The Municipality of Boljoon is located around a hundred kilometers from Cebu City. It is home to a number of historically-significant structures, including the Patrocinio de Maria Church, El Gran Baluarte, and Escuela Catolica. The town played a major role in the establishment of the coastal defense system of Cebu during the Spanish period.
Plaza Bermejo was established in honor of Fr. Julian Bermejo who set up a coastal defense system in southern Cebu. While the plaza was not built during the Spanish or American periods, it is still one of the must-see places if you find yourself in the Municipality of Boljoon.
Fr. Julian Bermejo is probably the most celebrated personality of Boljoon during the Spanish period. He became the parish priest of the town of Boljoon in 1802. While he had a stint as the Provincial Prior in 1837, he spent most of his stay in the archipelago in Boljoon. He implemented a coastal defense system in the southern part of Cebu to protect the residents from Moro raiders. The defense system involved the construction of bulwarks and the use of signals to warn residents of these towns about the presence of raiders. Fr. Julian Bermejo was fondly called “El Padre Capitan” by the residents of Boljoon.
You can get to Plaza Bermejo of Boljoon by getting on a bus headed for the town at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. The trip to this southern town takes around four hours depending on the traffic. Plaza Bermejo is located along the coast right across the road from the church of Boljoon.
Have you visited Plaza Bermejo already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.