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Saturday, June 25, 2005
Libre: A visit to Bohol
By Mel Libre
Seriously Now
To celebrate Father’s Day and observe the first anniversary of my heart bypass operation, my wife Debbie planned a three day-two night vacation to Bohol.
While I have been to the place many times, this was the first time my wife and I had all the time for ourselves sans our considerate children. Other than strengthening our relationship, the trip gave me a better glimpse of Bohol.
At a discounted rate, we were able to contract an air-conditioned car that brought us to Bohol Beach Club (BBC) in Panglao. We arrived just when participants of the Tupperware conference left, thus there were few of us billeted in the resort fronted by a tidy and wide white sand beach.
If there is one laudable move of Anos Fonacier, the brain behind the resort, it is the operation of BBC public beach, an adjoining resort that does not charge any entrance fee except for a reasonable charge for use of the tables and stalls. We walked one late afternoon across the beach and agreed that Boracay has found a decent challenger.
Since our trip was made possible through a winning raffle ticket, we were given a free tour of Bohol’s major tourist attractions. Though we had visited these places in the past, we still went through it knowing there are more things to learn there. We only had two stops – at the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town and the riverboat ride in Loboc river.
Other than an unfinished restaurant project and a new exit path from the top, the Chocolate Hills site has remained the same. Our tourist guide lamented that since the local government unit managed the site, no major improvements have been made to entice tourists to stay. A hotel or golf course, for example, or some creative adventure tours could have transformed the sleepy municipality into a boomtown.
Loboc is more blessed, what with local chief executives who are more progressive in their approach. The riverboat rides had tourists lining up to view the wide river and small waterfalls. The recent Cesar Montano film also contributed to the ride’s popularity.
If the Loboc Children’s Choir has become a tourist attraction by itself, the reasons are its talented children, dedicated mentor and supportive citizens. Our guide said that Loboc’s progress is because of its loyal children who work abroad and yet continue to pour their earnings to the town through the construction of attractive houses.
While politics generally is deterrent to progress, the opposite is happening in Bohol. The winning candidate usually pursues projects for the good of the people, like road concreting. This has made travel convenient and encouraged local businessmen to invest in tourist buses.
Things seem to be looking bright for Bohol, and if I have to go back for another vacation, I won’t hesitate to do so. Of course, with my wife to make the visit more memorable.
(June 25, 2005 issue)
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