came to be known as Kabkad, from the word Kabkaban, a species of hardy fern that was aboundant in the place. Later on, a Spanish priest changed the name to Carcar, after a small town in the province of Navarro in Northern Spain. Carcar is known as "Little Marikina in the South" because of the bustling shoe-making industry in barangays Poblacion 3, Liburon, Valladolid and Perrelos. Carcar is known for native delicacies such as sweetened rice crispies called ampao, the sweet bocarillo made of young coconut meat and the famous Carcar-made chicharon. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several Heritage structures, the

Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand. Walking towards Sta. Catalina street one will surely be astonished with the quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details. Must see destinations in Carcar include St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, the Theotokos Shrine in Perrelos, the Mainit-Mabugnaw National Park in Guadalupe and the old residential houses of the Noel and Leocadio-Justine Barcenilla families. SOURCE: http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/travel_destinations/carcar_city.htm

HISTORY OF ST. CATHERINES CHURCH

Among the great wonders in Carcar is the 124- year old St. Catherines Church. Although it is not the very first church in Carcar, it has kept great wonders over the years. Carcar, formerly called Si alo, became a parish in 1599 under Fray Gasper de San Augustine. Unfortunately, it was not known who built the edifice, but it must be observed that the Augustinian friars during the first years of the Spanish regime took charge of the parishes from San Nicolas down to Taon. Hence, St. Catherines Church is the second oldest church in the entire province of Cebu. Since the dawn of Christianity in Cebu, until the year 1898, the orders of St. Augustine handled the church in Carcar. Several Augustinian priests were assigned in the church and in the convent. The church, which was smaller than the present structure took 260 years before the new building was finally constructed. Fr. Antonio Maglano became the "cura" of the parish of Carcar on October 16, 1858. A year later, he began the construction of the present day church. Several friars left it unfinished; thus, the construction lasted for six years. At that time St. Catherines already had three naves. The style was patterned after the "mujedar" in Spain, comprising of two bells With an onion-shaped tip. Fr. Gabriel Gonzalez succeeded Fr. Maglano on November 17, 1865 Nine years later, Fr. Manuel Rubio Fernandez from Asturias, Spain succeeded Fr. Gonzalez. He was able to finish the construction for two years. Fr. Manuel was an exemplary man. He designed the church with such great finesse, that anyone who entered the church marveled at the authentic style of his craftsmanship. One of his prides is his construction of the masonry and the wood convent, which measured 33 meters in front and 22 meters on the side. Unfortunately, he was arrested in 1898 and was detained in Sibonga.

St. Catherines Church now holds an unprecedented history. Inspired by the Graeco-Roman style, with strong Muslim influence, the church is made of masonry with one main nave and two aisles. The nave measures 68 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 12 meters high. The main entrance has a double arch design inviting attention in the massive rectangular faade. The twin bell towers of solid geometric pylons, act as buttresses but are integrated as part of the faade. The twin bell towers end up at the third level in the minaret shape common to Muslim mosques. The only embellishments that have been provided are the geometric flora on the spandrels, the blind rose window below the upper recessed arch and the carved Augustinian symbol above it. The simplicity of the design of the faade is the counter-foiled by the complex pattern of the upper-story of the Muslim like bell tower and the Baroque pediment. It is noticeable that all the twelve apostles were carved in white except for Judas, which was done in black. SOURCE: http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/church/carcar.htm

