Good Day Everyone and WELCOME TO BOHOL!!!

I’m Spencer and I’ll be your Guide for today’s tour.

It must be very exciting to come and visit the land of the Chocolate Hills, Bohol. Let us see the wonderful sites Bohol can offer, but first let me tell you more about Bohol.

Bohol is an island located in the central part of the Philippines, lies in the heart of Central Visayas, with Cebu on its northwest, Leyte on its northeast, and Southern Leyte on its Southeast. It has 654 kilometers of coastline and 411,726 hectares of land area. An oval-shape island dotted with 73 smaller islets, Bohol has 47 towns and got only 1 city, that is Tagbilaran City.

Population now has risen to 1.2 Million and hyperbolically speaking sinks especially in the month of May, not only because of the countless tourists that come during summer but also it is the Fiesta month of Bohol. Locals invite their friends from other parts of the country as well as to foreign countries just to celebrate this unique festivity Boholanos are craving to go home for.

People here are very friendly and hospitable, thus let you stay in their very own house if you don’t  get yourself a room when Hotels and Resorts are fully booked, so please…. book a head, otherwise you’ll end up sleeping in my Bahay Kubo..

The main reason why the Boholanos are known to be very friendly and hospitable was when one native of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna, in 1565 forged the first international treaty of friendship with a conquistador sent by the king of Spain, Chieftain Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

 They sealed their pact through a Blood Compact known as the “Sandugo”.

Our first stop for today's tour is the Blood Compact Shrine.

1.) BLOOD COMPACT SHRINE (Bool District, Tagbilaran City)

    An impressive monument of life-size brass sculpture by National Artist Napoleon Abueva depicting the blood compact commemorates the pact of friendship sealed by Datu Sikatuna, a native Chieftain with Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a Spanish Conquestador representing the King of Spain, for the purpose of fostering friendly relations between two countries. The Blood Compact on March 16, 1565 is considered the First International Treaty of Friendship between the brown and white races.

The first town from the city going to the east of Tagbilaran is called Baclayon Town. The name Baclayon is derived from the word BAKLAY, which means “to walk” or a walking distance from the point where they made the Blood Compact. Baclayon Town was the first town where the Spaniards settled and that is the reason why they built this one of the oldest stone church of the Philippines the Baclayon Church.

2.) IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH (Baclayon Church)

    Declared by National Historical Institute (NHI) as national historic landmark in 1995, Baclayon Church is the best-preserved Jesuit-built church in the region. The Christian community in the area was organized by the Jesuits on November 17, 1596, and thereafter the visita was erected; canonically raised to the status of a parish in 1717. The present stone church was completed in 1727. The casa parroquial was built by the Agustinian recollects in 1872. The church’s narthex has the cuadro paintings of the historical acclaimed Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian executed in 1859. The church’s architecture, inspired by Baroque Neo-Classic, extends to its bell tower, baptistry, and schools.

We are now departing Baclayon town, the hometown of our famous actor Ceasar Montano. We will now proceed to the town of the snakes, Alburquerque Town. The town is known to have so many snakes, in fact one famous snake “Prony” is known to be one of the biggest snakes in captivity throughout the Philippines and in Asia. The town also has an old Spanish time church built in 1884, the Santa Monica Church.

As we go straight along the coastal highway of Loay going to the east of Bohol, we will then see a huge vegetation of Nipa Palms.

3.) LOAY LOCAL INDUSTRIES (Loay)

These Nipa Palms are the local’s main industry. Local women make the Nipa leaves into a roofing material while local craftsmen make bolos and other metal crafts out of a lift spring of a truck.

Located on the estuary of the Loboc River, the town of Loay sits at the junction of the roads that lead either to the other eastern towns of Bohol or to the interior parts of the island. The present name, Loay, is said to have been derived from the fact that in previous periods, before a bridge was built across the river, travelers could only get to the other bank by means of bamboo rafts that ferried themselves across with the aid of vine or rope cables. The word loay means “weak or unstable support”. 

In the town of Loay, lays the house of our former Senator Clarin.

