Alumbung Tropical Living

Posted by: Gibo

Hopefully, this will be the first of many. I have recently started a survey on hotels, resorts, inns and pension houses in Bohol with the hope of getting more personalized information from them regarding their places. First to respond is Bob of Alambung Tropical Living located in Panglao. His responses clearly exemplify the kind of hospitality they offer.

More @ Bol-anon

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Would you rather a chicken foot or intestine?

Posted by: Sam and Steph

To get to Panglao Island from Cebu, we took the OceanJet ferry which took about 1.5 hours (air con and even a movie were included!) We arrived and were ambushed by the taxi drivers trying to take us to Alona Beach, we settled on a tricycle which was WAY MORE FUN! We stumbled upon a cheap room at Bohol Divers Resort and made that our camp for 3 nights. We were happy to finally be out of the big city and back to island living...able to really enjoy the popular beer of choice, San Miguel :)

More @ RealTravel

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The Bard from Bohol

Posted by: Gibo

When Boholanos talk about “our President”, there is a big chance we are not talking about the incumbent. More likely, we are talking about the first and only Philippine President who came from our dear province.

Carlos P. Garcia was born on November 4, 1896 in Talibon, Bohol to Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia Polistico. He grew up with politics in his blood, his father having served as Municipal Mayor for four (4) terms. He married pharmacist Leonila “Inday” Dimataga-Garcia and had one daughter named Linda Garcia who later married Fernando Campos.

Read more @ Bol-anon

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Two Days in the Philippines

Posted by: Harmony

I had an awesome weekend! On Friday at 6pm, I flew to Manila, arrived at the airport and anxiously sorted through a sea of faces, trying to find Jane, the "girl in the red shirt". I finally found her, not long after I had started imagining how I might spend a weekend in Manila on my own. We were joined up by the rest of our group: three South Africans, one Hong Konger, two American Hong Kongers, Jane, and myself.

We stayed the night in Manila. Though I was only there for a very short time, Manila didn't give off a good vibe. I heard quite a few sirens through the night. We were greeted by a guard dog and a security check at the hotel entrance. I wasn't sad to leave early the next morning for our destination- Bohol.


More @ Hong Kong Harm

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Alona beach and farewell to the Philippines

Posted by Julia and Billy

After weeks of striking gold in terms of travel destinations in the Philippines, I knew that at some point, there would be a letdown. Sure enough, that was what happened to me in Alona beach. After Apo island I headed to Alona beach in Bohol. Bastian and I were still traveling together, so we took a boat back to the apocalyptic town of Malatapay and then hopped on a jeepney to Dumaguete. In Dumaguete it started to pour down rain, so we, and all of our possessions were thoroughly soaked. From Dumaguete, we took the speed ferry to Tagbilaran, Bohol and hopped in a cab to Alona beach (travel in the Philippines always involves a lot of steps).

Read more @ Julia's Travels

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Proud Boholano Donaire Dominates Maldonado

Posted by: John Gregg

One of boxing's best young champions was back at work and he left little doubt that he is one of the rising stars in the sport in 2007.

Nonito Donaire
IBF flyweight king Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire
Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
The winner of the Upset of the Year" award when he leveled Vic Darchinyan, IBF flyweight king Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire returned to the ring to make his first title defense and he scored a bloody 8th round TKO over Mexico's Luis Maldonado.

The 7 to 1 underdog, who scored a electrifying 5th round TKO over the heavily favored Darchinyan last July, came out blazing against the switch-hitting Maldonado; opening cuts over both of the challenger's eyes in the second round. Maldonado repeatedly returned fire but Donaire's power proved unstoppable and he dropped the challenger near the end of the 7th, after connecting with a hard uppercut followed by a scalding left hook to the chin.

Read more @ The Boxing Times

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Ananyana Resort, Bohol

Originally Posted @ Heart 2 Heart

Our group wanted to go somewhere we have never been to and this was a great choice! There are only 12 rooms and we used up 6 rooms so we practically had the place to ourselves. It was like our own private resort. It is only 5,000 sq. meters and from any part of the resort, you can see almost everything going on so it was easy to track the kids playing around.