HISTORY OF SIBONGA

Sibonga is a 3rd class municipality of the province of Cebu, Philippines and one of the 6 towns under the first Congressional district of the province. It is located in the southeastern portion of the island, approximately 50.7 kilometers away from Cebu City. The town is bordered by the city of Carcar in its north, the municipalities of Dumanjug and Ronda on the west and the Municipality of Argao on the south. On its east side is the magnificent view of the Bohol Strait. Based on the cadastral survey, the town of Sibonga has a total land area of 11,145 hectares. It is subdivided into 25 barangays namely: Abugon, Bae, Bagacay, Bahay, Banlot, Basak, Bato, Cagay, Can-aga, Candaguit, Cantolaroy, Dugoan, Guimbangco-an, Lamacan, Libo, Lindogon, Magcagong, Manatad, Mangyan, Papan, Poblacion, Sabang, Sayao, Simala and Tubod. The topographic profile of the town is mixed. Flatlands and plains are found at the eastern portion of the town where the urban area can be found. The central and the northern portions topographies are described as very steep while on the southern part is slightly mountainous. The climate falls under the third type which is characterized with no pronounced dry and wet seasons. Like any other coastal towns, Sibongarely on both fishing and agriculture for livelihood. Raw materials available in the area are corn, fruit trees, coconut, rice, bamboos, vegetables, Phosphate, Papan stone, coal and limestone. How The Town Got Its Name: The word Sibonga was being etymologized from the word bonga, the local name of betel nut (known also as areca nut) which is the seed of a betel palm. The plant once abounded the place, thus named the placeBonga. When the Spaniards took control of the land, a native was asked about the name of the place. Thinking that the Spaniard was asking about what he was eating, the native answered, bonga right away. The Spaniard said, Bonga? and the native replied, Si, the only Spanish word he knew, which means yes. From then, the place was called Sibonga. History: In 1690, Sibonga was formerly a part of Carcar as a visita. Later, it was appended to Argao where it remained for many years under its jurisdiction due to its small population. However, in 1830, Sibonga was made an independent parish and adopted Nuestra Seora del Pillar de Zaragoza and Santa Filomena as the towns patrons. The construction of the church commenced in 1846 and was completed in 1881. When the month of August is approaching, the town becomes busy and lively as the Sibonga celebrates the Bonga Festival every August 19, in honor of its patrons, Our Lady of Pilar and St. Filomena.

The festival is a way of thanksgiving for the townsfolk for all the blessings and graces that have been abundantly showed upon them. Among its highlights is the street dancing and ritual competition. The dances were either Spanish-inspired or native but basically depicting abundances of fruits, vegetables or fish in the town. How To Get There: Sibonga can be reached by public buses, either air-conditioned or non air-conditioned or private vans from Cebu City in the South Bus Terminal. The travel time takes more or less two hours. Once arrived in Sibonga, the town can be toured riding tricycles, jeepneys or habal-habal. It is much better if you have your own vehicle. SOURCE: http://explorecebu.com/content/sibonga

HISTORY OF NUESTRA SEORA DEL PILAR DE ZARAGOZA (SIBONGA)

Foundation Sibonga was a visita of Carcar in 1690. Later, it was aggregated to Argao, and remained so for quite a number of years owing to its small population. 1830 - Sibonga was made and independent parish under the advocation of Nuestra Seora del Pilar de Zaragoza Don Mariano de la Ascension - the first assistant priest Fr. Prospero Puerto - first Augustinian priest Construction of the Church The first buildings were temporary. Fr. Prospero Puerto, who administered Sibonga from 1833 to 1868, constructed the solid and beautiful convent, following the plans of Bishop Santos Gomez Maraon (the priest who built the belfry of the church in Argao). Fr. Puerto also introduced the cultivation of tobacco, and the first class harvests that followed made the town the chief tobacco producer in the island of Cebu. Fr. Juan Alonso, parish priest from 1868 to 1881, laid the foundations of a new church and started its construction with stone and bricks. Fr. Alonso supervised the construction until it reached the arches above the windows. The bell tower was destroyed by the typhoon of November 25, 1877. Fr. Enrique Magaz finished the church in 1881. Fr. Emiliano Diez was applying the finishing touches when the revolution broke out in 1898. Frs. Puerto and Alonso opened the road which crosses the island from east to west. The oldest bell, dedicated to Santa Filomena, was installed in 1863. Sibongas church and convent was built by the inhabitants themselves. All male residents were required every Monday to bring to church two big stones. They took turns in helping in the construction with no pay, or in case of skilled workers like canteros and carpenters, with little pay. The church was restored in 1907 and blessed by Msgr. Jeremias Harty, Archbishop of Manila.

Style of Church The church in Sibonga has one-nave interior with a wooden colonnade and a painted ceiling. The interior is clearly influenced by the church in Carcar. What is most eye-catching is the yellowish light that suffuses the interior and lights up the predominantly brownish-amber tones of the mural on the ceiling done by Raymundo Francia. The faade has three sections separated from each other by shallow columns. The structure is very simple and bare of any decoration. The flame-like arched main entrance dominates the central panel. It is flanked on both sides by twin bell towers. The triangular pediment sports a rose window, typical of the Gothic style. The bell towers lack sufficient elevation for them to harmonize with the style of the faade. The style is pseudo-Gothic characterized by simplicity of form and scantiness of decoration. SOURCE: http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/church/sibongach.htm

HISTORY OF ARGAO
Location : 66.9 km. Town Fiesta : September 28 - 29 Patron Saint : Michael Archangel Places of Interest : beaches (Mahayahay, Mahawak, Kawit,Sunshine, Looc), Cave Lantoy (with streams, lake and spring inside it), Cave Kahilum (bats live inside), Balay ug Colon Cave Historical Notes When Argao was still a wilderness with only few people living far from each other, a certain kind of tree called sali-argaw grew abundantly along its coasts. They became landmarks for fishermen on their fishing expeditions and serves as a haven on stormy days. These trees were so towering they could be seen while yet on the strait of Bohol. The town was named after these trees. Argao is described as one of the most interesting places in the province for its public stone buildings roofed with tiles and for its ovens used for the baking of bricks and tiles. Many of these Argaomade bricks and tiles found their way to Cebu City where they were used in elite houses. It is one of the few towns that still manages to keep alive the old Spanish flavor. This is evident not only from its old church, but also from its venerable houses made of tisa. The town and parish were founded in 1806 under the patronage of San Miguel. It was a rich pueblo. As described, it was a town comparable to a village in Spain, with its public buildings made of stone and tiled roofs. It had a famous and large wharf. As protection and defense, the town was surrounded by bastions of stones, arranged proportionally. The natives of Argao were dedicated to agricultural pursuits. The women applied themselves to dyeing and weaving: two industries that provided a notable trade with the natives of Argao. According to church records, the church of Argao was founded on October 16, 1733. Another source says that Argao began as an encomienda, and that Argao parish was founded on May 17, 1734. It places Ignacio Olalde, OSA, as its first parish priest. The church tower or belfry was built upon the orders of Bishop Santos Gomez de Maraon (Bishop of Cebu 1829 - 1840). Its church is a beautiful rococo-baroque with unusual ceilings of canvass painted all over with religious motifs. J.T. Newman writes about the edifice in her visits to churches in Southern Cebu towns: A good number of religious artifacts have remained in the church. There are more than 20 angels on its brass-studded portals, it being dedicated to St. Michael. On the ceiling are murals done by two of

the best church muralists during that time (early this century). The first portion portraying biblical manifestations of angels was done by Canuto Avila. The other portion by the altar was done by Reynaldo Francia and depicts the victory of St. Michael over Lucifer and his followers. This can be seen above the altar and is done in tinting color. The altar (retablo) of the church is still the original. The population of Argao during the time of Antonio Mioza (19141917) was already 61,000. But when he was appointed as Deputy Governor of Sulu and Mindanao under Governor Guingona of the Bureau of Non-Christians, he encouraged the Argawanons to migrate to Cotabato and Davao. Enticed by the promises of owning vast fertile lands, thousands went to Mindanao, causing the population to drop more than half, and leaving many houses vacant. The first town executive during the American regime was Capitan Juan Lucero. The first president was Alejandro Ruiz. SOURCE: http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/facts/argao.htm

HISTORY OF SAN MIGUEL el ARCANGEL (ARGAO)

The church of St. Michael the Archangel in Argao was built in 1783 during the time of Fr. Francisco Espina who was the parish priest from 1782 to 1798. It bears a striking resemblance with the San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Dalaguete. Sporting influences of baroque and rococo, the church features a three-level facade that is divided into segments by pilasters. At the lower level is a paired pilaster each with a carved-relief of a cherub clinging to an ornamental plant on one hand while carrying another plant on the other hand. A framed representation of St. Michael the Archangel is carved in high-relief at the middle of the triangular pediment. At the lower level are carved relieves of ecclesiastical symbols and texts. Right above the main entrance is the Spanish royal seal, an indication that this church like many other churches in the country was built out of funds from the Spanish monarchy. Relieves of floral motifs and cherubim also decorate the facade, the side entrances and the perimeter wall of the church plaza. The main altar retablo. The interior features a semi-cylindrical ceiling made up of planks of wood that is painted with various biblical scenes and ecclesiastical motifs. It is supported by corbels with decorative cherub heads. At the sanctuary is a large carved wooden altar screen or retablowhile two smaller altar screens can be found on each transept. The main altar retablo which no longer bears its original color after being painted with a motley of gold, silver, and gray colors a few years back still contains the original

