Philippines Guide

Bohol is located in the south-central part of the Philippines, right in the heart of the Visayas. Although Bohol is known primarily for the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier, and as an ideal spot for diving and snorkeling, there’s one other attraction that Bohol can boast about, and that every vacationer on this island should try— and that is the floating restaurants along the Loboc River.

Each floating restaurant can hold about 20-25 people each. The boat ride starts at the Loay Bridge, just 20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. A motorboat maneuvers a large bamboo raft upstream through the Loboc River, and the buffet begins.

This extensive selection of tasty, native dishes positioned in the center of the raft makes for an extremely pleasant dining experience, which one can enjoy buffet-style for approximately P250 per person. Dishes usually offered are soup, grilled seafood such as squid, prawns and fish, and barbecued chicken, pork, and vegetables. For dessert, a variety of fresh fruits are available, as well as overflowing coffee and tea. While dining, a small group of singers serenade you with everything from folk songs to local pop songs.

Another reason that makes dining along the Loboc River so enjoyable though, is the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the raft. The lush greens all around the raft are captivating against a perfectly blue sky which adds tranquility to the ride. As the boat goes further upstream, one cannot help but notice that the river is full of life.

Locals go about their business on small boats and canoes, carabaos are wading and drinking the river water, while children are everywhere, swinging from tall coconut trees and jumping into the river. Sometimes, the children swim up to the boats and try to catch the tourists’ attention, performing random stunts in the water. Other tourists and locals call out to you, wave and smile at you, as their restaurant and yours cross paths.

The boat takes about 45 minutes to reach a small waterfall called Busay, where it will stop for a while in order for those aboard to enjoy the view. Afterwards, the boat turns around and makes its way downstream the river.

During the summer, the river is clean and green, while during the rainy season, the water is rather brown. It doesn’t really matter what time of the year you decide to go here though, because either way, you’re still in for fresh air, scrumptious food, and a completely unique experience.

Tags: traveling, Tourist, Tourist Destinations, philippine-beaches, scuba diving, Philippine Islands, philippines-beaches

“Fresh” is the operative word here. Fresh seafood. As in just plucked out of the sea a moment ago and cooked before your very eyes. Freshly slaughtered suckling pig roasting in a pit of hot coals. Fresh vegetables. Harvested just a few steps away. Some garnish the seafood; some are processed for salads and side dishes. Fresh fruit. A local picks them off the bushes, shrubs or trees and ably adds these to the growing menu.

We are going to have a fiesta. In these parts, fiesta is a vital component of celebrating life. What seems like a growing cacophony of food preparation activity is actually an orderly exercise in merrymaking. It is the lifeblood and the tradition of these islands.

These are the Philippine islands. Home to a warm and hospitable Filipino people. And if there is anything Filipinos love to do, it is to eat well. Compared to many other nationalities worldwide, Filipinos share the peculiar reputation of celebrating the small and big events of their lives with food. To them, food is indispensable as a means of merrymaking. It seems well entrenched in the national psyche that good food; processed and handled and served well, is every homemakers status symbol. It is a widely held belief that a self-respecting Filipino will go to great lengths to transform the humblest of food into something special at the dinner table.

Native cuisine is often an eclectic mix of Chinese, Spanish, American, and local food reflecting influences from their neighbors, colonizers, and trading partners. The staple food is rice, fish, and vegetables, but pork and chicken is also popular. Each region of the Philippines is justifiably proud of its local specialties which take advantage of the dazzling range of fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats available. But let us focus on Bohol’s restaurants and its unique seafood festival.

Scenic and historical Bohol Island is a popular tourist destination located among the cluster of Visayan Islands in south-central Philippines. It is home to some spectacular dive sites that attract international divers who very often take up long-term residence here. Add to this the seasonal tourist, the resident mix-blood whose ancestors traded with or colonized the islanders, the local migrants, and the islanders themselves, and you get a picture of a Bohol island which is peopled by a merry mix of nationalities, all of whom have their own food tastes and preferences. This gives rise to a clientele for a wide variety of restaurants in Bohol which cater to every need, want and budget.

Yet most Bohol restaurants are no different from that which is typical to the Philippines or from similarly situated tourist destinations throughout the world. Even the mildly unique restaurant structures that are set partly on land and partly on the shallows of the beach are typical in many coastal tourist destinations. Fresh catch may be the operative word here, but that is true in most all quality restaurants throughout the world.

But what is unique to Bohol restaurants is the sheer variety of fresh catch and the price for which they can be had. A recent World Bank publication and the United Nations Development Program have cited a good number of marine resources scientists who claim that the Philippines is at the center of the world’s marine fish biodiversity. That study rings most true in Bohol which is situated at the center of the Philippine islands. The sheer variety of fresh catch at near bargain prices. This allows for a seafood festival unique to Bohol restaurants.

