Cebu Congressman Edsel Galeos has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives, advocating for the return of four historic pulpit panels to Boljoon town from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), highlighting a significant cultural repatriation effort within the country.
Representing Cebu’s Second District, where Boljoon is located, Galeos’s legislative move responds to a request from the municipality for the NMP to investigate how the panels, believed to have been stolen from the town’s church in the 1980s, ended up in the museum’s possession.
Citing the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, Galeos emphasized the law’s mandate to protect and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, underscoring the deep historical and religious significance of the panels to the Boljoon community.
The panels, originally from the Patrocinio de Maria Santissima Parish Church, were declared part of the heritage properties of Boljoon, reflecting their importance to local cultural identity and religious practices.
Despite the museum’s acquisition of the panels from private collectors, who claim to have obtained them through legitimate means, and its commitment to their preservation for public display, Galeos challenges the notion that the artifacts’ value is purely artistic.
He argues that their religious context and role in evangelization demand their return to their rightful setting for the benefit of the Boljoon community, which has been vocal in seeking accountability for their loss.
The congressman’s bill garners support from local and provincial officials, as well as the Cebu Archdiocese, all advocating for the return of the panels to Cebu.
Boljoon Mayor Joie Genesse Derama and town officials have personally delivered a letter and council resolution to the museum in Manila, marking a united front in this cultural and historical restitution effort.
This bill represents a significant step in addressing cultural heritage issues in the Philippines, highlighting the ongoing debates over the stewardship and rightful ownership of cultural artifacts. – CebuLifestyleChannel.ph