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Region 7: Central Visayas ••• Bohol Island Cortes Known by the ancient name Malabago, Cortes was already being served by priests from Maribojoc. Established as an independent parish in 1793 or 94, it was renamed Paminguitan. The town was established later, probably in 1862. The town was renamed after the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes. The parish was dedicated to the Santo Niño. Although the Recollects who served the parish from its inception until 1898 had begun to build a church in 1880, the bell towers upper register was not completed until the 20th century.Heritage Site: Perched on the slope of a low hill, the town of Cortes gives its church a dramatic setting. Shaped as a cruciform, this sedate building is of cut coral has an octagonal crossing tower. Floral carving frame the doorway, and a light pink plaster can still be seen suggesting that the façade was more colorful than it is now. The interior is dominated by the painted ceiling done by Ray Francia. The main retablo has twisted Solomonic columns and profusely carved flanges in the Baroque idiom, a contrast to the otherwise revivalist line of the church. Cortes Church Santo Niño Parish The Cortes church is located on top of a hill. Like most Bohol churches, the Cortes church has a portico in front of an older façade. Stop at the mouth of the Cortes River to admire one of the most extensive nipa swamps in Bohol. A member of the palm family the aquatic nipa is used for thatching houses. Its flowers are tapped for nectar which is distilled into an alcoholic drink or allowed to ferment to become vinegar. The nipa fruit is edible. A shallow river, that opens at the Cortes nipa swamp and snakes up to Balilihan (about 20 kilometers inland), Abatan is the source of much sand used in construction around Tagbilaran. Flat bottomed plywood boats are moored on the river, where workers collect sand gathered from the river bed. To do this bank breaking work, they have to dive into the waist high waters of the river. Abatan and its tributaries was a waterway to reach the interior towns of Balilihan and Antequera. The river is rife for ecotourism. Exploration through kayak can be arranged. Inquire at BDMarine, a boat building enterprise near Cortes nipa swamp and along the highway, also at Ilaw Convention Center, Bool, Tagbilaran City Tel.: (038) 524-2423; FAX: (038) 411-4853. |
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