Tags: Beach, Tagalog, traveling, Davao, Philippine Islands, Dive Sites, Philippines

The Bohol Province is considered as one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. It is an island in the Central Visayan Region of the Philippines. People in the province are called Boholanos. Many tourists from different countries go to Bohol because of its beautiful beaches and resorts. The province is known for the famous Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier, a small monkey with big eyes. Other attractive amenities that the island offers are diving shops, recreation centers and shopping malls.

Restaurants on the island province offer a variety of food. Tourists in the province can enjoy flavors from countries around the world. There are Japanese, Chinese and Singaporean as well as Filipino-American restaurants that tourists and locals can go to. Coffeehouses, bake shops, bars and music lounges are additional attractions that the province offers. Franchises of local and international fast food chains are also presents in the province. Fusion restaurants have also made their mark in the island province.

Tourists who prefer to eat the freshest food can go to restaurants located near or within wet and public markets called dampa. Seafood on sale at wet markets includes king crabs, lobsters, mussels, prawns and shrimp. It is guaranteed that seafood sold at the wet markets is the freshest catches of the day. When eating at a dampa, customers buy seafood from the market, go to the restaurant and tell the Boholano staff how they want the food to be cooked. Customers may also leave the decision on how the food will be cooked to the staff of the dampa that they will be eating at. Eating at a dampa has become famous not only with locals but also with tourists because it brings an enjoyable and one-of-a-kind experience.

Bohol also offers cruises along Cambuhat River that will surely delight tourists not only because of the sights that they will be able see but also because of the oyster feast that they can enjoy at the end of the river cruise. Slipper oysters can be bought from oyster farms in the province.

The island province of Bohol is very accessible to foreign and local tourists. Once in the Philippines, there are daily airplane flights offered by a number of airline carriers available for them to take. Estimated travel time from Manila to Bohol is one and a half hours. For those more adventurous, they can opt to take a ship that goes to different provinces within the region where the province is located.

Tags: philippines-beaches, Baguio, traveling, Dive Sites, Philippine Islands, Pinoy, expat

Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippine archipelago. It is situated in Central Visayas with its capital Tagbilaran City. This little paradise island is world-renowned for its beautiful and eye-captivating tourist attractions.

One of the major attractions in Bohol is its fabulous beach resorts. These beach resorts are enumerable and countless across Bohol Island. Each of them paints typical scenery of a tropical resort. Accented with palm trees, long stretches of fine white sand and crystal blue waters complete their paradise-like panorama.

A number of these splendid beach resorts on Bohol Island are Alona Kew White Beach Resort, Ananyana Beach Resort, Dumaluan Beach Resort, Lost Horizon Beach Resort, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa, Bohol Beach Club, and Panglao Island Nature Resort. These mentioned resorts are located on Dauis-Panglao Island, a smaller island of Bohol.

Meanwhile, there are still plenty of equally fantastic beach resorts in Dauis-Panglao, as well as in other coastal towns of Bohol. The Coco White Beach Resort is located along the bay of Guindulman, while the Bituon Beach Resort is strategically situated on top of wonderful cliffs of the same town. A certain beautiful beach resort is situated in another island of Bohol. Isla Hayahay is to be found in Pangangan Island, Calape. The Flower Beach Resort is located in tranquil surroundings in the town of Anda, Bohol.

Those mentioned are just a small number of beach resorts found in Bohol. Each of them has their own strategies and amenities to accommodate guests, from the cozy well-maintained bungalows complete with modern facilities, mouth-watering dishes, and breathtaking scenic views. A dream vacation on these terrific spots would be well worth while.

Holidays and vacations spent on these spectacular white sand beaches would perfectly turn out to be enjoyable at the same time memorable. It is great for a family vacation, for honeymooners, lovers, and friends who want to get away from their stressful work and city life. Bohol beaches are definitely the place to be with their serenity and tropical ambiance that is soothing for vacation-goers.

Beach activities such as snorkeling, diving, outdoor and water sports, or just simply sitting back and relaxing under the shade of palm trees put in excitement and fun. In addition to that, recreational facilities are also available at some of these beach resorts such as jacuzzis, spas, island hopping, and scuba diving.

Bohol takes pride in its great number of world-class white sandy beaches. Beach resorts offer quality service to ensure tourists pleasure and contentment. The white sand beaches never fail to impress even the meticulous critic.Bohol beaches are guaranteed for a one-of-a-kind dream vacation realized.

Tags: Boracay, Manila, asia travel, filipino food, expat, Diving, White Beach

Looking for a great beach destination? Have we got the place for you! When we say vacation we usually see white sand beaches, warm, tropical nights, beautiful sunsets, exotic food, AND exotic people. It is also an advantage if your destination is affordable (not cheap!) and can AND will cater to your every vacation desire. The beaches in Bohol are all that and more.

Bohol is a little island lying southeast of Cebu and a mere 1 hour and fifty minutes from Manila. Known for its Chocolate Hills and the lovable tarsier, Bohol boasts of equally stunning and famous beaches that are favorites of locals and tourists alike. What makes the beach destinations here unique, however, are the pristine waters and protected diving areas where world famous seashells like the Golden Cowrie and “Gloria maris” thrive and abound.

The more exclusive beach resorts are often found in Panglao Island, that little piece of land jutting next to the bigger island of Bohol. The more known beaches include Dumaluan Beach, where some of the best resorts, like the Bohol Beach Club are located. It lies on the south of the Panglao Island, and is a great place to view killer sunsets, go barefoot in powdery white sand or simply, relax.

Alona Beach also boasts its own string of known resorts, and is probably the most developed beach on Panglao Island. It has a number of diving establishments, not to mention some of the best restaurants in Bohol. There is absolutely no better way to cap off a great day of diving than eating delicious seafood at the best beach front restaurants this island has to offer! Snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts have the time of their lives here, although they have to be wary of the occasional sea urchin that may be lurking beneath the waters. A good, sturdy pair of water shoes will take care of that though.

Other beaches include the Doljo, Bikini, Anda,and Momo beaches, perfect for those who prefer quiet, leisurely strolls to the activity and hustle of the more popular beaches and resorts.

True, there are a lot of beaches out there, too many, in fact, that at times it may seem hard to choose. However, there is no doubt that you will have a memorable vacation experience spent exploring in Bohol’s beautiful and world-renowned beaches. Aside from the good food, excellent swimming and diving amenities and romantic sunsets you get the genuine tropical experience that only Bohol can offer.

Tags: Wordpress, philippine-beaches, Filipino, Asia, Pinoy, Cebu, traveling

The Chocolate Hills are not the only reason to visit the province of Bohol in the Philippines. If you’re into caving or cave exploring then Bohol is a great destination. The province has over 1,400 caves. The name Bohol seems to have come from the word “buho” which means a “hole”. Locally, this means a hole where spring water would usually burst out; Bohol has lots of that along its coastal towns.

A lot of the caves of Bohol, Philippines have not yet been explored. It is not quite surprising that one might be following a stream during a cool day’s trek only to find that it leads to a cave somewhere. The caves of Bohol are home to strange invertebrates, like the albino crabs for instance, who have adapted to life in the dark.

At least two caves in the province of Bohol have historic significance in the Philippines. The first one is the Francisco Dagohoy Cave. This cave is located in the town of Danao and is the most visited by local and foreign tourists.

In 1744, Francisco Dagohoy, a patriot, started a rebellion against the Spanish Regime. This movement lasted until 1829. This cave served as their headquarters during the uprising. One of the passages in Dagohoy’s cave has an underwater route that leads to dry land within. It is said that this area was the movement’s hiding place when Spanish forces would raid the cave.

The other historic cave is found in the town of Antequera known as Buhong Tiawan, which is just one and a half kilometers away from town. The entrance to the cave is in a wall of a limestone hill. The entrance is three to five meters wide and leads to a cavern 100 meters long.

The cave was used as a refuge in World War II when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. The Japanese raided the place eventually when the imperial army discovered the hide out. Today, the cave is home to different species of birds and bats.

Another famous tourist attraction is the Hinagdanan Cave in the island of Panglao. The cave features stalactites with matching stalagmites that converge towards each other. The cave brings you to a cavern that has a pond about ten feet in depth. It isn’t advisable to swim in it since the water in the pond isn’t clean.

The caves Bohol, Philippines is a haven for those who love to explore the subterranean world. Some of these caves have been etched into the history of the Philippines through the people who seek refuge and hope for freedom.

Tags: philippines travel tips, Makati, Beach, Cebu, Tagalog, philippine-beaches, Travel Philippines

The Philippines is rich in avifauna (i.e. species of birds). There are about 400 resident bird species and almost 200 of them can be found only in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, Bohol is one of the favorite destinations of bird-watchers. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is a good place to start bird watching. It is the widest remaining forest that can be found in Bohol. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park covers 29 barangays and is the main water source, being a watershed, of Bohol’s rivers. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is considered as a hot spot for principal biodiversity.

