BRIDGING THE GAP
The baluartes of Bolhoon, Cebu
During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the coastal communities in the Visayas were subjected to frequent attacks by the Moros from Mindanao and Sulu. Thus, the Spanish rulers directed the natives to construct fortifications or Moro watchtowers that were variably called baluarte, kuta or bantayan to protect these settlements.
The baluartes, made up basically of stones, were built throughout the Visayas, especially from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Most of these were constructed in Panay and Cebu because these were the most populous islands of the Visayas at that time. In Panay, vestiges of such structure are still visible in such places as Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Estancia, Banate, Anilao, Guimbal, Miag-ao and San Joaquin in Iloilo; and in Roxas City in Capiz. The baluartes were strategically located so that the bantay or watchman could easily spot the approach of the enemies and then warn the residents of the impending danger.
In Cebu, remains of two well-known baluartes are still visible in Bolhoon. They were first initiated by an Augustinian friar, Fray Julian Bermejo when he was assigned parish priest in the place. He came to Cebu in 1804 and when he encountered problems due to the Moro attacks, he found the solution through the watchtowers. The baluartes in the area are strategically situated atop of a hill and near the coast so that the watchmen could easily see the incoming attackers.
Before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the sultanates of Mindanao and Sulu were already active in extending their spheres of influence to the Visayas and Luzon. With the coming of the Spaniards in the country, Christianity became the dominant religion in the country. Despite the attempts of the Spaniards to extend administrative control and propagate Christianity throughout the country, the southern part remained steadfast to Islam and their freedom. They even staged more attacks on Christian communities in the Visayas that were under Spanish control as a way of punishing the natives who were loyal to the colonizers and of getting slaves and goods.
The baluartes or watchtowers in the Visayas, including the ones in Bolhoon, are significant reminders of the nation's eventful and colorful history. These structures, along with other historical and cultural landmarks, are important reminders of the divergence between the Muslim Filipinos and the Christianized Filipinos resulting from the Spanish empire-building and the clash between Christianity and Islam.
Today, the physical evidences and the worth of the baluartes are slowly diminishing. The historical importance of these watchtowers that once were witnesses to the struggles of our ancestors against aggression and oppression has been largely ignored by the present generation. This lack of interest and concern of the local residents have resulted to the baluartes' degradation and eventual destruction. Some of these structures were observed to have been transformed into pigpens, fish-drying area, house extensions or stockrooms. This is indicative of the lack or absence of a historical sense of our people, including the local government leaders.
The people of the Visayas, including the local folks of Bolhoon, must do something to preserve these baluartes. They serve not only to remind the Visayans but the entire Filipino people of their tumultuous but colorful past. The baluartes need their utmost attention so that they would remain as a visible legacy to the future generation.