images that was intended for it unlike the side altars. In fact, the images at the main altar were also applied with gold leaf all over. The side altars however still bear its original colors including the painted floral embellishments and may give one a hint of how the large main altar retablo may have looked like. Retablos at the side altars. Right across the main altar, at the crossing, hangs a very large censer or thurible. At the northern transept is the tomb of Fr. Meliton Talegon, a parish priest of Argao in the late-nineteenth century who was once a rector of the Real Colegio delos Padres Agustinos Filipinos de Valladolid of the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines which is based in Valladolid, Spain up to now. The pulpit attached to the wall (left); Tomb of a parish priest (right). The narthex features a fairly large choir loft with carved embellishments. An unplayable pipe organ that is purportedly the second oldest in the country can be found on one side while a tribuna or balcony is on the opposite side. The pulpit which has an exquisitely-carved cupula or tornavoz is attached to the epistle side of the nave. An unplayable pipe organ. The entire church complex, the municipal hall and the two-level coral stone building which is now a courthouse were once enclosed by a defensive wall of stone with bastions. Parts of the wall including the three portals still exist. The eastern portal that opens to the sea seems to have doubled as a watchtower since a small door beside it opens to a narrow passageway to the top. Just beside this portal is the mortuary chapel that was recently rediscovered after being hidden for years behind an out-patient department building of a nearby hospital. This contemporary structure was torn down recently thus finally exposing the stone chapel. According to church historian Regalado Trota Jose, Argao Church is perhaps the only one in the country with capilla posas at the four corners of the church plaza which is enclosed with a low perimeter

stone wall. These capilla posas were small chapels or shrines for stopover prayers during a procession and is common in Spanish colonial churches in Mexico. Unfortunately, only one of the four is intact while the rest have fallen victim to the modernizing efforts of a particular parish priest. The low perimeter wall of the plaza itself is decorated with relieves of symbols representing the 14 stations of the cross. SOURCE: http://cebuheritage.com/heritage-of-cebu/old-churches/stmichael-the-archangel-argao/

HISTORY OF DALAGUETE
Location : 85.1 kms.S of Cebu City Town Fiesta : February 9 - 10 Patron Saint : San Guillermo Places of Interest : centuries-old church, Mantalongon market, Osmea Peak, Beach resorts Historical Notes The antiquity of Dalaguete can be gleaned from its parish church. Built in 1771, the year (the year the town and parish were founded), it was a masterpiece of Fr. Juan Chacel. J.T. Newman describes the church: Dalaguete with San Guillermo as its patron is pseudo-baroque. The altar is shaped like a shell and it is one church with false galleries constructed at the upper sites of the altar. It is said that there used to be a small statue of San Guillermo with diamonds for eyes. But this has been stolen or lost The town of Dalaguete used to be only a barrio of Carcar. But it progressed rapidly. As a 16th century town, it had a large wharf and the strongest fort outside of Manila. There were bastions of stones protecting it. It had good roads that facilitated communications and the town already had possessed a telegraph system. Its first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Manuel Cordero. The most beloved priest of Dalaguete was Padre Ruperto P. Sarmiento, more known as Padre Pentong. He is credited for the construction of the church to Mantalongon. The construction was considered an extraordinary feat as it was built with almost no funds, the labor supplied free by the inhabitants who worked with their bare hands. Fr. Sarmiento was the first Filipino parish priest who assumed official capacity on November 9, 1898, only a few months form the start of the Cebu Anti-Spanish Revolution. On Holy Wednesday of that historic year, the rebels overrunned the town hall and burned all official papers. But the following Monday, the Spaniards retook Dalaguete. Fresh troops from San Juan de la Austria landed in the town and with superior weapons outfought the rebels. Many were imprisoned while the others were executed. Angered, the townspeople led by Fr. Pentong formed into volunteer-guards groups to strike back at the Spaniards. However, with the Spanish-American treaty, the Spaniards withdrew in favor of the American forces. Many groups disbanded although some fought against the Americans.

