More than anything else, Bohol

You asked me what brought me to Bohol?

I don’t think I have the ready answers to this. Instead, I will tell you how I spent the first nights in Baclayon.

It was an uneasy mix. Diverse at one point and contented on another. On a Sunday, when memories of home raced through mind, I was struck by the repeated peals of the bells of Baclayon Church. I buried my head between two pillows until the sounds dissipated. The altar boy- in-charge tasked to pull down the ropes of the bells must be so strong he wouldn’t stop nary a second. He did a good job. The sounds were constant. The parishioners have gone home to rest from the wrappings of the recent Masses and the reminders were heard all over Baclayon. This form of quietude is Bohol’s enviable trait alongside laidback principles steeped in pious activities. But when reality seethes in, mundane relations could be irrepressibly amusing. For one, I found the story of the motor banca an interesting one.

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Exploring the Wonders of Bohol

It was only during my elementary days that I get to see the famous Chocolate Hills in most of my “Hekasi” or “Sibika” books. But it was on May 2008 that I’ve finally set foot on this beautiful island.

Bohol, the tenth largest island of the Philippines, is situated at the Central Visayas region and is beside Cebu and Leyte. It is about 700 kilometers south of Manila and about 70 kilometers southeast of Mactan Island. Bohol has been considered to be one of the dream destinations in the Philippines because of its famous attractions and beautiful white sand beaches.

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Bohol and ME (2009)

Last week, my mom, sis and I went to Bohol and met some relatives there. It was an unplanned trip because supposedly, it would be my Dad who's going there with Mom. However, because Dad had to attend to some appointments, it's me who tagged along with them. We arrived Bohol via Cebu August 16, 2009 and went back to Davao August 21, 2009 just in time for the highlights of Davao's Kadayawan Festival.

Here are the recent pics I had with Bohol's finest:

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Amorita Resort Review

It was in May 2008 when I had the chance to visit Bohol for a 4 days / 3 nights stay. Our trip to Bohol was totally unexpected so we didn’t have much time to plan the whole trip. A week before our trip, I already started looking for an accommodation in Panglao Island and I was quite surprised of their rates – most of which are really quite expensive.

While I was searching the Internet for a nice place to stay in Panglao Island, I stumbled upon this stylish and very elegant resort – Amorita Resort. Amorita, which means “little love” in Spanish is owned by the 28-year old Ria Hernandez-Cauton. The resort is nestled atop a beach sided cliff which offers spectacular and breathtaking views of the sky and Panglao Island’s Alona White Beach. It is quite new since it was built just 2 years ago, I think.

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Tourism up in Bohol despite crisis

The tourism industry in bohol is on the upswing even when tourism was on a downturn in other places, according to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

During the 155th Bohol Day celebration at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City, the President said tourism arrivals have gone down even in leading tourist destinations in other countries due to the world economic crisis.

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What to do in Bohol

Just 79 kilometres southeast of Cebu, oval-shaped Bohol province, is a treasure trove of ecological and historical wonders including the popular Chocolate Hills. The capital, Tagbilaran remains a sleepy laid-back city with its share of ubiquitous malls and fastfood chains. Not much action to be found here but in the isles at the tip of Bohol, pristine beaches line Panglao Island while the best and most popular divesites in the country temptingly lie around Balicasag Island. A few years ago, only divers and locals were privy to these white sand beaches and dive sites but soon word did spread thus Bohol is now largely popular as a world-class diving destination.

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Breezing through Bohol

The early dawn flight to Tagbilaran left Manila on time, and landed in the Bohol capital after an hour. A tourist van was waiting outside the terminal, as well as the sun! I had planned for a wet holiday. Weather had been bad all week in Manila. The sun over bohol on typhoon season was the first pleasant surprise!

We arrived in Panglao island 20 minutes after leaving the airport. Panglao is connected to Tagbilaran City by bridge. It’s good to arrive there fresh and dry. Anyone who’s traveled to Boracay knows that one cannot reach the island without feeling a little harassed by a 15-minute boat ride from mainland Panay where the airport is.

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I Wonder as I Wander

YES, I know the drill. You shouldn’t touch the tarsier―not that it will let you. Never pat its head; it has a really soft cranium, and a tap will crush its head in. And do be quiet, because you might scare it away.

