Cebu church expected to draw more tourist visits, weddings

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BOLJOON, Cebu — Before brides walk down the aisle, this town is making its own long walk toward becoming a top wedding and religious tourism destination.

RENEWED VIBRANCY Local dancers clad in vibrant Filipino traditional attire perform cultural dances in front of the Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church in Boljoon, Cebu, to welcome spectators during the ceremonial return of four restored antique pulpit panels on March 21, 2025. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES 

With the return of four sacred pulpit panels to the centuries-old Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church, the southern Cebu town is now setting its sights on drawing more visitors, not just for prayer but for picturesque weddings and soulful retreats.

Mayor Joie Genesse Derama sees the pulpit's restoration as more than just a heritage win but also a step closer to positioning Boljoon as a destination for once-in-a-lifetime moments.

"Mapun-an unta ang magpakasal dinhi sa Boljoon kay usa pud ipasigarbo pud kay amoang aisle, one of the longest aisles (in Cebu) (We hope more couples get married here in Boljoon because one of the things we're proud of is our aisle)," Derama said, referring to the church's iconic walkway.

"So, sulit kaayo ang P100,000 gown. Kay longest walk baya na ilaha, the most beautiful walk baya na nila ang sa ilahang kasal so taas-taas ilahang lakwon (So a P100,000 [bridal] gown would really be worth it. That's the longest walk of their life — the most beautiful one during their wedding, and it's going to be quite a long walk)," he added.

Derama hopes Boljoon can eventually join the ranks of the country's top wedding venues, banking on its quiet charm, spiritual heritage and breathtaking architecture to attract both pilgrims and couples alike.

He said the town's deep connection to faith becomes most visible during religious activities such as Holy Week and the feast of the patron saint, where the community comes together in devotion.

That religious fervor, he noted, made the decades-long absence of the stolen pulpit panels especially emotional and personal for Boljoon residents.

One of the oldest

At the heart of Boljoon stands its crown jewel, the 18th-century church of Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Santisima, recognized as both a National Historical Landmark and a National Cultural Treasure.

Originally founded by Spanish missionaries under the Augustinian order in 1599, the present-day structure was built in the late 1700s using coral stones and lime mortar.

Perched along the coastline and flanked by centuries-old buildings, the church once doubled as a sanctuary and a fortress, protecting townsfolk from seaborne pirate raids.

With its remarkably preserved baroque architecture and deep historical roots, it remains one of Cebu's oldest and most treasured heritage churches.

Stolen pulpit panels

Cebu Arch. Jose Palma led the ceremonial reinstallation of the four recovered pulpit panels on March 21, marking their return after a 40-year absence.

The panels had resurfaced at a National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) exhibit in February 2024, after being stolen from the church in the 1980s.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia immediately called for their return and, armed with a special power of attorney from the Archdiocese of Cebu, demanded that the NMP turn over the panels.

Her firm intervention prompted the museum's board of trustees to act swiftly and facilitate the repatriation.

The fifth panel remained in the possession of the archdiocese but the sixth and final panel remains missing.

Boljoon continues its efforts to recover it while building on the momentum to strengthen cultural pride and attract more visitors.

Boljoon is a fourth-class municipality located about 103 kilometers southeast of Cebu City.