Oral tradition has it that before Dalaguete became a town, there were two chieftains Cogo and Maniktok of barrios Tapon and Obong, respectively. They built a common church between their villages in a place called Unab. It was also shown by excavations of pre-historic burial grounds in Barrio Kawayan (Sitios Banhigan, Ilayana nd Dungu-an) that these old settlements has traded with China. Barrio Mantalongon, an upland barangay, is called Baguio of Cebu. It is also its Vegetable Basket. Cabbages and other vegetables that can be grown only in temperate zones are raised in Mantalongon for export to other towns. But, while Mantalongon has been known as the vegetable kingdom of Cebu, quite a few realizes that its actually a magnificent haven for both the local and foreign trekking afecionados in the country. Here, mountaineers pass through a natural showcase of highlyvaried landscapes: hidden valleys, lime canyons, vegetable farms rain forests, green plateaus, prairies, for-brushed mountains hills, slopes and slight elevations. According to residents, Osmea peak is the highest peak among the Mantalongon range. Behind it, mountain ranges stretch as wide and as far as Badian to the southwest. One can trek across the mountain ranges to get to Badian . The whole trek may take five hours, practically cutting across the island of Cebu westward. The name Dalaguete came from a tree which grew abundantly in the area - the balete tree or in Cebuano, the dalakit. THE DALAKIT TREE - ORIGIN OF THE NAME DALAGUETE The natives look upon the tree not for its gigantic size, nor for its fruit which is of no use, but rather for the religious observance of the natives (Alcina 1668: 473-485). They highly consider this tree for their belief that it harbors spirits or diwatas who could impose sickness if maltreated or hand in fortunes and gifts if placated. When fully grown, the intertwining roots are exposed from the earth and from huge caverns that could house several people. The dalaket (Ficus benjamina linn) tree is the foundation of the origin and name of Dalaguete. In ancient times, before the coming of the Spaniards, these trees have been used by people as major landmarks. People gathered under its encompassing shades and conduct social and economic activities such us festivities, contest, trading meetings and other community gatherings. They establish market places under the shades of the dalaket where they sell their products and conduct trade with local roving traders bringing in Chinese and Asiatic goods from the port of Cebu.

The place where the church or the poblacion were laid have been the site of a communal gathering area for the natives. It was also the abode of a huge dalakit tree which provide shade and shelter while people conduct their activeities. Adto ta mag-abot sa dalakit. Adto ta magtigom-tigom sa dalakit [Let us meet at the dalakit]. These and other popular phrases have the common practice of our ancestors when coming up with an agreement to meet or conduct an activity specifically at the site where the dalakit is situated. For several generations in pre-hispanic Dalaguete, the area have always been unofficially called as dalakit. Its accessibility and its reputation as a communal area for community gathering have prompted the leaders Spanish authorities to construct the church and eventually establish the area as part of an encomienda. From this common ground, and from this tree, begun the conception of a larger town which later come to be known as Dalaguete. Language experts know that in Spanish, the letter G is often pronounce K so that the word dalakit is in fact spelled out by them as dalaguet. There is no K in the Spanish language. The nearest other spelling would have been Dalaquet, with a q instead of a g which, when written by hand in those early days, would also have been interchanged. Whatever the case, thus was born christened the town of Dalaguete.

SOURCE: http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/facts/dalaguete.htm http://www.dalaguete.gov.ph/history.html

HISTORY OF SAN GUILLEMO DE AQUITANIA (DALAGUETE)

Dalaguete is a town in the southeastern coast of Cebu, some 85 kilometers south of Cebu City. It was established as a visita of Carcar in 1690 and was eventually made an independent parish in 1711. Construction of the church, dedicated to St. William of Gellone, Duke of Aquitaine (San Guillermo de Aquitania), was started in 1802 and finished in 1825.

