There are a number of Cebuanos who have made notable contributions to the benefit Cebu and the country as a whole. Some of these notable Cebuanos were former President Sergio Osmeña Sr., Pantaleon Villegas or Leon Kilat, Arcadio Maximo, and, of course, Datu Lapu-Lapu. But, there are also some people who come to the island to help improve the lives of the people. One of these persons is Fray Julian Bermejo.
El Padre Capitan – image source: imgrum.com
Fray Julian Bermejo
Fray Julian Bermejo was born in 1777 in Pardillo, Ciudad Real, Spain. He joined the Augustinian order in 1793. He came to the Philippines as part an Augustinian mission in 1797. At least twenty friar-missionaries were a part of this mission. After his arrival in the country, Fray Bermejo continued his studies at the at the Monasterio de San Pablo, which is now the San Agustin Monastery in Intramuros, Manila.
Fray Julian Bermejo was born in 1777 in Pardillo, Ciudad Real, Spain. He joined the Augustinian order in 1793. He came to the Philippines as part an Augustinian mission in 1797. At least twenty friar-missionaries were a part of this mission. After his arrival in the country, Fray Bermejo continued his studies at the at the Monasterio de San Pablo, which is now the San Agustin Monastery in Intramuros, Manila.
El Padre Capitan – image source: osacebu.org.ph
Cebu Assignment
Fray Bermejo later went to Cebu to study the Visayan dialect at the Convent of Sto. Niño. He was enthusiastic when he was assigned as the parish priest of the town of Boljoon. He was also assigned in Argao basing on the Catalogo of Fr. Elviro Perez, and was also appointed to a number of positions in the province. In 1839, Fray Bermejo returned as the parish priest of the town of Boljoon until 1848.
Fray Bermejo later went to Cebu to study the Visayan dialect at the Convent of Sto. Niño. He was enthusiastic when he was assigned as the parish priest of the town of Boljoon. He was also assigned in Argao basing on the Catalogo of Fr. Elviro Perez, and was also appointed to a number of positions in the province. In 1839, Fray Bermejo returned as the parish priest of the town of Boljoon until 1848.
El Padre Capitan – image source: waypoints.ph
El Padre Capitan
Moro incursions into the islands in the Visayas area were prevalent during the 16th and 17th century. In addition to Cebu, these incursions pirate attacks were also noted in the southern part of Panay Island. When Fr. Bermejo arrived in Boljoon, he devised a strategy to protect the town from these incursions. Due to this, he earned the title “El Padre Capitan.”
Moro incursions into the islands in the Visayas area were prevalent during the 16th and 17th century. In addition to Cebu, these incursions pirate attacks were also noted in the southern part of Panay Island. When Fr. Bermejo arrived in Boljoon, he devised a strategy to protect the town from these incursions. Due to this, he earned the title “El Padre Capitan.”
El Padre Capitan – image source: boljoon.myguide.ph
Since the church in Boljoon was not yet finished, he supervised the construction of a fort to protect the church complex. The fort had four fortifications on each corner to watch for incursions by Moro raiders. One of these watchtowers is still standing and is currently one of the tourist spots in the town. This is the biggest watchtower in the island of Cebu and is called the El Grande Baluarte. It was a two-storey structure that allowed residents of the town to monitor the presence of pirates and raiders. It also had a storeroom for weapons and ammunition as well as a prison cell.
Fortifications in Other Towns
Fray Bermejo also encouraged other towns to build their own watchtowers against pirates and raiders. These watchtowers stretched from Carcar to Santander. The remnants of these watchtowers can still be seen even up to today. Aside from these fortifications, Fray Bermejo also established a method of communication between towns with the use of flags. This gave advance warning of the presence of raiders and pirates and allowed the natives to launch counter attacks.
Fortifications in Other Towns
Fray Bermejo also encouraged other towns to build their own watchtowers against pirates and raiders. These watchtowers stretched from Carcar to Santander. The remnants of these watchtowers can still be seen even up to today. Aside from these fortifications, Fray Bermejo also established a method of communication between towns with the use of flags. This gave advance warning of the presence of raiders and pirates and allowed the natives to launch counter attacks.
El Padre Capitan – image source: foursquare.com
The natives were able to win a number of fights against the raiders and pirates. An anecdote from the Catalogo indicated that when Fray Bermejo and the native warriors were preparing for their counter attacks, they appeared to be headed to a fiesta. It simply shows that Fray Bermejo was successful in letting the natives internalize the importance of working together to protect their towns against incursions.
Other Contributions
Aside from the coastal defense system he established in the southern coast of Cebu, Fray Bermejo also encouraged the planting of cotton. Correspondence between the friar and the governor general at that time, Gov-Gen Pascual Enrile, showed Fray Bermejo taught the natives of Boljoon how to plant different cotton varieties. In addition, he also introduced other agricultural products to the town, including cocoa and coffee. In addition, Fray Bermejo also translated a number of literary works in to the Visayan language. He also wrote a number of novenas and contributed to the preservation of the Cebuano language.
Other Contributions
Aside from the coastal defense system he established in the southern coast of Cebu, Fray Bermejo also encouraged the planting of cotton. Correspondence between the friar and the governor general at that time, Gov-Gen Pascual Enrile, showed Fray Bermejo taught the natives of Boljoon how to plant different cotton varieties. In addition, he also introduced other agricultural products to the town, including cocoa and coffee. In addition, Fray Bermejo also translated a number of literary works in to the Visayan language. He also wrote a number of novenas and contributed to the preservation of the Cebuano language.
El Padre Capitan – image source: togiexplorer.com
Many Cebuanos may not know who Fray Julian Bermejo is, but his contributions to Boljoon have endeared him to the residents of this southern Cebu town. He is just one of the many people who have come to Cebu and quietly worked to improve the lives of the people of Cebu.
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