- Day 2
We headed off to nearby Baclayon, passing the seaside
monument that commemorates the 16 March 1565 blood compact sealed between
Spain's Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Bohol chief Rajah Sikatuna. Baclayon
Church faces the sea, along with other churches located on the south coast,
while the churches to the north face inland. Completed in 1727, the church is
one of the best preserved Jesuit churches in the country with the most
renowned retablos to be found in the Visayas, although the Recollects
subsequently made a number of significant additions, including an exterior
façade featuring Roman arches. A visit to the Redulla Antique and
Reproduction Shop contributed to our understanding of the challenge of
protecting cultural heritage - eg. in this connection by market provision of
reproductions rather than originals - and we then proceeded to the Loay
heritage complex, where we visited the Clarin ancestral house in Lila (Clarin
was a strong US supporter following the Phil-American War), the Loay Church
Plaza, and Loay Church, where we enjoyed an organ concert and a children's
band performance (Dimiao Rondalla -banjos and guitars, with drums and string
bass) which was every bit as enthralling as the children's choir had been the
night before. The church really rocked!
Lunch was at the Bohol Beach Club - a sumptuous buffet kindly sponsored by Mrs Bea Zobel Jr. (Met Museum trustee) and served on large round tables under the palms, looking over the white, white sand beach and beautiful blue of the Bohol Sea. Some of us chose to stay at the beach for a couple of hours, while the rest went to visit the Tarsier Visitor Centre, where we had the opportunity to walk around in the 1000 square metre enclosure and see several tarsiers in their natural habitat.
Together again we all traveled to the 19th century Rocha-Esguerra house in Sitio Ubos, the oldest section of Tagbilaran, and were welcomed by a descendant of the original owners, former Mayor Jose Rocha, as well as the current mayor Mr. Jose Torralba. The city had organized a poetry reading in which we participated, as well as a painting exhibit. A generous merienda was also provided, along with the opportunity to look around the fine, old house with its unique architectural details and collection of memorabilia.
In late afternoon we proceeded to Dauis, where we visited the Church including the freshwater spring located underground, in front of the altar. We were treated to performances by the Diwanag Dance Theatre (a drama presentation featuring the Dagohoy Revolt which began in Bohol in 1744), and outside the Church, the Bukangliway Dance Troupe (secondary school students performing colourful Spanish-era dances), and Alicia Children's Bamboo Ensemble - yet another primary school group, this time from 100 km away, performing a wide programme with delightful spirit and talent with bamboo xylophones and flutes, most of which had been crafted by the ensemble's dedicated and enthusiastic conductor. Finally, a modern dance presentation followed, presented by university drama students.
We proceeded upstairs in the Church convento where the Closing Ceremonies for the Metropolitan Museum's TUBOD Exhibit took place, with the Museum taking the opportunity to thank and honour its Bohol participants and partners through the award of certificates. The MVP group felt privileged to be made part of what had clearly been a meaningful and successful collaboration between the province of Bohol and the Metropolitan Museum during which, Ino explained, Boholanos had developed new perspectives and understandings with respect to their culture.