Baclayon

Baclayon is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines, located on the eastern coast of Bohol Island in the Central Visayas region. It lies east of Tagbilaran City and faces the Bohol Sea, with a coastline that includes residential areas and small coastal barangays. The town forms part of the province’s historic heart and serves as a gateway to several notable cultural sites.

The best-known landmark is the Baclayon Church, officially the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, a stone church founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1595. It is among the oldest surviving stone churches in the Philippines. The adjacent convent and a catechetical museum preserve artifacts from the colonial era. The church district was heavily damaged by the 2013 Bohol earthquake and has since undergone restoration.

The local economy relies mainly on farming and fishing, with coconuts, rice, and fruit crops contributing to household incomes. In recent years, tourism centered on the church, its museum, and nearby natural and cultural attractions has grown, complementing traditional livelihoods.

Cebuano is the principal language, and most residents are Roman Catholic. The town celebrates a parish fiesta in honor of the patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8.

Administratively, Baclayon is divided into several barangays and is governed by a mayor and municipal council. It is a component of Bohol’s provincial structure and participates in regional and national elections.