CEBU CITY – Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia is seeking the return of missing pulpit panels donated to the National Museum of the Philippines by private collectors to the historical Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon town, southern Cebu.
Garcia said she is open to a dialogue with officials of the NMP to resolve the issue.
She said it would be better for NMP officials to visit Cebu. “I will make that part of my formal communication with them. Why do we have to hold these discussions here? Precisely so that we can go to Boljoon as well. Let us not be table-surveyors and discuss ideas and concepts over the table. Let us go to where it all began,” Garcia said in a press conference on Monday, February 19.
The municipal council of Boljoon has passed a resolution requesting the NMP to return the pulpit panels to the town.
It remains unclear how the pulpit ended up with private citizens but the NMP maintained that the artifacts were legally acquired.
“It is noteworthy to emphasize that our donors procured these specific panels through legitimate means, highlighting their commitment to ethical acquisition,” the NMP said in a statement.
The four pulpit panels were donated to the NMP by private collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista.
“Moreover, the donors' decision to acquire these artifacts and donate to the Philippines reflects their dedication to preserving cultural heritage and promoting patriotism,” the NMP added.
Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, heritage consultant of the Cebu provincial government, confirmed that the donated artifacts were the missing panels from the Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church.
Bersales said the pulpit in the Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church, formerly known as Nuestra Senora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church, has six panels.
The fifth panel is under the care of the priests at Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church while the sixth remains missing, Bersales said.