Christianization

In the words of the early Jesuit missionary Padre Pedro Chirino, Bohol was "inhabited by a people of lighter complexion, and generally more comely, than are other Bisayans. They are a race of such spirit and valor that they have spread through many neighboring islands, where their descendants still preserve the name of Boholans, of which they are very proud."

That was the impression of the first Jesuit priests assigned to the island to preach the Good News of Christianity in 1596, Frs. Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez. The two were consoled by the fact that  Bol-anons did not practice polygamy unlike those in Leyte and Cebu, and that made them easier to convert to Christianity.

But there were two practices that the early Jesuits did not like. One had to do with burial rites, in their manner of shrouding and burying, and the other with their feasts, festivals and drunken revelries, which seemed to be excessive. All of these would change when they were converted to Christianity.  Once converted, however, the Bol-anons became devout and reverent Christians, 'kneeling on both knees, with hands clasped across their breasts.'

After only eight months, the Jesuits gained Baclayon and its hamlets, their first mission site, and Loboc and two other neighboring islands where they baptized some 3,000 converts. Datu Sikatuna (or 'Catunao' in Chirino's account) was also baptized by the Jesuits in his old age, even if he could no longer stand up. He lived to be more than a 100 years. (Pedro Chirino's Relation…,Blair and Robertson, Vol. 12, pp. 300- 311) 

Baclayon was raided by the Moros on October 26, 1600. Their coming was known 3 to 4 days in advance so that the people retreated inland, save for three old women and an old man whom the raiders killed. One of the old women, who was said to be a witch, was luckily baptized earlier and so died a convert.  Three women and a man were carried away as captives.

Surprisingly, the Moros did not destroy or ravage Baclayon. At that time, the priests were in Cebu called by their superiors for a conference. The other villages, like Dita and those along the Lobo river, were likewise spared.  (Chirino's Relation, in Blair and Robertson, Vol. 13, p. 147)

This Moro raid was the reason why the missionaries moved their mission center from Baclayon to Loboc, an inland village far from the sea.

By 1609 to 1616, the Bohol mission had grown to 12 churches and some 2,200 tributes,  with Loboc as its center. But in 1655, the villages were later reduced to five, and the rest were treated as visitas. The five were Loboc, Baclayon, Ynabangan (Inabanga), Panglao and Malabohoc (Maribojoc). There were four Jesuits assigned during this period: Luis Aguayo, Pedro de Auñon, Bartolome Sanchez and Francisco de la Peña. (Blair and Robertson, Vol 28, p. 88)


The Jesuits also founded the parishes of Talibon which became a parish in 1722 or 1724 and Inabanga, but these were served by the Jesuits in Cebu. Dauis was founded in 1697 and Panglao in 1782. Jagna became a parish in 1631, Loon in 1753 and Tagbilaran and Maribojoc in 1767, the year before the Jesuits were expelled. Loay, which became a parish in 1799 during the time of the Augustinians, was a visita during the Jesuit years.

References:
Blair and Robertson, Vol 28, p. 88
Pedro Chirino’s “Relacion de las Islas Filipinas,” Blair and Robertson, Vol. 12, pp. 300- 311 and Vol. 13,
p. 147
Javellana, Rene S.J., “Angels and Gargoyles of Loboc Church”, Philippine Studies, Vol. 36, No. 1 (1988)
88–97