Boljoon But Briefly
Unplanned, but praised just the same. Bow!
I thought about this 'Boljoon Fly By' as a bonus to my companion. Our purpose was only for her to "experience" the "whale shark watching" in Oslob - and we were done.
When she asked what's in Boljoon? I said culture and fantastic views, naghahanap ka eh! Back of my mind, I knew our friends who are 'coming soon' would love this place.
There. At that pedestrian crossing - right in front of the Boljoon Municipal Hall. That is where the bus stopped. We had to cross the hi-way and walk farther for that shot!
Oks lang, because we were actually heading this way (behind camera).
Just like the Oslob municipal hall, it is also named the binisaya way: Balay Lungsod. That means Town Hall. Ah similarly too, it's already cramped for today's LGU needs.
That adjacent building to the right is the town's sports complex, which in reality, is a 'multi-purpose' building. The front area (with parked motorcycles) is the police office.
Beyond the left edge of that photo is a small park and baywalk which we'll see later.
Aw, since my collage involves just one picture in vertical orientation, where the right panel is just an enlargement of the left, we might as well 'talk first' about Jose Rizal.
No, not his heroism nor his character, you and I already know those from our school textbooks. I just want to remark, something about his hitsura dyan sa rebultong yan.
And that is... si Jose Rizal ba talaga yan?
Not to insult whoever made that statue, and in fairness, it is not the only monument I saw, that seems to be worlds away from any likeness of/to Jose P. Rizal in photos.
The point I want to make is that: maybe the government (i.e., the NHCP) could issue some circular or guideline, that Jose Rizal's face must be 'like this' or 'like that' - only!
Pwede ba yon? I think so. Because these days, there already are so many sculptors, (manlililok) who can do realitic renditions, even from just looking at pictures. Right?
Additionally, there are now new technologies like 3D printing - makatulong man lang pang-gawa ng hulmaan ng mukha ni Rizal. Otherwise, wrong face, no statue. Strictly!
Okay back to Boljoon's Rizal Monument. Especially that it has no inscription, anyone passing by that statue on the national highway, can just say that's Mr. Wokou. Di ba?
Perteng upawa; dakoas liug; ang bungot kay mrag si Limahong heheee!
The name means "The Great Bastion of Boljoon". It is said to be the biggest bulwark erected during the Spanish colonial period - not only in Cebu but the whole country?
Good that they preserved it, as it has (had) a unique historical significance.
Anyway, before we proceed, let me expound on two terms that present-day Bisdaks interchangeabley use offhand, 'baluarte' and 'bantayan sa hari' as they are different.
Baluarte [Spanish/Filipino/Visayan] is a bastion. A fortified defensive structure, often made of stone, earth, or heavy timber, not merely for observation but for combat too.
It's built to resist attack usually armed with cannons or firearms. It may be part of a larger fortress system (Fort Pilar), or stand alone (like a tower), occupied by soldiers.
Bantayan sa Hari [Cebuano] means the "King's Lookout" - usually a watchtower that can also be made of stone, though usually lighter materials, sometimes none at all.
It can even be just a hill or promontory where people (not necessarily soldiers) take turns to be on the watch. Parang sekyu o tanod, minsan me guardhouse minsan wala.
Okay, now we can imagine what El Gran Baluarte De Boljoon was. Look at the top of that picture again (above Jose Rizal). Originally, there were cannons there, not bells.
Those bells are only a very recent addition, and aren't even used by the church other than on very special occassions. That baluarte is/was NEVER the church bell tower.
So, don't believe some accounts you read on the web that it is/was the bell tower. In fact, the church is still a bit of distance from that spot. Maybe about 100 meters pa.
The baluarte was the town's armory (where guns & cannons were kept). Uniquely and ironically it was also a prison (on a separate section naman - kanan pagka pasok mo)!
Finally and by the way, you may hear locals refer to it as "El Gran", "Baluarte" or even "Kampanaryo". They all mean 'that' - depending on the age/awareness of the speaker.