So after all the girls had their photos taken with the tarsier, it was my turn.

“Maybe you could point at it?” Rose, the photographer, suggested.

I moved in gingerly through the brush, trying my best not to shake the bush where the tarsier was on. As I looked at the camera, my finger was moving slowly to point at the little creature.

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TBTK Ok?

The recently concluded Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) is not just a plain social affair, as the aftermath of the festivities showed. A week after the final activities of the TBTK gathering, Vice Governor Julius Herrera questioned the manner by which the event was organized by the TBTK group Chair Betty Veloso-Garcia, who incidentally is related by affinity of political rival Congressman Edgar Chatto. A beauty titlist in the 2006 Miss Bohol International also accused contest organizers of not being true to their promise regarding a travel award that she should have received. TBTK organizers retorted back, highlighting not only the success of the affair but also the purity of their intentions.

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Adventure park puts Danao on the tourism map

Bohol’s Danao Adventure Park is the Philippines’ newest attraction for the global adventurer. Located amidst mountain ranges, wide gorges, and the gushing Wahig River, this eco-tourism destination offers an array of adventure facilities and activities.

For the global adventurer, this is the perfect place to experience River Kayaking, River Trekking, River Tubing, Root Climbing, Wall Climbing, Bouldering, Rappelling, Caving, and the new cable ride facilities: the Sky Ride, Suislide, and the Plunge.

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Anchored in Bohol

A week since we arrived on the Island of Bohol, Philipines, anchoring off the city of Tagbilaran. As usual, passed the initial excitement of stepping ashore and discovering a new space, we soon realized how much we would need to work, if we wanted to get going soon. Bohol and Cebu (which is a few hour ferry ride from here), are our last chance to order parts for the boat, stock on large amount of groceries, and get materials for us to create the costumes for our Sea Dance Festival. So as usual, we are very busy, but the thought of sailing across remote islands very soon keeps everyone going.

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The seaweed farmhouses of Hingutanan

In Bohol, particularly in the northern part of the province facing Leyte, seaweed is big. Considered as one of Bohol’s most productive centers is the small island of Hingutanan. The island is politically part of the municipality of Bien Unido and is now divided into two barangays, East and West. A visit in Hingutanan would however reveal that seaweed is largely grown outside of island, a bit further into the reef. There, tens of farmhouses have been erected on stilts, serving both as a drying platform and as an entrepot of dried seaweed.

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Raw Bohol (Only in the Philippines)

I have not heard of Danao, Bohol until last week when I carried only a handbag of belongings and hop on a ro-ro to join other Manila and Cebu reporters on a journey we didn’t quite know what to expect.

A day earlier, I received the itinerary of the overnight (business) trip from the Department of Tourism. The trip was meant to cover the launching of the two-year old Danao Adventure Park, a 60-heactare P25-million development project of the Municipality of Danao, Bohol.

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Dagohoy legend inspires Bohol adventure tour

The island province of Bohol is looking to attract tourists seeking greater adventure other than climbing the Chocolate Hills or taking a peek at its rapidly depleting population of tarsiers.

The municipality of Danao wants to become known as a destination for extreme sports enthusiasts through its "Eco/Extreme Adventure Tour" (or shortened to EAT Danao), with activities like wall climbing, river kayaking, and zip line that locals fondly call the "suislide".

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Loboc’s Rivercruise

After walking around San Pedro Apostol, I then cross the old bridge of Loboc were some men directs traffic, the bridge can only accommodate single lane traffic, these traffic enforcers also plays an important role in making sure that the bridge would not be overloaded.

The Loboc local government has set up a center for tourist near where the barges for the river cruise are, its complete with pasalubong stalls and very clean comfort rooms. I bought a ticket that cost me P350, it includes the ride, the buffet and the on board entertainment – two guys in floral shirts playing old songs.

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Amazing Race Bohol Edition

While doing some research for the Great Visayan Tour, I read about Rod in an online travel forum. He was highly recommended as a tour guide for Bohol, so I got in touch with him and made arrangements. Three of us (Hot Tuna, Bunny Rabbit and me), one van, eight hours, ten tourist spots. Count 'em:

1. The Blood Compact Site. (We still don't know which one is Sikatuna. All of them are wearing leather boots and are heavily-bearded.)

