Pulpit panels to return to Boljoon in March

MANILA, Philippines —  The Director General of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) assured Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that the four pulpit panels owned by the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in the town of Boljoon, southern Cebu will be returned in March.

Barns, who visited the Capitol on Feb. 25 for a meeting with Garcia, apologized to the governor for not immediately returning the religous artifacts to Boljoon even after the call by Cebu Province and the Archdiocese of Cebu.

“I wanted to convey to Governor Gwen Garcia that we apologize. She may have been upset over some of the developments, but we really want to give them back to the Archdiocese of Cebu, the panels; return them sa Simbahan ng Boljoon,” Barns said, as per report of Sugbo News, Capitol's news arm.

Barns also assured Garcia that the four pulpit panels will be returned to Cebu by next month, March, after the Board of Trustees gave a go signal for the repatriation of the religous treasure.

"I apologize for that. We’ve worked hard toward the same goal—restoring this heritage to Cebu—and I regret any upset this may have caused you,” Barns added.

The meeting was attended by Capitol consultant on heritage and museum Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales and Atty. Fr. Dan delos Angeles Jr., the legal officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

To erase any doubt and confusion if the pulpit panels that will be returned next month are the original artifacts, a radiocarbon dating process will be done to accurately determine the age of the pulpit panels, thus, its authenticity.

The pulpit panels, which depict the image of Saint Augustine the Hippo, was first reported stolen in the 1980s.

In February 2024, the stolen panels have resurfaced after it was unveiled by the NMP when these were donated by private individuals to the national museum.

Since then, the Province of Cebu and the Archdiocese of Cebu have called on to return the panels to its original owner, the Boljoon Church, emphasizing that these religious artifacts have not yet been deconsecrated or were illegally taken from the Church, reiterating that those who continue to possess these panels are committing sacrilege.

Despite several calls to return the panels, still, these were not returned, prompting the Governor to take legal actions.

Meanwhile, Barns also told Garcia that the NMP nominated the Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish sa Boljoon as among the 12 churches that the NMP seeks to include in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

"But Boljoon is the most-ready, if you ask me. So let’s not wait for the 11 others. We can immediately launch the campaign for Boljoon Church,” Barns told Garcia.

The governor, who was elated by the news, said she will form a task force to focus on the compliance of the necessary requirements set by UNESCO to include Boljoon church in the list of world heritage sites.

The stone church, which was built in 1783, has already been declared as National Cultural Treasure by NMP and a national historical landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. (CEBU NEWS)