Boljoon Church

Boljoon Church, officially the Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church, is a historic Roman Catholic fortress church in Poblacion, Boljoon, southeastern Cebu, Philippines. Built in 1783 by Augustinian priest Father Ambrosio Otero using coral stones, it is the oldest remaining original stone church in Cebu. Notable for its Baroque-Rococo architecture, defensive walls and blockhouse, it is declared a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark.

Visitors can expect a well-preserved coral-stone fortress church complex facing the sea along the Cebu South Road. The exterior shows Baroque-Rococo details, thick defensive walls, and a square blockhouse. Inside, the nave features original woodwork, religious artworks and a decorated altar. The adjacent church plaza, cemetery chapel, and Museo de Boljoon display religious artifacts and archaeological finds. The setting is coastal and quiet, suitable for sightseeing, photography and quiet reflection.

Constructed in 1783 under Augustinian priest Father Ambrosio Otero using coral stones and completed in the early 19th century, Boljoon Church served as both a place of worship and a fortress against Moro pirate raids. It features defensive walls, a blockhouse and watchtowers. It is the oldest surviving original stone church in Cebu and was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000 and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001.

Dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria (Our Lady of Patrocinio), the church remains an active Roman Catholic parish and center of religious devotion in southern Cebu. It represents Spanish colonial ecclesiastical architecture and the Augustinian mission heritage, and houses religious art, relics and traditions important to the local community. It is included in the UNESCO Tentative List for the Baroque Churches of the Philippines Extension.