Bohol's Baclayon Musuem

Baclayon Ecclesiastical Museum

The Baclayon Museum is another attraction of Baclayon, Bohol. Aside from the centuries old Baclayon Church which is deluged by tourists almost daily, the museum is likewise a tourist destination. In fact, a visit to the church is not complete without a stopover at the museum.

Baclayon Musuem

The museum is housed inside the old convent which lies alongside the back portion of the church. Adjoining it is the Immaculate Conception Academy and a wide open space at its front that can serve as a parking area for vehicles. The museum charges a minimal entrance fee of P25 per person to cover maintenance costs. Picture taking is strickly not allowed inside the museum; however, guests can freely take pictures of the church’s interiors. according to the staffs, due to previous thefts and stolen incidents happens of many of its artifacts, I guess this is there one way of their safety measures to prevent those previous stealing incidents.

Upstairs is the Musuem

Before entering the museum, guests can first have a look at the interior of Baclayon Church, especially of its majestic altar and the frescoes above it. There are many items of note inside the church which also dates back to the 16th century such as the statues, carved seats and intricate designs. In fact, the Baclayon Church is a museum in itself minus the vestments, the hymnals covered with animal skins and the like. Although small in size, the museum carries a handful of religious artifacts that interestingly showcase the legacy that the Spaniards left on our beloved island. Looking at these artifacts, especially the vestments which are embroidered with gold, we relive the moment when these was worn, oh so elegantly! Aside from the ecclesiastical vestments, there are other items on display which were used during the ritual of the Mass that dates centuries back such as the hymnals or the cantorals of Baclayon. The hymnals are big and written in Latin. What is of note is that the covers of the hymnals are made of animal (carabao) skin, the pages are of sheep skin and the ink used was taken from plant sap. And so many more artifacts.....

Musuem entrance and a Large Painting awaits you.

Some of the artifacts

Some of the Old Human Sized Statues

The short museum trip was worthwhile, we were surprised to see the oldest church stuffs that you won’t see nowadays. You can get eerie feelings with old statues around you but still be curious to get a look on every detail of it. Personally, me and my wife enjoyed the visit because we really love to be in old houses/structures and made us feel to be in the olden times just for awhile. and to add, there are still many interesting items in the museum worthy to take note but it will take a long while and uses up plenty of paper and ink to cover them all. So why not visit the museum yourself and see them. To see is to believe! So you will experienced what we experienced! So come visit Baclayon soon!

Entrance Fee: P25

Parking Fee: Free (any type of vehicle).

Baclayon Church: One of the Traces of Religious History in our Country

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion

(also known as Baclayon Church)

Baclayon, Tagbilaran, Bohol

By Lakwatsero

Our second stop for our tour, The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is obviously one of the very old church structures, yet stays in original condition. It is one of the best presevered Jesuit-built churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern façade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church. Baclayon Church is one of the interesting spot if you want to learn things about the early history of the Philippines especially during the Spanish Era occupation. A brief history of the Baclayon Church, and perhaps find some religious heritage of it.

Baclayon Church

The Baclayon Church, is just six kilometers away from Tagbilran City, Bohol. Baclayon is the second oldest stone church built in the Philippines, (the Oldest is San Agustin Chruch in Real Street, Intramuros, Manila, built in 1571). Baclayon Church was constructed in 1595 by the Jesuit priests, it is still intact and houses important relics and images reminiscent of the historic Roman Catholic religion in the country. It was constructed during the Spanish occupation and the first Spanish missionaries (called doctrineros) settled in the area in the late 15th century, and was completed as we see today way back year 1727.

View from Baclayon Museum

The Baclayon Church's ancient, massive edifice still retains its centuries-old architectural design. Church relics and artifacts from this early period can also be viewed at an adjacent museum within the church, where a rich collection of religious art wrought by Boholanos, ecclesiastical vestments embroidered in gold thread, and librettos of church music printed in Latin on animal skin are housed.

Baclayon Church Altar

The seashore just across the Baclayon Church was even more enchanting. With fresh air and sands untainted by commercialism, the picturesque Laya beach was so inviting that I settled down for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery and its crystal clear waters.


At our back, is the large bell tower that was added way back in 1835. To end our trip to Baclayon we were so lucky, to have the opportunity to witness how beautiful and majestic is this church together with its museum, knowing it is built way way back of our ancestrals, how it was preserved through the years, and give us some informations about our religious history and also helps us to understand more about our religious history.

Blood Compact Monument "Sandugo Shrine"

Blood Compact Shrine (Sandugo)

Brgy. Bool, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

By Lakwatsero

If the Cebuanos take pride of Lapu-lapu who became the first Filipino who fought and killed Ferdinand Magellan who led the first group of Spanish explorers who conquered our county, the Boholanos also have their very own Datu Sikatuna. A native of Bool - a barangay of Tagbilaran City - became the first Filipino ambassador of peace and goodwill.

"Sandugo" Shrine

He carried out this role when he performed a blood compact with Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who traced the footsteps of the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan and successfully led the next batch of Spaniards to set foot in the archipelago. Held on March 16, 1565, this unprecedented feat in Philippine history is considered to be as the first “Treaty of Friendship” between a Spaniard and an Asian. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word means "one blood".

Blood Compact Marker

Essentially, the blood compact was forged between these two chieftains for the purpose of creating cordial and diplomatic relations between the two very different kingdoms – it was a political event. In commemoration of this historical event, a life-size diorama made up of pure bronze is erected just few meters from the exact location where the ritual was made. The statues depict what happened during that commemorative event, and in a way by serve as an evidence of Bohol’s rich history.

We are very lucky and fortunate to see the actual monument, not only on pictures but to have and take a picture right on its monument.



Entrance Fee: None
Parking Fee: Free (any type of vehicle)

Our Bohol Tour 2010

Our Bohol Day Trip

Day 1

February 13, 2010

By Lakwatsero

We celebrated love month with a twist although it is quite stressfull, and tiring. This was indeed a great adventure for us. A day before the exact day of Valentines, it was a quiet hot day for our bohol day tour, we were compose of 13 individuals, we were all 1st timer in going to Bohol, even though me ("lakwatsero" is originally boholano, only grew up in Manila). We are all excited to be in this place because we heard so much in this place, how beautiful it is, and very peaceful place. Let me start by arriving at Tagbilaran Port (via Supercat Ferry #32) at exactly 10:15am, were my Tito Efren is waiting outside, together with our Driver, Tito Ciano, they are our tourist guide and driver for this day.

Supercat #32 mangaed by SuperFerry

Tagbilaran Port

Our first stop for our Bohol Day Tour was, Blood Compact Shrine "Sandugo", located in Brgy. Bool, Tagbilaran City, actually this was also considered the first "Treaty of Friendship" between a European and an Asian, also famous to be called as a the Sandugo Shrine, a blood compact between two cheiftains (Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Raha Sikatuna) to form a cordial and diplomatic relations between the two very different kingdoms.

One Blood!! "The Sandugo Shrine of Bohol"

Our next stop is another historical place of Bohol, Located 6km East of Tagbilaran. The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception known as "The Baclayon Church", this church was considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and even in Asia and is one of the best preserved Jesuit-built Churches in the region. The oldest coral stone church built in the region. It was originally built in 1727.

The Altar of Baclayon Church

Outside view from Baclayon Museum

Aligned with this church is the Baclayon Museum, where some of the oldest artifacts, statue of saints and even the oldest muebles used in this church was placed, and preserved, sad to say, CAMERA is strictly prohibited inside.

Our ex-supervisor JT poses in the entrance of Baclayon Museum together with my wife.

Some of the Oldest Saint Statues that you could find inside the museum.

For our 3rd stop, do have the opportunity to see and hold a python in captivity, lives in Upper Santa Fe, Alburquerque, Bohol, was named "Prony, the world's largest python," this was found way back in a cemetery in 1996 (5ft and 5 kls) by her caretaker-cum 'dad' Sofronio Salibay, the female reticulated python soon grew to a 200- kilo, 25-feet long , 28 feet wide Anaconda. This python is protected and not for sale, with the help of AKF Inc. (Animal Kingdom Foundation) and Pepsi co. I was one of the 300 visitors each day to have the luck to a take picture really close with "Prony".

Meet "Prony" the largest python in captivity!!!!!


Hi, it's me Latwatsero, taking a breath taking picture with Prony.....hehehe!!!

For our next stop, and most of us are waiting the lunch time, at the famous known cruise along the famed Loboc River, the floating restaurant in Loboc River serves buffet while cruising the river, with a soloist or a band entertaining the tourists singing different songs, visayans and even foreign songs and the trip is about an hour and half, you will also stop for a while in a local tribe called "Ati Tribe".

See how beautiful Loboc River was.....

say cheezzeeee.......

The locals of Ati Tribe

One of the locals do an exhition jump...and someone else just thinking of someone...hmmmm...

After our wonderful and awesome lunch, our next destination was the awesome view of Chocolate Hills, situated 4 kms before the town of Carmen, Bohol, infact one of my teammate and she was preggy even hike up the cemented hill stairs just to view the beautiful landscapes of Chocolate Hills, One of the Wonders of our World.

how lucky we are to have a beautiful landscape like this.

thanks for erick for the picture!!!!!!!

Ex-GI joe's but 2 in our groups were not here....check it out...

And we have chanced and glimpse only of the The Bohol Forest, a man-made mahogany forest stretching in a 2 kms. stretch of densely planted Mahogany tress located in the border of Loboc and Bilar towns. If you watch the "Lord of the Rings" movie, you can think of it because of the roots of the trees that looks as the protude from the ground and crawl over boulders and contour of the land, even reaching the sides of the roads. Looking at them gives you a creepy feeling, like tentacles of a giant octopus, that will reach out and grasp the unwary passersby.

you are now entering the warp zone...hehehehe

see how beautiful it is.....hehehehe

Our next destination was another attraction in Bohol, the Hanging Bridge, located in the town of Tikbao, made of bamboo bridge hanging supported by 4 steel cables, 2 underneath, and 2 at the top, at the top serve as a handrails, above the Loboc River. Adventurous people like me might find walking across really exciting, especially when you looks down - about 30 feet above the Loboc River.

are you ready to try!

me and my wife once again...thanks erick!!!!

To end our Bohol Day Tour, there's one thing that you must visit and a must see primate. The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), known locally as the Maumag in Cebuano/Visayan. Tarsier is an endangered species endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Its name is derived from its elongated “tarsus” or ankle bone.

"Maumag"

The Philippine Tarsier is a shy nocturnal animal that leads a mostly hidden life, asleep during the day and only active to look for food during the night. During the day, it sleeps in dark hollows close to the ground, near the trunks of trees and shrubs deep in the impenetrable bushes and forests. They only become active at night, and even then, with their much better sight and amazing ability to maneuver around trees, are very well able to avoid humans. Also to add the studies of this species started actually in 1988 , initiated in Corella, Bohol.

The Phillipine Tarsier

After this gruelling day, we straight forward to our resort, and finally our resting time, where we will stay for our next day adventure at Sea Coral Resort.
For Van Services and Bohol Tours:
You may contact: Tito Ciano (0910-2046085)