Mesmerizingly, or even eerily old, right? But if we talk strictly about the structure, you will realize it was only erected almost half a century after Spain left the Philippines.
You can see the date it was finished (1940). Me semento na sa panahon na yun! At, yan ang kwento sa hagdan na yan! Our Spanish-Catholic ways during American era.
I haven't heard yet and still asking around, if there may have been an older house on that spot, for the same purpose. Ah well, that one is instagrammable anyway, right?
A reliable source told me, that it served as dormitory for children from remote areas of Boljoon, who were about to take their First Holy Communion. Ka-touching ba, 'no?
Being already near the church, ensured they (and their families) were on time for that memorable milestone of a Catholic child's life, then considered as a big family event.
I further learned from asking around, that the ground level (only), served as religious learning center for young and adults alike. That would probably be catechism today.
This big house on foreground is just the side of the convent attached to the church.
On the grass, we saw a marker on that well-publicized excavation of 3 years ago.
That blue tarp seemed to indicate that an Archaeological Gallery is in this building.
We entered through that front main door, but all doors inside were already closed.
We just guessed, that grilled and padlocked door must be that archaeological thing.
We even wanted to go up this ancient-looking stairs but hesitated and backed off.
Well, it was already 4:48PM, and we could not discern any kasikas of human beings.
I actually said 'tara let's go, baka kung ano pa ang makasalamuha natin dito'. Duu!
We went nextdoor to find out that all doors of the church were also "already closed" for the day, as in padlocked! Ah it was already late in the afternoon nga naman kasi.
Well, at least my friend was happy enough to have seen the outside, and even noted that this is called the Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church of Boljoon, Cebu. Okay go!
Aw, we even ventured to the back of the bell tower (side of the altar) and saw this:
I recalled, it was a cemetery for a select few I forgot who, hehehe! Maybe the clergy.
That spooky carving of a human-skeleton (kalansay) on a stone block atop the arch, reminded me that my tour guide then said... mintiryo na sa una, sir. So I said: let's go!
About to exit in-front of the church unto the highway, we paused to savor this view...
Nice, even at dusk. That's a small park across the road, edged by a breakwater cum promenade, then the Cebu Strait - if you ride a boat straight out, you'd reach Panglao!
In fact, at earlier hours on a clear day, Balicasag, Panglao and the Tagbilaran side of mainland Bohol can be seen from here even when just passing-by Boljoon on a bus.
Oh, my gadget tells me that is 29.08kms (18.07mi) or 15.70 nautical miles. Not far!
Eto pa isang "in fact": private boats do cross this way, although there are those that can be hired from the Oslob Port (near the watch tower) and it takes 1.5 hours daw.
Let us dream, who knows, soon there could be regular trips plying this route. Di ba?!
Anyway, di pa tapos, we walked to the left (northwards) for more views.
as you exit the poblacion if you're coming from the south. Yes, that huge white rock.
I always like the views here, especially entering town from Cebu, after this final turn.
You can see the municipal hall, the tiny park (and/or boardwalk?) by the water's edge that's underway and the church compound. Well, the white sand beach is now gone!
Hey we walked all that - but it was leisurely and it's only about 500 meters.
That boat by the way, is not from that place. It's from Blue Coral, a Japanese-owned Dive shop inside Club Fort Med - about a kilometer behind me as I took that picture.
We stayed here a few minutes, savoring the views, talking about the rock behind us.
The tranquility of this place being disturbed only by occassional sounds of vehicles passing by that 'scenic road bend' behind us. Surely we were part of their panorama.
Of course I told my friend about parts of that rock avalanching down to the highway during last year's magnitude 7.2 Bohol earthquake - that shook many parts of Cebu.
Trivia:
An engineer working with the DPWH told me, this place looks even more panoramic from atop Ili Rock (he said they surveyed this area after that 'quake-induced' landslide).
I remember to have replied with 'solved' na'ko sa kalsada, aynako pakatkata!
Looks like they're about to do something, to prevent this rock from totally crumbling down unto the road and even the sea, which he said: is highly possible. Kuyawness!
