TRAVEL NOTES 2013: THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BOLJOON, CEBU

I've been staying in Cebu for a couple of years and fortunately explored some historical and important places but not yet in the South. I remember more than a year ago, my good friend Traveling Morion keep on inviting me for a sidetrip to South Cebu but with some-urgent interest I missed the opportunity. Thanks anyway for some great persons who favored my plan of seeing the faith-centered, quiet place of Boljoon, Cebu.  

Boljoon (pronounced as “bull-who-on”) is a fifth class municipality in the province of Cebu with around 15,027 population (data as of 2010). It is a coastal municipality with vast natural resources and historic places and figures. It is considered as Pilgrim Town during the colonial times and became the center of faith and religious activities in Southern Cebu. Boljoon name was taken from its origin “Bolho” which means ‘Spring of Water’ because the place is also the source of spring water in South Cebu. Among the Municipalities in southern part of Sugbu, now Cebu, Boljoon has been famous because of some available facts and figures of history.

RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH:

Boljoon Church is one of the oldest Church in Visayas with significant religious artifacts and the historic figure that narrates the history of the place. Boljoon Church or in its old famous pilgrim name as “Church of Patrocinio de Maria” was built in 1599 during the Spanish era.  This has been very famous for this is the only pilgrim church in Southern Cebu to which during fiesta celebration, many devotees are coming in to venerate the image of the virgin enshrined in the altar who believed that posses miraculous powers. This church is generally made of corral stone and a clay roof tiles for its roof. This church is founded by the Augustinian fathers during colonial times. On its left part is a century museum that houses the relic and images of the vintage religious artifacts.  

ESCUELA CATHOLICA:  

Escuela Catholica is the oldest full solid wooden structure considered as one of the heritage of Boljoon. It was built during the Spanish occupation. It serves as a house for children who will receive a holy communion and a venue for catholic education of the native people in South Cebu. It also houses the church orientation activities and Spanish lessons. Children’s were taught how to read and write using the Cartilla or the old academic command in this edifice. This has a two concrete symbolic staircase; one for the boys and the other one for the girl’s communicants.  It is positioned at the left side of the oldest church of Boljoon and belongs to the towns’ pride and historic figure that narrates the Boljoon’s past.

EL GRAN BALUARTE DE BOLJOON

El Gran Baluarte is the biggest Spanish watchtower in the Philippines built in 1808 by Augustinian priest Rev. Fr. Julian Bermejo.  This watchtower served as the command center in the defense of the Visayan sea during the Moro raids in South Cebu.  This is the main fortress of the vast church complex’s fortification. Under this watch tower is a prison cell with some preserved mural paintings of prisoners. This is one of the wonders of history that can be seen in the foreground of the oldest church in Boljoon, Cebu.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Since Boljoon is in southernmost part of Cebu, the only means from Cebu City is by Bus. It would take about 2 hours travel from Cebu City thru public buses with route going toLiloan, Dalaguete, Oslob. Fare is about 150-180 pesos only. 

REMAINS OF TRAVEL 2013: El Gran Baluarte de Boljoon

El Gran Baluarte is the biggest Spanish watchtower in the Philippines built in 1808 by Augustinian priest Rev. Fr. Julian Bermejo.  This watchtower served as the command center in the defense of the Visayan sea during the Moro raids in South Cebu.  This is the main fortress of the vast church complex’s fortification. Under this watch tower is a prison cell with some preserved mural paintings of prisoners. This is one of the wonders of history that can be seen in the foreground of the oldest church in Boljoon, Cebu.

