Our Trip to Bohol

BOHOL TRIP 

As early as October last year, my family have been planning for a weekend trip to Bohol. It was a well deserved trip for all of us as we could enjoy altogether for a good break even for a limited time. Setting aside all our troubles in the hustle and bustle of the city life for jus a while; and experience the pristine beauty of Bohol and its many places.To my mind, Bohol is a favorite destination of tourists, foreigners and locals as I have read in travel books and the news. Here is the map of Bohol below and at the bottom of the map is the island of Bohol where we are going to stay at the Bohol Beach Club. Three days could be a short stay but definitely it was an experience that we will not forget for as long as we live.



My son, Ponchie and my daughter-in-law, Babylin have been telling us of the many good stories about their memorable experience in Bohol. They have been to Bohol and Panglao for a number of times. As it goes, Ponchie and Babylin have their own way of making surprises for both of their parents. They were treating us for a getaway trip to this beautiful exotic Visayan Island. The parents of Babylin were coming along with us with our grandson, Gabe for his very first trip on a plane.

They have already made a reservation in early November for 7 persons for a 3 day tour of Bohol. We were booked for Feb. 28 up to Mar. 2 2010 to Bohol Beach Club on a promo flight via Philippine Airlines for Tagbilaran. I have arranged as early as possible with my boss, Ms Chia-Hsin Hu to avoid conflict with her schedule. Edith and I were thrilled to the news.

SONY DSC W220

I brought along a small digital camera with me to practice and enhance my skill in photography. I have a new Sony DSC W220 to record our trip and our activities in Panglao and the many places of Bohol. I have here some selected photos of our trip which I hope you would enjoy it.

At the NAIA 3 terminal lobby before checking in

Ponchie, Gabe and me waiting at the NAIA 3 lounge

Edith, Gabe and Ponchie

Edith inside the PAL Airbus A320

Sunday, Feb. 28, 9:00 am, our Airbus A320 PAL flight to Tagbilaran. My daughter Au and her husband Paul gave us a ride to send us off to NAIA 2. They have been to Boracay recently on a 3 day trip in early December. Ponchie, Babylin, Gabe, Mare and Pare were already at the lobby entrance as we arrived.

At the airport my grandson, Gabe was restless with excitement at the terminal lounge walking all around greeting people especially foreigners and even meeting a new friend while we queued at the counter to check in our luggage. He observed intently from the lounge at the PAL planes flying in and out of the runway of the airport.

Our concern was Gabe who might be scared of the sudden shakes of the plane in air turbulence as he was always frightened by elevator rides. As the plane took off, my son Ponchie held his son, clutching him tightly and swinging him to and fro in his seat whenever the plane moved unsteadily.

As we approached the island of Bohol, we enjoyed watching the beautiful panoramic view of Panglao island in the air as the plane banked left seeing below the lush greenery of the island. I could see some beach resorts, small boats and finally the big city of Tagbilaran. We noticed the plane's steady slow descent seeing the streets of the city below for a touch down at the runway 17 of the airport. It was a bumpy landing that most of the passengers felt of the big thud down on its belly at the plane's landing gears when we expected PAL pilots to be good at landings.

A posterity shot at the Tagbilaran Airport runway

The tower control at Tagbilaran as we approached the Airport lounge to wait for our luggage

Arriving at Bohol Beach Club

At the restaurant in Bohol Beach Club with Edith, Gabe and me

We arrived past 10 am at Tagbilaran airport. The air was cool as we could still feel the modest climate of the year. We felt the excitement of coming to a new place as we could see the perimeter of the airport with many buildings and houses that dominated the place.The terminal was small and cramp as we waited for our luggage at their outdated conveyor. I noticed also several foreigners traveling with us.

A van was waiting outside the terminal to take us to Bohol Beach Club in Panglao as part of the tour. Panglao is an island southwest of Tagbilaran with a bridge that connects to the island. Before leaving, we passed by a super mart at the downtown to buy some basic things for our needs at the hotel like bottled mineral water, snacks, etc.

