TRAVEL GUIDE: BOLJOON IN A DAY

This is the Church of Nuestra Senora del Patrocinio de Maria.  The National Historical Commission recognizes it as a national treasure.  It is also in the list of  UNESCO as a heritage site. 

Visiting the famous town of Boljoon in the southern tip of the island of Cebu had been in my mind for quite sometime.  Then, one day I decided I must go even for just a day.

I left my hometown, Bacolod City, in the early morning at 5am, boarded the Ceres Tours Bus (air-con) for Dumaguete via Mabinay.

After about 5 hours on the road, I reached the junction of Sibulan-Dumaguete road.  I asked the conductor to stop there.  I alighted the bus and went straight to the port of Sibulan which is just a walking distance from that Dumaguete highway.

I went inside the port terminal and bought a ticket for Santander Express, a fastcraft that ply the Sibulan-Liloan Santander route.  From Santander, their last trip to Sibulan is 8pm.

After resting for a while at the terminal, the fastcraft arrived a few minutes after 12 noon.  After the passengers disembarked, we boarded the fastcraft and left Sibulan for Liloan port.  Liloan is a Barangay (village) of Santander Township.

At the Puerto del Sur, Liloan, I boarded the Ceres bus.  Since the Oslob Whale Shark Watching is scheduled from 6am to 12 noon only, I decided to go straight to Boljoon.

It took me about an hour to tour the heritage sites of Boljoon.  Then ride the Ceres bus back to Puerto del Sur, Liloan for a boat ride back to Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

Santander Express left Liloan at about 3pm and arrived at Sibulan 25 minutes later.  From Sibulan I took a carry, a jeepney type passenger vehicle that service the Sibulan-Dumaguete routes.

Upon arrival at Dumaguete, I went straight to a bakery near the boulevard to buy their famous Sans Rival.

At 4:15  p.m. I was already at Ceres Bus Terminal and ready to go back to my hometown of Bacolod City.

I arrived Bacolod City at 9:30 p.m.  Thus, completing my one-day tour of Boljoon, partly of Oslob as most of its tourist facilities are located along the highway and facing the sea, and Santander, Cebu.

One of the intricate carvings on the walls of the church.

 The marker of the National Historical Institute recognizes the Boljoon Church as one of the oldest churches and a historical landmark in the country.  The National Museum also considered Boljoon Church as a national treasure.  Boljoon Church was believed to have been constructed as early as 1599 (Wikipedia).  A series of destruction happened to the church.  The pirates destroyed it in 1782.  Then, in1783 a new church was built. (Wikipedia).

The Escuela Catolica is one of the oldest structures in Boljoon.  Actually, it was constructed in 1940 during the Commonwealth Period (Philippines as Territory of the U.S.).  Today it is being used as a meeting place of various church's organizations. 

The stairways leading to the convent. 

 The church bells are housed in a separate belfry.  A monument for the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal had been constructed in front of the belfry. 

This wide lawn fronting the church serves as a promenade for the parishioners. 

 The town hall of Boljoon. 

Tennis court near the church. Also located on the side and at the back of the church is an old graveyard and a beautifully maintained lawn. 

It looks like they are constructing a new road network here.  But, it is not.  The carving and removal of the stones and boulders from "Ili Rock" is part of the project of DPWH, the Department of Public Works and Highways, to remove the stones and boulders and place them on the coastal area to prevent present and future erosion. Ili Rock is a white limestone cliff that offers a breathtaking view of the heritage town of Boljoon. (From Marian Z. Codilla's "Ili Rock" Vanishing, Cebu Daily News)

The existing road passes by that coastal area you can see on the top-right corner of this photo.

 It means WELCOME TO BOLJOON

 The port terminal at Sibulan.  You can make your choice - a fastcraft or a pumpboat.

 After a long wait, Santander Express finally arrived to take us, passengers, to Liloan, Cebu.

 Passengers walk to board the fastcraft.

 RO-RO vessels also docked at Sibulan port.  It transport vehicles and heavy loads from the ports of Sibulan and Puerto del Sur at Liloan, Santander, Cebu.

 Beach resorts located on the coastal area of Santander, Cebu.

 Passengers disembarking the fastcraft. 

Cebu-bound passengers take turns at boarding the bus.  I ride the bus going to Boljoon. Just a reminder, from Sibulan port, you must get a ticket from the Ceres Bus counter inside the terminal so that you are assured of a seat in the bus.  I did not have that ticket but was lucky to be seated because there is one available seat at the back of the bus.  Lucky me. 

 Restrooms at the Puerto del Sur, Liloan.  

 Inside the air-conditioned Ceres Tours Bus.

The island of Cebu is famous for its world-class island resorts.  One of these is Sumilon Island.  Photo was taken when the bus was in motion. 

 Santander Express is ready for boarding.  Passengers will be going to Sibulan Port. 

 A view of Negros Oriental.

Your trip to Dumaguete is not complete until you carry back home a box of this famous Sans Rival of Dumaguete. 

So, that ends my one-day trip to Boljoon, Cebu. It is, therefore, possible to tour historical places such as the historic Boljoon at a less expensive way.  Just A Day Tour is OK...


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All photos by Henry C. Libo-on of Touristang Pobre.