Boljoon: A Poem
It’s a rather obscure town, a sleepy, quiet place by the sea on the southern part of Cebu. It can hardly be considered a tourist destination, but I guess that would depend on what one’s travel preferences are.
Below is the poem by Maria Theresa Niere that describes the beauty of Boljoon. Discover its wonder.
a town of fresh spring water that dries not
in history, legend and song it cries a lot
in this little postcard town of beauty down south
a huge sleping reptile lies at its mouth
the scenic water leaves visitor in awe
of natures’ creation, one would love to draw
the church speaks voluminous memories of old
in friendship and beauty, the people are sold
“when can we go back there”, asks a dear friend
a balikbayan’s heartaches, it tries to mend
the real place to be where simple ghettos are at
a calm mountains and peaceful shores i sat
a pal or a relative at every side
with small bancas to the deep blue sea, one can ride
the enchanted mountain of Elli cascades with green
lots of cool places and faces have i seen
come and visit now befroe time is lost
a warm tour from locals wouldn’t matter the cost
i love this countryside town where my heart belongs
sceneries, peoples, each has its own song
Boljo-on lies just over a hundred kilometers south of Cebu City. The whole municipality seemed to be narrowly cramped between the steep mountains and the sea, teetering on a very tight ledge along the coastline. It was like the mountain walls shoved the whole place right to very edge of the seaboard. Later did I learn how aptly named the town was, as Boljo-on comes from the Cebuano word buljo which means promontory or headland, a high point of land projecting beyond the line of a coast into the sea.