Bohol News, Hotels, Travel and Real Estate Property

By: JUNE S. BLANCO TOWARDS Christmas 26 years ago, one mother in Davao City and another in Tagbilaran City were infanticipating. They did not know it then, but they and their babies – and their husbands – were destined to meet. Today, their lives are entwined because as the babies approach their 27th birthdays, they will wed. The "little girl they carried" is now blushing bride-to-be Dale Rose Cuyno Abapo, 26 going on 27 on Dec. 25, a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with major in the French language and now working at the Canadian Embassy in Makati City . She is the daughter of Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. and Ubay Municipal Councilor Roselima Cuyno-Abapo. The true-blue Bol-anon has roots in Ubay (Cuyno), Bien Unido and Talibon (Abapo), Baclayon (Alas) and Tagbilaran (Dahab and Remolador). The "little boy they played" is now dashing groom-to-be Carlo Aranas, also 26 going on 27, a metallurgical engineer working at P&G in Lagun...

The local team of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) strives to be on top of the situation as it remains a challenge to outsmart the wealthy illegal drugs ring that contrasts government scarcity. PDEA-Bohol head Ma. Chona Egam lamented that the lack of resources and manpower often hamper their operation, especially that they have to implement simultaneous programs on supply reduction and demand reduction. The drug ring proved to be wealthier than the government agency and, therefore, could move faster. Egam also expressed disappointment that of the cases they had filed against drug personalities, there were more acquittal than conviction. On this, PDEA needs to double time in polishing the evidence gathering and surveillance operations, she added. With limited personnel, it became impossible for the PDEA to create different teams to whom the tasks could supposedly be segregated. Usually, there is only one team to focus on all the strategies, resulting to lack of focu...

Police have placed the entire Bohol province under strict watch to check for the presence of armed groups in line with the coming May 13 elections. Police Provincial Director Constantino Barot Jr. gave the order to all the units under his command. All areas in the province are placed under reassessment by the police units to validate the poll watchlist that covers the entire Bohol. Police Supt. Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., PPSC chief, leads the teams that check all the towns in the province, and so far, no armed group has been spotted yet. Barot also instructed to intensify the monitoring of loose firearms including those that are licensed but were not renewed. The Philippine National Police (PNP) AND THE 2ND SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY CONTINUE TO CONDUCT JOINT CHECKPOINT IN THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES OF BOHOL. TASK GROUP SUGBOHOL COMMANDER, COL. DINOH DOLINA, IS ALSO VERIFYING THE REPORT THAT FIVE HEAVILY ARMED MEN WERE SEEN IN SITIO AGUTAYAN, BARANGAY ABACA IN MA...

Under Chatto Administration, Bohol Praised for Good Governance by Leah Sumampong In life, you learn from the best. When it comes to good governance, you learn from Bohol. This seems to be the theme these days as national organizations assembled here in the province for their conventions. Gov. Edgar M. Chatto shared Bohol's best practices on transparency and good governance as the local chapter host the national convention and general assembly of the Philippine Australian Alumni Association, Inc (PA3i). The PA3i is the umbrella organization for scholars and graduates of formal degree and non-degree training programs offered by Australian universities and training institutions. Seeking to participate in strengthening Philippine-Australian relations, the organization supports the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) programs in the country, of which many are being implemented in the province. Chatto also underscored the significant contribution of PA3i memb...

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Now that the battle lines have been drawn, First District Representative Rene Relampagos fires away at Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim, in what could be a telling preview of their one-on-one match in next year's polls. Relampagos, often at the receiving end of the city mayor's blistering tirades, returned the favor in an interview on Monday over Station dyRD's top-rated "Inyong Alagad". Mincing no words, the solon said Mayor Lim, who is fond of criticizing senior provincial officials, is doing a "poor job" as city chief executive. "Tagbilaran has been lagging behind in growth and development for the past eight years of Lim's administration. The mayor does his job through words rather than action," Relampagos stressed. Relampagos scored the "prevailing ill conditions" of the city – the worst road condition in years, garbage and drainage issues, lack of transparency and the widespread perception of financial mismanagement at C...

