When the Spaniards established the towns in southern Cebu, these towns were subjected to attacks by Moro raiders. To protect the residents from these incursions, Fr. Julian Bemejo set up a series of watchtowers to monitor the presence of raiders and give the townspeople enough warning before the attack. One of these watchtowers is located in the southern town of Boljoon.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: boljoon.myguide.ph
Boljoon
The Municipality of Boljoon is around a hundred kilometers away from Cebu City. It is one of the oldest towns in the island. Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the place was already a small community that subsisted on farming and fishing. Excavations in the area showed the settlers were using Chinese porcelain, bolos, and brass beads. The town was established in 1598 while the parish was set up in 1599 basing on existing Augustinian records. Boljoon is considered as the most picturesque town in the island.
The Municipality of Boljoon is around a hundred kilometers away from Cebu City. It is one of the oldest towns in the island. Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the place was already a small community that subsisted on farming and fishing. Excavations in the area showed the settlers were using Chinese porcelain, bolos, and brass beads. The town was established in 1598 while the parish was set up in 1599 basing on existing Augustinian records. Boljoon is considered as the most picturesque town in the island.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: mycebu.ph
El Grande Baluarte
The El Grande Baluarte was part of the complex coastal defense set up by Fr. Julian Bermejo to protect southern Cebu from Moro raiders. The blockhouse has had two levels and faced the sea. During the time of Fr. Bermejo, It was used as a bulwark and watchtower. It was completed in 1808 and featured a storeroom for weapons and ammunition in the ground floor. A prison cell can also be found on the ground floor of the structure. The upper floor was the defense station and was armed with cannons.
The El Grande Baluarte was part of the complex coastal defense set up by Fr. Julian Bermejo to protect southern Cebu from Moro raiders. The blockhouse has had two levels and faced the sea. During the time of Fr. Bermejo, It was used as a bulwark and watchtower. It was completed in 1808 and featured a storeroom for weapons and ammunition in the ground floor. A prison cell can also be found on the ground floor of the structure. The upper floor was the defense station and was armed with cannons.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: togiexplorer.com
It is the biggest watchtower in Cebu, which is the reason it was called the El Grande Baluarte. The structure is now used as a bell tower and is one of the tourist attractions of Boljoon. Visitors to the structure can see markings made by the prisoners. These markings included a drawing of a pagoda and Spanish galleons.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: mycebu.ph
Getting to Boljoon
Your trip to Boljoon starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal where you can ride on a bus headed for the town. The trip will take around three to four hours depending on the traffic.
Your trip to Boljoon starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal where you can ride on a bus headed for the town. The trip will take around three to four hours depending on the traffic.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: restlesspinoytraveler.wordpress.com
The El Grande Baluarte is just one of the numerous historically-significant tourist spots in the town of Boljoon. Being one of the oldest towns in the island, Boljoon is one place history and culture lovers should not miss if they ever find themselves in the island of Cebu.
El Grande Baluarte – image source: mypoeticisolation.blogspot.com
Have you visited the El Grande Baluarte of Boljoon already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.
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