The 13^th of September, 2008 was the first time I celebrated my birthday on land, over the seas and up in the sky. My Cebu-Bohol trip has begun. My dad dropped me off to the new NAIA 3 Terminal. The airport was so nice. I actually missed pat more because my ticket has her name also in it… thinking what could have happened if she was just there beside me and joining the trip. My seat is located near the windows again wohooo! It was amazing that the flight was on schedule and we arrived at Mactan Airport very prompt.  It was like a gift that there were free maps and travel guide in the airport and it was so useful (I haven’t got the chance to buy maps this time. It was just a big disappointment to me that the first security guard in the airport that we asked regarding the taxi bay was a “kasabwat” of the “mapagsamantalang” driver. The driver was asking to bring us to SM for 300php (So kontrata ito). We just went up and found a taxi that charges by the meter.

One of the best SM malls that I have been to was SM City Cebu! Loved it! The moment I saw FRENCH BAKER on our roaming in the mall, I already decided to have lunch there. I just missed eating in that place – Baked lasagna there is the best and their rolls are now very tasty!

Right after lunch we went to the department store and I bought a new black umbrella, black sandals and a nail cutter… (The search for the pension house comes next)

Using the free travel guide in the airport and asking people on the way these are the places I have visited in my first afternoon in the Queen City of the South. (Jeepney mode lahat ito except on the way down to the Taoist temple kasi mahirap maghantay ng sasakyan). The City reminded me of Manila – Quiapo-Avenida part of Manila… lalo na ang Colon Street (Sayang wala akong pictures of the street due to some matters). The Taoist temple is quite similar to the one found in Baguio City too.

 

:: The Church and Convent of Sto. Niño (Madaling mahanap at siyang tunay na maaalala mo ang Quiapo kung saan pipilitin rin ng mga vendors na bumili ka ng bulaklak at kandila at tutusukin/tutusukan/kakabitan ka ng kung anu-anong stampita at pins)

:: The Church and Convent of Sto. Niño Museum (sa paghahanap sa Magellan's Cross na nasa mapa ay napunta kami dito - interesting exhibit sayang di pede magpicture sa loob)

:: Magellan’s Cross (Sa wakas ang nakatagong Shrine na ito ay nasa loob pa pala - right after the School Building sa side ng Basilica - mahirap magpicture dito in fairness lols - I miss Kalai hahaha)

:: Metropolitan Cathedral (Hindi masyadong ornate at medyo modern ang architecture details sa loob - mostly faux ang mga detail sa labas pero convincing from a distance)

:: The Cathedral Museum (Pwedeng mag picture sa first floor only)

:: Taoist temple (Tandaan bawal kunan ng picture ang mga Gods and Goddesses sa loob ng temples)

:: Ayala Center Cebu: Roma Mia (Dinner) - Hay naku mabagal ang service at hanggang sa pagbibigay ng bill mabagal padin hmf


Cabu City Tour Album 1 and Album 2

14^th of September, 2008: We booked for the earliest possible ferry to Tagbilaran. The moment we got there we directly went to the Bohol Tourism office and took our chance in renting a van for 3000php to give us a day tour that they call “The Chocolate hills tour”. It was sulit! Lalo na if marami kayong magjhahati-hati sa coist. Since dalawa lang kami ayun 1500php each pero ok lang kasi car rate yung siningil sa amin ng aming driver/tour guide na si Mr. Manuel “Awe” Gamit, kahit na van ang sinakyan namin. Mayroong Fare matrix ang mga nag-aalok ng tour at similar naman sila sa isa’t-isa at since accredited sila ng Tourism office ayun dun kami sumakay. Sobrang luwang ng van na pede kaming magpagulong-gulong sa loob na dalawa. (How I wish I was with someone special- weheheh). After a quick take-out sa Mcdo (na may wifi) ay derecho na kami sa aming road trip to see the tarsiers and the Chocolate Hills bago maglunch sa Loboc River Cruise. Alng the way ay napaka-educational ng mga facts and tidbits na shinare sa amin ni Mang Awe, amazing talaga with matching numbers ang mga facts. (Napatambling ako lalo ng malamang dating seaman siya at nalibot na niya ang maraming parte ng mundo- buti pa cia nakarating na sa Spain… hmmm)

 

