THC002: PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

Chapter 10

Region 7 – Central Visayas Region

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Identify the different major attractions, activities, accommodations, and cultural

highlights in the provinces within the Central Visayas Region.
2. Create different tour packages that carry different types of tourism activities
within the region and
3. Assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the region in
terms of the 4 As of tourism.

This chapter presents the major tourist destination areas of Central Visayas
Region. The major discussions will be on access, health and safety Issues,
geographical characteristics, major attractions, gastronomy, and distinctive cultural
attributes of the region related to the development and promotion of tourism in the
Philippines.

The Central Visayas Region has two of the most dynamic tourism-driven
destinations in the country. Bohol and Cebu are included in the Top Ten list of most
visited destinations of both local and domestic tourists. Siquijor is slowly creating noise
as an enchanting natural destination in Central Philippines. Central Visayas Region is
comprised of the provinces of:
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor and
• Negros Oriental

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 THC002: PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

No. of Towns
Land Area (in No. of
Capital Major Industries and
hectares) Cities
Municipalities
Agriculture, Business
Tagbilaran
Bohol 534,200 Process Outsourcing 1 47
City
(BPO), Tourism
Shipbuilding,
Shipping, Agriculture
Cebu Cebu City 482,095 9 43
(Mango Industry),
BPO, Tourism
Trading, Livestock,
Siquijor Siquijor 33,749 Poultry, Furniture, - 6
Fishing
Negros Sugar, Agriculture,
Dumaguete 538,553 6 19
Oriental Fishing, Livestock

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A. Ports of Access

Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor are islands; hence, access to and from the said
provinces are by air or sea. Intra-region travel is also via sea. Tourists should consider
going around the region during the same visit to maximize the seaport access within
the region. Cebu and Bohol also serve as jump-off points to some provinces in
Mindanao.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport,

Tagbilaran City Airport, Dumaguete Airport

Cebu International Port, Tagbilaran City

Tourist Pier, Larena and Siquijor Ports,
Dumaguete Port

By Air: Considered as the country's second international gateway, Mactan-

Cebu International Airport is the main gateway to the region from various domestic
and international destinations. Tagbilaran City Airport in Bohol is an alternative hub for
domestic flights from Manila and Cagayan de Oro.

By Sea: 2GO Travel offers regular ferry trips from Manila to Cebu and vice
versa. Several shipping companies offer daily trips to Tagbilaran from Cebu, Cagayan
de Oro, Dipolog, Dumaguete, and Manila. The province of Siquijor on the other hand
is generally accessed through its three seaports located in Larena, Lazi, and Siquijor.
Various shipping companies offer daily trips from Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Iligan
City.

Getting Around: The cities and municipalities within the provinces are
connected through a network of concrete roads. Private van and car rentals are
available to move around the region as well as public modes of transportation such as
multicabs or small jeepneys, tricycles, and motorcycles to get around towns.

B. Attractions and Activities

Historical, Cultural and

Natural Attractions Built Attractions
Heritage Attractions
Blood Compact Hanging Bridge At
Chocolate Hills
Memorial Sevilla
Philippines Tarsier
Baclayon Church Bilar Mahogany Forest
Sanctuary
Clarin Ancestral House Loboc River
Bohol
Punta Cruz Watch Tower Abatan River
Bohol National Museum Balicasag Island
Dagohoy Marker Panglao Island
Pamilacan Island
Mag-Aso Falls

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Olango Wildlife
Magellan’s Cross Taoist Temple
Sanctuary
Basilica Minor Del Sto.
Mactan Island Phu-Sian Temple
Nino
Fort San Pedro Nonoc Cave Mandaue-Mactan Bridge
Cebu Heritage Of Cebu
Bantayan Island Plaza Independencia
Monument
Magellan Marker Malapascua Island Fuente Osmena Park
Lapulapu Monument Camotes Island Tops
University Of San Carlos Kawasan Falls
Liloan Lighthouse Moalboal
Church Of St. Francis Of
Cambuhagay Falls
Assisi
San Isidro Labrador
Cantabon Cave
Church
Tulapos Marine
Cang-Isok Old House
Sanctuary
Siquijor
San Juan Beaches
San Juan Capilay Spring
Park
Mt. Bandilaan Nature
Park
Old Balete Tree
Silliman University Casaroro Falls
Dumaguete Bell Tower
Lake Balanan
And Cathedral
Negros
Apo Island
Oriental
Mabinay Caves
White Sand Bar,
Manjuyod
Dolphin Watching Bais

Chocolate Hills, Bohol Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Bohol

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Panglao Island, Bohol Magellan’s Cross, Cebu

