The Boljoon Panels

Many sentiments have been said about the Boljoon pulpit panels from different sectors in Cebu. It started when the National Museum of the Philippines posted about the donated artifacts from private collectors, then the statements came one by one. Many residents of the town clamored for its return while others still vividly remember that day when they woke up to a looting incident at their church. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also expressed her intent to have them returned immediately. For the Cebu Archdiocese, they were never pieces of art to appreciate but were part of the Christian evangelization.

Meanwhile, the National Museum did not explicitly express their intent to return them. They cited "dynamic sharing" which to some experts is rather vague when it comes to these artifacts. How can one share pieces that are part of a whole? It defeats its purpose of presenting it to the public. The National Museum further said they will hold a constructive dialogue with officials and Church leaders. The position of the other parties remains: The panels must be returned.

A week after the issue broke out, we haven't heard from them until now. We also do not have an idea if these dialogues have already started. A congressman from Cebu has filed a resolution for their return. The way it is now, it is set to receive the public's backlash and maybe even a withdrawal of support to their claim to preserve our country's culture, heritage, and others. The logic is simple; return the objects to its rightful owners. The documents are clear; it belongs to the church of Boljoon and its people who believe in the faith.

The National Museum also wrote that their donors obtained the artifacts through proper means. However, it does not also make sense how one can legally obtain objects that were stolen in the first place. It is a shame how some individuals resorted to looting the church at the time. There could only be one reason and that goes back to the need to have money. One needs money to feed oneself, poverty and hunger are other societal issues that the government has yet to address.

I look forward to when these panels will be finally going home. The Boljoon church has filled in the missing panels with copies of what was lost. After decades of these sacred objects being gone, they deserve to be home where they belong. In respect to culture, one should also respect faith. This does not entail a public display in a museum. It has to be where it was intended to be located.

This church has filled us with so many memories as we tread the road down south. It is a popular tourist attraction for first timers and a well-loved spot for those who want to rest after a long drive. To me, it is a symbol of Christianity and the people's faithfulness in blessing this rather quaint town. This matter should be resolved before it gets out of hand.