In Rajah Sikatuna National Park’s headquarters, you can find a small hostel where a birders’ logbook and a visitors’ book is found. Reading them can be useful in bird watching. A Rajah Sikatuna National Park guide will be there to help you throughout your bird watching activity.

Rajah Sikatuna National Park has set out a number of trails where visitors can go bird watching. While following the trails, you will encounter various species of birds. Don’t forget to bring birdcall tapes so that some birds that are naturally shy will emerge from their hiding places. With luck you may be able to see the rare bird species present in Rajah Sikatuna National Park.

Some of the bird species that are present in Rajah Sikatuna National Park are the following: Silvery kingfisher, Philippine Eagle Owl, Philippine frogmouth, Brush cuckoo, Black-faced coucal, Philippine nightjar, Philippine coucal, Large-billed crow, Pygmy swiftlet, Spangled drongo, Red-keeled flowerpecker, Metallic-winged sunbird, Pink-bellied imperial pigeon, White-bellied woodpecker, and many more.

Aside from birds, Rajah Sikatuna National Park also has a butterfly sanctuary. Monkeys thrive in the forest and are already used to seeing people everyday. These would often be kind and friendly to anyone who comes near. 26 bat species can be found in Rajah Sikatuna National Park within the caves that abound in limestone formations.

Regarding plants and trees, Rajah Sikatuna National Park has something to offer. You can find 16 verified species of Dipterocarps, 17 species of Apitong, and 90 new fern species. On top of the hills in Rajah Sikatuna National Park, you can have a great view of the well-known Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

To get there from Bilar, take a motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) to the Rajah Sikatuna National Park’s accommodation area at Logarita. You can have an overnight stay at their hostel for P50 for a night. The park’s caretaker will take care of food.

The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is a haven for nature lovers. Bird watching is the main attraction in the park. The nature trek in Rajah Sikatuna National Park will touch your soul.

Tags: Baguio, Boracay, Mindanao, Makati, Diving, Bicol, Scuba

One of the smallest primates around today, Tarsiers are found in densely forested areas of Southeast Asia, namely the islands of Sulawesi, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. These adorable animals were previously categorized as strepsirhines. However, they are now classified as haplorhines. They have characteristics that resembles those of monkeys, apes and also prosimians.

The Tarsier family is composed of seven species and a single genus. Tarsiers are nocturnal creatures with large ears and a small body size. Their mandible or lower jaw is unfused. These traits are commonly associated with prosimians. They also share traits with anthropoids which include similar DNA arrangements, enclosed eye sockets and a dry nose due to a lack of naked rhinarium.

A trait that distinguishes a tarsier is its large eyes - each bigger than the tarsier brain, and a neck that is capable of rotating up to 180 degrees. These two traits greatly increase their ability to catch their prey specially at night, since tarsiers are nocturnal and are mainly insectivores.

As already mentioned, tarsiers are tiny creatures. These primates almost never weigh more than a half kilo and span as small as four inches. Another unique tarsier trait is their grooming claws. These are used to remove dirt and parasites from their bodies and also as cleaning tools for their fur. They are named tarsier because of their prominent tarsus bones.

A tarsier is capable of leaping up to seven feet. They can also move up vertical surfaces due to suction pads located at the end of their fingers. Although tarsiers are more apt to stay in vertical places such as trees, they can hop using their legs while on the ground. A tarsier tail is incredibly nimble and flexible. This serves as a balancing tool of sorts while they move and as a support while resting.

Tarsier diet is composed exclusively of animal prey. Although they are mainly insectivores, tarsiers also eat lizards, small birds and even snakes. They usually catch their prey by jumping and grabbing them. Like most primates, tarsiers are social animals. Some tarsier species live in pairs, while some thrive in groups that includes two to six tarsiers, while others remain solitary.

Tarsiers do not fare well in captivity. There are reported cases wherein caged tarsiers injured and even killed themselves due to the stress caused by their captivity. This should serve as a reminder that however tame tarsiers may look, they are best left alone in their natural habitat.

Tags: Wordpress, Divers, Filipina, vacation, Beach, Pinoy, Mindanao

One of the oldest church buildings in the history of the Philippines is the Baclayon Church. It is an interesting spot if you want to learn things about the early history of the Philippines especially during the era of Spanish occupation. We’ll look into the history of the Baclayon Church, and perhaps find a religious heritage.

The Baclayon Church is the oldest Catholic stone church building in the Philippines. It was constructed during the Spanish occupation and the first Spanish missionaries (called doctrineros) settled in the area in the late 15th century. Today you can still see the original stone structure of the Baclayon Church in the City of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines.

