Explore Baclayon video

Explore the charming and historic town of Baclayon, the oldest in Bohol. This video is from Baclayon Tourism.

Biyahe Baclayon traveller reviews at TripAdvisor

Pamilacan island (Photo: InfoWise101.com)

The town's flagship Biyahe Baclayon tourism program had great raving reviews from travellers at the TripAdvisor website. The website features reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, holiday rentals, holiday packages, travel guides, and lots more.

Biyahe Baclayon is composed of three tours designed for visitors who want to explore Baclayon's natural wonders and heritage and cultural sites:

• Heritage Walk aims to promote Baclayon's culture by bringing visitors to the town's delicacy shops that sell unique Baclayon food such as broas (lady fingers), tableyas (local chocolate tablets) and ube kinampay (local root crop), and to workshops where crafts and souvenir items are designed and manufactured.
• Adventure Trail covers almost the entire town of Baclayon. It includes hiking trails and trails for mountain bikes, dirt bikes and quads. The routes have been designed to pass by lakes, caves, springs and deep sinkholes. Several stops and points along the trail offer panoramic views of the town. Aside from these trails, there is a plan to offer kayaking in the lakes and to install zip lines for extreme adventurers.
• Whale/dolphin watching and Pamilacan island tour involves an early morning boat ride from Baclayon town centre to the island of Pamilacan. The body of water between Baclayon and Pamilacan is frequented by butandings (whale sharks), dolphins and manta rays. Upon reaching Pamilacan, guest may opt to visit diving sites, swim in the beach or have a massage from the women members of the local cooperative.

If you want to know what travellers had said about Biyahe Baclayon check out TripAdvisor's website.

Baclayon Church: A Long Walk Away

Photo: StoicPassion

By: StoicPassion (27 February 2010)

If you’d go to Baclayon with no tourist guide, you wouldn’t be acquianted with the colorful history of the church. Baclayon Church is considered as one of the oldest church in the Philippines dating back to 1717.

The church was actually made by the locals, with the use of coral stones quarried from the sea, cut into square blocks and held together by a mixture of shells, lime, and egg whites to cement the blocks together.

The church also has an adjoining detached tower which serves as a bell tower. During the olden days, the tower also served as a vantage point overlooking the Bohol sea to warn the locals of marauding pirates.

Typical of any Spanish era church, Baclayon Church also has ornate ceilings, altar area and colorful stained glass windows.

Read more @ StoicPassion

The Baclayon Stone Church

Photos: Artkitekto

By: Artkitekto Blog (11 December 2008)

Homecoming gave me a chance to do a round- bohol trip once again with my family. it was fun and I got tons of pictures with it too. Baclayon was our first stop.

The Baclayon Church is the oldest Catholic stone church building in the Philippines. It was constructed during the Spanish occupation and the first Spanish missionaries (called doctrineros) settled in the area in the late 15th century. Today you can still see the original stone structure of the Baclayon Church in the City of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines.

There are other preserved church buildings in the region but the Baclayon Church is the best preserved among them. The church itself is Jesuit, but the Baclayon Church (the one we see today) was completed in 1727. The erected church building known today as the Baclayon Church is formally known as The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

The area where the Baclayon Church now stands was home to the Spanish Jesuit missionaries when they arrived in the Philippines. The Jesuits were forced to leave and move their headquarters to Loboc. This was due to fears of being mobbed by Moro marauders.

Read more @ Artkitekto

Baclayon Church : Bohol Tour, Day 1

Photos: Kathang-isip Travelogue

By: Kathang-isip Travelogue Blog (24 September 2009)

Our second destination for the day is the second oldest church in the Philippines, and oldest church in Bohol: Baclayon church.

How to go there
Jeff and I took a rent-a-van to tour Bohol’s tourist spots.

What to see
According to Kuya Lito (Our tour guide/driver) Baclayon was supposedly the oldest church in the Philippines but San Agustin won that title after some historians disagreed with that claim. The claim is, the first Spanish settlers in the country was in Bohol therefore the first church was probably in Bohol, but I dont know, they’re both old that’s the only thing real at the moment, hehe.

From outside, Baclayon church isn’t all that impressive, it looks pretty boring actually, until you get to see the interiors of the church.

With just the sunlight lighting the interiors of Baclayon during the day, the church emits beautiful colors of red, yellow and blue with the help of the church’s stained glass windows. The main altar is enhanced with a warm color of yellow to emphasize it from the background.

Read more @ Kathang-isip Travelogue

Happy Fiesta Baclayon

Photo: Bol-anon blog

Today the 8th of December is the fiesta of Baclayon.

The townspeople of Baclayon celebrate this day in honour of their patron saint, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

My parents are the only ones left in our family that still lives in Baclayon.

Today, they are one with the rest of Baclayon in celebrating this special day with a small "tinawo" (fiesta food preparation).

Normally, our celebration of the fiesta of Baclayon is not as big compared to that of our barangay fiesta.

Even more so nowadays after Mom suffered a mild stroke a couple of years back. My parents relies on relatives nearby for assistance on some household matters.

But there's not much help during fiesta as my relatives are also having their celebration.

Still, I'm sure my parents, relatives and rest of Baclayon are having a wonderful time today.

Happy Fiesta Baclayon!

A pilgrimage to Baclayon Church

(Today is the fiesta of Baclayon. I am sharing a post on Baclayon Church from a fellow Bol-anon blogger.)

Sometimes, when we are too close to something, we fail to see its beauty. This is probably the reason why there are still many Boholanos, especially those living at the coastal areas, who have yet to visit the viewing deck of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol, or even the new one in Sagbayan, Bohol.

Because we know it is just nearby, we sort of miss out on how extraordinary the thing is. It is exactly the same with the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, Bohol, the second oldest stone Church in the Philippines. I don't think many really appreciate its place in the history of our country.

Read more at Bol-anon

Baclayon Church’s pipe organ

Text and photo: BEZO Initiatives

The 185-year old pipe organ of Baclayon Church was restored in 2008.

In a previous blogpost, Baclayon Church, the full article from bohol-philippines.com mentioned that the church’s pipe organ was in a state of disrepair. Not anymore!

The Baclayon pipe organ is thought to be the third oldest pipe organ in the Philippines. Built in 1824, it had been modified only once, in 1902. However, the changes were of poor quality and mostly unnecessary.

The pipe organ was last played in the early 1940s, when it fell into neglect and disrepair.

That explains why, in all the time that I have been hearing Mass in Baclayon Church since I was a wee boy, I have not heard it played! Nor am I surprised if my father (born in late 1930s) have not, as well.

Before its restoration in early 2008, the pipe organ was left covered in thick layers of dust, with several parts missing or damaged.

This musical instrument was carefully taken apart and shipped to Parañaque (Metro Manila) for extensive repair by Diego Cera Organbuilders, a group of Europe-trained pipe organ specialists.

The next time I visit my hometown Baclayon (hopefully next year) I will bring my family to the church to hear Mass and hear the beautiful music coming out from the pipe organ again.

If you are interested to read more about the pipe organ’s restoration, visit the BEZO Initiatives website.

Baclayon Museum

Photo: StoicPassion

The Baclayon Museum is another attraction of Baclayon. Aside from the centuries old Baclayon Church which is deluged by tourists almost daily, the museum is likewise a tourist destination. In fact, a visit to the church is not complete without a stopover at the museum.

The museum lies inside the Baclayon Church premises about 6-7 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. One can hardly miss the dark and imposing structure of the church since it is along the national road; very accessible by bus, hired van or private ride.

The museum is housed inside the old convent which lies alongside the back portion of the church. Adjoining it is the Immaculate Conception Academy and a wide open space at its front that can serve as a parking area for vehicles.

The museum charges a minimal entrance fee of P25 per person to cover maintenance costs. Picture taking is not allowed inside the museum; however, guests can freely take pictures of the church’s interiors. Due to previous thefts of many of its artifacts, the curia of Baclayon is now cautious in allowing people to take pictures of them.

Before entering the museum, guests can first have a look at the interior of Baclayon Church, especially of its majestic altar and the frescoes above it. There are many items of note inside the church which also dates back to the 16th century such as the statues, carved seats and intricate designs.

In fact, the Baclayon Church is a museum in itself minus the vestments, the hymnals covered with animal skins and the like.

Read more at bohol-philippines.com

Baclayon Church

The Church of Immaculada Concepcion in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest in the Philippines.

Construction began in 1717 where some 200 native forced laborers (obras pias) cut and dragged coral blocks from the sea, using only bamboos in moving and lifting the stones in position.

Millions of white eggs were said to have been used as cement. The current building was completed in 1727.

In the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a new facade- pictured here- and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.

Old broken glasses no longer can be replaced. The colored panes locally available now are different- pattern is limited only to the basic quatrefoil "florentine" patterns and color choices are only 3: amber, green and blue.

The original ones which date back to 16th century are thicker and deeper in color.

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines and is located in Bohol, in the Visayas region.

The construction was started by the Jesuits in 1596. As is happening in most grand historical structures in the country, the church is in partial disrepair.

Read more at bohol-philippines.com

Biyahe Baclayon

Baclayon is no longer about visiting Baclayon Church, if you are a tourist!

BEZO Initiatives, an organisation which aims to provide sustainable socio-economic programs through eco-tourism have teamed up with the local government to come up with a program that lets you experience a different Baclayon.

One such program is Byahe Baclayon. It is composed of three tours designed for visitors who want to explore Baclayon's natural wonders and heritage and cultural sites.

Heritage Walk aims to promote Baclayon's culture by bringing visitors to the town's delicacy shops that sell unique Baclayon food such as broas (lady fingers), tableyas (local chocolate tablets) and ube kinampay (local root crop), and to workshops where crafts and souvenir items are designed and manufactured.

Adventure Trail covers almost the entire town of Baclayon. It includes hiking trails and trails for mountain bikes, dirt bikes and quads. The routes have been designed to pass by lakes, caves, springs and deep sinkholes. Several stops and points along the trail offer panoramic views of the town. Aside from these trails, there is a plan to offer kayaking in the lakes and to install zip lines for extreme adventurers.


Whale/dolphin watching and Pamilacan island tour involves an early morning boat ride from Baclayon town centre to the island of Pamilacan. The body of water between Baclayon and Pamilacan is frequented by butandings (whale sharks), dolphins and manta rays. Upon reaching Pamilacan, guest may opt to visit diving sites, swim in the beach or have a massage from the women members of the local cooperative.

When our family next go home to Bohol, we will surely give serious thought about doing the Biyahe Baclayon tours. This is certainly great for our children for them to know more about their Bol-anon roots.

If you are interested to try the Biyahe Baclayon experience, you can visit BEZO Initiatives website (www.bezo.org.ph).

Photos: Inday Guapa blog, BEZO Initiatives
Text: BEZO Initiatives

(This blogpost first appeared in Bohol On My Mind blog on 28 October 2009)