The Boac Cathedral Served as Marinduque People’s Refuge

BOAC CATHEDRAL

Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bunadski/8182007585/

Fray Estevan Ortiz, a Franciscan missionary planted the first cross on Marinduque island in 1579. A year later, the first visita, Monserrat de Marinduque (now Boac), was established with Fray Alonzo Banol as its minister.

In 1613 the Franciscans ceded the administration of the island to the Archbishop of Manila, Miguel Garcia Serrano who then entrusted the island to the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits assumed the spiritual administration of the island in 1621.

By 1756 the church was laid out facing east with its rear overlooking the lower town, called labak by the natives. It was to be an enduring structure for worship and for serving as a refuge for the townspeople during piratical attacks rampant in in that era. Read More: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2011/09/historic-boac-cathedral-cathedral-of.html

Photo from: https://www.tripadvisor.ie/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1026955-d1730547-i131105196-Boac_Cathedral-Marinduque_Island_Mimaropa.html

Boac Cathedral is just right across the Boac Hotel where we had an amazing dinner courtesy of owner, Carmelita Rejano-Reyes [will feature a separate post for my food adventure]. During our ocular at Boac Cathedral, there was an on going wedding but that didn’t stop us from taking photos of the majestical details surrounding the church. It was an eyesight to behold. Another reason to visit Boac Cathedral is the patron saint of Marinduque– Ina ng Biglang Awa. Our tour guide, Mr. Tony Monteras said that: Marinduqueños believe that they were spared from the Supertyphoon “Yolanda”, as it was supposed to pass by the island. Read More: https://adventuresofaladyexplorer.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/travel-destination-captivating-marinduque/

Photo from: http://missailema.blogspot.com/2011/04/boac-marinduque-trip-day-3.html

Trying to squeeze my time’s worth in the province of Marinduque, I quickly searched Google Maps for the towering structure I saw on my jeepney ride from the Port of Buenavista to the main town of Boac. I assumed that it would be the town cathedral, and indeed it was. After witnessing parts of the Moriones Festival, I asked for directions from the locals I passed along the road and I eventually made it to the church’s fortified walls.

The church, it seemed, was once a fortress during the Spanish era. This was quite evident on the rough stone walls surrounding the church yard, and its location, which was on the highest part of town, aptly named Barangay Mataas.

According to the National Historical Institute marker set on its walls, the cathedral was built in 1792. It became a haven for the locals during a Moro attack in the 1800’s and was the place where the Philippine Revolutionary flag was blessed in 1899. Read More: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2011/07/marinduque-boac-cathedral.html