Ananyana will always bring back good memories for all of us.


More photos HERE

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Bohol Bee Farm

Posted by: Leah TM

The Bohol Bee Farm is one of the places that one MUST visit when you are in Bohol. I myself never gets tired of coming here everytime I have the opportunity to do so.

I was with my father and two guests. We had breakfast there. I ordered my ever favorite "sikwate and puto maya". We were all given a complimentary array of home-made honey based spread. All these are sooo yummy when spread on the farm's very own freshly baked bread.

Read more @ Life in Bohol

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Twin Tragedy

Posted by: Miko Cañares

I was dumbfounded reading the news on November 18 about two boys who died in San Isidro, Pilar - drowned in a well near their house while their parents were in the fields and an elder brother was watching TV. Though I have not seen nor known the boys personally, I feel a deep sense of remorse and regret, and an unexplainable sense of sadness swept over me.

It is maybe because I am a father that I can very well relate how such a grave loss could affect one immensely. Or maybe because I know Pilar quite well, because I have worked there when I was still very young and free of cares, that those children, faceless as they were in the news story I was reading, brought vivid images of children in Pilar that I have talked to in my endless wanderings in the rice fields.


Read more @ Boholanalysis

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Amazing Bohol! (Prony)

Posted by: Leylander

Prony is the 11-year old python in Albuquerque, Bohol. She was found when she was around 6 years old. Now, she’s considered the biggest and longest python in captivity. I forgot the details. But she’s definitely HUGE! Not just HUGE huge. But SCARILY HUGE huge!





The caretaker, Jing-jing, kissing Prony.

More @ My Cebu Photo Blog

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A Date in Bohol - with Lando :)

Posted by: metrophoto

Sorry, to disappoint those who are waiting... no, this is not the blog where I publish the photos from the W@W christmas party :( I did have this and another topic lined-up before that one. so yes, it should be this wednesday where you'll all see that and if you want to leave my blog right now and go back on wednesday - that's alright too (sob :'() hahaha... did that work? yeah, i thought so - reverse psychology is always lame and hard to pull-off. :)

but if you're planning to read on... :)



Read more @ Metro Photography

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A European's View of Bohol

Posted by: Vincent Vanderveken

Bohol, the 10th biggest island of the Philippines (out of ± 7107) is situated just south of Cebu city has a wide array of possible attractions. The thing I loved about it is that you can start (and end) your days laid back on a fabulous white sand beach enjoying a Piña Colada while feeling you’ve actually done some mileage and accomplished something during the daytime. There is a lot exploring to do on the ever changing scenery of this captivating island.

Read more @ Vincent Vanderveken

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Bohol Family Vacation

Posted by: Joy Reyes

Went to the airport around 4am. The little girl was too excited to go to the beach “like hi5″ so she was all smiles and didn’t have enough time to get cranky. Her ears hurt so bad though that I had to breastfeed her to make it stop.




Reached bohol at exactly 7am. Our tour guide Mang Jun is very professional and you can feel how much he loves his town. We were very tired because we only slept like one hour the night before so the three of us nods off every now and then throughout the entire tour. I feel bad about this because Mang Jun have so many stories that he want to share. So I suggest to book a countryside tour when you’re feeling refreshed and awake.

Bohol is so clean and apparently, crime-free. We saw old houses, mangroves, swordsmiths, and tricycles with words of God at the back.



Read more @ My Happy Place

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Christmas in Bohol

Posted by: Gibo

I remember several years back, when I and my sisters were still students at the universities here in Manila, our parents decided to come here from Bohol for the Christmas season. On Christmas eve, just as we always did before, we prepared for noche buena. Then, at around 10pm, our father and mother started dressing up to attend the midnight mass.

Read more @ Bol-anon

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Travel site ranks Bohol as one of “best spots you’ve never heard of”

Posted by: AsianDiver

Travel site ranks Bohol as one of “best spots you’ve never heard of”

Users of a leading travel website has rated Bohol as one of ten “best spots you’ve never heard of” in a poll.

