By Xander Ledesma
Four 19th-century pulpit panels from the Patrocinio de Maria Parish in Boljoon, Cebu, are scheduled for return to the province in March, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced on Friday. The panels were at the center of a dispute involving the Archdiocese of Cebu, the Cebu provincial government, and the municipal government of Boljoon.
In a statement, the Cebu Capitol cited a communication from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) indicating plans to turn over the panels in response to repeated requests for their return. Governor Garcia had earlier warned of legal action against NMP Director General Jeremy Barns for retaining the items despite formal demands.
The pulpit panels, believed to have been stolen from the Boljoon parish in the late 1980s, resurfaced at an NMP exhibit in February 2024. Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, along with Governor Garcia, argued that the religious artifacts are the property of the Archdiocese and form part of Cebu’s cultural heritage. They contend the items were unlawfully acquired and could not be validly donated to the NMP by private collectors.
The Patrocinio de Maria Parish, commonly referred to as Boljoon Church, is recognized for its historic and architectural significance. Established under Augustinian supervision during the Spanish colonial period, the church was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1999 and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum in 2001. The return of the pulpit panels is viewed as a significant step in preserving Cebu’s ecclesiastical heritage.