THE BOHOL homecoming presented me with a myriad of topics to write about, some mundane, some historical. That’s the beauty of traveling. You find interesting places, gems worth your thought, urban legends, haha, and even romance! We just need to open our minds to the possibilities a single trip can offer!
I am reacquainting myself with my home province, and so far, the experience has been profound. For now, let’s focus on Baclayon – one of the more popular towns in Bohol that hosts “an eighteen-century structure considered as one of the oldest coral stone churches in the Philippines.” According to former Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Kagawad and now SB Secretary Erico ‘Eric’ Joseph T. Cañete, Baclayon church’s “establishment can be dated as far back as 1596 by the Jesuits. The year 1727 could denote a dual interpretation i.e., either the date of its construction or completion of its construction.”
Let me quote excerpts from my exchange with Eric who, zealously directed my attention at interesting objects inside the Baclayon church during a guided tour last week.
The beginnings
“On November 17, 1596, Baclayon was established as a town,” Eric began.
“Historian Combes claimed that around 12th century, a group of people called Dapitanes from Northern and Western Mindanao, established a settlement in the strait between the island of Bohol and Panglao.”
Years earlier, “In 1563, two years before Legazpi reached Bohol shores, the Dapitanes or Dapitan kingdom was attacked by the Ternateans from the Moluccas. Documento in Editos de Ultramar de Filipinas contains a document describing a bleeding Sikatuna being rescued by Datu Sigala, a chieftain of Loboc, during the attack.”
Eventually, the Dapitanes left the island, but another settlement was formed six kilometers from the old Dapitan kingdom. “Since this new settlement was a good walking distance from the old city, it came to be called ‘Baklayon.’ This new settlement was ruled by Sikatuna or Katunao (he whose glance can melt anything). Technically, it was in the year 1563 that “Baklayon” was founded as a small village.”
Continuing, “Five years after the blood compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi took place on March 25, 1565, in Hinawanan, Loay, the Philippines was divided into ‘Encomienda’, and Bohol was first assigned to Diego de Frias in 1571. According to historian writer Luengo, the Bohol encomienda was a product of a Royal Decree passed by the King of Spain on November 17, 1570.”
Let me interpose at this point. I have encountered ‘encomienda’ in my elementary, high school, and college days since, most especially, our generation still had to take the mandatory four 3-unit Spanish subjects in college. ¡Sí, la tuvimos! Had we comprehended its brilliant significance then, we could have added the Spanish language to our spoken languages now. What a waste, huh!
Back to Eric, “Encomienda in layman’s language is a piece of land granted to the Spanish military to own, till, and enjoy whatever produce it yields. Part of the duties of the encomiendero before collecting tributes from their constituents is to Christianize them.”
Following the death of Diego de Frias, the encomienda was passed on to Pedro Gamboa who at the time was still a minor, hence, his mother, Catalina de Bolanos, assumed the responsibility. “Catalina requested Fr. Ramon Pratt, Vice Provincial of the Jesuits in the Philippines, for missionaries to come to Bohol. Fr. Pedro Chirino, head of the Jesuits’ Central Residence in Cebu, assigned Fr. Gabriel Sanchez and Fr. Joseph Torres to Bohol.”
Historian De la Costa confirmed the arrival of Fathers Sanchez and Torres on November 17, 1596, in Baklayon. In the words of the author, “They established themselves first at Baklayon where they spent some time in gaining the confidence of the people.”
“On November 17, 1596, the encomienda system became functional in Bohol, starting first in Baklayon and, in principle, the establishment of the town.”
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Note: Eric expresses gratitude to the genius and efforts of Bohol historians Prof. Marianito Luspo, MAVE, Dr. Jess Tirol, PhD, and Fr. Ted Torralba, Ph.L/ST.L, who reviewed and approved the validity of his research after its deliberation and oral defense in June 2005. More far-reaching, the same research was used as a basis to promulgate Ordinance No. 13-2005, declaring every 17th of November as Baclayon Foundation Day. Isn’t that historic!
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
