The Musings of a Journeyman

Flying from Manila to Tagbilaran, Bohol was a first for me and my wife.  In spite of the weather, we trudged on for our dream honeymoon in one of the most beautiful places the Philippines can offer.  It was a short flight and before we knew it, we were collecting our bags from the conveyor belt and looking for our contact to guide us throughout the island of Bohol. 

Our major stops are to see the Chocolate Hills and to see the smallest primate in the world, the tarsier, or boot /”bo-ot”/ in the local language.  Along the way, we made stopovers in Baclayon Church, the Blood compact site, the Loboc river cruise, a manmade forest of mahogany trees and more recent attractions like the Hanging Bridge, a 24-ft python and the usual gift shops along the highway. 

Baclayon Church is the oldest church in the island and the second oldest church in the Philippines, rivalling San Agustin Church in Intramuros.  Actually, construction in Baclayon Church was started ahead than that in San Agustin but because of attacking pirates that time; San Agustin Church was finished earlier, thus claiming the oldest church title.  For devout Catholics, a visita iglesia during the Holy Week is no problem in Bohol, because almost all municipalities have at least one old church to boast of.  With ninety percent of Boholanos being Catholics, they are sure to benefit from this set-up.

A visit to Bohol would not be complete without seeing a tarsier.  These docile nocturnal animals fit at the palm of one’s hand.  If one is lucky enough, the handlers would even allow you to touch them.  We were lucky enough to do so.  Their hairless feet and hands are cold to touch!  As small as they are, they are very nimble to jump and cling on from one shrubbery to another. 

We had lunch at one of the floating restaurants along the Loboc River, being rainy and all, the river was murky and not its usual blue green we were expecting.  The highlight of the boat ride was the lunch and the small waterfall before the boat heads back to port.  Having lunch on the boat is an experience all its own.  I noticed the lampposts that were installed at the banks of the river and wondered how romantic the place would be at night, with the lampposts lit and with the musician on board the boat singing and playing his guitar.

Moving forward, we reached Chocolate Hills in rainy weather, we took as much pictures as we can.  It was a childhood dream fulfilled for me for I’ve only seen these limestone formations only in pictures. Nonetheless, it was worth the 45 minute drive.  On our way back, we made a short stop inside the manmade forest and took pictures of the bright greenery.  The long straight trunks of the mahogany and canopy it creates make wonderful postcards!

We made our stop at the Blood Compact site last because of the multitude of people that were at the site earlier when we first passed by.  It is the nearest one from the airport.  We bought crafts of pearl necklaces, earrings and bracelets from the street vendors, we learned that these vendors are not native Boholanos and instead are Badjaos from Mindanao. 

By the time we were finished with all of these; it was already 4:30 PM in the afternoon.  We started our journey at 9:00 AM that morning.  We were glad to have made this first day an adventurous one regardless of the afternoon rains.  We decided to stay in one of the hotels in Tagbilaran and move to a resort in Panglao Island the next day.  That’s for another day.