Rebuilding Bohol through sports

PANGLAO ISLAND, Bohol – Tagbilaran City bears few scars from the tremendous earthquake that leveled much of the province in the weeks before typhoon Yolanda drew global attention to other parts of the Visayas region. But the atmosphere in Bohol is unmistakable: hope laced with sober determination. Though the hardest-hit areas are far from the major centers of commerce here, the quake did momentarily shake people’s faith in their ability to recover, particularly when attention was drawn away by the immeasurable devastation brought about by Yolanda.

“Boholanos are a resilient lot,” explains retired Maj. Gen. Charly Holganza, a native of the province and pioneer in dragonboat racing here. “Even our relief goods which were packed to be sent to earthquake victims, we sent to Leyte because of how desperate the situation was there.”

Holganza, himself a scuba diver for close to three decades, is at the forefront of reconstruction efforts in the Visayas. He has been working with Habitat for Humanity with the support of the national government to build an estimated 8,000 homes in the 17 far-flung municipalities crushed by the earthquake, and another 10,000 in northern Cebu and Negros, which were almost swept away by Yolanda. He expects construction to finish with the next two years, a miracle of coordination in itself.

Holganza, the former commander of the National Defense Support Command (NADESCOM) and whose blog received over two million hits in the aftermath of all the tragedy, organized the first international dragonboat race in Bohol Strait last year.  He was even questioned in a radio interview in Cebu about it. The program host asked Charly why he held it in Bohol when all the transportation, facilities, big business and sponsors are in Cebu. Holganza wanted to prove a point, and he succeeded. He also recently finished an event in Davao which he hopes will lead to a dragonboat circuit in Mindanao. But this patriot believes that sports tourism will be one of the ways to show the world that Bohol is still the paradise that it was before the tremor. 

“We already have earthquake tourism,” says Holganza, referring to the churches now in ruins from the quake and other phenomena left in its wake. “But sports tourism is one of the pillars with which Bohol can be perceived to be the perfect destination. Boracay, which is a small island, hosts international events every month. Why can’t we do it in Bohol?”

One of the entities that shares Holganza’s belief is the Bellevue Resort and Hotel group. Their latest luxurious gem of a resort, situated on a breathtaking stretch of white sand in Panglao, opened recently even after all the devastation caused by last year’s earthquake. In fact, they sponsored one of the teams in Holganza’s pioneering dragonboat race.

“We look forward to having that event every year here in Bohol,” reveals Rommel Gonzales, resident manager of the resort. “Sports events will bring in more tourists, which will be good for everyone here in Bohol.”

In a long-term plan, the Bellevue group spent twelve years acquiring the property, which it has since transformed into one of the most breathtaking, idyllic places anywhere. Despite the surrounding devastation, the developers were undeterred. In fact, the quake imparted even more urgency on the project. It became even more necessary for Bohol to be known as a luxurious, safe, welcoming haven for travelers. That’s why the resort is promoting scuba diving, snorkeling and other aquatic sports, and blends activities that also showcase the natural beauty of the province. All in all, the experience is incomparable.

Meanwhile, Tarsier Botanika is a 20-hectare man-made nature park where indigenous species of trees, plants and flowers have become the perfect backdrop for world-class craftsmen and artists in the province. The owners, Nicolas and Patricia Moussempes, wanted a relaxing place to stay where progress meant enhancing the natural wonders of the area, not cutting down trees and killing the fauna. The couple moved all their belongings to Bohol from Paris and Hong Kong seven years ago, seeking to begin a new chapter in their lives.  The resulting jungle was planted over that span to protect the environment, and provide them a way to connect with nature. One end of the property, now an increasingly popular restaurant, looks out onto the sea.

“We want to show that you don’t need to cut trees or kill plants to have a nice place to stay,” says Patricia, who is herself a rider and acts as mother to all the horses personally. “There are so many beautiful things around us, and we want more people to appreciate them as they are.”

Inside the private facility is Tarsier Equestria, which trains riders in dressage, the elegant Olympic event wherein horses prance to music under the command of their riders. The facility has 14 horses of the highest breeds from Europe in various stages of training. Some were sent to Bohol by prominent families whose children outgrew their love for their horses. So caring are the owners of the center that they filled the ring where the horses train with soft earth, making it unnecessary to nail horseshoes onto the soles of the animals’ feet.

These are just some of the efforts of private citizens and business groups to boost sports tourism and nature appreciation in Bohol, proof that the indomitable Filipino spirit is alive, well, and thriving here, no matter what challenges even Mother Nature sends their way.