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The Philippines is known for its people's hospitality. Filipinos all over the world can make you feel at home just as the places inside the country where you can feel comfortable for its beautiful and unfiltered nature.
One of its pride is Bohol, a perfect summer destination example!
Bohol is a 1st provincial income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its beaches are covered with soft golden sands. You can actually see them like gold when the sun reflects its rays on it . Its capital is Tagbilaran. Considered as the 10th largest island out of the 7,000 others in the Philippines, it’s not as popular internationally as Boracay or Palawan; yet, Bohol holds incredible sights and dive spots that can easily capture anyone’s heart. And I deem myself as fortunate to have seen its beauty, albeit for a short time
It was summer in 2018 when I went here with my sister, Ate Marian, Kuya Judy, their baby girl, Jade Marinnete and three of our loved friends, Kuya Rolz and his jowa (lol) and Ate Irene who is now in heaven with the Lord. We are all teachers, so we decided to pursue this trip to relax and chill after all those hard days at work. It was for just 2 days but we were able to do the following activities that already gave us a glimpse of the wonder this world holds.
From Masbate, we took the Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., a ship in the City of Masbate which leaves 7:00 o'clock in the evening and arrives in Cebu Port at exactly 7:00 o'clock in the morning.
Upon arriving, we immediately checked out for tickets to Tubigon, Bohol to take us to our dream destination. But as we waited for the departure, which is seven hours, we did some fun-side-tripping in Cebu. We went to AquaQuatrro Water Park by AquaPolis in Liloan, Cebu! Just take a taxi to get you to this place.
The sun rays were striking hard but those didn't stop us from savoring the moment on inflatable playground floating on the river of Liloan!
We didn't have much time and energy to take photos and this is the only one I took on an Ipad! Imagine how I was managing myself on not to fall on those waters!
Upon arriving on Bohol, a friend of Kuya Judy met us on the port to take us to there parent's house to share us with their dinner! They prepared very delicious, mouth watering foods for us. How sweet and nice is that? Thank you so much again, Ate Raqueza for the warm accommodation! I love you!
Okay, that might not be interesting enough for you. So let me tell you that its extraordinary attractions make Bohol a major tourist destination. Getting more interested? I'll tell you, Bohol is a fun place that has so much to offer!
We were amazed by its beauty to the extent that we went out of the van, took a glance and have a picture with this wonderful view!
We started our day tour by passing by the Bohol Bee farm. It is a very sweet place and homey. We came here not for the bees nor the food, but we came here for the view! Yeah, right! There are some guides who took us to the diferrent spots in the farm and told us the something about it. We really enjoyed the tour!
TRIVIA: The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in the island of Bohol in the Philippines, between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition. This is considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood". The Sandugo is depicted in both the provincial flag and the official seal of the government in Bohol. It also features the image of the blood compact. The top of the seal explains the history behind the Sandugo event that occurred in Bohol, the fleet and the location where the Spaniards anchored and the place where the treaty was conducted which was dated on March 16, 1565.
The Baclayon Church is the second oldest Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is also known as La Purisima Concepcion del la Virgen Maria Church. This church was founded by the Jesuits during the Spanish Occupation. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since then.
The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
One of the famous destinations in Bohol that you shouldn't miss is the Loboc River where you can get on a floating restaurant and enjoy the Loboc River Cruise with buffet for only 900 pesos per head. Don't expect super special and spectacular foods like you see in any other buffets but it can fill your stomach really good. SEA FOODS. The food is great and I love it.
Aside from the love songs that they will be playing in order to ‘serenade’ you during the cruise, you will also be leisurely gliding through the Loboc River as you glance upon the rustic terrain that surrounds the area. There is also a stop along the way that lets you watch children and old people alike perform native Filipino performances.
The man-made forest is a 2-kilometer stretch of mahogany trees that carpet the sloping ground where the municipality of Loboc meets Bilar. Travelers going to the Chocolate Hills from Loboc will not miss this.
We stopped along this beautiful road to under a canopy of trees. As I gazed up to the curved stems of mahogany, I convinced myself that places like this cannot only be seen in the movies! That was so enchanting! Watching it for hours will not be enough to satiate your desire to feast your eyes on that beauty of incredible merging colors of green.
We haven't got a chance to get inside to see the tarsiers because the rain is too heavy and it would be hard to get to see them.
TRIVIA: Bohol Tarsiers (Tarsius Syrichta) measures 4 to 5 inches and is considered as the world’s smallest primate. Its size is no longer than an adult man’s hand and weigh only about 113 to 142 grams or four to five ounces. The primate belongs to the more primitive sub-order Prosimii or prosimian that dates back 45 million years.
I was not able to enjoy the view because something happened. It was still raining and we just sit there and wait till the rain stopped.
Thi Shiphaus is definitely shaped like a ship! This is quickly becoming a popular stop for tourists visiting Bohol. Located in Batuan, Shiphaus provides air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. The entrance fee is just 50 pesos.
Your tour to Bohol would not be completed without visiting the Chocolate Hills!!! (I hope you can feel my excitement)
The Chocolate Hills. The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. They look like giant mole hills, or as some say, women's breasts, and remind us of the hills in a small child's drawing. It looks like giant Kisses chocolates! When I was little, I only see this on my books, but now, this is so real!
I can say that I've fallen in love with this place. I can't find enough words to describe this masterpiece.
There are many legends about how these hills were created.
Legend 1: It relates of Arogo, an extremely powerful and youthful giant falling in love with a mortal maiden named Aloya. They lived together and were happy for a time until Aloya got sick and died causing much pain and misery to Arogo. In his sorrow, he cried and cried, and every time his tears fell on the ground it dries up and form into mounds, thus the Chocolate Hills.
Legend 2: The legend relates of two quarrelling giants who threw mud, rocks, boulders and sand to each other. Nobody knows what the reason behind their feud was only that it lasted for a few days leaving them weak and exhausted in the end. Without their knowing it, some of the boulders, stones, sand and mud stuck to each other and formed mounds. Thousands of years of wind and rain erosion eventually formed the hills into what it is now.
I just read it somewhere and there is no proof on those legends.
TRIVIA: It's called the Chocolate Hills of Bohol because during the dry season, the grass turns brown and looks like mounds of chocolate. During rainy season the grass turns to green.
Note: There are some ATV that you can ride on.
*Scenic destination with whimsical animal sculptures, a small waterpark & swings, plus a cafe.
We were so tired but it was really worth it if you ask me.
BOHOL TRAVEL GUIDE
By air. Flights from Manila can go for as low as $10 (Php 500) especially when you watch out for promos from local airlines like: Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and PAL Express. Make sure you book your ticket months earlier to get the lowest promo!
By boat. There are ferries that sail everyday from the port of Cebu and Dumaguete.
– From Cebu to Bohol
– From Dumaguete to Bohol
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Part of the Happenings collection
Updated on July 28, 2019
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