Bohol the fun continues!

CEBU, Philippines - Bohol was one of the most visited islands of the Philippines – until a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook its foundations late last year. A good number of the island’s most sought-after tourist destinations were destroyed. Tourism activities drastically declined, gravely affecting the local economy.

But the Boholanos did not just give up. They grew more determined instead to bring their crushed tourism industry back on its feet. According to licensed tour guide Erick Canete, Bohol was able to recover from the blow and was soon ready to once again welcome tourists – this time on tours around the places most affected by the quake.  

Good accommodation and activities for tourists are now back in place in Bohol. The white-sand beaches, which were not as badly affected by the quake, are there. The diverse wildlife has sprung back to life.

Natural attractions comprise much of Bohol’s come-on for tourists. The Boholano history alone is enough to make any tourist’s visit worth it. Here are some of the famous tourist spots on the island:

 1. Chocolate Hills, Carmen. The Chocolate Hills is one of most famous tourist sites in Bohol. It consists of about 2,000 hills spread over a 50-square-kilometer area. The hills are made up of limestone covered in grass, which turn brown during the dry season. Hence the name, as the hills really look like chocolates when the grass dries. There are interesting legends about how the hills came to be:

• Two giants, a long time ago, were fighting. They threw rocks and sand at each other, in the brawl that went on for days, eventually getting them exhausted. They decided to make peace and then left the place, leaving behind their mess, mounds of rocks and sand that became the Chocolate Hills.

• A powerful and youthful giant named Arogo fell in love with a mortal named Aloya. But Aloya died, and Arogo, distressed by her death, cried endlessly. The giant’s tears dried up and formed hills – the Chocolate Hills.

• A giant carabao was eating all the farm crops of the village. To remedy the problem, the people gathered all their spoiled food and lured the carabao towards it, away from the crop fields. After eating all the food, the carabao defecated, leaving mounds of fecal matter, which then dried up and became the Chocolate Hills.

• There was once a giant named Miguel who was a glutton. He was in love with a beautiful young woman named Adrianna. But to win her affection, he needed to reduce his size. So the giant excreted everything he ate. In the end, he won the girl’s heart, but hills of his excrement covered the land.

 2. Floating Restaurant Cruise in Loboc.  Another famous Bohol tourist attraction is the Loboc River Floating Restaurant Cruise. For a reasonable fee, visitors get to enjoy a meal while cruising through the scenic and winding river. The experience is made more culturally dramatic as locals entertain guests with folksongs and dances.

3. Tarsiers. This type of primate found in Bohol is among the smallest of its kind. According to the website bohol.ph, “Tarsiers live exclusively on animal prey. Their diet includes primarily insects such as cockroaches and crickets, but may occasionally be extended with reptiles, birds, and bats. A Philippine tarsier in captivity will eat live shrimp and fish in a bowl of water.” Tarsiers live at the base of tree trunks.  To a peculiar extent, they don’t like to be taken away from their natural habitat, otherwise they tend to commit suicide either by refusing to eat or banging their heads until they die.

 4. Old Churches, Old Houses, Museums. Bohol is rich in history, especially around the Spanish era. Many old houses along the road are preserved, for tourists to have a glimpse of the island’s past. Old churches abound, as well, like the Church of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion in Baclayon Bohol, and the churches of Loboc, Dauis, Maribojoc, and  Panglao. Museums are usually located adjacent to the churches, and with their own stories to tell as well.

5. Man-Made Forest.  Another Bohol pride is a manmade forest located at the boundary of Bilar and Loboc towns. The forest, which spans about two square kilometers, is covered with mahogany trees.

This list is by no means all there is in Bohol. But it is sure to start any visitor off to a wonderful time on the island. Bohol, the 10th largest island in the Philippines, has only bowed to the disaster for a short while. It is back on its feet – and the fun continues!