4.) CLARIN ANCESTRAL HOME (Loay)

    The Clarin Ancestral house was built in 1840 and was declared by the National Historical Institute as a heritage site. View the collections of the Clarin Family displayed inside the house.

Now, let us explore the Music Town of Bohol, Loboc. It is the home to numerous world acclaimed musicians, vocalists, instrumentalists, and the world-class Loboc Children’s Choir. It is also the town of the second oldest Church of Bohol which was built in 1602; a free standing bell tower was also built separate from the church, near the river, which they believe helps the people from the other side of the river hear the ringing of the bell because of the sound that bounce and echo at the river banks. That most probably also served as watchtower.

The main attraction of this town is the famous celebrity, the Tarsier. One can go up close and personal to this world’s smallest endangered species of primates.  

5.) TARSIER (Loboc)

     One of the smallest living primates, belonging to the primitive suborder Prosimii dating at around 45 million years, is one of the oldest land species in continuous existence in the Philippines. It measures 4-5 inches long, with its tail longer than its body.

Nature is especially generous to this town. Here, one can take a cruise up or down stream the beautiful Loboc River on board a boat or a special catamaran-type vessel called “Floating Restaurant”.

6.) LOBOC RIVER CRUISE AND FLOATING RESTARANT (Loboc)

Hungry! One can partake of food aboard the vessel while savoring the incomparable tropical scenery along the banks of the river. Be entertained by the local singers onboard and to those at the riverside. One would love the beauty, nature can offer. It is a river cruise you will never forget.

 Respite yourself coz you are just fueling up for another captivating adventure.

7.) HANGING BRIDGE  (Sevilla)

 
Give yourself another experience of a lifetime. Cross to the hanging bridge and feel the thrill as the bridge goes a little bit shaky...

 
    ...at the other end of the bridge, got to meet one of the Philippines amazing performer, “The Boko King”, as he peel off the coconut husk using his very strong and shiny teeth.

    Now, enjoy the winding road as we‘re going up and down to the hills and valleys of Bilar. Here you can witness eight hundred hectares of Mahogany Plantation planted in the year 1960’s.

8.) BILAR MAN-MADE FOREST (Bilar)

Here, one can witness eight hundred hectares wide plantation of mahogany trees were planted in the year 1960’s.  This is through the effort of the Local Government as well as to the private sectors of Bohol. Here one can bask and feel the freshness of the air and even stop and take a pose for a panoramic view of the trees that tried to reach each others end.

 The next two towns Bilar and Batuan towns were established in 1829 after the followers of Francisco Dagohoy surrendered. (Francisco Dagohoy has the longest revolt in the Philippine history). People in these towns are known to be descendants of Dagohoy's bravery.

After fleeting six astounding and historical towns of Bohol, and observed eight inimitable beauty of nature, finally we have come to the most awaited moment, the province’s signature attraction, the Chocolate Hills in Carmen.

9.) CHOCOLATE HILLS (Carmen)

The Chocolate Hills are considered a National Geologic Monument. During summer, the grass covering this sprawling limestone hills would turn brown, transforming the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate kisses when viewed from afar. Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with accommodation facilities, restaurant, swimming pool and a view deck which allows one to see the magnificent landscape.

There we have it folks, the Nine Wonders of Bohol, but off course you don’t want to go home empty handed, do you? Leading to our last and final stats of the tour where not only women but also men now a days love to do… Shopping!

10.) APPRONIANA GIFT SHOP (Baclayon)

Buy souvenir items with discounts like Bohol printed T-shirt, Tarsier Staff Toy, Key Chain, Bags, and other Native Products of Bohol as well as Bohol’s famed delicacies  like Calamay, Broa, Ube Jam, and off course the prominent, Peanut Kisses and some home-made delicious pastries that you can bring back home as “Pasalobong” or a present.

And that concludes our tour for today. I do hope that you are enjoying this one of a kind tour of a life time. A tour  which you can never forget and even proudly share it with your friends and love ones, but how is ganna be if you would actually experience it and not only by just reading this short summary of the tour? So, what are you waiting for? Book now!

This has been Spencer saying, it is an honor to bring you things that warms the heart and the spirit. Thank you and God speed!