Heading east from Tagbilaran along the south coast takes you first to the coastal fishing town of BOOL , 5km away. Said to be the oldest settlement on the island, it's also the site of the  Blood Compact Site, marked by an attractive bronze sculpture on the seafront. This is the spot where local chieftain Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi concluded an early round of Philippine–Spanish hostili-ties in 1565 by signing a compact in blood. Every year for one week in July, Boholanos gather in Bool for the  Sandugo  (One Blood)  festival  which, apart from the usual beauty pageants and roast pigs, includes a passionate re-enactment of the blood ceremony. About 2km east of Bool, BACLAYON  is the site of  Baclayon Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines . Much of the existing facade was added by the Augustinian Recollects in the nineteenth century, but the rest dates back to 1595 and was declared a national historical landmark in 1995. The church's convent has bee...

How Go to Anda, Bohol Around three hours by bus from Tagbilaran, the countless white sand coves near the town of   ANDA  in beautiful Guindulman Bay are an emerging choice for those looking to escape Panglao's commercialized beach and dive scene. Of the resorts which have popped up in recent years, British-owned Blue Star ( T 0919/453-4468,  W www.bluestardive.com ; 7) stands out for divers and has a good pool, wi-fi, a tiny beach at low tide and good snorkelling on the house reef.  There's a brand-new dive centre, and fan rooms are spacious and tastefully designed with lovely views out over the bay – air-conditioned rooms were nearly complete at the time of writing. For pure beach lovers,  Anda White Beach Resort ( T 0915/541-0507,  W www.andabeachresort.com ; 7) can't be beaten and has attractive rooms, the best of which front onto a bright white strip of sand. There's also a pool, billiards and wi-fi (P100/hr).  Two minutes' walk from here is one of the fe...

A number of resorts offer half-day trips for around P2000 per person to the town of  Antequera , north of Tagbilaran (you can get here independently by bus or jeepney from Tagbilaran).  The attraction for tourists here is the lively market, twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays. Craftsmen and traders from around the island congregate to sell locally made handicrafts such as baskets, hats and various home decor items such as linen tablecloths, mirrors and attractive bowls made from stone or coconut shells.  Prices are significantly cheaper than in the cities and it's a fun place to haggle and pick up a few inexpensive souvenirs.

There are plenty of hotels and lodges in TAGBILARAN , the hectic port capital of Bohol , but with so many beaches and sights nearby, there's no real reason to stay here. From Tagbilaran you can be on Panglao Island in less than twenty minutes and even the Chocolate Hills, hidden in the hinterlands, are less than an hour away by road. The only sights in Tagbilaran itself are the Cathedral, opposite the plaza in Sarmiento Street, a nineteenth-century hulk standing on the site of an original that was destroyed by fire in 1789, and the   Bohol Museum  (Mon–Fri 10am–4.30pm; P10) in Carlos   P. Garcia Avenue, set in the former home of Carlos Garcia (fourth President of the Philippine Republic), and containing various  presidential memorabilia and a collection of shells. The   Tagbilaran City Fiesta takes place on May 1.

Bohol , a two-hour hop south of Cebu, is an attractive little island where life today is pastoral and quiet. The only sign of heavy tourist activity is on the beautiful beaches of Panglao, a magnet for scuba divers and sun worshippers, close to the utilitarian port capital of Tagbilaran.  Most visitors only leave the beach for a day tour taking in the Bohol's most famous attractions : the much-touted Chocolate Hills, a glimpse of the  endangered tarsier , lunch on the Loboc River and a visit to the Blood Compact site, memorial to Bohol's violent past. Those with more time will be rewarded by trips to other parts of the province, including the adventure centre at Danao, the attractive island of Cabilao and the pretty beaches of Anda .  Bohol is also renowned for its wonderful old Spanish churches , many of them built with coral, which can be found all over the island, notably at Baclayon and Albuquerque. May is  fiesta month on  Bohol with island-wide celebrations includin...

