In the bustling municipality of Minglanilla, nestled between Talisay and Naga City, lies a forgotten piece of history — the Bantayan sa Hari.
The picture above shows a replica of the tower displayed inside the Barangay Hall. However, the original structure still stands a short distance away, hidden within a cluster of informal settlements. Sadly, the real Bantayan has fallen into neglect. Informal settlers have built their homes around and even on top of the old stone structure, using its walls and roof as part of their dwelling.
To reach the site, one must first ask permission and a guide from the Barangay Hall, as the Bantayan is located on privately occupied land. Upon arriving, we were fortunate enough to climb to the top of the tower, where an unobstructed view of Naga City stretches to the south, and the island of Bohol appears faintly across the sea in front.
The structure itself is built in a riprap fashion, resting on a sturdy stone embankment. According to our guide, the Bantayan sa Hari was likely constructed sometime in the 1800s, possibly around 1858, when Minglanilla was renamed from Buat under Fr. Sanchez. The tower retains a square base, and its elevated vantage point once served as an ideal lookout post — a “bantayan” — against seaborne threats during the Spanish period.
Here is a picture of the inside
Today, however, this historic site stands as a reminder of the urgent need to preserve Cebu’s baluartes or watchtowers. Barangay Tungkop has long struggled to reclaim and protect the tower from encroachment. Year after year, barangay captains have tried to dislodge the settlers but without success.
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The Bantayan sa Hari remains both a symbol of Minglanilla’s heritage and a call to action — that our remaining watchtowers deserve the care and protection their history demands and they deserve.
hi tom