Introducing the City of Friendship
BOHOL
BOHOL
is a 1st provincial income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran. With a land area of 4,821 km2 (1,861 sq mi) and a coastline 261 km (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is Mindanao.
The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formations, are the most popular attraction. The formations can be seen by land (climbing the highest point) or by air via ultralight air tours. Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran, is famous for its diving locations and is routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. The Philippine tarsier, amongst the world's smallest primates, is indigenous to the island.
A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol, and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos. Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.
It is the home province of Carlos P. Garcia, the eighth president of the Republic of the Philippines (1957–1961) who was born in Talibon, Bohol.
On October 15th of 2013, Bohol was devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake claiming 156 lives altogether and injured 374 people. Despite damaging a number of homes and Bohol’s heritage churches, the Boholanos remained steadfast into rebuilding their province back to its feet.
Tarsier
Known locally as mawmag in Cebuano/Visayans and mamag in Luzon, to is a species only found in the Philippines. It is a member of the approximately 45-million-year-old family Tarsiidae, whose name is derived from its elongated "tarsus" or ankle bone. Formerly a member of the genus Tarsius, it is now listed as the only member of the genus Carlito, a new genus named after the conservationist Carlito Pizarras.
Baclayon Church
Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present coral stone church was completed in 1727. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since then.
Kalamay Delicacy
(also spelled Calamay) which means "sugar", is a sticky sweet delicacy that is popular in many regions of the Philippines, most especially in Bohol. It is made of coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. They can also be flavored with margarine, peanut butter, or vanilla. Kalamay can be eaten alone but is usually used as a sweetener for a number of Filipino desserts and beverages.
Panglao Watchtower
The Panglao watchtower was built in 1851. The 5-storey hexagonal tower is reputedly the tallest of its kind in the Philippines but suffers from neglect. The structure is in poor condition. The wood members have all deteriorated and there is no access to the top floor because the wooden stairway that leads up has disappeared. The stone walls bulges outwards showing signs of structural stress and deterioration and the tile roof has caved in allowing rain and moisture to enter. This creates an environment conducive to the growth of algæ and vegetation.
Sandugo Festival
The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. This 16th-century peace treaty occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact or "sandugo".
The Sandugo Festival is held every July. The Tagbilaran City Charter Day on July 1 kicks-off the month-long festival with a holy mass, diana, motorcade and program sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Among the major activities during the month is the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant, and the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition which is usually held on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of July, and organized by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. (BSFI).
Tourist Attractions
BLOOD COMPACT
J.P Inting Street, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol
Made in honor of the ancient ritual done between Spanish explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi, and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol that sealed a friendship and treaty of agreement on March 15, 1565. This ritual was done where contracting parties would cut their hands or wrists and pour their blood into a cup filled with liquid, such as wine, and have both drink the mixture.
CHOCOLATE HILLS
Loay Interior Road, Carmen, Bohol
There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns brown (like chocolate) during the dry season, hence the name.
DANAO ADVENTURE PARK
Buenavista - Carmen - Danao - Jetafe Rd, Danao, 6344 Bohol
Gear up for a day of non-stop fun and excitement at Danao Adventure Park! Choose a combination of 3 exhilarating activities for you to try such as zip lining, canyon swing, rappelling and more!
HINAGDANAN CAVE
Bingag, Dauis, Bohol
It is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is lit by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling. The underground lake is a popular swimming spot, but it has been known to test for high levels of various pollutants, since it is fed by ground runoff.
MAN-MADE FOREST
Loay Interior Road, Loboc, Bohol
Is the first and only man-made forest in the Philippines. It is mainly composed of Mahogany trees about 2 kilometers stretched densely in towns of Bilar and Loboc. It stands out because of its uniformity in height, the spread of the branches and the thickness of the leaves.
PANGLAO ISLAND
Panglao, Bohol
Is an island in the north Bohol Sea, located in the Central Visayas Region of the Visayas island group, in the south-central Philippines.
