The Rock That Welcomed the South
Once, Eli Rock stood like a sentinel over the highway, its limestone curve embracing the coastal road into Boljoon. Locals called it the “Southern Bend,” and travelers slowed down just to take in its raw, untouched beauty. It wasn’t just a landmark, it was a part of the town’s identity.
When the Crown Was Taken
Heavy equipment climbed its slopes. For safety, they said, to stop rocks from falling during landslides. The work went on for months, cutting into the peak. What took nature centuries to form was reshaped in a single season.
The New Ili Rock
Now, the crown is gone, replaced with a viewing deck. The climb to the top is 136 steps under the open sun, but the reward is a view that takes your breath away, the glimmering poblacion, the endless blue sea, and on clear days, the faint shapes of Bohol and Siquijor. Soon, there will be telescopes, a zip-line, and maybe even a lighthouse.
Beauty, But Different
Tourists love it. Photos of the new deck fill social media, and local businesses see hope in the visitors it brings. But for some, the joy is mixed with sadness. The view is still beautiful, but the silhouette of Eli Rock, the one etched in memory, is gone forever.
How To Get There?
By Car: From Cebu City, drive south via Natalio Bacalso Avenue (Cebu South Road) passing through Talisay, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Carcar, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, and Alcoy until you reach Boljoon, Eli Rock is along the highway near the town proper, easily spotted as a massive cliff by the roadside overlooking the sea.
By Commute: From Cebu City South Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Oslob or Santander and tell the conductor to drop you off at Eli Rock in Boljoon, it’s right along the highway, a few minutes before reaching the town proper.
Standing at the top, the wind on your face, the sea stretching beyond sight, you can’t help but wonder, when we change nature to enjoy it more, do we love it… or do we lose it?
