God’s Little Paradise (Bohol, Philippines)

My first trip to Visayas was in Bohol. I went there with my teammates last March 16-18, 2010. We stayed in Panglao, just near along the Island’s beachfront. The place for me was the best place I had visited so far - very calm and peaceful. Most of the tourists were not Filipinos but we still enjoyed our stay there!

Bohol is an island located between latitude 9°30' and 10°15' North and Longitude 123°40' and 124°30' east. With a land area of 4117.3 square kilometers, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines, and lies in the middle of the Visayas. Bohol is surrounded by other islands on all sides, and is thus shielded from the typhoons that often occur in the region, as well as from the heaviest rains. Bohol is separated from Mindanao by the Bohol Sea in the South and the island of Leyte by the Canigao Channel in the East. The Comotes Sea in the North separates Bohol from the Camotes Islands, and the Bohol Strait separates it from Cebu.

Arrival at Tagbilaran Airport

Although people have been living on Bohol long before Magellan reached the islands that are now the Philippines, our written records start here, and about the events before that time, little is known, and has to be carefully reconstructed from oral traditions and archaeological evidence. It is said that around 1200, the Lutaos arrived from northern Mindanao. They build a settlement on stilts in the strait between mainland Bohol and the island of Panglao. This town later became a prospering local center of power, also known as the the "Kingdom of Dapitan." It lasted until it was abandoned in 1563, out of fear for raids by the Portuguese and their allies from Ternate. It will be seen below how this event helped the Spanish to get a foothold in the Philippines.

Tagbilaran City's Port

Also at Bohol, Legazpi was given a hostile welcome. From his Malay pilot, he learned that this hostility was due to marauding expeditions of the Portuguese. Coming from the Moluccas, the Portuguese raiders traversed the Visayan seas, and just a few years before, in 1563, had plundered Bohol and killed or enslaved about one thousand of its inhabitants. Of course, the Boholano's easily mistook the Spaniards for Portuguese. Again with the help of his pilot, Legazpi explained two chiefs of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc that they were not Portuguese, and had come in peace, and not to plunder or kill. This convinced the Kings to end their hostility and enter pact of friendship. On 16 March 1565 (or 25 March, records are confused due to the Gregorian calendar reform in 1584), Legazpi and Sikatuna performed the now famous blood compact, probably not far from the modern town of Loay. This event is still celebrated in Bohol every year in June with the Sandugo ("One Blood") festival. The same ceremony was repeated three days later with Sigala.

The Blood Compact Site

One of Bohol's Pride! Not me, but the tarsier!

BACLAYON CHURCH

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is one of the best preserved Jesuit build churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church. Although Baclayon was the first seat of the Spanish Jesuit missionaries, fear of Moro marauders soon forced them to move their headquarters more inland, to Loboc. Only in 1717, Baclayon became a parish, and construction of a new church commenced. Some 200 native forced laborers constructed the church from coral stones, which they took from the sea, cut into square blocks, and piled on to each other. They used bamboo to move and lift the stones in position, and used the white of a million eggs as to cement them together. The current building was completed in 1727. The church obtained a large bell in 1835. In the Baclayon church is a dungeon, which was used to punish natives who violated the rules of the Roman Catholic Church.

Baclayon Church - one of the Oldest Churches in the Philippines.

Fun facts about Baclayon Church.

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. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. The chocolate hills consist of are no less than 1268 hills (some claim this to be the exact number). They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name. At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make. Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they were finally exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made. For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the giant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief. However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they where formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay. If you climb the 214 steps to the top of the observation hill near the complex, you can read this explanation on a bronze plaque.

It's not just chocolate - it is a Chocolate Hill!

Toni, Win, Ice and Len - WACKY!!!

TARSIER

The Philippine Tarsier, (Tarsius Syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men's hand. Mostly active at night, it lives on a diet of insects. Folk traditions sometimes have it that tarsiers eat charcoal, but actually they retrieve the insects from (sometimes burned) wood. It can be found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines. If no action is taken, the tarsier might not survive. Although it is a protected species, and the practice of catching them and then selling them as stuffed tarsiers to tourists has stopped, the species is still threatened by the destruction of his natural forest habitat. Many years of both legal and illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have greatly reduced these forests, and reduced the tarsier population to a dangerously small size. If no action is taken now, the Philippine tarsier can soon be added to the list of extinct species.

