Blissfully Blessed
Scarlet is probably the most enthusiastic tourist guide that I’ve ever met. Young and pretty, she is an amazing storyteller who can charm you with her thousand and one tales of Bohol.
Scarlet ticks off: Bohol has approximately 1,700 caves, most of which are unexplored. Bohol is where one of only six double barrier reefs in the world is located. There are 1,176 hills of the world-renowned Chocolate Hills. And every day during the month of May, there is a fiesta going on in any one of its 47 towns.
She goes on: Did you know that one of the reasons why this island province has so many churches is that its citizens once settled their taxes in kind than in cash? Yes, Scarlet says that in exchange for helping build all those churches, the citizens were exempted from paying taxes.
Most of those churches were made of coral stones. These are solidified rocks from the sea, she says. And of those coral stone structures, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Baclayon is one of the oldest.
Listening to Scarlet’s assortment of trivia certainly gave a new perspective on my previous trips to Bohol.
My first impression of the island province of Bohol was not such a pleasant one. The unmistakable thud of the captain slamming the brakes because of Tagbilaran Airport’s very short runway was definitely not very inviting. However, that unexpected welcome was soon forgotten when I set my sights on Baclayon Church.
Baclayon Church is a living marvel. And its almost majestic façade is only a promise of the wonders inside, which includes a larger-than-life gold-plated altar and an assortment of centuries-old religious images and artifacts.
Only a few minutes away stands another beautiful structure, the Church of Our Lady of Assumption in Dauis. Here is another exemplar of Gothic architecture that the Spaniard friars were so very fond of centuries ago. A fresh water well, which is known for its healing powers, stands at the foot of the church’s altar.
The Boholanos are a very religious people, Scarlet says. And their religious fervor permeates even their work lives. Look at any of the tricycles plying the streets of Bohol, and you would see a Biblical inscription at the back. Scarlet says those tricycles cannot operate without those inscriptions.
Driving through the coastal towns, I am amazed at how things have remained the same over the years. While other provinces have boomed and blossomed, Bohol has stayed true to its ancestral roots.
Scarlet tells us that the province is committed to the principles of eco-tourism, and so, you won’t find any skyscrapers sprouting from its towns anytime soon. Indeed, the tallest structure around the island is the six-storey DQ Mall and the only facility into mass production is the Coca-Cola plant in Tagbilaran.
True, there are always new resorts opening and new tourist destinations to be visited, but Bohol, a province blessed with many natural wonders, is only too happy to be where it’s at: a place where Mother Earth is treated with utmost respect.
[HEAD] TURISTA GUIDE
Getting there
Located in the Visayas, the island of Bohol can be reached by air or boat. From Manila, there are daily flights to Bohol. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes from Manila to Bohol’s Tagbilaran Airport. You may also travel to Bohol via Cebu. It takes about an hour and a half by boat from Cebu to Tagbilaran.
Activities
If you want it extreme, then visit Danao Adventure Park. A humongous nature park, it offers a myriad of activities including the Sky Ride (cable car ride 200 meters off the ground at P250), Plunge (a canyon swing adventure mounted over a 200 meter high gorge at P700), and Suislide (a zip-line mounted on an incline cliff at P350).
Meals
Of course, what would a trip to Bohol be without cruising down Loboc River while dining on fresh seafoods and regional specialties?
Winding down the river is a relaxing experience made festive by the occasional song from a group of singers. Dining is buffet-style so you can have as much as you want in the hour or so that it takes you to traverse the river and back.
One of the most romantic—and delicious—alfresco dinners you’ll ever have would have to be at Lawis Café in the grounds of Dauis Church. Nestled under a large acacia tree with the beach as its backdrop, Café Lawis offers delicious pastas as well as a changing menu of entrees (less then P200). The Tsokolate Eh Souffle Cake is definitely a must-try.
Accommodations
There are all sorts of hotels and resorts in Bohol, most of which are located in Panglao.
Contacts
Danao Adventure Park
(038) 412-2338 local 6111
(038) 510-0033
Café Lawis
Rectory Ground Floor
Our Lady of Assumption Shrine
(038) 502-3016