As we rode the van on our way to the hotel in Panglao, the same landscape of sceneries that you will notice as you travel around the country, tropical and with a pleasantly dramatic scenery. Coconuts, Narras, acacias and mahogany trees abound everywhere with houses of wooden structures or newly built houses that have found its way to progress. You could see people walking, children playing or people tending their domestic chores. I just love the place and missed my hometown as well.

The Amihan Wing of Bohol Beach Club where we stayed

Beside the pool of the Amihan Wing 

Nice view of the beach front from the restaurant

The famous Salakot cottages of Bohol Beach Club 

We arrived at Bohol Beach Club at 11:15 am, almost lunch time. We checked in at the lobby counter in a beautiful Cabana style building at the entrance gate. Its roof was covered with dried anahaw leaves, very tropical and underneath was a galvanized roofing of a pleasing hue of mahogany brown color with a more aesthetic and durable construction.

After some formal courtesies from the staff, a bellman brought our luggages to our designated rooms. Beautiful tended gardens could be seen as we walked our way to our rooms in a 2 floor cottage-like apartments. Ours was a standard room at the Amihan Wing of the Club with 2 beds with standard facilities of an air conditioned room, Toilet and Bath, Satellite TV, telephone and room service. Since we were 6 adults we requested for an extra bed for each room. There was a garden table set outside where we could sit and relax and see the white beach and its blue waters just over a hundred meters away.

Ponchie, Babes and Gabe at the beach

At 12 noon we went to Agotata restaurant at the Amihan Wing of Bohol Beach Club for our lunch with a Fisherman's Catch that we have selected at the menu. It is a seafood variety of grilled prawns, blue marlin, fish chowder with clams and seaweeds salad served with hot steamed rice. Complimentary drinks were also served as we sat at the table.

This square building was also a cabana type with roofing of dried anahaw leaves. As you look around, beautiful tall coconut trees lined up the upper portion of the beach front; trees sloping and shading the swimmers while lying on their lounging seats or hanging on a hammock tied up to a coconut tree. Next to the restaurant was a large pool with beautiful elevated falls facing the beach on the west side while a number of swimmers were occupying the pool.

After lunch at 1 pm, we rested for a while in our rooms to nap as we planned to walk around and swim at 4 pm. I was alone in my room as I have overslept. I heard my phone ringing. It was my son, Ponchie at the other end asking me to join them at the beach. When I arrived Edith was already at the lounging seat applying sun tan lotion over her body before going to the beach. I could see Babylin, Ponchie and our grandson, Gabe at a distance wading at the beach while the parents of Babylin, Mare and Pare were far away enjoying their dip.

It was low tide with many bathers and swimmers enjoying the pure white sand and its clear blue waters. Next to us were foreigners, one was lying on a hammock tied up between two coconut trees while the other one was busy reading a book in. After a while, I followed my wife, Edith to join her striding and splashing the surf at the beach and later on we swam and enjoyed the sea waters of Panglao. The sand was powdery and nearly white. I imagined our very own popular Rizal Beach in my hometown, Gubat, Sorsogon, this was really incomparable. At 5:30 pm we transferred to the pool as we finished with our content enjoying every moment at the beach. There were at least 6 swimmers occupying the pool when we arrived. The elevated falls was a very good backdrop being lighted and beautifully decorated with plants and rocks; waterfalls flow directly to the side of the pool. We finished at 6:15 pm to prepare ourselves for our dinner.

We dined at a restaurant just beside our beach resort as there were some restaurants to choose from aside from Bohol Beach Club. It was really nice to try something different. This time we were served on a long table with local flair of filipino favorites. The restaurant was practically occupying the upper portion of the beach and as you dine, you could hear the sound of the waves. The tropical design and decor was really something to behold as servers were dressed in colorful outfits. It was enchanting, discreet with unusual setting. We ordered grilled lapu-lapu, Sinigang na Panga (stewed mouth of Tuna), local fried sausages and grilled Chicken served with steamed rice.