Lapu-lapu Monument, Cebu Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, Siquijor

Old Balete Tree, Siquijor Dolphin Watching in Bais, Negros

Oriental

Dumaguete Bell Tower and Cathedral, Negros Oriental

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C. Range of Accommodations
Budget (less than P1,500 per
night)
Aliria bed & breakfast
Staylite park bed & breakfast
TR3ATS guest house
Water paradise resort
Bohol
Darunday manor
Arabelle suites
Vest grand suites
El portal inn
Cebu budget hotel
Copenhagen east residences
Leople hotel
Guadalupe grove guest house
R suites & café
Pillows hotel
Cebu Pe’re aristo guesthouse
Anthurium inn
Cebu guesthouse
G&B hostel
Europa mansionette inn
GV hotel
Heritage inn
Toris paradise
Islandia beach resort
Isla inn
Dastraum guesthouse
Siquijor Casa de la playa beach resort
Palm tree guesthouse
Townview guesthouse
Nathandrei highlands hotel
Sunporch bed & breakfast
Go hotels dumaguete
Hostel tropical
White chocolate hills resort
Hotel nicanor
Negros Oriental
Hotel palwa
Manhattan suites inn
C&L bay view inn
Kavs beach resort
Mid-Range (P1,500 to P3,000 High-End (at least P3,000
per night)
Belian hotel
Metrocentre hotel & convention
center
717 cesar place hotel
Kew hotel
Ocean suites bohol boutique
hotel
Bohol tropics resort
Bohol bee farm hotel
Dao diamond hotel
Bayfront hotel
Hotel Elizabeth
Crown regency hotel
Red planet
Southpole central hotel
Harolds hotel
The henry hotel
Diamonds suites
Alpa city suites
Cebu grand hotel
Golden prince hotel
Allure hotel & suites
Dohera hotel
Sotogrande hotel & resort
Gold view beach resort
Blue wave inn
Adayo cove resort
Tropicasa siquijor
Nathandrei highlands resort
The Danish lagoon luxury beach
Island rendevoo cottages
Antulang beach resort
Hotel essencia
Wellbeach dive resort
Cove sands beach and dive
resort
La residencia al mar hotel
Gracey dive resort
Casa margaritha
per night)
Kasagpan resort
Alona kew white beach resort
Panglao homes resort & villas
Alona tropical beach resort
The peacock garden
Flushing meadows resort
Bohol beach club
Henann beach resort
Eskaya beach resort and spa
Marco polo plaza hotel
Radisson blu
Movenpick hotel mactan
island cebu
Kandaya resort
Waterfront cebu city hotel and
casino
Mandarin plaza hotel
Cebu parklane international
hotel
Shangri-La mactan resort &
spa
Marriott hotel cebu
Plantation bay resort & spa
Crimson resort and spa
White villas resort
Kalachuchi beach resort
Lazi beach club
Altantis dive resort
Salaya beach houses
Sea dream resort
Atmosphere resorts
Vid homes condo resort
Bahura resort and spa
Bravo resorts
Sta. monica beach club
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Hennan Resort Alona Beach, Bohol Amorita Resort Panglao, Bohol

Eskaya beach Resort & Spa, Bohol Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Cebu

Shangri La Resort & Spa Mactan, Cebu Marriott Hotel, Cebu

Kalachuchi Beach Resort, Siquijor Atlantis Dive Resort, Negros Oriental

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D. Food and Delicacies

Bohol Cebu Siquijor Negros Oriental
Tablea Lechon Torta Silvanas
Barquillos Danggit Native Bread Sans rival
Fresh and Dried
Calamay Peanut ball Bud-bud Kabog
Mangoes
Dumaguete
Peanut Kisses Chorizo de Cebu Banana Crackers
Express
Salwaki (sea
Broas Mazareal
urchin)
Lomboy Wine (Java
Bibingka Torta
Plum Wine)
Maruya Rosquillos
Biko Bibingka
Torta Binignit
Biko
Ampao
Puto and Sikwate
Salvaro
Ngohiong
E. Recommended Pasalubong

 Fresh and dried mangoes

 Lechon
 Chicharon
 Danggit
 Otap
 Broas
 Piyaya
 Peanut Kisses
 Calamay
 Malunggay spread
 Peanut brittle
 Banana chips and crackers
 Torta
 Siquijor amulets
 Lumay (Love Potions)
 Handicrafts (keychains, baskets, bags, wallets, etc.)
 Guitars, Ukeleles, and other string instruments
 T-shirts.