In an article by Reuters Life, the members of the travel website IgoUgo (http://www.igougo.com) voted Bohol, Philippines as one of ten previously-unknown tourist spots that are ideal vacation places.

The article cited the Visayan province as “one of the Philippines’ secrets.” The place was described as having “numerous natural treasures that lure visitors to its shores.”

“Although people usually go to its highly urbanized neighboring island Cebu, Bohol holds a charm of its own makes it distinct from other Visayan islands,” the article added.

Read more @ Philippines Travel Blog

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Weekend's Business Holiday: When Nature Calls in Bohol, Philippines

Posted By: Ilhami

The famous kissing scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the 1953 movie 'From Here to Eternity', on the sandy beach amid crashing surf, has immortalised itself in popular culture. During Valentine, couples can relieve that scene in the great outdoors - captivating, rippling terrain, luxuriant greenery, teeming wildlife, exotic marine life and turquoise waterways - and make their getaway a memorable and passionate one.



Let you be guided to the tropical sanctuary of Bohol to find solitude, serenity, and a diverse beauty of endless splendid paradise of the East.

More @ FinanceLifeGuru

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3rd stop - Panglao Island, Bohol

Posted By: Ma. Reneelene Perez Prieto

We were picked up from the ferry terminal in Tagbilaran by a hotel rep. Mejo malayo pa ang Panglao from the terminal, 45 mins - 1 hour drive. We reached our hotel at 5pm na. We stayed at Amorita Resort which is located on top of a cliff, you have a beautiful view of the sea. The place is still under construction, actually finishing touches na lang siya. We booked a Gardenview villa as all the Oceanview villas were fully-booked at that time. Ok lang naman kasi pare-pareho lang naman itsura ng villa, all villas have their own private pool/jacuzzi. It was uneasy taking a shower at their outdoor bathroom (naked hehe), feeling mo may nanonood sayo haha, baka maya ma scandal pa ko wahaha. Basta highly-recommended ko tong resort na to, check out their site….

More @ UnderstandingYen

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Dam(n) Proactivity

Posted by: Miko Cañares

I thought then that to be proactive was always desirable.

Bringing an umbrella in London even without a “rain forecast” is always a good thing, because even the weather bureau at BBC fails to predict weather conditions a number of times. But it is another story when you wear winter clothes in Bohol because you anticipate that the snow would come any time of the day.

Read more @ BoholAnalysis

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A Day Well Spent

Posted by: Jun Auza

I just had a short break and spent some quality time with my family. It felt weird but good to be finally away from the hassles of technology; to feel the warmth of the sun on my forehead and the sand beneath my feet; to see the smiles and hear the laughters of my beloved; and appreciate the beauty of nature that God has given to this home province of Bohol.

Read more @ Tech Source from Bohol

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Cruising at the Loboc River

Posted by: Rollyn Mosqueda

Enjoy a fascinating boat ride in the serene waters of Loboc River, starting from Loay Bridge which is the outlet of the river, and along the palm-fringed banks inland.

The ride via motorized pump boat ends near the Tontonan water falls, where several falls with cascading water provides a pleasant bathing session. A cruise along Loboc River starts either from Loay Bridge (20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City) or from Poblacion, Loboc which is about 25 kilometers from the city.

A motorized boat or a floating restaurant will take cruisers upstream passing by large vegetations of nipa (palm tree), coconuts and other tropical flora. The two main destinations are the Tontonan Falls and the Busay Falls. Two islets in the middle of the river are ideal picnic sites. A resort nearby accommodate tourists.

Read more @ BoholTouristSpots

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That Airport Obsession

Posted by: Miko Cañares

Airport talk, more particularly that of the one proposed at Panglao Island has been in discussion in government and NGO circles since early nineties. (On a personal note, I can still remember May Blanco, then with the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, who did a research paper on the Panglao Island Tourism Estate and its potential effects). It has resurfaced time and again and is currently a major news item in Tagbilaran recently with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) avowing to finish the project before her term ends.