The smallest primate - just as big as my fist.

PANGLAO ISLAND

Probably the most beautiful, and surely the most developed beach on Panglao is Alona Beach. Located at the Southwest of the island, this beach is about one and a half kilometers long, lined with nice resorts, which are great to stay for some time, a number of well equipped diving establishments and pleasant places to eat out, if you do not want to eat at your resort's restaurant for a change. Probably the only drawback of the beach is the large numbers of sea urchins that inhabit the water, starting some twenty or thirty meters out of the coast. You will just have to be careful when wading. Don't forget to bring your snorkeling equipment. When you swim about one hundred meters off the beach, you will reach the edge of the 'house' reef, at between three and five meters deep and thus can be easily observed even without scuba equipment. If you are into scuba diving, though, don't forget to have a few dives here as well, as it is certainly worth it, not bad at all, even compared with the reefs the boats will bring you to.

Bohol's whitest and finest sand.

Yes, you may also try surfing in Bohol Sea!

MAN-MADE FOREST

The Bohol Forest is a man-made mahogany forest stretching in a two-kilometer stretch of densely planted Mahogany trees located in the border of Loboc and Bilar towns. Before and after this man-made forest are the naturally grown forests of Loboc and Bilar which are thick with a kaleidoscope of green foliage, different species of trees and giant ferns lining the road. The man-made forest stands out because of the uniformity in height of the big trees, the spread of its branches, thickness and design of leaves. Seedlings abound around the older trees. Trunks, some thick and others just a few months old, grow resplendently straight up towards the sky which is obscured by the branches and the thick leaves.

This bridge hangs approximately 20 meters above the Loboc River .

The Butterfly Sanctuary have been established by butterfly enthusiasts and are now gaining recognition. There are more or less 300 butterfly species native to the province and the sanctuaries are aiming to conserve and raise the butterfly population in the island. The sanctuaries come with landscaped flowering gardens, the beauty of which soothes the senses. It is a welcome addition to the attractions of Bohol and is now part of the itineraries of foreign and local visitors alike. Breeding butterflies can augment ones income by selling them as butterfly releases, making them into dry papered butterflies and selling live pupae. Moves have been taken to develop butterfly by-products such as framed butterflies, butterfly wing mosaic, and key chains.

Butterflies were so friendly here at the Butterfly Sanctuary!

LOBOC RIVER

The Loboc River Cruise along the river starts from the Loboc Tourism Complex. Small motorized bancas can be availed of for a minimal fee yet for those who want to eat while cruising, floating restaurants are available offering Filipino cuisine buffet that costs P280 per head or more and local delicacies.

One of the major attractions at Loboc River are the singing Boholanos.

BOHOL BEE FARM

Amid the lush natural surroundings of Panglao Island is another eco-tourist treasure, the Bohol Bee Farm. The smorgasbord of organic delicacies on offer makes it unlike any place you’ve ever been to. Dine in our restaurants and enjoy tasty camote pies, homemade ice cream, and fresh flower salads. And when your holiday draws to a close, stock up on some of Bohol Bee Farm’s healthy goodness with naturally made products like honey spreads, herb teas, and corn coffee.

These are the Bumble-BEEs! :)

We had our lunch here - with fresh garden salad and seafood lasagna!

Cucina Italiana serves the best Italian cuisine in Panglao.

BOHOL was really a good place to visit. It has its own unique character that can't be copied elsewhere. It provides an interesting experience for travelers who would want to really relax, unwind and enjoy. The many activities and places to see is more than enough to make visitors see the place as a sanctuary for a lot of nature's beauty.

No wonder why Tagbilaran was known to be the City of Friendship!

Up Up and Away! (Baguio City)

This year, I’ve been to Baguio City twice – first was last January, then last June. Baguio has been my 2nd home and I don’t know why. But since 2005 (when I first went to here), I see to it that I’ll visit the place for at least once a year. Perhaps, there are lots of memories I have here and also, because of the place itself.

