BOHOL

Province of Bohol (Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Bohol; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Bohol) is a first

income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting
of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands.[3] Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land
area of 4,117.26 square kilometres (1,589.68 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometres (162 mi)
long, Bohol is the tenth largest
island of the Philippines.[4] To
the west of Bohol is Cebu, to
the northeast is the island
of Leyte and to the south,
across the Bohol
Sea is Mindanao.
On 15 October 2013, Bohol
was devastated by a 7.2
magnitude earthquake. The
epicenter of the earthquake is
at 2 kilometers south
of Carmentown. The
earthquake, which was also
felt in neighboring Cebu
City claimed 74 lives and destroyed a number of Bohol's heritage churches, including the
churches of Baclayon, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, Loay, Dimiao, and Dauis.

Church and Religion

The Churches in Bohol is a distinct collection of Roman Catholic churches established during
the early Spanish colonial period in the island-province Bohol, in the Philippines.[1] Four of these
churches - Baclayon, Loboc, Loon, and Maribojoc - are declared as National Cultural Treasures
for its cultural, historical and architectural importance to the Filipino people.

Church As Tourist Spots and Historical Places

Baclayon
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.

The first Spanish missionaries

ordoctrineros in the region, Fr. Juan
de Torres and Fr. Gabriel Sanchez,
first settled in Baclayon in 1595.
Shortly after their arrival,
a visita was erected on the spot.
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.
Loboc
The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second
oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in
1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a
stronger one was build. Located near the river,
it has survived a number of floods. Inside the
church, you can admire some remarkable naive
paintings on the ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms
can be found in the stone wall near the entrance
of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about
100 meters from the church.
Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses the Museo
de Loboc on the third floor. This museum houses a few old statues of saints, and
some other antique religious artifacts.
In Loboc, you can also admire a
shameful witness of wasteful planning.
Exactly next to the church is a partly
finished bridge across the river.
Hopefully, this bridge will never be

completed, as, to do that, the Church will have to be destroyed.

Loon
The Church of Our Lady of Light in Loon is the biggest church in Bohol. At the spot
of the current church, a chapel was constructed during the term of Fray Manuel de
Elizalde in 1753. Some fifty years later, the Augustinian Recollects replaced by the
current church in Ionic and Corinthian style. The building has two towers octagonal
bell towers, and is fully symmetric.
From Loon Church leads of long stairway of 174 stone steps, which connect Napo,
the former seat of the town.
Dauis Church
Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of
Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, on the Island
of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge
that connects Panglao with Bohol. The church was
founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and
Joseph Gregorio. The church is build in a mixture
of styles, influenced by both Byzantine and
Romanesque architecture. Inside, on the ceiling,
are some impressive frescoes painted Ray Francia in 1916. Lito Arraya renovated
the building in 1970.
Maribojoc Church
The parish of Maribojoc was founded in 1768, and
construction of a church started 1798 and lasted
years.

18

Language of Bohol Island

The local language on Bohol Island is Boholano, a dialect related to the language
spoken on Cebu Island. There are a few other minor dialects spoken in pockets
throughout Bohol. Tagalog is the pervasive language that the various ethnic groups
speak when coming together. Otherwise, a widespread understanding of English means
tourists encounter very little difficulty communicating with locals.

Tourist Spots
CHOCOLATE HILLS

The Chocolate Hills is a famous tourist attraction in Bohol. This island treasure is a series of
undulating hills over a vast plain sometimes considered the Eighth Wonder of the World, it
has been declared as Chocolate Hills National
Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion
in the UNESCO World Heritage. The hills are
considered unusual geological formations that
consists of at least 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped
hills of about the same size, that are scattered
throughout the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan
and Sagbayan. A one of a kind geological feature
in the world. The hills range from 30 to 150
meters high and are covered in green grass,
which turns to brown during dry season, making
them look like chocolate mounds. The Chocolate
Hills Complex in Carmen town, and Sagbayan Peak in the town of Sagbayan are two areas
where tourists can view the hills up close.
WHITE SANDY BEACHES
ALONA BEACH is located in barangay Tawala, Panglao. This centerpiece of the island is a
1.5 kilometer stretch of glittering white sand in the southwest portion of Panglao island. It is
considered the most popular beach in Panglao and is shared by different resorts that offer
various cuisines and cater to different markets. There are also quite a number of
establishments offering diving lessons and rent of dive equipment. The seas are
exceptionally clear, and this combination of pristine sand and crystal clear seas has led
some experts to label it as one of the best tropical beach in the region. The tranquil waters
are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, kayaking and learning to dive. The
adventurous types can also easily rent boats to go to deeper reefs in nearby islands.