Details of the carved relieves at the facade and the side entrance. The church has a simple facade which is divided into three horizontal levels and bears a similarity with the San Miguel el Arcangel Church of Argao. The free standing belfry which was built separately between 1850-1860 by Fr. Juan Alonso is connected to the southern side of the churchs facade through a low structure that serves as the baptistry. Search forDominican Republic Holidays to see more Spanish-era churches in this Hispanic region.

A view of the rectory. To the northern end is the adjoined two-storey rectory of stone and wood. A wooden balcony known as a volada runs the entire length of the second level. At the gospel side of the church, just behind the belfry, is a structure that looks like a mortuary chapel. Outside the borders of the church complex near the seashore are the remains of a watchtower built in 1794. The interior features stunning ceiling frescoes rendered by famed Cebuano artist Canuto Avila. At the sanctuary is a large baroque retablo or altar screen of wood with touches of rococo. Smaller retablos can also be found at both transepts. At the choir loft is the wooden frame of what seems to be the pipe organ. Its pipes were probably salvaged and sold as scrap.

A view of the bridge connecting the church and the convent (left), the facade (center), and the buttresses at the sacristy (right). SOURCE: http://cebuheritage.com/heritage-of-cebu/old-churches/san-guillermo-elhermitano-dalaguete-church-cebu/

HISTORY OF BOLJOON
BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTES ON BOLJOON The Town of Boljoon: It's Beginning. . . Legend has it that a group of Spanish Augustinian missionaries led by a certain Fray Bartolome de Garcia, OSA, explored the southeastern tip of Cebu in order to put up outpost for evangelization in the South. They were met by natives who claimed to have settled in the area for many years. The expedition found them willingly to convert to the faith and having found the settlement to be in abundant supply of fresh water, they decided to set up the first Christian settlement in the area and baptized the natives led by a certain Datu Baladian. It is also believed that Boljoon began as a pre-Hispanic settlement of Malay migrants who have found a route from Panay into the area. Based on the archives of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines, Boljoon was once a barrio of the town of Carcar. It was made independent in both its civil and ecclesiastical administration during the October 31, 196 Congress of the congregation. Apparently, the town was first constituted as a parish before it was made into a municipality. Historical records reveal at least five renditions of the name of the town. It is referred as Bolhon, Bolhong, Bolhoon, Bolhoong, and the current name and spelling of "Boljoon". A sixth one is that of Bolojon which was attributed to an error in copying. The area was apparently on the mission areas in Cebu when the first parish was founded in Bantayan in 1580 and possibly was erected as a parish only in 1692, based on existing records. It is not, however, a remote possibility that a church may indeed have been built before the close of the 15th century.

Four years after the creation of the suffragan diocese of Cebu in 1595, Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA, in his Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas listed Boljoon as one of the many parishes under the jurisdiction of the Augustinians in the Province of Cebu in the year 1599. The area was already known for the cultivation of cotton from which native produced very good textiles. This may imply that cotton weaving and cultivation have already existed long before Fray Bermejo arrived in the town. Bermejo himself was said to have taught the local women cotton weaving and if Fray Gaspar's writings are to be considered, then Bermejo already found existing cotton cultivation and weaving industry in Boljoon. Boljoon is 103 kilometers from Cebu City to the southeastern part of Cebu Province. It is bounded in the north by the town of Alcoy, on the east by the sea, on the south by Nueva Caceres (Oslob) and on the west by high mountains. It is famous for its crooked roads because of its elevated hill, which the town's people call "ILI". A small river irrigates its lands. The name of the town is derived for the local word "Bolho" which means springs of water. The town is centuries old. Progress and modernity has altered the landscape although much of its natural features remain. The once verdant hills are now laid bald with the inroads of human civilization. Traces of its early-recorded history can be of the cemetery can still be seen. A few old houses built according to the design of the colonial period can still be found along side modern houses. Outside its boundary, Boljoon is known more a pilgrimage town in southern Cebu anything else, during the colonial period. According to oral tradition, pilgrims from as far as the town of Dalaguete visit the Virgin of Bolhoon during her annual feast to attend mass in the town's Catholic Church. The image of the Virgin, the center of devotion, is enshrined in the high altar of the church. It is several centuries old and is said to posses miraculous powers.