The name Baguio conjures, for both the international and domestic traveler, a highland retreat in the Grand Cordillera in Northern Luzon, with pine trees, crisp cold breezes and low verdant knolls and hillocks. Through the numerous decades Baguio has morphed from what was once a grassy marshland into one of the cleanest and greenest, most highly urbanized cities in the country. It has made its mark as a premiere tourist destination in the Northern part of the Philippines with its cool climate, foggy hills, panoramic views and lovely flowers. Being the ideal convergence zone of neighboring highland places, Baguio is the melting pot of different peoples and cultures and has boosted its ability to provide a center for education for its neighbors. Its rich culture and countless resources have lured numerous investments and business opportunities to the city.

Baguio City is approximately 250 kilometers north of Manila, situated in the Province of Benguet. The area of the city is 49 square kilometers enclosed in the perimeter of 30 kilometers. The developed portion of the city corresponds to the plateau that rises to an elevation of 1,400 meters. Most of it lies in the northern half of the city. The City is landlocked within the province of Benguet, thus bounding it on all sides by its different municipalities; on the North by the capital town of La Trinidad, on the East by Itogon and to the South and West by Tuba. With City Hall as reference point, it extends 8.2 kilometers from East to West and 7.2 kilometers from North to South. It has a perimeter of 30.98 kilometers. The City has twenty administrative districts among which its barangays are divided.

Baguio is 8 degrees cooler on the average than any place in lowlands. When Manila sweats at 35 degrees centigrade or above, Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centigrade at its warmest. Baguio is very wet during the Philippine rainy season, which is from June to October. It gets the biggest amount of rainfall in the country, twice the volume of rainfall in the country as compared to Manila. However from November to May, Baguio becomes a tropical paradise, a refreshing break from the hot and humid Philippine climate. Christmas season is when Baguio glows with the nippy winter air. In the summer month of March, April, May, Baguio lives up to its title as the “”Summer Capital of the Philippines when thousands of visitors from the lowlands and Manila take their annual exodus to the city to cool off.

I had a chance to capture Baguio at night!

January 16-18, 2010

As I celebrated my 2nd year in Convergys, my team planned a 3 day vacation to get out of the metro. So, together with Aisah, Len, Jaja, Jhay, and Toni, we conquered the City of Pines. We stayed at Bloomfield Hotel (just infront of SM Baguio). It was an oasis where you can escape the hectic pace of travel and think more clearly, work more productively, rest more refreshingly. An environment that doesn't just shelter you, but inspire and reenergizes you. Situated at the heart of the exciting city of Baguio, Bloomfield offers fully air-conditioned rooms and showcases the most modern amenities.

June 18-20, 2010

Together with my transition team and, TL Diana and my partner QSPi Joy, we had the first team building in Baguio. This team is one of the best!

Team DIANAsoars with TL Jana, QSPis Joy and PJ, Bon, Carlos, Morris, Avel, Gee, Cycel, Fed, Kate and Shen at the Strawberry Farm.

What to see in Baguio?

The Strawberry Fields

On top of my list of what to see in Baguio are the strawberry fields. A trip to Baguio will always include a lovely stroll along the strawberry fields just outside the city proper. This seems to be one of the must do activities and places to go when tourists visit. You go ask anyone who's ever been to Baguio and most likely they've been here. It is only a jeepney ride away and you get to pick the strawberries you want to eat. Picking strawberries and taking pictures turns out among the top things in anyone's what to do list.

Here, you can pick your strawberries fresh from the farm!

Pizza Volante

Situated at 82 Session Road within the very attractive City of Baguio, Pizza Volante Restaurant offers customers and guests a taste of authentic Italian dishes, specifically pizzas and pastas. With a budget of 300 to 500 pesos, people can already enjoy loads of super tasty and delectable dishes at this Italian-inspired restaurant. Aside from the food, many people really love the efficiency of the restaurant staff, which regularly receives praises for their friendliness and quickness. Oh I love the fresh tomatoes on both pizzas and pastas!

Ice in her alluring pasta pose.

Caffee Klatsch

 If you want a not-so-ordinary night out in Baguio - here's the top of my list! Totally cozy yet the ambiance was so great. Located at Sagittarian Unique Bldg. 39 City Camp Rd., Baguio City.

Toni live in Baguio! Yes, her first solo concert at Caffee Klatsch

Coffee, cozy ambiance plus acoustic band - very relaxing indeed!

