Cheyenne Suarez

‘Stolen’ pulpit panels of Boljoon Church returned to Cebu

Article (news)

Annie Perez

<p>CEBU CITY — The four missing pulpit panels of the Nuestra Señora de Patrocino Church of Boljoon, Cebu are now back in the province.</p><p>The panels were controversial in the early part of 2024 after it was found by the National Museum, through a donation by a private couple.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/19/cebu-town-urges-national-museum-to-return-stolen-church-panels-1756">Cebu town urges National Museum to return &#x27;stolen&#x27; church panels</a></div><p>Earlier police reports proved that the panels were stolen in the 1970s.</p><p>It took over a year for the panels to return back to Cebu after the National Museum going over through technical and legal aspects on the custody of the artifact.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><video class="fr-draggable" controls="" src="blob:https://od2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com/88aaf9b6-6099-414e-bf25-6abaf6b55546" style="width:600px">Your browser does not support HTML5 video.</video></span></div><p>“I know the hearts of Cebu, I know the hearts of Boljoon. I know how happy I am today because the panels have come home,” said Archbishop Jose Palma of the Archdiocese of Cebu.</p><p>He is set to celebrate a mass at the pulpit with the original panels in its place.</p><p>Throughout the course of the request for its return were several demand letters to the National Museum.</p><p>“Whatever cost it would take, we would always defend the culture, the heritage of our proud people,” Governor Gwen Garcia said.</p><p>For his part, Boljoon Mayor Jojie Derama said that they are “thankful and happy,” adding that they will make sure that it will not lose their sight again.</p><p>In order to ensure the preservation of this centuries old artifact, the National Museum contracted a team that aided in the restoration.</p><p>They will also continue to monitor the state of the panels.</p><p>“We celebrate with the people of Cebu as these panels form part of their story,” added Andoni Aboitiz, chairman of the National Museum.</p><p>The panels have images of St. Augustine of Hippo, the founder of the Augustinian Order. The church of Boljoon was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary which started as visita of Carcar.</p><p>It was then elevated to a parish in 1690 and the first Augustinian parish priest, Fray Nicolas de la Cuadra, OSA took possession of the church only two years later.</p><p>The church was also declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.</p><p>It is also considered an extension of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQhJg4ONvk8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The four missing pulpit panels of the Nuestra Señora de Patrocino Church of Boljoon, Cebu are now back in the province.</p>

The four missing pulpit panels of the Nuestra Señora de Patrocino Church of Boljoon, Cebu are now back in the province.