Anyway, just when friend and I thought it was time to go back to the city, this came:
Of course I flagged it for us to hop on. Lucky us, air-conditioned commute to Cebu!
Teka, not without a final shot at the surrounding areas of Ili Rock as we departed!
Pagkaliko dyan sa unahan, sa kanan is Club Fort Med, but I already stopped clicking!
And that's still Ili Rock at left. Let's hope it does not crumble during our lifetime.
We will definitely be back soon. Ocular inspeksyen pa lang yun eh!
I thought about this 'Boljoon Fly By' as a bonus to my companion. Our purpose was only for her to "experience" the "whale shark watching" in Oslob - and we were done.
When she asked what's in Boljoon? I said culture and fantastic views, naghahanap ka eh! Back of my mind, I knew our friends who are 'coming soon' would love this place.
Boljoon Municipal Hall
A little over 10 minutes from Oslob's Aragones St., we already got off the bus...
Oks lang, because we were actually heading this way (behind camera).
Just like the Oslob municipal hall, it is also named the binisaya way: Balay Lungsod. That means Town Hall. Ah similarly too, it's already cramped for today's LGU needs.
That adjacent building to the right is the town's sports complex, which in reality, is a 'multi-purpose' building. The front area (with parked motorcycles) is the police office.
Beyond the left edge of that photo is a small park and baywalk which we'll see later.
Boljoon's Rizal Monument
Oh, I took that photo above while standing in-front of Jose Rizal's monument. This:
No, not his heroism nor his character, you and I already know those from our school textbooks. I just want to remark, something about his hitsura dyan sa rebultong yan.
And that is... si Jose Rizal ba talaga yan?
Not to insult whoever made that statue, and in fairness, it is not the only monument I saw, that seems to be worlds away from any likeness of/to Jose P. Rizal in photos.
The point I want to make is that: maybe the government (i.e., the NHCP) could issue some circular or guideline, that Jose Rizal's face must be 'like this' or 'like that' - only!
Pwede ba yon? I think so. Because these days, there already are so many sculptors, (manlililok) who can do realitic renditions, even from just looking at pictures. Right?
Additionally, there are now new technologies like 3D printing - makatulong man lang pang-gawa ng hulmaan ng mukha ni Rizal. Otherwise, wrong face, no statue. Strictly!
Okay back to Boljoon's Rizal Monument. Especially that it has no inscription, anyone passing by that statue on the national highway, can just say that's Mr. Wokou. Di ba?
Perteng upawa; dakoas liug; ang bungot kay mrag si Limahong heheee!
El Gran Baluarte De Boljoon
That is that wall behind Jose Rizal that looks like part of his monument, but it is not. Isiningit lang si Rizal dyan sa gilid ng highway, kasi wala nang space sa munisipyo!The name means "The Great Bastion of Boljoon". It is said to be the biggest bulwark erected during the Spanish colonial period - not only in Cebu but the whole country?
Good that they preserved it, as it has (had) a unique historical significance.
Anyway, before we proceed, let me expound on two terms that present-day Bisdaks interchangeabley use offhand, 'baluarte' and 'bantayan sa hari' as they are different.
Baluarte [Spanish/Filipino/Visayan] is a bastion. A fortified defensive structure, often made of stone, earth, or heavy timber, not merely for observation but for combat too.
It's built to resist attack usually armed with cannons or firearms. It may be part of a larger fortress system (Fort Pilar), or stand alone (like a tower), occupied by soldiers.
Bantayan sa Hari [Cebuano] means the "King's Lookout" - usually a watchtower that can also be made of stone, though usually lighter materials, sometimes none at all.
It can even be just a hill or promontory where people (not necessarily soldiers) take turns to be on the watch. Parang sekyu o tanod, minsan me guardhouse minsan wala.
Okay, now we can imagine what El Gran Baluarte De Boljoon was. Look at the top of that picture again (above Jose Rizal). Originally, there were cannons there, not bells.
Those bells are only a very recent addition, and aren't even used by the church other than on very special occassions. That baluarte is/was NEVER the church bell tower.