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AFP says Cebu, Bohol now rebel-free

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command (Centcom) is set to turn over the lead role of Internal Security Operation (ISO) to the local government units of the provinces of Cebu and Bohol after reporting a winning battle against communist insurgencies in the said provinces.

In his report during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 7 meeting at the Cebu Provincial Capitol recently, Centcom Commander Gen. Isagani Cachuela said the AFP will be handing over the ISO of Bohol and Cebu to the respective provincial governments saying the two provinces are now free from communist rebels.

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Experience Paradise

It was another spur-of-the-moment weekend. I was in bed with nothing planned for the day. Then something suddenly hit me - WHY NOT SPEND SOME TIME IN THE PARADISE-LIKE ISLAND OF PANGLAO?

My Tita (mom's best friend) invited me to her rest house in Panglao, Bohol weeks ago yet my weekends were too busy for me to visit the place. I guess last weekend was the best time to unwind at the beach since my week was crazy as hell and I was bored to death. So I packed my back with clothes good for the weekend and headed straight to the pier to catch the next trip to Tagbilaran City.

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Doljo Beach in Bohol Philippines

Doljo beach has become a tourist attraction in Panglao island in Bohol. It is known for the pretty seas hell. This is a beach full of marine biodiversity.

Bohol is one of the main tourist destination in the Philippines today. In going to Bohol you could go by air or by sea with a ship. Traveling by air is definitely much faster because it usually only takes about an hour while traveling by ship may take almost a day but it is cheaper thus saving you some cash. From Manila you can get a flight going to Tagbilaran. You can make any flight from Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirit, Air Philippines and Philippine Air lines first stop is Cebu.

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Is Donaire the Philippines' Oscar De la Hoya?

Talibon, Bohol native Nonito Donaire Jr. is undoubtedly one of the best fighters that has ever come from the Philippines. Truth is, if there was no Manny Pacquiao right now, Donaire's current #7 ranking in The Ring Magazine is not only one of the highest achievements ever for a Filipino boxer, it is also the highest ranking any San Francisco Bay area based boxer has achieved in the past 100 years.

So why isn't Donaire being embraced by Filipino fight fans they way they did with Pacquiao?

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Blessings and Bohol

A lot of people we know have already been to Bohol. We have always dreamed of going but a trip for 7 people in a family calls for serious financial planning. So for me and my family, it was something we looked forward to since March when we finally had our plane tickets booked. Since it would be the first time for our youngest Pio to take the plane, he would unceasingly ask us when we will be riding the airplane - my mistake for exciting him early.

Blessing no. 1 - enter low air fare promo again from Cebu Pacific. Thanks to sis Roan for alerting us one evening last March about this. Suzette and the kids kept on calling me in the office to confirm on the dates when we can book our flight. They were all excited to book online and got a bargain fare for 7 pax for 10K. That's a really sweet deal!


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Bohol was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

We were packed in a Bus. Our tour guide, Miss Cecile (a fluent-Boholana-english-speaker) was very accomodating. making sure that we get the best of Bohol - from where our bus was parked to our destinations. (Priority was lunch by Loboc River)

Our trip was a very educational one. Bohol is truly rich in culture. As what I heard from Miss Cecile, Boholanos are very friendly and are good singers. She took us through Bohol's history through the entire route to Loboc River.

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Beautiful Bohol

Bohol is one of the best quick adventure escapes outside Cebu City. It is an hour trip by fast craft ferries like Ocean Jet, Weesam or Supercat. Bohol is gaining to be the top tourist destination in the country because of its stunning white sand beaches, azure blue waters in Panglao, Eco-tourism thrills and the famous tarsiers.

From General Santos, I reached Cebu around 1pm and headed directly to Pier 1 for Ocean Jet (OJ) Passengers. I have availed of the incredibly low fare of P400 return ticket from Cebu-Tagbilaran, Bohols’ Capital. This can be availed if you booked a ticket 1 week before your departure but you can also avail of the P300 return if you book in advance 2 weeks before your date compared to the P800 return outright purchase. I have also inquired that Supercat offers P300 economy class return. However, OJ has the most number of trips to the island of Bohol thats why its more convenient. They charge P50 for rebooking.

