psp level 1 lesson 8
TRANSCRIPT
Its more fun in the
Philippines
Module 8
B o h o l
C i t y o f F r i e n d s h i p
It is the tenth largest island in the Philippines region
Bohol is a tropical haven of natural beauty
Bohol is well-known locally as a paradise for divers and snorkelers
Dolphin watching and whale watching tours are popular with both residents and visiting tourists
About Bohol
About Bohol
‣ Bohol is an island province located in the Central Visayas region
‣ Tagbilaran is the capital city of the island province of Bohol
‣ The city is also known as the City of Friendship
Bohol
‣ Tagbilaran, the capital city, is the main point of entry to Bohol, and serves as the province's political, social and economic center
‣ Tagbilaranons (as local residents are called) seem to be more relaxed than their counterparts in larger cities
Getting ByThe most commonly used mode of transport by the locals in Bohol is the tricycle, a small cab powered by a motorcycle that can accommodate up to 3 passengers
However, as a tourist, you are advised to take cabs
Air conidtioned cabs are not expensive
Aside from tricycles, there are also jeepneys and cabs plying their routes within the city and outside
Exploring Bohol
As we discussed in Module 1, Philippines is a delight for tourists. We will now focus our attention on the same elements. So let’s look at the main attractions that would appeal to the Indian tourists.
ShoppingPubs, Restaurants and Eating Out
Beaches & Natural Beauty
Casinos
Historical Heritage
Amazing Hotels
7
Shopping
Island City Mall
Located at Dampas District, the Island City Mall is one of the grandest shopping centers in the entire province of Bohol
It contains three floors featuring cinemas, specialty stores, and a department store
It also holds some of the top local and international fast food chains, plus a large supermarket
Plaza MarcelaTourists to Bohol often shop at the province’s second most beautiful shopping mall, Plaza Marcela
The mall opened in 1997 and at that time, Boholanos considered it as the best shopping mall in town
Those who want a taste of sizzling dishes can dine at Plaza Marcela Food Court
Shoppers can also relax at the gaming center of the mall where several enticing arcade games are available
Alturas Supermarket
This place features specialty shops, food chains, and other boutiques to meet the needs of its varied customers and guests.
At this huge supermarket, people can easily find their needs including food, beverages, and other stuff
BQ Mall Popularly known as Bohol Quality Mall, BQ Mall is one of the most visited shopping malls in the Visayan province
Most tourists in Bohol visit this shopping center because it has many restaurants and boutiques
Aside from the high-class dining places at this mall, people also frequent the movie theaters
Children can enjoy and have fun at Toyland.
Aproniana Souvenir Shop
This gift shop is located in Taguihon, Baclayon
It is about 10 minutes away from Baclayon Church
It is regarded as Bohol’s ultimate souvenir destination, as it sells almost anything you want so you can remember the memories of Bohol
The items range from stuffed Tarsiers to shirts to bags, key chains and even delicacies
Jubelle's SouvenirShop
This gift shop is located in Alona Beach, Panglao
This shop has affordable items to choose from local stuffed tarsier, magnets made of painted wood, unique necklaces for girls and boys, pearls, anklets and a lot more
Pubs, Restaurants & Eating Out
Gerry's GrillGerry's Grill is located in the BQ Mall and its location is facing the island of Panglao providing a nice view of the sea port
Service is fast and the staff is very attentive
It serves delicious and affordable meals
The presentation of the food alone makes you want to grab a bite
Planet d (Doy's Resto)
Planet d (Doy's Resto) is at J Borja Street in Tagbilaran City and serves good food, coupled with reasonably priced drinks and nice music
It has different bands playing every day of the week, that attracts all types of visitors here
Oops Bar
The tagline of the Oops Bar is No trip to Bohol would be complete without a visit to Oops Bar and this is true in many respects
As compared to Manila and Boracay, the nightspots in Bohol are fewer
The Oops Bar is situated on the beach and draws a good crowd of guests and beach enthusiasts
Great food and an extensive drinks menu make it the drinking hole of choice for many visitors
Gerarda’sGerarda's is a family restaurant serving delicious Filipino cuisine
From table settings to cleanliness and hygiene this restaurant has been winning the Best Restaurant Award for the past few years
Prices are affordable and servings are huge
The food is good and they add new delicious dishes in their menu periodically
The Buzz Cafe
This place has the best salads and organic food in Bohol
The good thing about the food here is that it is organic and fresh and their ice creams are delicious
Black Forest Hut
Black Forest Hut is a place for healthy and natural foodies
This snack bar strongly promotes cooking without artificial ingredients
It is best known for its uniquely flavored homemade ice cream
It has two branches, the downtown branch in Tagbilaran City downtown and in Baclayon
The Coconut with Rum Bacardi ice cream is a popular item at Black Forest Hut
Bo’s Coffee Club
Bo’s Coffee Club is definitely one of the best places in Bohol to drink coffee
There are a lot of branches of the club and infact its coffee has been rated as better than Starbucks
It is also famous for its savories and quick bites like Blueberry Cheesecake, Fudges, Croissants and a whole lot of varieties of sandwiches
Beaches & Natural Beauty
Alona Beach
Alona Beach is a gorgeous 1½ kilometer breadth of tropical paradise on Panglao Island
It is Bohol's top beach destination known for its white sand beach, blue waters and world class diving
Alona Beach
Many of Bohol's restaurants and activities are centered on Alona Beach
The beach is surrounded by palm trees that seem to move towards the crystal clear waters
When you swim about 100 meters off the beach, you will reach the edge of the 'house' reef, at a depth of just 3 - 5 meters
Dumaluan Beach
Dumaluan Beach, also on the south of the island, is about 2½ km east of Alona Beach
Here you will find some of the more exclusive beach resorts of Bohol, such as the Bohol Beach Club
Loboc is known for its floating restaurants along its scenic and winding river
Each floating restaurant holds about 20-25 people
This fascinating boat ride starts from Loay Bridge, which is the outlet of the river, moves along the serene waters and palm-fringed banks inland, and ends near the Busay Waterfalls
Loboc River Cruise
The boat takes about 45 minutes to reach the end, where it will stop for a while so guests can enjoy the view
Afterwards, the boat turns around and makes its way back downstream
The river is clean and green during summer, and turns brown during the rainy season
Loboc River Cruise
TarsiersTarsiers are nocturnal primates measuring from 4 to 5 inches, and have a tail which is longer than their body
Considered the smallest primate they can only be found in the Philippine Archipelago
Locally known as Maumag, Boholanos are usually protective of these small, lovely creatures
If you are really interested in seeing them, you should visit their natural abode in the town of Corella, about 10 kilometers from Tagbilaran City
Dolphin Watching
Nestled right in the heart of Bohol Sea, is a small island called Pamilacan, which is famous for its dolphins and big whales
The island is locally known as Sangais
It's also known for beautiful colored fish, both small and large and the prized Gloria Maris sea shells also abound in its surrounding waters
Dolphin Watching
Pamilacan is only about an hour ride by pump boat from Baclayon.
One of the major attractions of Bohol is dolphin and whale watching in the Bohol Sea
Hinagdanan CaveThe whole island province of Bohol is known as Cave Country, as it has more than 1,000 caves at present
The most popular among them is the Hinagdanan Cave, which means laddered in local dialect
Situated in the town of Dauis, 6 km from Tagbilaran City
Hinagdanan Cave is famous for its naturally lit cavern and deep underground lagoon
The cave is top lit by sunlight, which filters through holes in the ceiling.
Coral ReefsBohol is surrounded by a large number of coral reefs, which are very rich in life, and a delight to observe,
They are a prime tourist attraction
Although for many of the reefs, you will need a boat to get there, and scuba equipment to see them, some of them are also easily accessible for snorkelers, and at a small swimming distance from the beach.
Balicasag Island
Balicasag is a flat island 4km southwest off of Pangalo Reef, which is about 30-45 minutes from Panglao Island
Narrow reefs about 9 to 50 meters wide, are one of the many reasons why Balicasag Island has gained popularity among many foreign and local divers
Diver's Haven is a dive site that features an impressive array of fish and marine life
Another fascinating dive site is Turtle Point, a haven for turtles
Turtle Point lies on the eastern side of the island and features caves about 60 to 75 meters down
Located on the southwest side of the Turtle Point is the Cathedral Wall, and the north side is the Royal Garden
Balicasag Island
The Garden is covered with corals that form a vibrant reef full of assorted tropical fish
The Black Coral Forest provides a rare opportunity to swim through black coral
Balicasag Island
Lamanoc Island
The town of Anda is as far from civilization as you can get - it's so distant, cellphone coverage only sporadically touches a single point on a local hilltop
This small village is the jumping-off point for a tour of Lamanoc Island, an uninhabited limestone outcrop that is rumored to be haunted by spirits
Getting to Lamanoc Island involves sailing aboard a small outrigger canoe
Getting through the tourist trail around the island involves plenty of climbing steep stairs and walking on slippery limestone
As you proceed, the local guide will tell you about the prehistoric relics found in the island's caves and the legends associated with the town
Lamanoc Island
Doljo Beach
Just 5 minutes from Alona Beach is an excellent diving spot of Bohol, which has a wealth of small fish, nudibranches and anemone
Doljo Beach gives you an eyeful of huge gorgonians and sponges, and the Balicasag marine sanctuary presents a variety of sea life, all year round
Chocolate HillsThe Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction
They look like giant mole hills, and remind us of the hills in a small child's drawing
Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact
It would take more labour than the construction of the pyramids in Egypt to make something like this
The Chocolate Hills consist of no less than 1,268 hills (some claim this to be the exact number)
They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high
They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name
At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make
Chocolate Hills
Amazing Hotels
Sherwood Bay Resort
The Sherwood Bay Resort & Dive School offers good accommodation and spectacular sea views off Panglao
Rooms present comfortable furnishings in essential settings with most having a private veranda.
The cliff front restaurant serves international cuisine while the resort itself is an ideal setting for weddings, seminars, social events and water enthusiasts
Bellevue Resort
The Bellevue Resort is popular with travelers visiting Bohol Island and looking specifically for an Panglao Island hotel
The grounds and 159 rooms are of 4-star quality, located near the Panglao Island sites
The Bellevue Hotel is 16 km from the Tagbilaran Airport
Alona Vida Beach Resort Alona Vida Beach Resort is located in the center of the Alona Beach, popular for its powdery white sand and crystal clear waters
Situated in a tropical garden with 8 Deluxe Rooms in two two-storey buildings
The resort prides itself on its sumptuous European and Filipino dishes along with a variety of cocktails at their in-house bar and restaurant, Coco Vida
The Peacock GardenThe Peacock Garden is a sprawling mountain property with spectacular views, a luxurious atmosphere, and fine dining
This 5-star luxury boutique hotel is Bohol's hidden gem, reflecting a unique Old-World, East-meets-West style in its character and interiors
The resort features a restaurant and wine cellar, Roman Spa, music & dance club and cigar lounge
Eco-cultural tours, beach, and outdoor activities are offered nearby
Alona Palm Beach Resort
Home to one of the island's most impressive wine lists, this popular joint delivers live entertainment in luxurious surroundings
The infinity pool that fringes the bar gives guests the option of splashing up to get their drinks, which is something of a novelty
Bohol Bee Farm
The Bohol Bee Farm is an agricultural haven situated on top of a cliff on Panglao dedicated to bee cultivation, organic farming, and healthy eating
It is a very homely and relaxing place on Panglao island
The owner, who is also a chef, prepares delicious meals from organically-grown vegetables on her farm
BoholBee Farm
From squash muffins, vegetable lasagna, to her specially-brewed coffee from roasted corn and wild berries are all available here
Bohol Bee Farm also houses a resort, where visitors can take time off from the city and find relaxation while providing livelihood to the local residents
Bohol Beach Club Hotel
Bohol Beach Club Hotel is nestled on the island paradise of Panglao and is the perfect haven for romantic getaways or a seaside sanctuary for beach lovers and scuba diving enthusiasts
A few minutes away is Balicasag Island, a popular dive site for local and foreign divers which offers world-class diving and is internationally renowned.
Dumaluan Beach ResortSituated in the southern part of Panglao Island, this property is in close proximity to a number of attractions
Guests can dine at the restaurant that serves international as well as Filipino cuisine
Offering meeting rooms and facilities, guests can organize their private or public events at the hotel
Offering comfortable accommodation with good service, this can be a good place to stay in Bohol
Historical Heritage
Church of Our LadyThe Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines
It was founded in 1596
It is one of the best preserved churches in the region, although in the 19th century, a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church were added
Next to the church is the old convent
The convent is now transformed into the Baclayon Museum
Let’s Recap
‣ Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines region and is an island province located in the Central Visayas region
‣ Tagbilaran is the capital city of the island province of Bohol and is also known as the City of Friendship
‣ Alona Beach is Bohol's top beach destination and many of Bohol's nice restaurants and fun activities are centered here
‣ The Loboc River Cruise is a fascinating river cruise
‣ Bohol is known as Cave Country, as it has more than 1,000 caves, the most popular among them is the Hinagdanan Cave
‣ The Bohol Bee Farm is an agricultural resort dedicated to bee cultivation, organic farming, and healthy eating