So, don't believe some accounts you read on the web that it is/was the bell tower. In fact, the church is still a bit of distance from that spot. Maybe about 100 meters pa.
The baluarte was the town's armory (where guns & cannons were kept). Uniquely and ironically it was also a prison (on a separate section naman - kanan pagka pasok mo)!
Finally and by the way, you may hear locals refer to it as "El Gran", "Baluarte" or even "Kampanaryo". They all mean 'that' - depending on the age/awareness of the speaker.
Escuela Catolica
This is near the "El Gran" about 50 meters to the west, but on the same grassy lawn.
You can see the date it was finished (1940). Me semento na sa panahon na yun! At, yan ang kwento sa hagdan na yan! Our Spanish-Catholic ways during American era.
I haven't heard yet and still asking around, if there may have been an older house on that spot, for the same purpose. Ah well, that one is instagrammable anyway, right?
A reliable source told me, that it served as dormitory for children from remote areas of Boljoon, who were about to take their First Holy Communion. Ka-touching ba, 'no?
Being already near the church, ensured they (and their families) were on time for that memorable milestone of a Catholic child's life, then considered as a big family event.
I further learned from asking around, that the ground level (only), served as religious learning center for young and adults alike. That would probably be catechism today.
Boljoon Church and Convent
In front of Escuela Catolica, we could already see our real purpose in coming here.
On the grass, we saw a marker on that well-publicized excavation of 3 years ago.
We entered through that front main door, but all doors inside were already closed.
We even wanted to go up this ancient-looking stairs but hesitated and backed off.
I actually said 'tara let's go, baka kung ano pa ang makasalamuha natin dito'. Duu!
We went nextdoor to find out that all doors of the church were also "already closed" for the day, as in padlocked! Ah it was already late in the afternoon nga naman kasi.
Well, at least my friend was happy enough to have seen the outside, and even noted that this is called the Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church of Boljoon, Cebu. Okay go!
Aw, we even ventured to the back of the bell tower (side of the altar) and saw this:
About to exit in-front of the church unto the highway, we paused to savor this view...
In fact, at earlier hours on a clear day, Balicasag, Panglao and the Tagbilaran side of mainland Bohol can be seen from here even when just passing-by Boljoon on a bus.
Oh, my gadget tells me that is 29.08kms (18.07mi) or 15.70 nautical miles. Not far!
Eto pa isang "in fact": private boats do cross this way, although there are those that can be hired from the Oslob Port (near the watch tower) and it takes 1.5 hours daw.
Let us dream, who knows, soon there could be regular trips plying this route. Di ba?!
Anyway, di pa tapos, we walked to the left (northwards) for more views.
Ili Rock
This is that scenic corner of the road as you enter Boljoon proper from the north, or
I always like the views here, especially entering town from Cebu, after this final turn.
Hey we walked all that - but it was leisurely and it's only about 500 meters.
That boat by the way, is not from that place. It's from Blue Coral, a Japanese-owned Dive shop inside Club Fort Med - about a kilometer behind me as I took that picture.
We stayed here a few minutes, savoring the views, talking about the rock behind us.
Of course I told my friend about parts of that rock avalanching down to the highway during last year's magnitude 7.2 Bohol earthquake - that shook many parts of Cebu.
Trivia:
An engineer working with the DPWH told me, this place looks even more panoramic from atop Ili Rock (he said they surveyed this area after that 'quake-induced' landslide).
I remember to have replied with 'solved' na'ko sa kalsada, aynako pakatkata!
Looks like they're about to do something, to prevent this rock from totally crumbling down unto the road and even the sea, which he said: is highly possible. Kuyawness!
Anyway, just when friend and I thought it was time to go back to the city, this came:
Teka, not without a final shot at the surrounding areas of Ili Rock as we departed!
And that's still Ili Rock at left. Let's hope it does not crumble during our lifetime.
We will definitely be back soon. Ocular inspeksyen pa lang yun eh!
#CentralVisayas #TravelPhilippines #Boljoon
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