There are other preserved church buildings in the region but the Baclayon Church is the best preserved among them. The church itself is Jesuit, but the Baclayon Church (the one we see today) was completed in 1727. The erected church building known today as the Baclayon Church is formally known as The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

The area where the Baclayon Church now stands was home to the Spanish Jesuit missionaries when they arrived in the Philippines. The Jesuits were forced to leave and move their headquarters to Loboc. This was due to fears of being mobbed by Moro marauders.

In 1717 Baclayon was raised to the status of a parish. Thus construction on a new church (the Baclayon Church of today) began. The construction of the Baclayon Church required two hundred native laborers who were forced to do the work.

These artisans hauled coral stones from the sea, then skillfully cut them into square blocks, lifted the work using bamboo to move the stones into position, and piled them like bricks. About a million egg whites were used to cement the cut coral stones together. This was a testament to the great skill of these native artisans.

The Baclayon Church was completed in 1727 and a large bell was added in 1835. The church building had a dungeon where violators of Roman Catholic Law were punished. Filipino natives were its usual occupants.

The attractions we’ll see in the Baclayon Church include an old convent with a small museum. There you’ll see some centuries-old relics. Most artifacts you’ll see in the Baclayon Church museum are religious in nature. Antiquities of note are an ivory statue of Jesus Christ dating back to the 16th century, a statue of the Virgin Mary, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s relics, gold embroidered church vestments, a host of books and hymnals, and 1859 paintings of Liberato Gatchalian (famous Filipino painter).

Traveling to Baclayon Church usually takes a boat ride to the Tubigon Port using the RORO water ways system. From there you can take the air-conditioned tour vans (highly recommended because of the rough dusty roads you’ll have to cover). The fare for the van would cost about Php 2,500.

You better know your roads (or get a driver who does) if you plan to drive to Baclayon Church. You will have to take the Bohol coastal road (fastest route). You’ll be going through several towns and head due east about six kilometers of Tagbilaran City (pretty tough drive if you don’t know the area).

The Baclayon Church is a landmark in the history of the Philippines. Anyone who’s interested in the country’s early history can’t afford to miss seeing the Baclayon Church.

Tags: Boracay, philippine-beaches, Bicol, asia travel, traveling, vacation, Davao

Most kids would love to see a mountain made of chocolate. How about 1,268 hills made of chocolate as a substitute? That would be a treat, but that’s not exactly what you’ll get when you come to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines. One of the famous tourist attractions in the Philippines is Bohol’s Chocolate Hills.

The Chocolate Hills is declared as a National Geological Monument in the Philippines. It is recommended and is part of the major tourist attractions in the country.

When you get to the Chocolate Hills you’ll be immediately convinced that this is not man made. A lot of reactions go like the Chocolate Hills are man-made when they see a picture of this tourist attraction for the first time.

The name Chocolate Hills come from the grass on the hills that turn chocolate brown during the dry season in the Philippines. The hills are cone-shaped, about the same size, and cover an area of 50 square kilometers. It’s a natural wonder once you get a chance to see them.

There isn’t an exact count of the hills comprising the Chocolate Hills. Though the estimate of 1,268 hills isn’t really off (there are those that claim that this is the exact number).

The Chocolate Hills baffle geologists. There is a debate among them regarding the origin of the Chocolate Hills. There is an explanation of the origin of the Chocolate Hills in a bronze plaque on the observation deck you’ll find there. The plaque says that the Chocolate Hills were the result of erosion, but you can be sure that is not the only explanation geologists have given.

There are two famous legends that explain the origin of the Chocolate hills. The popular one is about two giants who hurled rocks and boulders during a fight between them. They got really exhausted after a few days of fighting. They soon forgot what started the conflict and left the place as friends. The funny part is that both giants forgot to clean up the mess they made, which became the chocolate hills.

The romantic one associated with this tourist attraction is about a giant named Arogo who fell in love with a mortal named Aloya. When Aloya died Arogo cried in anguish, his tear drops fell to the earth and dried up forming the Chocolate hills.

When visiting the Chocolate Hills you’ll have a place to stay at the Chocolate Hills Complex, its a little hotel-restaurant with a swimming pool and an observation deck. You may also go to the Sagbayan Peak mountain resort. It also has its own observation deck, swimming pools, a children’s park, a butterfly dome, a hotel, and a tarsier sanctuary. A golf course is also in the making.

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines is a must see for kids and the child of heart. It’s a wonder of nature and is one of the most recommended tourist attractions in the Philippines.

Tags: Visayas, Pinoy, Davao, asia travel, Pinay, Boracay, Scuba