Mines View Park

From its deck area we view the mining sites of Benguet Corporation plus the mountain ranges that sprawl as far as the eyes could see. Mines View Park is doubtless a favorite among visitors who take the trouble to trek up Baguio just to see this site again though seen a countless times before.

Standing 1,500 meters above sea level, Mines View Park is among the coolest parts of the Pines City. It is part of the vast range of the Cordillera Mountains. If we just look hard enough we’d see part of Camp John Hay across from it. But the majestic mountains are just among interesting things the site can offer. Just look around our immediate milieu and we’d see other features.

Another tourist spot in Baguio. No, not Jhay, it's Mines View Park.

Another thing that visitors are beginning to discover and really love is the freshly baked creamy and tasty ube jam home-made by nuns of the Good Shepherd Seminary within walking distance from Mines View Park. The pies there are also super. And don’t to forget to try their special Bulalo! Yum Yum!

Oh My Gulay!

Oh My Gulay is one attraction in Baguio that had eluded my attention. It’s exhillirating being in the midst of the artworks, the twists and turns, the eclectic, the absence of structure, the patch-art-work, the journey, the ever-changing. Some parts of the gallery look like a scene from a Dr. Seuss book with un-straight lines and un-perpendicular corners. Take a tour around the place, view the artworks, arouse your curiousity and find out what surprises await you around the next corner.  They also have generous servings of vegetarian pasta dishes. 

Dinner at Dampa sa Baguio. Pig-out it is!

Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay was an American military facility when the Philippines was under US control. It was primarily used for rest and recreation by US personnel. Today, since it's turnover in 1991, the place has its own golf course and campsite. Part of the action of the Fil-Am Golf Tournament takes its course here annually. Visitors can also see if they have a knack for horseback riding.

Can we forget Milo Van's pose? 

Session Road

A Baguio City tour is never complete without a stroll along Session Road. A lot of sights in Baguio come and go but Session Road has been there since the very beginning.

Baguio, being the summer capital of the country, was made official during the first session of the Philippine Commission in the summer of 1904, April to June. There was a lone road that led up the Baden Powell building where the session was held. Hence, the road has been called Session Road since then.

 

Traditionally, Session Road is often the first stop of a Baguio Tour. It mirrors the progress that the city has so far achieved. Moreover, sentimental visitors stop by the road awhile and ponder at the fact that their predecessors had also once trekked the olden lane and had done the same.

 

 

Baguio City remains one of the best places you can visit in the Philippines. The cool weather and the wonderful scenery are persuasive invitations to see and explore the different colors and flavors of Baguio City. It is truly a mountain resort that exudes a fine escape from the summer heat of the Philippines.

Of Love and Latte

Could the recipe for true love be as simple as brewing the perfect latte?

One hopelessly romantic barista serves up some answers.

I’ve been asked to write an article about love. About finding it, losing it, and maybe finding it again. Bet you’re wondering what qualifies me to do such. Unfortunately, I am no love doctor with a Ph.D. in Romance Physics nor an M.A. in Relationship Chemistry. I have had my heart broken not just once, so technically I still do not qualify as an expert by virtue of my vast experiences.

What do I know?

Well, let me tell you that I have an uncle that can mix you a mean cafe latte. He is a barista in Star Cruises. In all summers I’ve logged in at my tito's house, learning how to make cappucinos and espressos, I have also learned a thing or two about that thing called love. Just like coffee, both require a certain amount of care to ensure it is brewed to perfection. You will need the following:

-Water, purified of all fear of ‘what if she leaves me?’ or ‘what if she’s not Miss Right?’

-A certain measure of diversity-be it in the form of coffee beans or unique personalities-combined in an airtight container that will allow pressure to build up.

-A man and a woman, preferably hot for each other (or with the potential of warming up to at least the prospect of friendship).

Now bring to a boil. in barista-speak, this is the moment when water and ground coffee first make contact, the former extracting flavors from the latter, in a manner that will drip and percolate for you an aromatic cup of espresso.

In courtship terms, this is when boy-meets-girl, when the first blush of infatuation floats up to the surface. This can take anywhere from 22 seconds to 22 months, depending on the temperature set on your machine. Agitate the coffee further with Saturday night movie dates, text-messages embellished with smiley faces and animated teddy bears, cute phone calls at 1 a.m. involving favorite colors, movie-defining-moments and soul mates, and stolen first kisses. (That last one is my personal favorite.)

Now top with the velvety-smooth froth of friendship, sweeten with promises kept, and you’ve got yourself the perfect cafe latte. Right? Well, not exactly.

In my experience, I know that no matter how you faithfully follow a recipe to the letter, you don’t always get the perfect cup of joe each time. Love-that other four-letter word I know-is much harder to concoct than coffee.

At some point, you’ll learn that no matter how hard you play by the rules, make all the right moves and try to be Mr. Perfect In Every Way, you don’t always get the results you hoped for.

Or the girl you pined for, for that matter. Because when reality rears its disappointing, pink-bubble-bursting head, you’ll realize Life doesn’t always play out the way you wished it would.

The girl who once adored your lattes can snap out of it and proclaim you’re no longer her cup of cappucino. Just. Like. That.

Suddenly, you find that all that’s left is a mug half-filled with day-old coffee that’s cold and stale and depressing. So you cry, you curse, you deny, you blame, you rewind, you wish, and pray a novena to every saint you know that things go back to exactly the way they were. And no matter how often you kneel in Baclaran or how many candles you light at morning mass, your instant replay never happens.

So what do you do? You wipe away your tears, take your cup and empty it of all its contents. rinse it under a running tap, making sure all traces of stains along the rim and down its side as well as leftover grounds at the bottom are washed away.

Then, you start over. First, scoop yourself a generous batch of mountain-grown roasts, finely ground so that every granule is bursting with prospect of a new adventures, experiences and relationships. Pour water purified of all your bitterness, rejection and self-pity.

Now press ‘brew’. As you hear the machine whir, gurgle and sputter to life, close your eyes. Revel in the heady aroma of fresh coffee in the throes of being born. You may not see it yet, but by just inhaling its sweetness, you hold the promise of good things to come in your heart the way you would a silent prayer. You dream of a cup so wonderful, so richly golden brown, encircled by a lush ring of cream so perfect you can already taste it.

And the moment you hear it streaming into your cup you realize why you had to give up the last brew. Something much better was on its way to you.

And you’ll be thankful you waited. Because you know in your bones, in your heart of hearts, that this one’s going to be a keeper. And you wonder why it took so long for you to realize that.

But then again, better latte than never.. .

"There is no remedy for love but to love more." ~ Thoreau

The Sweetest Love Letter of My Life (PART2)

Let me give you a sort of guide for you to be appreciated by PJ.

It's a list of DO's and DONT's to PJ.

DONT's

1. DON'T MAKE HIM WAIT. He suffered a lot of waiting from me. Give your time to him. Make him feel special. Give your attention to him. It's not bad at all.

2. HE IS VERY PICKY ON FOOD. There's a lot of food that he's not eating. Examples are onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc. I've already lessen it it but there's still a lot that you need to know. Bear with him. You'll get used to it.

3. HE IS VERY LAZY. We are both lazy. It's because we're both working had\rd for our family. Because of that, understand him if sometimes he'll ask you to do things you are not usually doing for others.

4. DON'T ARGUE WITH HIM. He is a debater. We often argue on small things. Hehehe! I'll miss it big time! If things aren't working well, don't argue anymore. Just listen to him and everything will work.

5. DON'T LET HIM FEEL THAT HE'S ALONE. This is one of my biggest regrets. He doesn't deserve it. He'll always accompany you anywhere, anytime. Please return the favor to him. Always go with him without asking why. Sure thing, It's worth it. If only...

6. DON'T COMPARE HIM TO OTHERS. There's only one PJ in this world and he'll never change for you. Promise! I'm telling you, he's too much for you to look for other man out there.

7. DON'T HIDE ANYTHING FROM HIM. Tell him everything that he needs to know. He has the right. PJ will tell you everything you need to know. He will not hide from you. In return, please do the same thing.

8. DON'T LIE TO HIM. I'm telling you, he has his ways to know everything. You don't have to tell him every detail but don't ever lie to him. Sometimes, he'll suspect on you even if you are telling the truth. Understand him because he only loves you so much and don't want to lose you. Just give him a hug. Everything will be ok.

"We always believe our first love is our last, and our last love our first."
~ George Whyte-Melville