Read more @ BoholAnalysis

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10 Things One Shouldn't Miss Doing While in Bohol

Posted by: Miko Cañares

Before anything else, allow me to be defensive. This list need not suit everybody else's tastes and necessarily comes from a particular standpoint. The list is that of one who claims ancestral roots in Bohol (as his mother is a Boholana), grew up in Mindanao, went to university in Bohol, worked for some time somewhere else, but went back to Bohol to claim a Boholana bride.

Having said that caveat, let me also add one more. This list comes from a not-so-athletic person, whose idea of sports is to play basketball with a two-year old son, or to enjoy paragliding in front of a PC. Nevertheless, this list also comes from the standpoint of one who enjoys the simple things in life (in other words, doesn't have enough money to splurge in expensive getaways).

Read more @ Bol-anon

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A Moment in Paradise

Posted by: Coriander

I witnessed Bohol’s city lights wane into the dark horizon after twinkling goodbye to me. The frothy ripples drawn by the ferryboat we were riding seemed to murmur a song of serene warmth . The ferry seemed just as excited going home as it had been going to Bohol.

A sun-drenched Monday morning welcomed us to Panglao. When I first dipped my toes into the inviting waters of the beach, I figured that if not for the change of environment, things wouldn’t be different from home. Almost everyone from my family was there that it didn’t feel like traveling at all. We brought home with us.

What’s amazing about that reunion was that the only thing I was allowed to do was have as much fun as I could. Those were the ten most memorable days of my childhood when television, computer games, Barbie dolls and Chinese garters had nothing to do with fun. Even though I had the salty wind kissing my sun burnt skin or the constant swoosh of the dancing waves that wouldn’t give us silence, there wasn’t a day I didn’t wear a smile...Read more @ Coriander

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How to go to Bohol

Originally posted from: Bol-anon

I am always asked by officemates and friends how best to go to Bohol. After telling them how beautiful Bohol is - with plenty of exaggeration - and showing them nice pics of our province, I feel obliged to provide them the information. Of course, there are so many ways to go there. I will try to tell you all about them.


From Manila, one option is to take a plane to Tagbilaran at either the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 (the Centennial Terminal) or the Manila Domestic Airport. You may read the profiles of these terminals/airports here.

Cebu Pacific flies to Tagbilaran twice daily. Flight 5J-617 departs from the Manila Domestic Airport at 6:50 and arrives at the Tagbilaran Airport at 8:10 am. Flight 5J-619 departs at 11:45 am and arrives at 1:05 pm. For both flights, Cebu Pacific uses their A319 planes. You may see their complete schedule here.

Philippine Airlines also flies to Tagbilaran twice daily. Flight PR175 departs from the NAIA Terminal 2 (Centennial Airport) at 8:00 am and arrives at the Tagbilaran Airport at 9:30 am. Flight PR177 departs at 2:30 pm and arrives at 4:00 pm. For PR175, Philippine Airlines uses either an A319 or a B737 plane, while PR177 uses an A319 plane.

Another way of going to Bohol from Manila is to take a boat to Tagbilaran. Superferry's Our Lady of Medjugorie leaves Pier 15, North Harbor, Manila every Monday at 11:45 pm and arrives at the Port of Tagbilaran on Wednesday at 12:30 pm.

On the other hand, Sulpicio Lines' Dipolog Princess departs from North Harbor, Manila also every Monday at 7:00 pm and arrives at the Port of Tagbilaran on Wednesday at 2:30 am.

Considering the limited flights to Tagbilaran, one option is to pass by Cebu, the queen city of the South. From Cebu, you may take fast ferries or the regular sea crafts from the Port of Cebu to the Port of Tagbilaran or one of our municipal ports.