I woke up early at dawn as I barely had a night of sleep in our hotel room perhaps, my mind was disoriented since we arrived to a new place. At 5:45 am, I got up and asked my wife, Edith who was already awake to go out and stroll the place. The sky was still dark and dim as morning light appeared into the horizon. The air was cold and inviting.

We strolled down the beach and watched the bright glow of light where the sun would appear. I waited patiently and prepared my camera till the sun appeared at the edge of the sea. I set up the wide angle lens of my Sony DSC W220. Then as I pored through the LCD monitor I started to compose the picture on right angle and exposure as I hold the shutter waiting patiently for the right moment to press it for a great shot.

As we finished cleaning up ourselves and readied for another day in Panglao. We hurried ourselves and went directly to our meeting place at the Agotata Restaurant at 7:45 am at the Amihan wing of the of the club. It was located beside the pool where we had our lunch yesterday. We had a hearty breakfast as we could expect for a long day of our tour. We could choose food from a line of buffet trays at the long table. The ambiance was fairly cool with the early morning sea breeze coming from the beach. The brewed coffee smelled throughout the restaurant and it was a good start of a busy day. There was also a selection of Filipino breakfast available at the buffet.

We discussed the itinerary at the table and at 8:30 the van will arrive and take us for a whole day tour of Bohol. We brought along with us some bottled water, sodas and snacks. Our driver and guide, Jimmy Yecyec arrived with his van at the exact time of appointment while we waited for him at the lobby. As usual, my grandson, Gabe was there to amuse us. He carried his toy truck and tractor with him. Jimmy advised us that we will go to the the Blood Compact site in Tagbilaran first then go to the farthest destination which was the Chocolate hills in Carmen and the next stop would be at the Hanging bridge of Sakbayan Peak. Next destination will be at the Butterfly farm, then the Tarsier Sanctuary. For our lunch, we will have a river cruise in Loboc river and then we stop by at Baclayon church and head for home.

I guess the Butterfly farm at Sagbayan Peak was the place where my grandson, Gabe enjoyed much for the day. He threw his Osh-Kosh-Bgosh cap at the summit of the viewing deck in Carmen when he was bored watching all the chocolate hills minus the real chocolate. His curiousity of the many butterflies flying around the enclosed net of the farm was evident through his winks and smiles. We had a guide from the farm, Jovert who explained to us the different species of the butterflies.He showed us also how the butterflies breed and the physical change of the butterfly through metamorphosis. I recommend this place if you plan to visit Bohol, very educational and therapeutic.

Our driver, Jimmy Yecyec brought us to the famous Bohol hanging bridge in the town of Sevilla. We tried crossing the bridge as we paid P10 each for an entrance fee. It was fun and thrilling as I heard some people screaming and giggling. The bridge was made to connect between the two villages. It was made of steel cables and bamboo flooring that shakes and sways a lot when many people move.

We stopped by at the Tarsier sanctuary before going to lunch in a river cruise at Loboc river. A guide led us to a tree with two Tarsiers sleeping with toes gripping on the branch with wide eyes open. They were very small indeed as big as my Nokia N73 phone and very cute. I had to point my camera very near to shoot the Tarsier without any movement or protest whatsoever. He looked like the character in Steven Speilberg's sci-fi movie. It is a nocturnal animal that is feed on insects.

We stopped by at the Loboc Tourism complex at the east riverbank of Loboc river near the town proper before we sailed for our lunch in a boat cruise. This complex have shops, waiting lounge and tourism office. The place is efficiently run by LGUs and local entrepreneurs of the town.