BOLOD BEACH is located east of Alona Beach and is a favorite

among locals, mainly because of the shallow waters that make
the place ideal for family get-togethers. The exclusive Bohol
Beach Club is located here and is ideal for those who want
privacy.
DOLJO BEACH is located in barangay Doljo. With its deep calm waters,
undisturbed coral reefs and diverse marine life, Doljo Beach is an ideal
place for scuba diving. Seashells of varied designs and colors also
abound in the area.
DIVE SITES

BALICASAG is a small island south of Panglao. There is a resort on the island and there are
a lot of beautiful dive sites surrounding the island. Considered as one
of the best dive sites in the region, it is famous among divers for its
overhangs, crevices, downslope walls, a vast abundance of the most
colorful and exotic displays of marine life.

LOBOC RIVER CRUISE

Local and foreign tourists who visit the town of Loboc must
always include a cruise along the scenic and winding Loboc
River, wherein lunch could only be on board on one of the
towns native floating restaurants that serves fresh seafood
and native dishes. A cruise along the emerald green Loboc
River starts either from the Loay Bridge or at the towns
Poblacion. The motorized bancas and the floating
restaurants take cruisers upstream passing by nipa trees,
coconuts and other tropical flora. The town of Loboc is
about 24 kilometers from the city.
TARSIER
The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), estimated to be 45 million years old and known to
be the smallest primate. Its home is in Bohol. It has gray fur and nearly gray tail. Tarsiers
are named as such because of their special elongated tarsal bones, which form their ankles
and enable them to leap to almost 10 feet from tree to tree. Their long, partly hairless tail
arcs over their back when they hop on the ground. Tarsiers are small and weigh only about
110 to 145 grams or 4 to 5 ounces. The most notable feature of tarsiers is their eyes, which
are each bigger than its entire brain. Like owls, tarsiers can rotate their head almost 180
degrees in each direction. They hunt at night exclusively for animal prey and their diet
includes insects such as cockroaches, crickets and small lizards.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary
The Tarsier Trail starts at the Tarsier Research and
Development Center set up by the Philippine Tarsier
Foundation in Canapnapan, Corella. See the tarsiers live
and roam freely in their natural habitat. The Tarsier
Sanctuary is located in Corella town about 10 kilometers
north of Tagbilaran City.

BLOOD COMPACT SITE

A marker which identifies the spot where Datu
Sikatuna, a native chieftain, forged a Blood Compact
with Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi representing the
King of Spain, for the purpose of fostering friendly
relations between the countries. The Blood Compact
Commemorative Shrine is located in Barangay Bool,
Tagbilaran City. The sculpture depicting this historical
promise of friendship is made by National Artist,
Napoleon Abueva, a Boholano himself. This historical
event happened on March 16, 1565 is commemorated every year in Bohol as the Sandugo
Festival in July.
HINAGDANAN CAVE
Hinagdanan Cave is a cave on Panglao Island, in Dauis,
Bohol about 9 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. Hinagdanan
means laddered in Cebuano. It is a naturally lighted
cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and
stalagmites. The cave leads to a large underground
cavern, that contains a pond. The underground pond is a
popular swimming spot, but it has been known to test for
high levels of various pollutants, since it is fed by ground
runoff.
MAG-ASO FALLS
Numerous
waterfalls
and
caves
are
scattered across the island of Bohol,
including the beautiful Mag-Aso falls in
Antequera. Mag-Aso means smoke in the
native tongue. The water is cool and often
creates a mist in humid mornings which can
hide the falls. Mag-aso Falls in the town of
Antequera is about 21 kilometers from
Tagbilaran City.

PUNTA CRUZ WATCHTOWER

The watchtower in Punta Cruz, Maribojoc town is
located 14 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. The
tower is made of stone wherein a wooden cross is
planted in a slightly indented area in front of the
tower. According to legend, the cross has been
enchanted with a mysterious spell that had saved
many people from the ravages of pirates. The cross
is said to extend its arms to the sea, preventing
marauders. The tower, which has windows that overlook nearby islands Cebu and Siquijor
and the Mindanao Sea, served as a lookout for pirates.

