BOHOL ISLANDS
album
(My original alternative-rock songs called "Bohol Islands" and "Sandugo" are available @ Apple+Itunes and other music e-services in May 2007. These 2 songs are especially dedicated to the Boholanos worldwide! Salamat mga sano!)
~ Snapshots from our short vacation in Bohol Islands ~
Hinagdanan Cave (means "laddered Cave") on the Island of Panglao is one of the 1,400 caves of Bohol. It's a 16th century cave.
My in-laws: (L-R) Engr. Efren Felicio & his wife, Rosalia and Dr. Vic Balagon
...with my wife, Chita and daughter, Arianna.
Here's a snapshot when it's low tide. If it's high tide, taga-liug kuno ang tubig. Some tourists swim here.
Posing jud mga bisdak para ibigin:) LOL
Meet the "Philippine Crocodile Dundee" (Ed - the Lizzard/Butiki Dundee:) and company...
Alona Beach Resort - Probably the most beautiful and surely the most developed beach in Panglao Island of Bohol. (constructions/infras are all over the place of Bohol, so it can be surpassed by other beach resorts in few months or years.) There're little moonsoon waves/wind since it's August but the view is still gorgeous and so were these women:)
The monument commemorating the blood compact in Bool.
~ A little bit of history ~
Legazpi was given a hostile welcome in Bohol(Bool). From his Malay pilot, he learned that this hostility was due to marauding expeditions of the Portuguese. Coming from the Moluccas, the Portuguese raiders traversed the Visayan seas, and just a few years before, in 1563, had plundered Bohol and killed or enslaved about one thousand of its inhabitants. Of course, the Boholano's easily mistook the Spaniards for Portuguese.
Again with the help of his pilot, Legazpi explained two chiefs of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc that they were not Portuguese, and had come in peace, and not to plunder or kill. This convinced the Kings to end their hostility and enter pact of friendship. On 16 March 1565 (or 25 March, records are confused due to the Georgian calendar reform in 1584), Legazpi and Sikatuna performed the now famous blood compact, probably not far from the modern town of Loay. This event is still celebrated in Bohol every year in June with the Sandugo ("One Blood") festival. The same ceremony was repeated three days later with Sigala.
~ I'm too facinated by the story behind this monument, so I wrote a song about this famous Blood Compact (Sandugo). It really portrays our friendliness among men regardless of race (way back from our forefathers'/ancestors' time)... but our hospitality, sometimes, were taken for granted or being taken advantage of. It also shows that our friendliness is REAL... while others need to perform "blood compact" with our ancestors to show their friendliness:) We don't really need "blood compact" if the friendship is real, mutual and no hidden agenda:) You know what I mean... It's our ancestral/cultural pride to be friendly... and it's been tattooed in our hearts and minds... ~
If you could only feel the cool wind and see the view from here down to the sea below (with all the trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, slopes & boats), you would probably wish to be here everyday...
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is the 3rd oldest church of the Philippines
(videos and cameras are prohibited at the museum upstairs)
Inside the church... it has the 2nd oldest "Pipe Organ" music instrument of the Philippines.
Floating Restaurant in Loboc River
Local orchestra near Loboc waterfalls. Talking about REAL TALENTS and GIFTED MUSICIANS!
~ this is where we distinguish SKILLS (learned in school which leads to reading & writing musical notes, of course) and TALENTS/GIFTS (by blood, destiny or "born with it as if music is his/her twin brother/sister"). ~
Yes, I can dig their music!
~ Musicians are called "musicians" when you love all types of music... or else, we call them "transient/temporary musicians" ~
(When you're too involve deeply with music like songwriting, you really know what I mean... As what Dick Clark said: "Music is the soundtrack of our lives").
Acoustic time at the Floating Restaurant
~ A $40 acoustic guitar can definitely entertain! ~
Hanging bridge
Matrix @ the hanging bridge (where's the phone?)
Nothing can beat the fresh coconut juice!
The Philippine Tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. In fact, it is the smallest known primate, no larger than an adult man's hand. Tarsiers can only be found in the Philippines. AMAZING!
~ The Philippine government should/must protect them because they can promote Philippines and its economy thru tourism and history than Manny Pacquiao:) Joke lang, idol! Anyway, the "Tarsier sites" should be expanded than just in tiny stores. C'mon, you're talking about the smallest primate IN THE WORLD! Again, IN THE WORLD! The same thing with the Philippine Eagle which is the LARGEST IN THE WORLD! Again, IN THE WORLD! ~
(Ang mata mura ug nakurat! Huh! Hah! Siguradong dili gyud makamao'ng mamilok. LOL)
Meet the largest and smallest Tarsiers:) My out-of-wedlock ancestral cousin per Dr. Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution:) ~ The smallest Tarsier said: "Me? No way!" See, it got the message:) LOL ~
I said: "Wake up, Arianna!" while the Tarsier said: "Ha?" LOL
Okay! Okay! I will tell you about Tarsier and how it looks like later on:) Definitely, it has better eyesight than your dad:) LOL
Which Tarsier? LOL
214 steps to the "Observation Hill" which gives you a clearer view of the Chocolate Hills.
Yes, I carried you, Arianna all the way to the tower!
The famous 1,268 Chocolate Hills at Carmen, Bohol. We didn't have a chance to see Sagbayan Peak to see the other side of Chocolate Hills.
At the tower, there's also a "Wishing Well" and you will ring the bell after you threw coins and made wishes. Some said they wished to have coins to throw:) LOL
(Gamay na lang ang Chocolate sa hills kay gi-mamang ug gi-umigas man kuno:)
Back to "Bohol Tropics Resort" where we stayed in Tagbilaran, Bohol
Talking about tropical view
At the kid's playground
Arianna met a new friend, Liliana from Netherlands
This Dutch kid was very friendly. They enjoyed their company though they spoke in different languages.
(Kids seem to defy "Tower of Babel". What a beautiful scene!)
Back to the view
Am I nuts? No, they are coconuts!
Nag-night swimming sa gabii ang mga sirina:) LOL
~ Play 4U band @ the green-colored roof ~
Sarangye, Chita and Arianna!
Singing with the "Play 4U" Band (see more pictures about this band)
Arianna had fun here in Bohol!
More playing time...
Taken at the Waterjet terminal (before going back to Cebu City). These blind musicians can really play guitars and sing better than myself!!! Talking about GOD'S GIFTS OF MUSIC!
We met the hilarious Steve Hinkley, his wife Beth Lucino and son, Stephen in Tagbilaran City. They're also from south NJ. Steve told us that the "bakla" tourist guide was more interesting to hear/watch than to see the longest "sawa" or Python. He!he!he! LOL
THAT'S ALL, MGA SANO!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VACATION IN BOHOL! We didn't have a chance to see all "Bohol" spots and beaches there! Maybe next time...
Bohol music
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