:: Tarsiers Encounter: Alam ko po sensitive sila at nocturnal – minsan naiistress agad at nagpapakamatay, di ko sila dapat hahawakan pero mapilit si manong… kaya ayun ngumiti nalang ako.  Isa itong tourist spot na sinadyang ilagay on the way to the Chocolate hills para hindi na maistorbo ang wild reserves ng Tarsier na out of the way sa mga ibang tourist spots. Ang nasa isip ko nalang since nocturnal ang mga tarsiers… kumbaga ang mga tarsiers na nakita ko ay ang mga Call center agents nila na nag graveyard shift – so mas mataas ang sweldo nila sa ibang tarsiers on the other side of the island baka nag starbucks sila bago mag gabi lols… (O joke lang to- wag seryosohin hmm)

 

:: Chocolate Hills sa Carmen: Iniayos na rin ang viewing deck na ito na tumalo sa mga steps ng Taoist temple na pag na off-balance ka or nadulas- tsk tsk tsk gudlak nalang sa pagpapaship ng bangkay mo pabalik ng Manila. May isa pang lugar kung saan pedeng i-view ang mga ito pero out of the way. Nakakatuwa kasi mega explain si Mang Awe about the Chocolate hills and the formation of the Bohol Island bago pa kami makarating dun (We loved him talaga!). Medyo mahirap magpicture sa mgandang spot at ang tanging paraan ara magpapicture ng walang naka-obstruct sa view ay magpapicture sa mga photographers doon na may gamit na DSLR (opo- drools) at magpaprint ng wallet size photo na 50php each. The only thing na maganda dun sa offer nila ay kukuhanan ka din nila ng picture with your digicam kaya ok lang. May mga concept concept pa sila na shots na talagang nakakaaliw. 

 

Tip: Magbaon ng maraming sunblock or paying – sobranmg init dun! Green ang chocolate hills pag hindi summer – kung nais Makita ang mga burol na ito na kulay tsokolate ay pumunta ng summer.

:: Tigbao Hanging Bridge: After seeing the wonderful Chocolate hills and climbing those hundred steps, we are on our way to the Loboc Ricer now. Before we head to our lunch in the floating restaurant we had a stop-over in the Tigbao Hanging Bridge – though I didn’t even tried crossing to the other side due to two reasons: a. I’m afraid of heights and b. there is a swarm of super/hyper excited people that hurriedly cross while we are just in the ¼ of the bridge. (Kahit pang sabihin nila na matibay yun… yari lang ito sa kawayan at bhaka sumobra ang weight niya at di makayana- ako pa naman ay di marunong lumangoy- basta)

Day 2: Ang Chocolate hills at mga Tarsiers

14^th of September, 2008: Right after visiting the Chocolate hills, tarsiers and the hanging bridge we continued to the next activity – The Loboc River Cruise. Mang Awe (our driver/tour guide for the Chocolate Hills Tour) suggested that we dine in the Riverwatch floating restaurant because the buffet there was delicious.

 

:: Loboc River Cruise: The eat all-you-can buffet is priced at 250php plus an entrance of 50php. I suggest that whenever you are travelling it is good that you have smaller bills with you all the time. There are several floating resto in the small pier. The buffet served was mostly Filipino dishes (Barbequed pork, Fish, squid, fruits, rice cakes, fried chicken…). The food was good but the drinks were not unlimited (Bottled water and soft drinks are served at 30php per small bottle) good thing we have our bottled water with us that time. It’s a bit hard to take pictures while in the resto because if you want a picture against the Loboc river view you need to use flash photography (I don’t use flash in my camera shots as much as possible because it takes details away from a picture and it eats the natural color).

The Loboc river cruise was wonderful. Again it’s an experience better shared with your closest friends, family or loved one. The food is also delicious but of course my parent’s cooking is still the best (heheh). There are also performances in and on the sides of the river prepared by different barangays (The resto itself has a live band that performed a variety of songs that caters to all the passengers). We get to see small waterfalls in the end part of the river. We shared our table with a couple from Hongkong that was visiting the Philippines for a day (See picture). It was a great experienced!  

 

:: Loboc Church and Museum:  It was a Sunday, saying kasi sarado ang simbahan that time and we didn’t have the energy to walk to the museum to check whether it was open or not. The sun’s rays are scorching already. I just had a chance to take a picture of the famous church from the outside and a sneak peak of the inside through shots from its windows and doors. (This is one church that I will check again when I get back to Bohol.)

 

:: Baclayon Church and Museum: One good thing with Mang Awe is that he tells us whenever there is an entrance fee to the place that we are going, the exact cost and tips and tricks. The church reminded me of churches in Taal, Batangas. Their museum is also interestingly filled with artifacts and old stuff. (I still wish we had a stop-over in the Albuquerque Church also). Most of my shots inside the church is a bit shaky because I haven’t been using an tripod plus there is a meeting on-going the moment we came in and I just can’t disturb them by using flash photography.  Another thing: Mang Awe is good in taking pictures!