Many tourists were coming in daily, foreigners and locals. The tourists are well taken cared by locals to make sure that they enjoy their tour. Boholanos are friendly, courteous and hospitable. The waiting lounge at the complex was really cool. It was very new, air conditioned and very clean. Clean toilets are located in another building of the complex. Even the toilets in Tagbilaran airport will envy of its spick-and-span while attendants were available when needed.

While waiting for the boat cruise, you could browse at the web at their lounge for free at their PCs (wi-fi free) or watch a big LCD TV at the wall. As I watched the river, boats were sailing to and fro with many people aboard enjoying their lunch. They have only one itinerary- Boat cruise with buffet lunch

BACLAYON CHURCH

On our way back to our hotel in Panglao, we passed by a very historical church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Baclayon. The first missionaries came way back in 1595 but the construction of the church started only in 1717 making it the second oldest church in the Philippines as I have read on their historical marker.

The church was made of coral stones gathered from the sea by forced labor from the natives. Egg whites were used to stick the coral stones together. We visited also the museum at the convent of the church at the second floor viewing all the historical relics and artifacts used in the church. There were different vestments, chalices, silver relics at the altar etc. .

As we entered the church, lights of different colors streaming from stained glass from church windows, it was a beauty to behold with the reflection of these lights. An elevated antique pulpit was at the right side used by a priest to deliver homily in the olden days. There was also a picture of a mustached man in the wall of the church outside near the bell tower that resembled the face of St.Padre Pio, the famous priest who suffered the stigma of the passion of Christ. It was formed by time through molds, dirt and weathering.

PANGLAO BEACH

We woke up early on our last day in Panglao. We strolled again at the beach and looking at the workers cleaning up the beach with a tractor while some men were sweeping the dirt and seaweeds that accumulated the whole night and from the changing of tides. We will surely miss this place as we have enjoyed its pristine beauty far away from the maddening crowd and far from the over polluted Makati our very own place in the city. An island protected by sea and the people of Bohol from the ways of modernity and corruption. I am sure I will be coming back in the future with my wife Edith, perhaps with my other children and grandchildren. I was already missing our home in Makati and anxiously felt how our garden plants were doing while we were away. Our two pets, Ivler our Azkal dog and our cat, Orange who was over demanding were missing us also.

We went to another restaurant on our last night in Panglao. This was the Dumaloan restaurant, just a few hundred meters away from Bohol Beach Club. It was a dining restaurant at the same time a bar with a singer and a band to entertain its diners. Their music was really a mix of the 60s, 70s, 80s up to the latest music with their forte in Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. We ordered grilled Tanguingue, Chicken and Pancit Molo soup served with steamed rice. The service was good but we enjoyed much of the music and the ambiance of the place.

We packed our bags and prepared ourselves for our 10:00 am flight for Manila. At 7:45 am we went to the restaurant for our last breakfast. Every time we went to the restaurant we always sit on the same table since we arrived, The waiters and the usherette were already acquainted with us. It was really an effective way of dining in a restaurant by choosing the staff and the table frequently that will attend to your service. My son, Ponchie and I were very friendly with them as we complimented them of their service and good food every time we dined there. Gabe, our grandson who is friendy everywhere we go was very nice to them by showing them his antics and friendly banters.

The PAL Airbus A320 touched down the runway smoothly as we arrived at NAIA on the southwest runway coming from the sea near Roxas Boulevard at past 11 am. It was very different from our landing before when we arrived in Tagbilaran airport last Sunday. This time the Captain executed a very precise soft landing without any bump or loud noise at all as we noticed on some airliners. Filipino pilots are famous for good soft landing. He deserved a good compliment from all of us for doing a great job.

During our flight my grandson, Gabe was pacified by his dad again at the air turbulence, tricking him by clutching his son tightly and swinging him to and fro in his seat as the plane shakes conspicuously. As we ride in a taxi on our way home to Makati, I thanked the Almighty for the safe trip. Most of all, for giving us the blessings for this wonderful trip.