Its History

Boljoon possibly started as a small settlement which eventually grew and prospered. In 1732 alone, Boljoon had 1,760 parishioners. By the year 1760, Father Provincial Pedro Velasco, OSA, reported that parishioners increased to 1,950 which is equivalent to 650 paying tributes, excluding 1,454 non-paying tributes that made a total of 3,404 parishioners. Royal treasury which is the equivalent of taxes in modern terminology. Originally, one attribute was equal to three persons. Boljoon was exempted from any tribute in 1894 and 1896. The population then was 7,694. Population increases was at such a slow rate due to the Muslim raiders which ransacked everything in the town and left all things on fire. Boljoon once contributed an annual rent of 80 cavans of borona to the convent of then San Agustin Church now the Basilica del Santo Nio de Cebu. This was later reduced to half in 1726 because it was found too burdensome for Boljoon, during the time of Bishop Sebastian de Foroinda, OSA (1718-1728), the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Cebu. Muslim raiders used to raid the settlement which often left the community in shambles. A Christian mission was also possibly erected in the place called the "Ermita" where priests perform religious services. The earliest Christian mission in Boljoon may have been established by the Augustinians in 1599. The Province of Cebu was then under their pastoral care and missionaries from the town of Carcar regularly visited by settlement in Boljoon. With the convention of the people to Catholicism, a provisional church may have been constructed but without a resident priest. the first recorded residency of a priest in Boljoon was in 1692. Even with the presence of a priest in the settlement, the predations of the Muslim raiders upon the settlement continued, until the early 1800s. In fact, it was due to the incursions of the muslim raiders that a massive stone church was erected by the Missionaries, designed to withstand the raids. In addtion, the Augustinians placed the church under the protection of the Virgin Mary and accordingly enshrined her image in the Church's altar. The Tradition The people grew in fervor in their devotion to the Mother of Christ. They learned the prayers and devotions fervently. Oral Traditions has it that the Virgin appeared during one of the destructive raids on the early settlement and covered the area with a mist resembling the statue in the church. The invaders fled panic. News of the miracles of the Virgin has spread far and wide. People in the neighboring settlements heard of them and came on pilgrimage. True, they were home not only assured in the truth of the events

but had their petitions answered. The pilgrimages to the Virgin later developed into a tradition. The Foundation of the Parish Church of Boljoon The Roman Catholic parish of Patrocinio de Santa Maria is located in the town of Boljoon, Cebu. The Parish was said to have been founded simultaneously with the town after Boljoon was made capital of the Second Vicariate South of Cebu in 1692. Extant Archdiocesan records in fact trace the foundation of the parish to the year 1692, during the term of Bishop Agurto. The forty-third parish priest of the Boljoon Parish Church in his list of Religiosos Agustinos Calzados Y PP Clerigos dated July 15, 1881 maintained that a church was previously erected in Boljoon 1599 under the administration of the Augustinians. The said church was allegedly destroyed by a fire of unknown origin in 1782. No records exist to support this claim but the Augustinian historian, Fray Isacio Rodriguez, OSA. was the usual procedure of the Augustinian provinces. In another document found in the archives of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines, that the Boljoon Parish was founded in 1549 which is disputed by historian since the Legazpi expedition arrived on April 24, 1565 or 44 years after Magellan's death and the first parish established in Cebu is Bantayan in 1580. Some ecclesiastical historians believe that the Boljoon Parish was originally founded as a visita of Carcar. A visita is a 17th century ecclesiastical term referring to a settlement of Christians with a small chapel an "Ermita" with no resident priest and aggregated to a parish church. Records of the private council of the Augustinians on June 23, 1599 referred to Boljoon as a "convent and parish to Siaro (Carcar)". Writing about this private council, Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA, mentioned BOljoon in the year 1599 as one of the eight parishes under the jurisdiction of the Augustinians in the coastal regions of the Province of Cebu, in towns with 300-400 inhabitants. Records of the Archives of the Augustinian Province Congress of the Philippines indicated that it was the 1690 Augustinian Congress that established Boljoon as :independent Parish" having under its jurisdiction the Visitas of Oslob and Taon, when the Father Provincial, Fray Francisco de Zamora, OSA, proposed the division of the administration of the Parish of Carcar due to its growth, both in the area of coverage and the number of parishioners. Boljoon was thus made independent both in its civil and ecclesiastical administration. As it happens, even to this day, a community becomes a parish first before it takes the status of a civil municipality. (Archives of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines, File no. 5 page 118)