 

:: The Blood Compact Site: Sanduguan is a contract/agreement that is signed with the hour of using blood that seals the agreement. This was the actual site of that special event. It closes after 5pm so better not be late. There is a gift shop beside it and they sell cheap trinkets and key chains.

Quick brush-up on Philippine History: It was in Bohol were local chieftains Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc performed the Sanduguan or El Pacto de Sangre with Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi back in the 16th century. The sanduguan or blood compact was a pact of friendship sealed in blood.

It is touted as the world’s “first treaty of friendship between different races”. The guys supposedly drank droplets of each other’s blood mixed in with wine. A monument marks the spot where the blood compact was made. It is located along the road with a spectacular view of the sea.

That was the last stop for the Chocolate hills tour offered by the Bohol Tourism office, now we head to Panglao Island and explore the beach.

Day 2: Mula Loboc hanggang Sanduguan

I spent the night in Panglao Island. The Chocolate Hills tour was a bit draining because of the heat of the sun. After freshening up we hurriedly checked the beach and walk to the Bohol beach Club shoreline. Took lots of pictures before we get back to the room and charged everything (mobile phones and digital camera). We had dinner at the Dumaluan Resort resto beside the beach and it was delightful. The food taste fine but not so special and over-priced. Sayang di naming nakita yung kainan sa Dumaluan Beach Resort 1 (Mas mura ang pagkain dun dahil public beach yun- I suggest dun kayo kumain if ever dito kayo pupunta).

 

Personally, I felt that this particular beach was great but certain sadness filled my heart. I just can’t help thinking about being alone. I was supposed to share this view and trip with Pat. We planned this trip from day 1… oh well I think we will just do it again next year. The beach felt like it was meant to be for lovers- the peaceful shoreline, the “you and me against the world” feel and the lovely night looking at the stars… furthermore, I think it would be very nice to go back here with someone special nect time (aheheheheh)

 

We had dinner while listening to a very talented lounge singer/performer. She was a lounge/jazz/bossa expert. We stayed in this beach resort until almost 12nn the next day. We haven’t experienced an island hopping/dolphin watching due to the time constraints. 

 

TIP: Give a day in your itinerary for the island hopping in Bohol islands. The Islands tour starts as early as 5am so that you can do the dolphins watching.

Bohol Beach Club was just steps away from where we stayed. The morning after our check-in (September 15) We just took more pictures of the beach and ate breakfast before we roam around the Tagbilaran city in the afternoon.

Day 2: Panglao Island Album

At last after 2 hours of traveling from Panglao to Tagbilaran we arrived at Garden Café. It was the place suggested by Billi and the food was great! Their pasta and onion rings are to die for. Busog talaga! Right after our super meal we walked to St. Joseph’s Church (One of the most beautiful church I have been to). We walked through the plaza and took some pictures as we walked to the National Museum (Bohol Branch- of course picture-taking is not allowed). We rode a tricycle to the pier and then head to a hotel near the Mango Square. We rode a jeep to IT park- the Walk and ate at Casa Verde and had a quick meet-up with Bong (DJ of Pier One in the Walk). 

Day 3: Tagbilaran to Casa verde album

My last day in Cebu was filled with more adventure. Finding the Mactan shrine was a very challenging thing to do. Too bad we haven’t got the chance to see Shangri-La Mactan, a famous old port in Cebu, and museums in the city. Oh well I’ll just have to go back to Cebu-Bohol again soon.

September 16, 2008 was a day filled of mixed emotions...

 

Loved Bohol and Cebu!

 

:: Mactan Shrine - from Mango Square (I just remembered I never took a picture of the streets and alleys that we walked/went to/from) to this Shrine we just boarded series of jeepneys asking along the way. I think it is good to buy pasalubong here in the stalls along the shrine kasi medyo mura.

 

:: Hotel Le Carmen - This is the last place we stayed in. Sinundo kami ni Billi at ciempre nagpichuran

 

:: Ayala Center Cebu - Dito naganap ang aming bday bash ni katty at kung anu-ano pang bagay. I bought a few stuff along the department store bago kami dumerecho sa airport. I also met Sheena here!

 

:: Babay Cebu - Mga huling sulyap at larawan paalis ng Cebu sakay ng Taxi at namimiss ang Malabon.

Day 4: Mactan at Kaibigan Album

At iyan ang Cebu-Bohol trip ni ian! (bow)