My first visit to Boljoon was in 2010 during a college educational trip. The town struck me as peaceful, almost sleepy, yet full of life in its own quiet way. I vividly remember Eli Rock, which caught my attention and made me promise to return and climb it. Three years later, I kept that promise.
Since then, I’ve been to Boljoon several times, but I never thought about visiting the Boljoon Church. As someone who's not Catholic, I didn't feel there was much for me to do there. However, my love for history and heritage led me back when I heard that the pulpit panels, an important part of the church’s history, were returning. I made sure to free up my time to witness their return.
The Story of the Boljoon Church Pulpit Panels
The Boljoon Church in Cebu is more than just a place of worship; it’s a piece of history. However, one of its most important treasures had been missing for years: the pulpit panels. These wooden panels were once displayed on the church’s pulpit, showing the incredible craftsmanship.
But over time, these panels disappeared. It was reported stolen in the 1980s. Whatever the reason, the pulpit panels were gone, and no one knew where they went.
For years, the people of Boljoon held on to the hope of seeing them again. The panels weren’t just valuable for their beauty - they were an important part of the town’s identity and history. Local historians and heritage advocates never gave up on the idea of bringing them back.
Out of the blue, the pulpit panels appeared on February 14, 2024, in a Facebook post from the National Museum of the Philippines. They were donated by collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista as a “gift to the nation.” But Governor Gwen Garcia quickly asked for them to be returned to Boljoon, saying they had “always belonged to the Archdiocese of Cebu,” which she emphasized when the panels were finally brought back.
Finally, in March 2025, after decades of searching, the long-lost panels made their way back to Boljoon Church.
However, controversy still surrounds their return, as questions remain about how the Bautistas acquired the panels in the first place. Even after their return, tensions persist between the Archdiocese of Cebu and the National Museum of the Philippines.
How Boljoon Welcomed the Return of the Pulpit Panels
The whole town was excited. For days, people had been talking about it—the pulpit panels were finally coming home.
The journey started in Cebu City on March 13, 2025. The four panels were officially handed back to their rightful owner, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu, in a small ceremony at the Archdiocesan Museum.
But the real homecoming happened the next day. On March 14, the panels were placed in a motorcade and brought back to Boljoon. When they arrived in Boljoon, the church and the people were waiting. Locals gathered, some cheering, some just staring in awe. For many, it was the first time they had ever seen the panels in person.
For the next few days, from March 14 to 18, the church opened its doors for public viewing. People came and went, taking in every detail of the carvings. Some of the older folks remembered seeing them in the church before they were stolen. Younger ones listened to stories about how important they were.
Then came the careful process of putting them back where they belonged. From March 19 to 20, workers carefully reinstalled the panels onto the church pulpit. They made sure not to use any nails, keeping everything as close to the original as possible. Slowly, the pulpit started to look whole again.
Finally, on March 21, a special mass was held to celebrate the panels’ return. The Archbishop of Cebu, Rev. Jose S. Palma, led the service, and the church was packed. People prayed, gave thanks, and simply took in the moment.
As I stood there, I couldn’t help but smile. The pulpit panels were finally home, and with them, Boljoon had regained a piece of itself.
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