Boac, Marinduque Etymology

Jack Maico
Sep 15
3 min read

The toponym Boac is derived from the Cebuano word bu-ak, cognate to the Tagalog word bi-ak and the southern Tagalog term ba-ak. This is about the town being bisected by the Boac River, which runs from the Central Marinduque and Balagbag Mountain Ranges to the west coast facing the Tayabas Bay.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boac,_Marinduque

Special credits: https://turistaboy.com/marinduque-travel-guide/

Church in town: 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 (𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐜)

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish (Filipino: Parokyang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi), commonly referred to as Boac Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral in the town center of Boac, Marinduque, in the Mimaropa region of the Philippines.

The seat of the Diocese of Boac, the cathedral is today surrounded by its centuries-old defensive walls and was declared a Philippine Important Cultural Property (ICP) in 2018 by the National Museum of the country. At present, the Cathedral houses the Sacred Heart Pastoral Center (Bishop's residence) as well as the Diocesan Shrine of Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang Awa within its compound.

In 2021, the cathedral was designated as a jubilee church of the Diocese of Boac during the celebration of 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines.

A Franciscan missionary, Fray Estevan Ortiz, planted the first cross on Marinduque Island in 1579. Monserrat de Marinduque, the first visita (now Boac), was established with Fray Alonzo Banol as its minister a year later, in 1580.

The Franciscans ceded the administration of the island in 1618 to the Archbishop of Manila, Miguel García Serrano, who then entrusted the island to the Society of Jesus. In 1621, the Jesuits assumed the spiritual administration of the island. The church was constructed facing east with its rear overlooking the lower town, known as Labak to the natives, in 1756. It was seen to serve as a refuge of the townspeople against pirate attacks prevalent in the era, in addition to its purpose as a place for worship when it was finally built in 1792.

Local accounts include that once, when the townspeople were being attacked by Moro pirates, while taking refuge within the church's walls, they prayed fervently to their patroness, the Immaculate Conception, for salvation from the attack. Oral tradition also holds that while the natives were being killed, they were all praying when a supposed apparition of Mary with outstretched hands drove away the intruders. This event led to the devotion to Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang Awa (Our Lady of Prompt Succor) as their patroness's new title.

In 1899, the flag for the revolution in the Philippines brought by Canuto Vargas was blessed in the cathedral. In 1958, the venerated image of Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang Awa was canonically crowned and is considered the patroness of the province. The historical marker installed at the cathedral states that a Boac parish priest named Saturnino Trinidad helped Colonel Maximo Abad surrender to the Americans under H.H. Bandholtz.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boac,_Marinduque

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐜 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

Boac, a heritage town in its own right, is known as one of the main venues of the annual Moriones Festival and is the location of several historical sites in Marinduque, including the Boac Cathedral fortress church, Casa Real, and the Liwasan ng Kalayaan, Laylay Port, and the Battle of Paye site.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐜: