I.

INTRODUCTION

Ancient Moro Watchtowers were once used to warn against marauding pirates and are
located in the Poblacion District 2 Dauin Negros Oriental, near the beach and old church. These
Moro Watchtowers were built to watch the coast of Dauin from possible marauders, who used to
foray in the town of Dauin, capturing natives and selling them as slaves in Mindanao. The
watchmen posted at the bantayans used drums then to alarm the people of the coming Moro
vintas. The watchtowers stand as a symbol of the bravery and heroism of the people of Dauin.
The most commonly known group of raiders that continuously attacks and raid the area was the
Moro raiders. These Muslim marauders came from the islands of Mindanao.

The municipality of Dauin in Negros Oriental and the Commission on Church Cultural
Heritage of the Diocese of Dumaguete are partnering for the protection and preservation of this
centuries-old watchtower, which the town has declared a heritage site. Situated in Dauin town
proper, the stone structure appears to be still mostly intact but needs to be carefully cleared of
vegetation and debris. The local government of Dauin, Negros Oriental and the Diocese of
Dumaguete, through its Commission on Church Cultural Heritage and the St. Nicholas de
Tolentino Parish, are partnering to preserve a centuries-old Spanish watchtower in that town.

Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela, St. Nicholas de Tolentino Parish priest and head of the
Diocesan Commission on Church Cultural Heritage, said it would be a big challenge to preserve
the stone tower but for now, the initial plan is to protect it from further degradation while
searching for proper conservation measures. The tower, which sits on a piece of property owned
by the diocese across the Catholic church in the town “poblacion”, is engulfed in thick vegetation
with chunks of stone and debris continuously falling off the structure, although it appears to still
be mostly intact.

One of the reason why the Researcher choose this topic because of its ancient dome-
shaped and the only one remained Moro towers in the part of Dauin there were about four of
these towers in Dauin alone but they are now either in ruins or have completely disappeared. One
of them, which only has a wall remaining from the original structure, is standing “divided”
between two dive resorts in that town.
II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study was conducted to determine the importance and to tell the people that there is
a Moro tower o fortress in Duin. Specifically it seeks to answer the following question:

1. Is it important to preserved the Moro Watchtower o Fortress?

2. What are the benefits of the people living in Municipal of Dauin having a SPANISH
Moro tower?
3. Did you know that there is a SPANISH Moro Tower here in Dauin?

III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted to determine the importance and to tell the people that there is
a Moro tower o fortress in Duin. The topic will be beneficial to the following: