Bolting out to Bohol (Part 1)

Bohol. It’s one place I find synonymous with having a ball, a boon or a boost. Why? Because this island province in Central Visayas conjures up images of heaven here on earth replete with all the bonuses that I, and perhaps other trippers as well, want to see in a tropical island destination: pristine beaches, emerald waters, lush marine life, world-class amenities, heritage landmarks, among others.

Tarsier, one of Bohol's pride

It comes as no surprise then that this tourist-friendly destination near Cebu ranks as one of the Philippines’ prime eco-tourism hotspots. Every year, around half a million tourists from here and abroad troop to Bohol to buck up in the blitheness of its sun, sea and sand as well as bask in the beauty of its natural attractions and vestiges of its Hispanic past. And who in his right mind would pass up the chance to be in the so-called “Jewel of the Philippines”? 

Chocolate Hills

Bilar man-made forest

Dumaluan Beach

Whenever I feel bored, bothered, or boxed in, I’d always think of bolting out to a faraway destination to get a quick fix. And if my schedule and resources warrant it or if some kind-hearted patron comes to the rescue, I’d hastily grab my backpack and head off for some great escape. Almost always, Bohol turns up on my list of options.

Loboc River

I so love going to the island province for three reasons: one, the Chocolate Hills and other scenic natural attractions are alluring; two, the historical and cultural landmarks are aplenty; and three, the locals, in general, are amiable even to strangers. The oval-shaped island’s accessibility is also a plus factor to this adventure junkie; it can be reached from a number of takeoff points using different modes of transportation, be it land, air, sea, or combinations of these. 
  

Bohol Strait

Getting around my destination of choice is also quite easy as there are a number of tricycles, motorbikes, multicabs, jeepneys, buses and  even taxis that can take you wherever you want to go. Mind you, the drivers there won’t give you that feeling you’ve boarded a tourist trap or something to that effect. 

Since 2003, I’ve made it to Bohol on three occasions either for a professional or a personal sortie. Each visit always outclassed the last one, showing me a distinct side of the place I missed during the previous trip. I’d usually take off from nearby Cebu since it gets me to my destination in about two hours by fast craft. So far, I’ve explored its central, western and northwestern parts. This means revisits are in order if only to explore other places I haven’t covered. Yikes, I wish I’ll have the wherewithal for those future sojourns! 
 

Chocolate Hills

This summer, I got the chance to bolt out again from the humdrum of the daily grind, bouncing back to Bohol for a weekend vacay (my fourth time!). Initially, I thought it’s going to be a solo adventure with me left on my own devices to explore the island. But I was fortunate to get the services of a tour guide/driver/photographer named Julius and a cave guide/shoot director/photographer named Eman who helped me turn all my plans into reality.

For nearly two days, I went on with the tightly-packed itinerary with the help of these two fellows, hopping around the capital as well as the quaint towns of Alburquerque, Baclayon, Balilihan, Bilar, Carmen, Loay, Loboc, Maribojoc, Dauis and Panglao to see Bohol’s renowned heritage churches. Aside from visiting Bohol’s centuries-old houses of prayer, what kept me abuzz while I was all over the island? Too many to mention! 

Loay Church

 Hinagdanan Cave

Nonetheless, here’s a list of things I’ve done not only for this trip but also during my previous sorties which I hope would guide other tourists bound for Bohol. Not only will these provide them an awe-inspiring tableau of the island’s treasures but also make their escape to Bohol something that couldn’t be quickly erased from memory. So, here we go: 

Bohol Provincial Capitol

Tagbilaran City Hall

Trek all over Tagbi. All roads in Bohol usually lead to Tagbilaran, the capital and gateway to the province. Known as Tagbi to both locals and tourists alike, it also serves as the hub of the island’s business and trading activities as well as the center of governance. Named as one of the country’s “20 Most Competitive Cities” in 2005 and 2007, Tagbi has been hailed by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) as one of the eight Philippine Dream Cities. 

One of Tagbi's malls

Still a young urban center, Tagbi is made up of about fifteen barangays, four of which comprise the city’s urban and central business district. It may be wanting in agricultural lands and fishing grounds but the city makes up for these deficiencies through its strategic position as Bohol’s hub for education, trade and commerce as well as the seat of the provincial government and main gateway to the whole island.

Here’s one city that’s bereft of natural resources yet still on the rise, capitalizing mostly on the tourism boom to fuel its engines of socio-economic growth. Tagbi is a showcase of Bohol’s economic metamorphosis in the last few decades as evidenced by the business and commercial establishments that have sprouted. So far, it has three large malls, and a handful of smaller shopping centers offering a variety of goods and services, including two homegown mouth-watering delicacies—Peanut  Kisses and Edelweiss Torta!  

Scattered all over the city are several hotels, resorts, and restaurants, which have contributed in making it a preferred venue of national conventions, conferences, seminars and related events. No doubt about it, Tagbi is an interesting place, a certified tourist magnet, an ethereal haven for the world-weary. That’s why I like Bohol’s capital a lot—not too crowded, not too fast-paced, not too intimidating.

Meander around museums and mansions.  Though reeling from the stupor of the gruelling trip to Tagbi, I mustered enough strength to get out of my hotel to catch some fresh air. Reaching the town center, I walked around searching for a place to grab some eats and scout for a tour guide-driver. Then, I found myself standing at the doorsteps of the National Museum in Bohol where I got to see once again many traces of the island’s colorful past. 

History buffs will find a trip to that historical bunker, once the home of President Carlos Garcia, a delightful way to know more about the province and its origins. Several memorabilia of the late chief executive, who happens to be one of Bohol’s most revered sons, together with other historical, botanical, zoological and archeological artifacts found in the province, are housed in the museum. 

