Punta Cruz Watchtower

Oriented northeast, the watchtower was used as a defense system against Moro pirates from the south. It was built under Augustinian Recollect priest Father Manuel Sanchez de Nuestra Sra. del Tremendal and was finished in 1796.{{Cite web |last=Jabines |first=Mae Claire |date=n.d. |title=The History of Maribojoc: Digging the Foundations of a Town |url=http://www.maribojoc.gov.ph/about/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908181133/http://www.maribojoc.gov.ph/about/history |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |access-date=September 4, 2014 |website=Official Website of the Municipality of Maribojoc, Bohol, Philippines}}{{Cite web |last=Jose |first=Regalado Trota |date=n.d. |title=Bohol Churches |url=http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=198 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195640/http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=198 |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=September 4, 2014 |website=National Commission for Culture and the Arts}} Made of cut coral stones, its base is shaped as a perfect isosceles triangle connected to a short hexagonal tower on the second level.{{Cite web |title=Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/520/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911002349/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/520/ |archive-date=September 11, 2014 |access-date=September 12, 2014 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}} The tower is known for being the "only perfect isosceles triangle" tower-fort structure in the Philippines.{{harvnb|Jose|2001|p=85}}{{Cite web |title=Punta Cruz Historical Watchtower |url=http://www.maribojoc.gov.ph/tourism/punta-cruz-historical-watchtower |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924193725/http://www.maribojoc.gov.ph/tourism/punta-cruz-historical-watchtower |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=September 4, 2014 |website=Official Website of the Municipality of Maribojoc, Bohol, Philippines}} It has several levels (or floors). Its central room contains a niche for religious image, in particular of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Wooden beams that support masonry walls are still present inside.

The Spanish coat-of-arms and an inscription highlighted by reddish earth tint can be seen at the tower's entrance.

The tower is dedicated to the secondary patron of Maribojoc, San Vicente Ferrer, as shown on the inscriptions on the tower entrance and an image of the saint inside.

Adjacent to the watchtower is a wooden cross in a rock clip facing the sea. The people of Maribojoc, being under the patronage of the Holy Cross, believe that they are protected by the Holy Cross from Moro pirates.

File:Punta Cruz Watchtower historical marker.jpg historical marker]]

The Punta Cruz Watchtower was declared as a National Historical Landmark in February 2009.{{Cite web |title=Resolution No. 4, s. 2009, Declaring Punta Cruz Watchtower a National Historical Landmark |url=http://nhcp.gov.ph/files/NHI_res_4_2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018160047/http://nhcp.gov.ph/files/NHI_res_4_2009.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=National Historical Commission of the Philippines}} Its historical marker was unveiled by the municipality of Maribojoc and the National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) in May 2009. It was also declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure under the collective group of Bohol Watchtowers together with the watchtowers of Dauis, Panglao, Pamilacan, Loay and Balilihan on August 29, 2011{{Cite report |title=Annual Report 2011 |last=National Museum of the Philippines |date=2011}} and official marker unveiling in July 2012.{{Cite report |title=Annual Report 2012 |last=National Museum of the Philippines |date=2012}}

Together with Fuerza de Capul in Northern Samar, Dauis watchtower in Bohol, Fuerza de San Andres in Romblon and Fuerza de Sta. Isabel in Taytay, Palawan, the Punta Cruz Watchtower is being considered to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2006 under the collective group of Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines.

File:Punta Cruz watchtower, Maribojoc Bohol post-2013 earthquake 01.jpg

{{Main|2013 Bohol earthquake}}

One of the largest earthquakes to hit Bohol struck the island at 8:12 AM on October 15, 2013.{{Cite web |title=M7.1 – 2 km NE of Catigbian, Philippines |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000kdb4#summary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015182624/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000kdb4#summary |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2013 |website=USGS Earthquake Hazards Program}} The center of the M7.2 earthquake was near Sagbayan, Bohol. Based on the technical assessment conducted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts after the 2013 Bohol earthquake, the watchtower experienced moderate to serious damage. It has since been restored since 2016.{{Citation |title=Joint SCH-NCMS Technical Assessment on Earthquake-Damaged Heritage Structures in Bohol and Cebu (May 27 – 31, 2014) |url=https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XwrZFlW76ckPAXwbJyifhhZSA5AU3-lIhxKsGd1kMwU/edit |type=Slide deck |publisher=Subcommission on Heritage – National Committee on Monuments and Sites |access-date=September 25, 2014 |mode=cs1}}

• Maribojoc Church

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• {{Cite book |last=Jose |first=Regalado Trota |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3YTYAAAAMAAJ |title=Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches |publisher=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |date=2001 |isbn=971-814-016-6 |location=Manila |pages=81–86}}

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• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140924193725/http://www.maribojoc.gov.ph/tourism/punta-cruz-historical-watchtower Punta Cruz Historical Watchtower on the official website of the Municipality of Maribojoc]

{{Spanish fortifications in the Philippines}}

{{National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines|state=collapsed}}

Category:National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines

Category:Spanish colonial fortifications in the Philippines

Category:Buildings and structures in Bohol

Category:Towers completed in 1796

Category:National Historical Landmarks of the Philippines

Category:1796 establishments in New Spain