Inside Baclayon Church

Aside from the centuries-old Baclayon Church which is deluged by tourists almost daily, Baclayon Museum is another attraction of Baclayon. In fact, a visit to the church is not complete without a stopover at the museum. It is housed inside the old convent which lies alongside the back portion of the church.

Collections of Baclayon Museum

There are many items of note inside the church which also date back to the 16th century, such as 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.

The "Misa Baclayana," a musical setting for the Mass was found inside these hymnals and has been revived and is part of the repertoire of the Loboc Children's Choir. Other books were also well preserved and displayed in the museum. Also showcased are life-sized images of saints and other relics that clearly portray the historic event of the Roman Catholic Church.

Most of the images, especially their hands and heads, are made of ivory; this material fetches a huge price in the market leading to some of these items to be stolen and pirated from the church. To avoid further theft, taking pictures of these images, as well as other items inside the museum, is now prohibited.

Luckily enough, a stolen image of St. Blaise, the patron saint for ailments of the throat, was returned by a buyer who hailed from Metro Manila two years later. If all antique buyers have the same conscience as the one above, the antique pieces of Baclayon would have remained intact.

Other antique pieces are those of Jesus Christ the Crucified, looking towards the heavens; a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon to the Spanish curia; and relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Paintings done by a famous Filipino painter, Liberato Gatchalian, in 1859 are also displayed.

Crystal chandeliers remain intact; a silver tabernacle and an altar inlaid with gold passed the test of time and retain their grandeur. Aside from other small trinkets, elegant cups and crowns were preserved.

Interesting to note is an image of the Holy Family which was allegedly hit by a cannon ball during the world war but was miraculously left unharmed although the glass encasing it was broken. Local folks relate that on the day the image was hit, a little boy picked up the cannon ball and set it aside.

The vestment of the Baby Jesus, believed to disappear once in awhile, is almost always full of "amorsiko", a seed of a weed that clings to clothes if one happens to pass by it. It is believed that Jesus goes on a mission and visits homes of the people of Baclayon.

This is uncanny but true. In our hometown, the image of St. Michael in Iligan City often disappears and when he comes back, his vestment is also full of amorsico. When raids are believed to happen, this phenomenon occurs. The people of Iligan take it in stride and believe that St. Michael went off and stopped the Moro raiders from attacking the city.

Things to remember:

• The museum charges a minimal entrance fee of P25 per person to cover maintenance costs.
• Picture taking is not allowed inside the museum; however, guests can freely take pictures of the church's interiors. Due to previous thefts of many of its artifacts, the curia of Baclayon is now cautious in allowing people to take pictures of them.
• 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.

The museum lies inside the Baclayon Church premises about 6-7 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. One can hardly miss the dark and imposing structure of the church since it is along the national road; very accessible by bus, hired van or private ride.

How to Get There

Bohol is located in the Central Philippines, and can be conveniently reached by air or boat. From Manila, just take a flight to Tagbilaran, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also possible to take a boat to Bohol, but will take 25 hours, and is only advisable if you have plenty of time at hand and enjoy a trip on sea, or have to travel on a rock-bottom budget or with a lot of luggage. Currently, there are numerous daily flights from Manila to Tagbilaran.

Many buses, jeepneys, and multicabs ply the interior route to and from Tagbilaran City. It is a lot cheaper if you avail of this local transport. However, vans and taxis are also available but usually charges 50% more if traveling outside Tagbilaran City. Baclayon is some 6 km east of Tagbilaran. Catch a bus or jeepney in Tagbilaran, going into the direction of Baclayon. You may also find a tricycle willing to bring you there.

Accommodations

• The Peacock Garden - Upper Laya, Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines 6301
• Amorita Resort - Easter A. Lim Drive, Brgy. Tawala, Barangay Tawala - Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines 6340
• Panglao Blue Water Beach Resort - Panglao Island, Danao Beach - Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
• Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa - Bas Dako, Candabong, Anda, Bohol, Philippines 6311
• Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa - Barangay Tawala, Panglao, Bolod Beach - Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
• Amarela Resort - Barangay Libaong, Barangay Libaong - Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
• Marquis Sunrise Sunset Residentials Cottages - Cambanac, Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines