Nat’l Museum returns pulpit panels to Cebu
CEBU CITY—The four 19th-century pulpit panels that went missing from a church in Boljoon, Cebu, in the 1980s but surfaced in February last year when private collectors donated these to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) are back in the province.
The NMP on Thursday turned over the historic items to the Archdiocese of Cebu in a simple ceremony held at the Cebu Cathedral Museum in downtown Cebu City. The panels, intricately carved with images of Augustinian saints, were individually presented to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and placed on easels for public viewing.
On Friday, a motorcade took the panels to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, located about 104 kilometers south of Cebu City, where these were taken. To verify their authenticity, a wood sample was taken from each panel for radiocarbon dating.
Palma, in his speech, stressed the significance of the panels’ return, noting their role in the church’s celebration, faith and the overall essence of the Holy Eucharist.
“In the pulpit, the word of God becomes alive. Preaching makes His word palpable and adaptable to life,” the prelate said.
He also expressed the archdiocese’s gratitude to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for her efforts in pushing for the panels’ return to Cebu.
Aside from Palma, also present during the turnover were Garcia, her daughter Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, Boljoon Mayor Jojie Derama and NMP Chair Andoni Aboitiz.
Pride
In her speech, Garcia expressed her deep pride in the panels’ return, saying they rightfully belonged to the Archdiocese of Cebu.
“The truth explodes with clarity. Ownership should never be questioned. You have always belonged to the Archdiocese of Cebu physically, emotionally, psychologically and heartily,” the governor said.
The Archdiocese of Cebu announced that these panels will be available for public viewing from March 14 to March 18 in Boljoon.
The installation of the panels is scheduled on March 19 and March 20, to be followed by a thanksgiving Mass to be celebrated by Palma on March 21.
The panels, which the NMP earlier received from private collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista, were part of the six panels in the pulpit of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima. The panels feature carved images of St. Augustine of Hippo, spiritual father of the Augustinian Order that established the parish over 400 years ago; St. Leo the Great; St. Thomas of Villanueva; St. Ambrose of Milan; and St. Gregory the Great. The sixth panel, featuring an image that a source from the archdiocese could not recall, remains missing.
The manner of how the four panels had been taken from the church had yet to be explained.
The Boljoon Church, which owns the pulpit panels, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NMP and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
The church is home to the canonically crowned 400-year-old image of its patron, Patrocinio de Maria Santisima.
Agreement
Earlier, the provincial government and the Archdiocese of Cebu expressed dismay over the failure of the NMP to follow an agreement in May 2024 that the restoration of the pulpit panels should be conducted in Boljoon and under the watch of the archdiocese. This was reached to allow the transfer of valuable restoration knowledge and practices to Cebu’s heritage advocates and to ensure that the panels are originals.
However, this initial agreement was set aside when the NMP informed Palma that it was already doing the restoration work on the panels in an undisclosed location.
This prompted Garcia, with the approval of the archdiocese, to reveal plans to sue the NMP for not promptly returning the panels to Cebu.
On Feb. 25 this year, NMP Director General Jeremy Barns met with Garcia to apologize, where he promised to return the panels to Cebu.