Ocean Jet's fast ferries leaves Cebu for Tagbilaran daily at 6:00 and 9:30 am, and 2:00 and 6:00 pm. On the other hand, Weesam Express's fast ferries leaves Cebu for Tagbilaran daily at 9:10 am, 2:00 and 6:00 pm. In addition, Supercat has a ferry which leaves Cebu for Tagbilaran daily at 12:00 noon.

In case you want to save on transportation expenses, you may consider taking the regular see crafts of Lite Shipping and Trans-Asia. Lite Shippings' vessels departs daily from Cebu to Tagbilaran as follows: Sr. San Jose de Tagbilaran 10:00 am, Our Lady of the Barangay 12:30 pm, and Santiago de Bohol 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. In addition, Trans-Asia 1 departs from Cebu for Tagbilaran every Monday at 8:00 pm.

Finally, one interesting option in going to Bohol is to take the twice daily bus trips of Megastar and Philtranco from Metro Manila to the Ubay Port and the towns in the eastern side of Bohol, passing through Matnog in Sorsogon, Samar and Leyte. Believe me, I know some people who chose to take this option.

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Justice for Victor Olayvar

Originally posted by: IncendiaryTey

These are Victor Olayvar's oldest (Phillip Ivan) and youngest (Giovanni Faith) kids. I took this photo a year ago, during the 40th day of his death.

Victor Olayvar was the chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Bohol) and was one of the pioneering members of the farmers' group Hugpong sa mag-uumang Bol-anon (HUMABOL).

He was one of the happiest soul i ever met in this island, amid all the fights he led and his own struggles withing his family, particularly raising seven kids with meager allowance for committing his life full-time to the people's struggle in Bohol since the 8Os.

Up to this year, justice hasn't been served. The military agents who killed him last September 7, 2006 in Danao, Bohol are still running around freely. Well, as in every other military agent who killed political activists.

One thing is clear though, all the killings did not stop the people from fighting. And the people will continue to fight for what is right. The fight against imperialism, feudalism and beaurocrat capitalism continues.

Justice for Victor Olayvar! Justice for the Filipino People!

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Is Bohol's Tourism Any Good for the Poor?

Originally posted from: BoholAnalysis

The benefits of tourism to the poor in terms of employment, livelihood opportunities, improvements in the local economy, has recently been highlighted in development practice (Ashley 2006). Specific country case studies have shown its effect in generating employment, in enhancing participation of women in the labour force, and in instigating developments in forward linkages (ODI 2007). In the Philippines, tourism is pushed as development strategy, not only to propel local growth but also to combat poverty (Turingan 2006).

Eco-tourism is one of Bohol’s primary development strategy (PPDO 2003). Its competitive advantage is the presence of the famous Chocolate Hills, white pristine beaches in its islands, diving sites, and world-class cultural attractions (Relampagos 2002). Increased investments and promotional activities in the tourism sector have caused the dramatic rise in tourist arrival in the province since 2001.

Starting 2001 tourist arrival in the province has significantly increased (in 2003, foreign arrival was 18,385 while domestic was 110,514), especially when compared to 1998 base figures of 11,329 foreign and 28,958 domestic tourists The increase in arrival has fuelled increased economic activity in the capital city of Tagbilaran primarily because of the increased demand for services to cater to the rise in tourist inflow (Acejo et al 2004). Correspondingly, the increased tourist arrival was positively correlated with both increases in the number of manufacturing, service, trading and agricultural establishments as well as employment. (ibid).

Interestingly, the province has an area referred to as a ‘tourism belt’ where all major tourist destinations are situated. This spans from the island of Panglao to the town of Carmen where the Chocolate Hills can be found. The major ports of entry for local and domestic tourists are those located in the towns of Tubigon, Jagna, and the city of Tagbilaran.

Poverty incidence is relatively low in areas where the “tourism belt” and the major tourist sea ports are located, which incidentally are all in Districts 1 and 3. Acejo et al’s argument on how tourism has fuelled the growth of Tagbilaran resulting to increased employment of people may invariably be applied in this case, since unemployment statistics in the municipalities of both districts 1 and 3 are recorded as low, and have significantly decreased between the periods 2000 and 2003 (HNU-CRLG 2004).