By Ben Cal Thousands of Boholanos around the world continue to arrive in this bustling city for the grand celebration of the 5th "Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibook Kalibutan" that will last for two weeks.  The biggest number of arrival the past five days comprise of Boholanos residing in the United States. Other delegations come from Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and the Middle East. Not far behind are Boholanos living in other parts of the Philippines who have faithfully been coming home to attend Bohol's biggest extravaganza of merry-making and class reunions. " Bohol island will literally sink by an inch with the arrival of balikbayans," Betty Veloso-Garcia, TBTK chairperson said. The TBTK was first held in 2008 to entice Boholanos living abroad and other parts of the Philippines to visit their home province to renew their camaraderie with relatives and friends whom they have not seen for years. The annual event is usually held in July but organizers have decid...

Press Release: In tune with his advocacy to protect and preserve the country's natural wonders and the environment in general, Rep. Erico B. Aumentado (2nd district, Bohol) has filed a bill in Congress seeking the implementation of stiffer penalties to entities or individuals that would cause the pillage, destruction and defacement to any of the world renowned Chocolate Hills of Bohol.  Fuelled by the destruction of several hills in the towns of Carmen and Sagbayan, Bohol, before his nine-year governorship, the solon pressed for the filing of House Bill 6137, otherwise known as the Chocolate Hills Protection Act of 2012 described as " AN ACT DECLARING THE CHOCOLATE HILLS AS NATIONAL PATRIMONY, NATURAL HERITAGE PARK AND GEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS, PENALIZING THEIR PILLAGE, DESTRUCTION AND DEFACEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES". When enacted into law, all persons whether natural or juridical who will violate the Act, shall upon conviction be meted with imprisonment ranging fro...

Mayor. All Tagbilaranon voters were aware that Dan Lim is the Mayor of the city. Among those aware, a slight majority (63%) was satisfied with his performance as mayor while three out of ten (27%) were dissatisfied which resulted to a net satisfaction of +36. Across economic classes, Dan Lim got a 17- net satisfaction ratings from Class ABC. This means that there were more voters who were dissatisfied than satisfied; however, his net satisfaction ratings from Classes D and E were relatively high at +50 and +56 respectively. Across sexes and age groups, Dan Lim got relatively low net satisfaction from the females (+24) and 18-24 age group (+24).

Editorial of the Bohol Chronicle: Sixty percent (60%) of the raging stories that stole the headlines in 2010 were election-pegged and violence-related. That the May 10 presidential and local polls generated 3 of the 10 Top Stories is not a surprising phenomenon, considering how Filipinos take their politics seriously. About 7 to 8 of every 10 Filipinos trooped to the polls - a big election voter turnout by any measure in any place of the globe - a big step for participative democracy. The May 10 polls, if for nothing else, liberated the province from the near monolithic dominance of Lakas - walking under the light, or was it the shadow (?) of then incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It brought a new cocktail of political options for Boholano voters. Although Lakas still dominated most of the smaller to tiny posts of power, the big shot tickets was a mixed bag. Governor Edgar Chatto and Vice Governor Conching Lim together with unopposed third district congressman-elect (former ...

Liza is a Civil Engineer and hails from Concepcion, Loay, Bohol. She has been working for 4 years now at the Athena - a construction company in Saudi Arabia specializing on marine ports and other edifices. Romel, on the other hand, is an accountant and has been working for 2 years now in Ali and Sons, also in Saudi Arabia where he is assigned at the Motas Division. Even if he was born in Manila, he went to school at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City, just near Bukidnon, the hometown of his parents. Photo shows (l-r) Joylyn Yazon; Dan Bacarro (the groom's father); the newlyweds - Mr. & Mrs. Romel Bacarro (nee Liza Balucan) and Melba Bacarro (the groom's mother). The wedding ceremony was held last Dec. 22, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the St. Joseph Cathedral of Tagbilaran City with Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog and Rev. Fr. Virgilio Salas as officiating priests. Gloria Leodivica Araneta of "SMILE", Philippines was host/master of ceremonies. The parents of both the newlyweds, M...