It was my second time to visit the provincial depository, which is located just a stone’s throw away from the capitol, where I got to take another peek at the rarities found inside. The brief tour left me in awe once again as I examined the artifacts attesting to Bohol’s prehistoric past, including the two slabs of wood that once formed part of a 500-year old house post of a pre-Spanish settlement and the skeletal remains of a Boholana! 

Speaking about rarities, my recent tour in the island province included a trek to one of its ancestral houses, that is, the old home of the once prominent Clarin family in the town of Loay. Two members of the clan, brothers Jose Arsenio and Olegario, were once elected senators of the Philippines during the 1930s-40s. Jose Arsenio was said to have been instrumental the construction of the first all-steel bridge over Loboc River in 1914.
 

Clarin Ancestral House

Noted for its traditional Spanish-Filipino architecture, the Clarin ancestral house is typical bahay-na-bato (stone house) made of coral stones, with wooden posts, walls and capiz shell windows. Declared as a National Heritage Site, it’s probably the most visited among Bohol’s ancient abodes. 

Built in 1840, the house has been converted into a museum (under the auspices of the National Historical Institute) showcasing several antique furniture and memorabilia owned by the Clarins. Roaming around the house, I had a great time going over several old stuff which I think badly needs preservation efforts if only to protect them from the elements. 

Relics inside Bohol Museum

Hunt down historic havens. Bohol made a mark in Philippine history because of two major uprisings when we were under Spain. I’m referring to the rebellions incited by Tamblot and Dagohoy, both of which had the colonizers cracking their heads on how to quell the budding insurrection taking place in various parts of the islands. It was these revolts, numbering over a hundred for a long span of time, which somehow roused our ancestors to turn the tables on the abusive Spanish regime.

Led by a babaylan (indigenous leader functioning as medicine man, seer, shaman and “miracle worker”), the Tamblot Uprising of 1621 stemmed from conflicts between the Filipinos’ old beliefs and the new religion imposed by Spain. Though short-lived and unsuccessful, this religious revolt is one of our earlier attempts to stand up against a foreign power. Ironically, the Spaniards won by pitting an army composed mostly of Cebuano soldiers against the Boholano rebels.

While surfing the Internet, I chanced upon a pic of a monument supposedly dedicated to Tamblot but it didn’t spell out the exact location. But there’s a wood carving of Bohol’s folk hero which I stumbled upon while roaming around the museum in Tagbi. If there’s none in the works yet, I hope Boholanos would put up a prominent shrine for this intrepid babaylan who dared defy the colonizers.

And who can forget the Dagohoy Revolt of 1744-1829, which has gone down in our country’s history as the longest rebellion ever? Instigated by Francisco Dagohoy, a cabeza de barangay (village head) from the northern town of Inabanga, the uprising (which lasted for 85 years!) resulted from the injustices that the Jesuit priests inflicted upon the townspeople such as forced labor, excessive tax collection and payment of tributes, to name a few. 

If I can recall it right, it was the refusal of a Jesuit priest to give a Christian burial to Dagohoy’s brother that served as the final straw that broke the camel’s back, prompting Dagohoy to rally the Boholanos to rise up in arms against the Spaniards. There’s supposedly a marker dedicated to Dagohoy in the town of Danao. Too bad, it’s way out of my itinerary so I had to skip seeing the shrine. Anyway, it’ll be one of my missions in my future visits. 

Blood Compact Shrine

 

Burst into a beacon of bonding. There's this historical shrine just outside Tagbi proper which I had the chance to see during my very first visit to Bohol. The “bloody” landmark commemorates the first international treaty of friendship between the early Filipinos and the Europeans—the Blood Compact or Sandugo—involving Sikatuna, Bohol's chieftain, and conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain, which took place on March 16, 1565. 

Sculpted by no less than National Artist Napoleon Abueva, a Boholano himself, the shrine lies in the village of Bool, which is just three kilometers away from the downtown area and is  quite accessible since it’s located along the coastal highway. After picking me up at my hotel, Julius drove me there to kick off my tour into the countryside. Seeing the shrine for the second time, I noticed that a hotel is now in the works adjacent to it.

At that hour of the morning, only a handful of tourists were around so I was able to engage myself in a no-rush photoshoot with the life-size statues of the Sandugo’s main protagonists. Braving the sweltering heat of the summer sun, I took shots all over the shrine whose main feature includes the sculptures of five men gathered around a table, with Sikatuna and Legazpi performing a toast. Julius also took snaps of me together with the sculptures.

While standing on the marble platform where the images are mounted, I was treated to a picturesque vista of the Bohol Sea and the nearby island of Panglao. It was one rare moment I managed to capture in my Nikon. Gazing at the stoic images, I recalled the controversy among history writers surrounding this historic moment.

Historians like Dr. Sonia Zaide, for instance, argued that the said treaty between Sikatuna and Legazpi wasn't the first. Several years earlier, Portuguese maritime explorer Ferdinand Magellan and Rajah Kolambo of Masao (which is part of present-day Butuan City) had made the first blood compact on March 29, 1521! 

I wonder if the issue has already been settled. Anyway, I’m just a dabbler in history so I’d rather leave it to the experts to separate the factual from the fictitious. Whether it’s fact or fiction, Boholanos, however, continue to celebrate the historic bonding between Bohol’s king and the Spanish conquistador through the month-long celebration of Sandugo Festival held every July. Incidentally, sandugo means "one blood" in the vernacular.

(to be continued)