It is argued that tourism has both direct and indirect impacts to domestic production and employment (WTTC 2005). As the Bohol case shows, it has positively affected living conditions of areas where tourism activity is high. Admittedly however, establishing a solid argument on the role of tourism in poverty reduction by gauging its impact on economic growth and improvements in quality of life is still at its infancy stage and in this respect, future research in the province in this area is highly encouraged.

Tourism, for one, is heralded as one of the two primary development strategies of the province (PPDO 2003, 2006), but provincial initiatives did not go beyond promotion and ensuring infrastructure and services especially within the ‘tourism belt’. With the burgeoning tourism industry, the tourism sector has not been used as a means to benefit directly the poor by fortifying the link between local production of the predominantly agricultural province to the tourism sector. Moreover, ‘leakages’, defined as a “process where foreign exchange earnings generated by tourism is not retained by the tourist receiving country” (WTTC 2005), are neither regulated nor minimized. To illustrate, ownership by migrants, foreigners married to Filipinos, and businessmen based in Manila, of the tourist service establishments in the ‘tourism belt’ is relatively high which may have jeopardized the benefit of reinvesting tourism gains into the local economy.

So there are still questions left unanswered; whether tourism has indeed affected lives of the poor and if local investors are the ones who profit from it. This is not to advance the argument that Bohol is for Boholanos, but to argue that Bohol's development should be steered in a direction where the Boholano benefits from the tourism costs that he/she shoulders.

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Where to stay in Bohol

Originally posted from: Bol-anon


The key to a very relaxing vacation is a good destination and a certain amount of advance information. Take that from a non-expert like me. :)



As far as Bohol is concerned, with its many beautiful attractions and the very laid back atmosphere, I think you already have no. 1. As to no. 2, one of the things you should know is... where will you stay. Asa man?

To help you, I have just added to the sidebar of Bol-anon what I think is the most extensive listing of hotels, inns, pension houses and resorts in Bohol with their own official websites. The list should assist you in deciding where to stay there.

I myself was amazed at the sheer number of options available. Bohol indeed has become a major tourist destination in the country.

From the more popular hotels and resorts in Tagbilaran City, to the more affordable inns an persion houses, to the beach and nature resorts in Dauis, Panglao, and other municipalities (i.e. Anda, Bohol), to the more specialized diving clubs (Panglao, Cabilao, etc.), a bee farm and flower gardens, I think there is something there for all types of visitors, tourists, and travellers.

Of course, there is always the option of finding a Boholano friend and convincing him or her to allow you to visit their "home". Trust me, there is a fat chance you will be staying in their their most comfortable bedroom, and get a free tour too. :)

Photo of Bohol Tropics, one of, if not the most popular, places to stay in Bohol taken from the Port of Tagbilaran.

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Aint too bad to be Pinoy!

Originally posted by: Bob Martin

Tagbilaran City – THE picture may have gone from bad to worse but some foreigners do not see the way most Filipinos see.



General Manager Robin Martin for example see brilliance, hardwork and globally competitive Philippines: a far soaring image of what most believe Filipinos are capable of doing.

He said his plant Intel-Philippines is where the most advanced products are launched, including the Pentium IV He added that by the end of 2002, Philippine operations has became Intel’s biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide, and Filipino brilliance is there.

If you have your Nokia cell phones with you, the cell brains called the digital signal processor (DSP) is produced in Baguio by Texas Instruments. If your phone is a Sony Erickson, it’s an 80 % chance your chips are by Baguio Texas instruments too.

You have a Toshiba laptop? Its certainly one produced in Santa Rosa, Laguna. And your anti-virus software PC-Cillin? Trend Micro develops its “cures” for viruses right here in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus breaks in any computer system in the world, a solution comes from Pinoy inventiveness within 45 minutes of finding the virus.

If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, that Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in your car is Pinoy made.

Now who says the Philippines is going for the dogs?