On October 1, 1690, during the Interim Congress, the town of Carcar was "added" to Boljoon and Fray Nicolas de la Cuadra, OSA, "from the convent of Carcar" was assigned to Boljoon as its first Augustinian parish priest and prior on April 25, 1692. It must be pointed out that since October 1, 1690, the Father Provincial of the Augustinians reserved the right to designate and appoint the parish priest of the Parish of Boljoon since its creation as an "independent parish" from Carcar and that whomever he appoints shall be considered as appointed by the Congress. ( Archives of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines, file no. 5 page 160) Due to the lack of priests, the church was turned over to the Jesuits on September 27, 1737, upon the recommendation of the intermediate chapter of 1732. In the year 1747, the General of the Augustinians Order proposed the recovery of the parishes left off in the Visayas. The Parish of Boljoon was returned by Jesuits in exchange for "Liloan", Cotcot and Maraling", the last Augustinian Parish Priest of Boljoon, Fray Leandro Moran, OSA, turned over the administration of the parish to the Archbishop of Cebu on July 1, 1948. (Archives of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines File no. 298 page no. 14) The first secular parish priest of Boljoon, Fr. Zacarias Suer, assumed his post 1958 during the time of Julio R. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Cebu, based on Archdiocesan records. It was not clear as to reason for the delay when the last Augustinian Parish priest of Boljoon. Fray Leanfdore Moran, OSA, turned over the administration of the parish to the Archbishop of Cebu on July 1, 1948. The appointment of Archbishop Reyes in 1949 as Head of the Archdiocese of Manila may be one of the reasons. His successor, then bishop later cardinal Julio R. Rosales from Tagbilaran assumed the post as the Archbishop in 1950. SOURCE: http://www.boljoon.com/history.php

HISTORY OF NUESTRA SENORA DE PATROCINIO CHURCH (BOLJOON)

Boljoon was established as a visita of Carcar in 1599 by the Augustinians and became an independent vicariate on October 31, 1690. It was abandoned due to lack of personnel and was handed over to the Jesuits in 1737 although it reverted back to the Augustinians in 1747.

The main altar retablo (left) and the pulpit (right), both sporting various influences. The present-day church was built in 1783. An earlier church was built in the 17thcentury but was gutted down. Since Boljoon was constantly plagued by slave raids, Fr. Julian Bermejo who was assigned to the parish many times on different occasions built a series of watchtowers, around three dozen, which lined the southeastern coast of Cebu for a stretch of more than 90 kilometers. A handsome number of these still exist today. He also fortified the church complex with stones walls. An armed bulwark, which is currently being used as a belfry, was also built at the southeast portion of the fortification. On a hill to the north of the church is a watchtower overlooking the town.

The interior of the church. The church is connected to an L-shaped rectory which still has its original clay-tiled roof. A museum currently occupies the ground floor. Outside, at the epistle side of the church, is an enclosed cemetery with an arched entrance topped with a relief of a dancing

skeleton. Also within the church complex is an old school building built in 1940. Compare Florida flights to get that dream holiday.

Retablos at the south and north transepts (left, center) and a retablo at the baptistery (right). Boljoon Church is a national heritage landmark and is currently undergoing restoration and rehabilitation. It is the only Spanish colonial church in Cebu today that is still in its most original form (i.e. Clay-tiled roofing in church, belfry and convent, etc.) and the only one included in the list of 26 National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines. The church has also been nominated for inclusion to UNESCOs list of World Heritage Sites. The southern portal to the church complex (left); A massive bulwark that once formed part of

a fortification that protected the church and other structures within it (right).

SOURCE: http://cebuheritage.com/heritage-of-cebu/oldchurches/patrocinio-de-maria-boljoon/