Fiestivals
Sandugo Festival, July 1-31
The annual spectacular festival of the
province features an agro-industrial fair,
cultural and historical showcase, sports
events, a beauty pageant, balls and dances,
entertainment shows, and streetdancing
which culminates with the re-enactment of
the blood compact or Sandugo between
Datu Sikatuna and Don Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi.
Tagbilaran City Fiesta, May 1
The Tagbilaran City is one of the most exciting and fun filled occasions of the year. For nine days
before the day itself, nightly entertaining activities are held, such as the beauty pageant, literary
musical shows, concerts, dramas and stage plays, and many more.
Bolibong Kingking Festival, May 23-24
A music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore, and traditions of the Lobocanons.
Bolibong Kingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to accompany
the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 2nd Patron of
Loboc.
Pana-ad sa Loboc, Holy Thursday & Good Friday
In observance of the Holy Week, the Lobocanons read the "Pasyon" and do a penitential procession
through the way of the cross that culminates at the place called "Cruz Daku," a huge cross 80 feet in
height which is on top of the highest hill where one can view the neighboring towns including the
city.
Sambat Mascaray Regatta Festival, 1st Saturday of December
The festival is celebrated in honor of Loay town's second patron, St. Francis Xavier. Colorful
activities are lined up, like the agro-industrial fair, group masked street dancing, drum and bugle
competition, boat racing along the river, and many more. The event is highlighted by a tluvial
parade of the image along the river.
Suroy sa Musikero, December 25 - February 2
This is a revelry where the Loboc town musicians cover daily the assigned areas to partake of the
food served by the host and to play music to the tune of Kuradang, Dalagang sa Baybayon, and
others. This is also the period where carolers render Christmas songs to the families of the host

area.
Bohol Fiestas, month of May
If you want to experience fiesta in the real sense of the word, come to Bohol on the merry month of
May when each day a town or a barrio fiesta is celebrated with so much grandeur and revelry. This
is also the time for family reunions. Kinfolk from places far and near gather to keep in touch with
loved ones.
Ubi Festival, January
For almost half a millennium, the ubi tuber has been venerated by the Boholanos. To this day, the
respect for the plant is still stronger than ever. The festival will institutionalize the ubi crop as the
agro-historical geographical-religious symbol of Bohol and give the ubi the recognition it rightfully
deserves in the market. The festival features an exhibit, ubi contest, an agri-business investment
opportunities seminar, and a cultural show.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Throughout the years, the local townsfolk have developed a keen sense of creativity and
resourcefulness that blossomed into an industry that helps promote the uniqueness of Bohol. Not only
does it aid in Bohols tourism, but also helps the locals by employing as part of the workforce to
create beautiful products and goods sold domestically and worldwide.

Souvenirs

Bohol offers plenty of nice souvenirs to bring back home. Most famous are the native
crafts from Antequera, but you will also be offered colorful painted fish, often made in
Mindanao, and the well known lamp-shades made of hundreds of small cowrie shells
from Cebu. Finally it will hard to avoid getting a few nice Bohol T-shirts.

Basket-ware

Wooden Fish

The Sunday market of Antequera is really the best place to buy basket-ware. It is the
place where all the shop owners in Tagbilaran get it from as well, but by the time it has
reached their shops the price has doubled. Be there in time, as the market starts to
close down at noon already.

One thing to check is the presence of small holes caused by insects, which abound in the
tropical climate. If you reach home and find your baskets are still infected, a very effective way of getting rid
of the vermin is by keeping them in the freezer for a week, getting them out for a couple of days, and then
freeze them again for a week. This will effectively kill all without the use of pesticides.

The Boholano Language

On Bohol, most people speak Cebuano, or, to be more exact, the local dialect of Cebuano, called
Boholano. It differs in some respect from the Cebuano spoken on Cebu. For example:
Cebuano: Akoa baya ning sinilas.
Boholano: Ahoa baja ning sinilas.
Tagalog: Akin itong tsinilas na ito.
English: This is my slipper.
However, you will not face too much trouble making yourself understood on Bohol. Many people
speak English, and almost all speak standard Cebuano as well as Tagalog.