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Bohol - with a few camera snaps!

Bohol was a beautiful island which seemed much more of a resort than the places I've been thus far. The main port was busy but not congested at all. Small villages were sprinkled throughout where one could see various artisans honing thier craft. A few of the more interesting entreprenurial expeditions seen was a smithy that specialized in machete making and a group of people who made furniture out of old tires.

We then had lunch on a boat which took us on a scenic trip up river. Mother nature, never to be outdone, decided to drop a heafty amount of rain on us; adding to the ambience of the trip. On the banks of the river we saw flowers, children swimming, and a musical number put on by the locals using ukelele's. Normally I would be fine with such a production but I found some of the MTV-style grinding moves some of these 9 year olds attempting to be unsettling. The weather cleared up and so we continued on our tour.

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The Tarsiers of Bohol

Aside from the famous Chocolate Hills we see on postcards, there is also one thing thats uniquely from Bohol and its the cute, addorable, charming, petite, shy tarsiers of Bohol. It was my first encounter with real life tarsiers, I can’t believe at first that it is really palm-sized monkey. They have huge eyes and neck that can rotate as much as 180 degrees. Their eyes are just simply innocent looking, you could see their emotions as an animal.

How can some cruel people capture this animals for pets, they dont deserve to be in cages and petshops because Bohol is their home. If we don’t protect these animals, they might just end in this picture or in encyclopedias. Lets not wait for this to happen.

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Bohol Paradise Express

Early Saturday morning I jumped on a flight from Manila to Tagbilaran, which is the main city of Bohol Island, south in the Philippines. I had booked a room for one night at Bohol Tropics Resort, which was located relatively close to the airport and the city. There are a lot of fantastic resorts on the island, but since I didn’t plan to spend the weekend on the beach I wanted to stay closer to spots I was interested in, such as the Tarsier Visitor Center.

When I arrived in Tagbilaran a hotel van picked me up and drove me to the resort. Unfortunately, my room was not ready that early in the morning, so I organized a tour guide for the day to get out and about as quickly as possible. My driver was a quiet Philippine man who didn’t speak very much English.

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Bohol Countryside tour

Bohol is also rich and culture and tradition. It is the place where the Blood Compact or the signing of a peace and trade agreement during Spanish colonial times also known as the Sandugo. This event is remembered through a shrine located in Tagbilaran during the first stop-over of our Bohol countryside tour. The place is also overlooking the sea of Bohol.

The ceremony was very unhygienic because they have to drink each others blood with wine from the bleeding vessels in their arms, fortunately there was no hepatitis or other blood-borne diseases yet. Lol.

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Chocolate Hills, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Philippines

Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines and located in the Visayas, the group of islands in the center of the Philippines. Bohol has three main attractions: the mahogany forest, the world’s smallest primate, and a geological phenomenon called the Chocolate Hills.

The Chocolate Hills are a mystery, both in legend and in science. Folklore has it that the hills were made when two giants threw stones and fistfuls of sand at each other in a fight. Days later and exhausted, they forgot their feud, became friends and left the island, as well as the mess they made.

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Top 8 Reasons to Visit Bohol

Bohol is found in the Visayas group of islands in the tropical country of the Philippines. Known for its friendly people, beautiful beaches, and of course the most famous Chocolate Hills, Bohol is a tourist destination through and through.

The best time to visit Bohol is in the summer when it’s easier to go visit some of the country’s popular tourist spots. When we say summer, it’s around March to May. And no, Bohol isn’t just about going to the beach, there’s more to it than meets the eye. So if you’re planning for a trip to this island, here are top 8 reasons to visit, mostly centered on the town of Panglao:

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Going Loco over Chocolates (A Late Summer Escape to Bohol)

The plan to visit the Island of Bohol has been long overdue; it must have been last year’s. Bohol was the place where I originally planned to make a wedding proposal to Iris. This year’s schedule must have been postponed due to the company’s unexpected change of our travel schedule. I already had booked a round-trip plane tickets two months ago but my boss insisted on the new travel sked to Misamis Occidental and Dipolog City. To materialize the said vacation, I had to book another flight from Dipolog City to Cebu City just to make sure I go on schedule. And overnight hotel accommodation in Dipolog City had cost me more than expected.

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