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Decrying a Crime-ridden Tagbilaran, Bohol (heeding mitzi i.’s text for protest)

Originally posted from: Bohol Republic

Today, we received a text from Mitzi I. (COS of the VM)

“Friends, I’ll be wearing black for the entire week to mourn the death of the security guard of yesterday’s robbery. And on the session of the city’s SP, I’ll wear a black band to protest the rise in crimes in this city. Join me if you want to. I refuse to walk our streets in fear nor live in fear.”


Talk of the alarming crime rate increase in Tagbilaran (and in Bohol) in the past few weeks has been heavily hovering over this usually uneventful city, and when yet again we hear of a bank heist (along CPG Avenue, at that and in broad daylight ,too) yesterday, with a bank security guard dead, something’s gotta give. And it matters little, even, that most of the suspects were nabbed a few hours thereafter the robbery incident.

To think that only last Friday, some of the top brass in the AFP and PNP were here for the Central Visayas Peace and Security Assembly. To think that Bohol’s been put into disgrace in the Central Visayas peace and order reports of the Regional PNP, having the most consistent increase in crime rate (for the period July2006-July2007) in the region. To think that the Bohol officials there kept saying that they were fierce and determined (as they ought to be) in combating crime. And three days later, *poof* a robbery.

These criminals should be quelled, yes. We could express utmost indignation on their crimes against the people of Bohol and the Philippines. (In Jack Arat’s name and the other nameless victims of violence) But we can’t plead with these people, they’re criminals. (Let’s not even talk about the socio-economic foundations that led these men to commit crimes.)

But it’s but right that we demand from our government, especially the police force, a safe and peaceful city and province. And let’s demand this in the open. And out loud. Even with the calm of wearing black.

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New Boholano Bishop

Originally posted from: Bol-anon

Pope Benedict XVI named a Boholano as the new bishop of the Diocese of Borongan, Eastern Samar. Fr. Crispin Varquez succeeds Bishop Leonardo Medroso who was assigned to the Diocese of Tagbilaran in October 2006.

Fr. "Bay" Varquez, as he is fondly called by close friends, is the outgoing vicar general in the Borongan diocese and curate of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. He joins 8 other Boholano bishops, out of a total of 71 in the country, now in active service, and will be the 14th Boholano bishop ever.

Fr. Bay's appointment was announced by the Vatican at noon Saturday, 11 August 2007, Rome time. It was announced simultaneously in Manila by Msgr. Wojciech Zalsuki, charge d’affaires of the apostolic nunciature.

Fr. Bay was born in Sevilla, Bohol to Sinforiano Varquez and Justina Barrete. He studied elementary and high school in Sevilla, his Philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto, Tagbilaran City, and Theology at St. Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay City.

For us who happened to know him during his seminary days in Taloto, Fr. Bay will always be remembered as a very amiable and humble fellow. As he joins the College of Bishops, there is no doubt that he will be making our dear alma mater, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, proud.

Check out the Philippine Daily Inquirer report here and the Bohol Chronicle report here. Photo above is a photo of our dear alma mater by a classmate of mine, Dantes Dacio.

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Double Doom For Boom Boom

Originally posted from: Bohol Republic

Boom Boom Bautista has to face the shame of being the sole loser in the Philippine Team for the World Cup of Boxing: Philippines versus Mexico, then our kind governor, right after his loss, pulls out a road concreting project in Boom-Boom’s home village. Ouch! “If Boom-boom becomes a champion, I will fulfill my commitment that I will have the road passing through his barangay in Can-uling cemented. Right now, it’s a no go. Maybe later… Let’s wait for the time when he becomes champion. And I am hopeful that he still has a bright future in boxing,” Governor Aumentado said in Cebuano in a telephone interview. (source: inquirer.net/ full story here)

The Philippines can’t possibly have it all, Boom Boom had to fall. And nicely before his face would’ve been smashed by the ravaging fists of Daniel Ponce de Leon if the match went further.

But must the governor do that?

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Hello Bohol!

Hello Bohol!

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