Central Visayas - Bohol

The San Nicolas de Tolentino Church Complex and Ermita Ruins in Bohol, popularly known as Dimiao Church, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum on Friday, July 30, 2011. Built in the latter half of the 19th century, the Church houses several neo-classical retablos. Surrounding the church is an “Ermita” or hermitage where an ancient walled cemetery is found. Excavations undertaken by the National Museum in the 1990’s discovered a burial site with skeletons buried facing east, and human teeth remains showing a tooth-filing tradition. The Church is considered to have outstanding historical, aesthetic, social and architectural significance. Mr. Angel Bautista, Curator II of the Cultural Properties Division of the National Museum notes, “It is the responsibility and mandate of the National Museum to protect and preserve our tangible heritage. By declaring the Church a National Cultural Treasure or NCT, it can be preserved for posterity.” The local government of Bohol with Mayor Sylvia V. Adame, Governor Edgar M. Chatto and Congressman Arthur C. Yap has worked tirelessly in conjunction with parish priest, Fr. Ted Milan Torralba, Fr. Claverlito Migrinio and Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, D.D to promote this as a National Cultural Treasure. The Stone Bridges of the same town were also declared Important Cultural Properties in 2004. Dimiao Church is the eighth declaration by the Museum this year. Earlier declarations include the Tabon Cave Complex as a National Cultural Treasure, Parish Church of San Salvador del Mundo in Caraga, Davao Oriental as an Important Cultural Property and the Old Town of Dapitan as a Heritage Zone.