Built Heritage, Historical Places and Other SitesChurch of the Nuestra Señora de la Luz. Established by the Jesuits in 1753, the Our Lady of Light Parish was ceded in 1768 to the Recollects who built the first stone church in the 1780s. The churches built in 1815, 1850 and 1853-54 were devoured by fire. The present façade is believed to have survived the last one. This "Crowning Glory of Recollect Architecture" and "Queen of All Heritage Churches in Bohol" was constructed when Fr. Jose Garcia was parish priest from 1854 to 1890. Domingo de Escondrillas, director of public works in Cebu, drew the plans. The extremely elegant Baroque facade of this biggest church edifice in the Visayas is the finest in Bohol. Consolidating the Moorish tendencies are the bas relief carving, wooden balusters guarding the bell tower windows, and the pointed roofs. The sophisticated architectural styles of the Baroque, the Moorish and the Plateresque are evident in the Corinthian columns and fine details of the lace-like capitals. The painted ceiling of the interior, done by Reynante Francia in the 1930s, is perfectly in step with the tiled (now GI sheet) roof and the main "retablo" embellished with roundels in bas relief depicting scenes from the life of Mary. The faux dome depicts popular saints venerated by Catholics. Beside the church is the old convento, now Sacred Heart Academy, which was built during the term of Fr. Pedro Polo (1844-46).
Inang-angan. Made of coral stone blocks, this grand stairway of four flights and 174 steps was constructed under the direction of Fr. Antonio Yus, parish priest from 1847 to 1849, to improve contact between Napo (downtown) and Moto (uptown). A fifth flight of 38 steps leads to the convent (now Sacred Heart Academy) at the back of the Our Lady of Light church. The promenade concludes in the old wharf popularly called Tulay where a visitor gets a majestic view of the sea, the mangrove areas and the mountains of Loon and Cebu across the Cebu Strait.
Spanish-Era Mortuary Chapel. This hexagonal two-storey stone structure located across the Our Lady of Light Church is made of coral stone blocks or "tinableya" put together with a mixture of sand, lime and water. In olden times, mass was not celebrated for the remains of a dead person. Instead, they were brought here for final blessing by the parish priest before they would be buried. Originally tile-roofed, it is now used as an office and occasional showroom for special events.
Spanish Colonial Cemetery (1800-1860s). The circular layout of this structure is unique in Bohol. The stone walls called "cota" or "kuta" are built of coral blocks or "tinableya" put together with mortar, a mixture of sand, lime and water. Like those of big churches in the province, the internal layout of the chapel, which has six burial chambers, is cruciform with a transept or pair of arms across the nave. Graves of persons of low status were unmarked in historic times, otherwise wooden ones may have been used, thus nothing remains to identify each grave within the circular perimeter wall.
Sombria Bridge. This stone bridge in Cogon Norte on the national highway has been identified by the Sites and Monuments Division of the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council as one of the most imposing and having the highest elevation among colonial bridges in the province.
Napo Ruins. For many years, Loonanons believed that the image of the Birhen sa Kasilak was enthroned on this site in 1610. Reported to have been originally enthroned in Butuan, Agusan del Norte on September 8, 1597, the image was brought to Cebu by concerned Butuanons led by Fr. Pedro Lopez, a Jesuit friar, at the time when Moro bandits were attacking the coastal villages of Mindanao. Allegedly, they eventually dropped anchor near Sandingan Island and brought the image here. On the other hand, recent research proves that the veneration of the Our Lady of Light started in Europe only in the 1700s.
The Ferandos House. Owned by the family of the late Pio Ferandos, former Loon mayor and Cebu RTC judge, this fine example of a chalet built during the American period served as a secret meeting place of the Filipino guerrilla leaders during the Second World War. Behind the ancestral house is a vertical cave that has potential for development into an environmental showcase.
Gabaldon Building. This edifice comprises the main building of Loon South Central Elementary School. Completed in 1915, it features an H layout with three rooms in the middle and four rooms on each side. Between the two corner rooms on each side of the facade is a wide stairway that leads to a foyer marked by columns and a high ceiling. All rooms have floors made of wooden planks. Ventilation is provided by the open space below the floors and several holes on the transom-like span above the doors and walls. The rear court, which used to be a garden bounded by the two rooms on each wing, has been transformed into a multipurpose hall, thereby concealing the two stairs that each led to the porch outside these rooms. The steel-pipe railing on the porch has been retained. Toilets have recently been added to all the classrooms. The original GI sheet roof has been replaced with tile-designed GI sheet. The original capiz-panel windows have also been replaced with glass jalousies. Both stairway and foyer have recently been tiled.
Loon Public Plaza. Completed in 1929, it features an imposing monument dedicated to the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and a big fountain that depicts the legend of the town. Of particular interest is a miniature Statue of Liberty atop the Rizal monument attesting to the era when it was constructed. Another structure at the plaza is a fountain that features four caryatids forming a column that supports a round structure the side of which is adorned by four gargoyles serving as water spouts. Atop the circular platform are two figures of women, one carrying an urn and the other drinking water from her scooped hand.
Christ the King Monument. This imposing structure on the church plaza features a figure of the Risen Christ atop a three-sided column at the center of an ornate and multi-layered circular base. It is maintained by the family of its designer, the late Zosimo “Iyo Zosing†P. Relampagos.
The Grotto. This other masterpiece of “Iyo Zosing†depicts the scene in Lourdes, France where Mary appeared to a girl named Bernadette. It is a favorite backdrop for the annual reenactment of the Last Supper and many other photo opportunities.
Hugosan. Another Relampagos masterpiece, this four-column platform across the Spanish-era mortuary chapel serves as main gate of the fortress-like church. It is the venue of the annual Easter Sunday rites observed by the local Catholic population
Big Cross. This pilgrimage site marked by a Big Cross on the slopes of Barangay Cabug offers a majestic view of the Cebu Strait. A road leading to the place features replicas of the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Moalong Cliff and River. The river and the bluff overlooking the wide expanse of mangrove are mute witnesses to the most successful ambush staged by the Boholano guerillas against the Japanese aggressors during the Second World War.
Tubig-Loon Spring. An abundant source of spring water north of the nucleus barangay of Napo after which the town’s name was taken. The spring and the nearby fish ponds and mangrove areas are frequented by quite a large number of birds.
Barangay Cantaongon. A major supply camp of the Boholano guerrillas during the Second World War.
Sister Milvida’s House of Prayer. This favorite retreat facility in the middle of a coconut grove in Barangay Moto Sur sits on a promontory overlooking the Lintuan Beach and the Cebu Strait. Also called the House of Peace by its owners, it has a main building, open-air conference room for small groups, duplex house, kitchen, dining area, chapel, gazebo and garden. It has hosted local and international retreats.
Virgen de la Paz Hermitage. This home of the Virgen de la Paz hermit nuns sits on a cliff that overlooks the mangroves and marine sanctuary in Barangay Tangnan and offers an unobstructed view of the sea and the blue mountains of Cebu.
Solar-powered Lighthouse. Located in Punta Baluarte in Barangay Pantudlan, Cabilao Island, this modern lighthouse is a donation of the Spanish government and stands beside the old one that has been retained for its historical value.
Mesina House. The only remaining house of such design. Loon used to have a lot of old houses of the same design. With some families experiencing early the economic boom brought about by success in the retail business, mostly in Leyte, Samar, Negros and Mindanao, and in the practice of their professions, all the other old houses have been replaced with concrete ones with modern designs.
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Topic: Tourism in Loon: Built Heritage, Historical Places and Other Sites (Read 4341 times)