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F. Festivals and Special Events

Bohol
 Sandugo Festival (July)
commemoration of the blood compact of Datu
Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; a
month-long festival that showcases cultural
shows and agro-industrial fairs.
 Pandayan Festival (February 27)
a celebration of the anniversary of St. Joseph
the Worker Parish.
 Ubi Festival — (2nd week of
January) to give honor to the Ubi—a much revered root crop in Bohol.
 Bolibong Kingking Festival (.Niay 23) a music and dance festival to
celebrate the history, folklores, and tradition of the Lobocanons.
 Suroy sa Musikero (December
25 to February 2) a celebration where the
Lobs town musicians play music, such as
Kuradang and Dalaga sa Baybayon, to the
hosts of the assigned areas and enjoy the
food served for them.
 Sambat Mascara Y Regatta
Festival (every first Saturday of December) in
honor of Loay's second Patron Saint, St. Francis Xavier.
 SidlaKasilak — (August 30 until September 8) the festival of lights to honor
the Birhen ng Kasilak (Our Lady of Light), patroness of Loon.
 Pahinungod Festival — (May 1—10) a celebration to give thanks for an
abundant harvest to the town saint, San Vicente Ferrer.

Cebu
 Sinulog Festival — (every 3rd
Sunday of January) one of the most popular
festivals of the Philippines in honor of Senior
Sto. Nino.
 Paskuhan sa Sugbo — a month-
long celebration to welcome the Christmas
Season.
 Kadaugan sa Mactan — (April
22—27) commemorates the historic battle
between Ferdinand Magellan and Mactan chieftain Lapu-Lapu.
 Dinagat Festival — (August 16) celebrates the livelihood and fishing culture
of the town of Cordova in honor of their patron saint, Sr. San Roque.
 Siloy Festival — (last Saturday of August) to pay tribute to Patron Saint Rose
of Lima and to promote Mag-abo Forest that shelters the endangered black
shama (siloy).

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 Banig Festival — (July 25) Badian's annual fiesta that showcases Cebuano
culture, tradition, delicacies, and local
products.
 Mantawi Festival — (May 5) an
annual event to celebrate the rich cultural and
historical heritage of Mandaue City.
 Tostado festival — (3rd Sunday
of April) highlights the town's popular delicacy,
Tostado.
 Kawayan Festival — in honor of
Saint Francis Javier, the town of Alegria celebrates its major source of
livelihood, the kawayan or bamboo.

Siquijor
 Bugwas Festival a celebration in
San Juan, Siquijor of their bountiful harvest in
honor of their patron saint, St. Augustine; held
during the last week of August.
 Dila-ab Festival — (October 1) a
celebration of the distinct hospitality of the
Siquijodnons in honor of their patron saint, St.
Francis of Assisi.
 Solili Festival — (September 17)
known as the highlight of the Araw ng Siquijor celebration to reminisce the
tradition in Lazi, Siquijor and pay tribute to the newlywed couples.
 Lubi Festival (May 21) the municipality of Maria, Siquijor celebrates lubi or
coconut trees as their major source of livelihood.

Negros Oriental
 Buglasan Festival — (2nd week
of October) the mother of all festivals in the
province.
 Sandurot Festival — (3rd week
of November) in honor of patroness of
Dumaguete, Sta. Catalina de Alejandria, and
to celebrate hospitality and harmony in the
city.
 Tawo-tawo Festival (February
18) also known as scarecrow festival.
 Pasayaw Festival (March 18) a thanksgiving celebration for the bountiful
harvest of the city of Canlaon.

G. Major Cultural Groups

Major cultural groups in the region are the Cebuanos and Boholanos.

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Cebuano used to be the largest ethnic group in the Philippines but is

currently only next to the Tagalog. The Cebuano constitutes the major ethnic
population and cultural influence in southern Philippines, making Cebuano the
lingua franca of southern Philippines.

The Boholano speaks a variation of Cebuano with minor changes in

pronunciation. Whatever remains of their traditional culture has long been gone.
Their dialect is a similar variation of Cebuano with minor changes in
pronunciation. Southern Bohol is known for unique hunting specializations for
whales, dolphins, sharks, and mantas.

H. Major Industries

Having island provinces, the major industries in the region include

agriculture, fishery, shipping, and tourism.

I. Languages and Dialects Spoken

Major languages and dialects spoken include Cebuano, Boholano,

Porohanon, and English.

Badilla, M.G. & Oreta, M.L. (2017). Service... Manila: Rex Book Store,lnc.

Peralta, J. T. (2000). Glimpses: Peoples of the Philippines. National Commission for

Culture and the Arts.

1. www.bohol-philippines.com
2. www.boholtourismph.com
3. www.visitmyphilippines.com
4. www.bohol.ph

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