Bohol: “Heart of the Islands…Truly Philippines”

 

     September 2010, our group visited Bohol. Bohol is a first income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Bohol is said to be the tenth largest island of the Philippines. 

 

 

From Tagbilaran Airport, we proceeded to Birhen Sa Barangay Parish-Shrine. Libot libot muna while waiting sa tatlo pa namin kasamahan na paalis pa lang sa Terminal 2.......

 

At pagdating nila, syempre kumpleto na kami. We're ready to explore Bohol...

 

 

   According to the articles I read, Bohol comes from the word "Bo'ol," which refers to the name of a place (the place thought of as the site of the Sikatuna-Legazpi blood compact) located a few kilometers away from Tagbilaran City. Some sources, however, claim that it actually comes from the Visayan term "boho" (hole) owing to the abundant caves, caverns, and holes in the island.

 

 

 

Next destination... Baclayon Church. This church is the second oldest stone church in the Philippines (the oldest is San Agustin Church, in Real Street, Intramuros, Manila, built in 1571). Baclayon Church was constructed in 1595 by the Jesuit priests.

 

Sad to say lang na this church was heavily damaged on October 15, 2013, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the province of Bohol.

 

      Inside Baclayon Church...

After Baclayon Church, tuloy ang paglilibot sa Bohol

 

     Stop over muna sa Man-made Forest. This forest is made up of mahogany trees. This  was part of a bigger reforestation project that was created in response to the alarming deforestation in the Loboc watershed (dahil daw sa kaingin, etc). The reforestation plan started in 1947.

 

           Hanging bridge...

 

 

     The famous Chocolate Hills. A one of a kind geological feature in the world. The hills range from 30 to 150 meters high and are covered in green grass, which turns to brown during dry season, making them look like chocolate mounds. Nagiging "Green Hills" siya pag di na dry season. hehe.

 

 

                                                  

    The Philippine tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. It is one of the smallest known primates.Tarsier is known locally as mawmag in  Cebuano/Visayan and mamag in Luzon. Hindi po sya "kwago"  tarsier po sya. haha.

 

 

Cruise along Loboc River with buffet lunch was great! Naenjoy namin ang food and of course the view...  

 We were also entertained with a live band performing on the floating restaurant. Midway through the cruise, the floating restaurant stopped by a platform. A group (Rondalla) will do a series of song and dance performances for guests onboard the floating restaurant.

   

 

      At Panglao Beach.......

 

  

Another famous place to see in Bohol... The Bohol Bee Farm. 

   Bohol Bee Farm is an agriculture haven dedicated to bee cultivation, organic farming, and healthy eating. Bohol Bee Farm also houses a resort and a restaurant where visitors can take a time off from the city and find relaxation while providing livelihood to the local residents.

    must-try ice cream

        This looks more like a floral arrangement for some, pero food po ito, salad, salad...

           
        pizza...pizza...pizza...

    
         Bee cultivation.......

      
           Organic farming.......

 

 

Hinagdanan ("laddered" in Cebuano) Cave is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites. Makikita po sya sa Panglao, Bohol.

 

 

Inside the cave... 

    
         Large number of stalactites hanging from the sealing, and matching stalagmites sticking out of the earth below them. The cave leads to a large underground cavern, that contains a pond. Both ends of the cave are open but swimming in the pool is not advisable as the waters there are not clean.

 

The group with Bayoyoy the dwarf in Dauis, Panglao, Bohol. He is one of the smallest and oldest man in the Philippines.

Ilocos: Are we there yet?

   01 May 2009, looong weekend kaya nagkayayaan magpunta sa Sagada. Unfortunately, due to weather disturbance in Mt. Province, the group decided to proceed to Ilocos instead of going to Sagada. Smile smile lang sa picture pero di nyo lang alam na muntik-muntikan kaming mag back-out. Reason? Dahil sa Partas (bus transportation). 30 April 2009,  8pm meeting time sa Partas Cubao. Dumating naman kami lahat pero inabot na kami ng 12 midnight, wala parin kaming ticket. (FYI hindi uso sa Partas ang reservation or advance booking)....

... matapos ang matagal, mahaba, at magulong proseso ng pagbili/pagkuha ng ticket, finally,  nakakuha/nakabili din kami ng ticket. Almost 3am (the following day, as in May 1 na!) ata kami nakasakay ng bus. Dahil sa pagod (imagine, pumasok pa kami sa office, umuwi sa kanya-kanya naming bahay etc...) lahat kami tulog sa loob ng bus.

 

    Between 9-10 am, nagising ang mga tao sa bus. Why? Sobrang init! Hindi na pala nagana ang aircon ng bus. One of our companions approached the driver and bus conductor. Ang sumunod na nangyari? Natuwa (siguro naman) ang lahat ng pasahero.......

 

 

 

 

 

 ...tuloy ang biyahe. From Sta. Fe, Ilocos Sur going to Baluarte, Vigan.

 

    Baluarte- a zoo located in Salindeg where visitors can see a variety of animals (including tigers and ostriches). The owner of Baluarte is former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.

 

 

 

 

       After Baluarte, our next destination is Vigan Cathedral/St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.

 

   

       Of course, our Ilocos trip will not be completed without going to Vigan Empanadaan - a reserved location where visitors can sample Vigan's famous empanada. yum  yum yum...

 

 

 

       Another point of interest in Vigan is Calle Crisologo - It is what Vigan City is known for—streets lined with Spanish Era ancestral houses with ancient tile roofs, massive hardwood floorings, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese architectural styles and cobble-stoned streets, which led to Vigan's inscription in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

 

 

        Nagkita-kita rin kami sa Calle Crisologo ng isa pa namin officemate/kaibigan, with his family... 

 

          Every 1st week of May, Vigan plays host to visitors for their festival called VIVA VIGAN! Binatbatan Festival of Arts.

 

 

 

 

We're thankful for the hospitality of our friend/officemate's relatives. Sarap ng dinner! Syempre, hinain sa amin ang famous na bagnet. 

          Ready to go for another adventure...

 

       Waiting time na naman... going to Laoag, Ilocos Norte     

 

 

            Sa loob ng Cape Bojeador...

        View at the top... the South China Sea coast near Cape Bojeador...

 

 

 

                      Next is.......

 

         The Sinking Bell Tower (St. William's Cathedral). Ayon sa aking pananaliksik (naks!), mas luma/matanda pa daw ito sa Paoay Church.  Ito ay itinayo noong 1590 ng mga Augustinian friars. The church was originally built using lime mixed with molasses for added strength, huge stones,gravel and sand. Wood was used for trusses to support the roof made of thatch materials (cogon grass).  It sinks an inch each year because of its weight and sandy foundation. Dahil mainit ang klima sa Laoag, the soil has suffered desertification (soil degrades and is converted to sand). The tower has sank so deep that its entrance is already half-buried.

 

 

 

     Dahil kilala rin ang Ilocos sa paggawa ng asin, syempre hindi namin palalampasin ang pagkakataon na makapagstop-over sa pagawaan nito...

 

 

  

    The Bangui Bay Wind Power Project (Bangui Windmills). The 1st commercial wind farm in Southeast Asia.

 

  

    Ilocos trip will not be completed without seeing the famous Pagudpud...

 

 

 

 

   After Pagudpud, sa Bantay Abot Cave (Mountain with a Hole) naman ang next na pinuntahan namin...

     
     Going to Bantay Abot Cave...

         The Rocky Islets across the Blue Lagoon, Ilocos Norte...

 

       The Blue Lagoon (the Boracay of the North)