TRAVEL NOTES 2013: Discovering history and pride of San Pablo City, Lungsod ng Pitong Lawa

It is a fact that every place has its own history and every story of humble beginnings has a significant relation to present time. San Pablo City, Laguna has never been an interest for me in travel and leisure but since it’s a birthplace of the world where I am connected, as time goes along, I learned to love and find some answers to my wondering mind how the place was built and meant to be as it is right now.  Even before, my blogger close friend Traveling Morion, always approached me to include San Pablo in our travel list but I just keep that invitation passing to my attention. Until one Saturday Morning, when our office organized a historical tour within the City, I took the opportunity to include myself into the list of participants. Thanks for the Hijos de San Pablo! I was able to gather additional inputs to my travel notes for San Pablo City, a birthplace of CARD-MRI – a well known Social Development Institution that caters beneficial services for Filipino poor and being the world class leader MFI.

San Pablo City is a first class City in the Southern part of Laguna Province and considered as one of the oldest City in the Country. Historically, San Pablo was named “Sampaloc” because of the presence of beautiful Sampaloc lake just within the City vicinity. It is also known as “City of Seven Lake” because of the presence of 7 beautiful and abundant lakes. But as time goes on, Sampaloc name was changed to San Pablo a named taken from their Patron Saint.

San Pablo city is rich in history and culture. It is one of the favorite places of tourist goers in the country because of its strategic location which is just 2 hours drive from Metro Manila. Of all its humble beginnings as a place, only some available infrastructure and location that makes the history remembered. However these places contributed much on the culture and practices of the people of San Pablo City as the aura of their significant past. 

Remnants of the Past:

The Seven lakes:

The Sampalok, Pandin, Palkpakin, Bunot, Yambo, Muhikap and Calibato are the seven lakes of San Pablo City. These are the wonders of San Pablo a best place to delight yourself with native foods, natural ambiance and with a stress-free ride in a locally known Balsa while eating along the lake. I tried to visit all these lakes mentioned but situation only permits me to see the two famous; Sampalok and Pandin lake. 

Sampalok Lake/Tilapia Monument:

Sampalok lake is just within the City at the ground area of the City Hall. This lake, aside from giving the people a good variety of lake foods, it also serves as a park place where you can relax, spending your free time and do some exercise while breathing the fresh atmosphere of the area. The commonly known freshwater fish, Tilapia is the major product of this lake. Accordingly, Tilapia was first cultured in this lake over the years. The first Tilapia siblings was just a donation from the courtesy of a certain couple named Agahan-Pulgar. They brought the tilapia Fingerlings all the way from Hawai and decided to keep it live in their own pool however, later on they decided to let the fingerlings stay at Samapaloc lake as their habitat. From then, more and more harvest of Tilapia was enjoyed by the San Pablohanon

 Pandin Lake:

Another lake was also caught my attention and this time its quite far from the City thus need to go there for 20 minutes travel and 15 minutes walk. However the efforts of walking from drop-off road to Pandin lake is reconcilable when I reach the place and see the beauty of Pandin lake.  There I took up my lunch while in a Balsa touring from lake end-to-end as the local tourist guides managing the ride. The food viand served as our lunch were; a delicious grilled Tilapia, creatively made native Fern Salad, small shrimp cooked in a coconut milk plus the eggplant salad and the delicious-locally made leche plan and Ube. All these servings are manageable without using fork and spoon to really satisfy the taste of these native foods with a combination of rice packed in Banana leaves that will surely please your hunger and complete your lake cruise tour. 

The historic Cathedral

It is said to be that it took for the church builders 35 long years before this church, which is now a cathedral, has been finally came into being. This parish church is made up of bricks which sufficiently strong and spacious. This was founded by Augustinian Fathers but later when the Augustinian Missionaries and the Archbishop of Manila had been into certain church conflict the Church administration was turned over to Franciscan Friars. Since 1910, San Pablo City was part of the Archdiocese of Lipa but on 1967 it became an independent Roman Catholic Diocese until at present.

This City Hall has been built long years ago during the American regime. This was not the original government edifice of San Pablo for the first one is situated just in front of the church.  

These are just some of historical pride of San Pablo. Place, culture and history are a testimony of how the place has got its name and how it was developed. History is important of course but now- a-days what is more important is how to manage the local resources and keeping it growing and beneficial to all.