Bohol, in the Eyes of a First-Time Beholder Essay

Perched on a very young palm tree, the tarsier fidgeted as I aimed my camera on its direction. It was scarce a few centimeters away, so easy to touch and yet I reminded myself to avoid the temptation. I read in an article how traumatizing it butt joint be for these velvety creatures to be held, that they would disadvantage themselves to death after being violated by curious tourists who are never content with winning pictures. So imagine my surprise when it landed very burn down me to catch the cricket hide cornerstone the leaves. Without even thinking, I brushed my fingers on its brown fur in what seemed to be a sulphur or two it didnt flinch, but the click of the camera (thither was no flash since it was daytime) alerted it, and it darted back to its highest hiding place in the palm tree.Like that unlikely encounter with the tarsier, my trip to Bohol was several(prenominal)thing worthy to remember. Thanks to the invitation of a friend, poet and journalist Michael Ortega Li galig, my memory of Bohol was not limited to rimes, Chocolate Hills, and yes, tarsiers. But there is no denying that Bohol is teeming with congenital and man-made assets. If you are artsy and into culture, Bohol can laissez passer you a lot with its cultural and historical riches. If you are into spirit and adventure, there are surprises that the island can offer. performes and Heritage HousesFor somebody like me who is fascinated with old things and history, Bohol is like a gold mine with its old churches and heritage houses. Almost all of the 47 towns contribute old, massive, stone churches that have survived ingrained ravages, wars and even climate change. I asked to be brought to some of the most fascinating ones, like the Baclayon and Loboc churches.The Church of the Immaculate Conception or the Baclayon Church is one of the countrys oldest churches. First built in 1595, the Jesuit frailes built the Neoclassic structure piece by piece using adobe and coral that were jo ined together by adhesive made from egg whites (imagine all the chicken eggs use to build such a magnificent structure). From the front door, one could see the marble tombstones that were eng toilet on the walls and pylons, the names of the dead intricately written in Spanish. The retablo or the church altar was besides an imposing piece of art, though we were unable to see the churchs pipe organ. It also has a museum similar to that of San Agustin in Intramuros. The fee is not very expensive, but cameras are not allowed. Still, one can take pictures of the saints on the ground floor joining the museum and the church, where they kept a coterie of human-size religious images or statues.St. Peter Parish Church or Loboc Church is the second oldest church in Bohol. Originally built in 1602, a stronger one was built in 1638. Located near the famous Loboc River cruise, it has survived a number of floods. indoors the church, murals depicting religious events can be found on the dome rig ht on fall of the main altar. A Spanish coat-of-arms can be found near the entrance of the convent which today houses the Museo de Loboc. This museum houses a few religious images and artifacts, like registry books from the 1800s and choir books. There is also a magnificent gong tower adjacent the church. One can also find a bridge that was never accomplished it would have joined the two sidetracks of the town separated by the river, but it would mean demolishing part of the church. It is also the home of the famous Loboc Childrens Choir.There are also plenty of heritage houses all over Bohol, particularly in Baclayon and Dauis. Owned mostly by merchant families and old political clans, its interiors are characterized by wide and thick wooden floor planks and wide stairways with wooden balusters. The interiors often ingest wooden sala and table sets, cabinets and dressers and rocking chairs, while the walls often hold portraits of its departed residents. Some of the houses inc lude the ancestral houses of the Clarin, Villamor, Malon, Luza, Sofia and Abueva, and some of them very accommodate tourists for a bed-and-breakfast experience.Beaches and DivingBohol is getting its fair share of tourism fame with its pristine white sand beaches, the most famous of which is Panglao Island and Dauis, although there are plenty of other beaches minus the quite a little of tourists and expensive. The most famous is Alona Beach, an 800-meter stretch of white powdery sand located south of Panglao Island. Many full-service beach and dive resorts reside there.The sea around Pamilacan Island is frequented by whales and dolphins, as it is also a favored breeding and feeding site of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish, making it a perfect spot for those who want to see the teeming natural fish population at work.There are a number of diving spots that offer priceless views of the sea beneath. Balicasag is known for its rare, beautiful seashells and its beds of corals are considered one of the best dive spots in the country. On the other hand, Danajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and is one of only deuce-ace such sites in the Asia-Pacific region, spread across almost 130 kilometers of seabed and consist of three large reefs.Flora and FaunaBecause of its geographical features, Bohols endemic flora and fauna makes it a baking spot for nature lovers. The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella town is a 134-hectare land that has been set excursion as a protected area for its most celebrated creature considered the worlds vitiatedest primate. However, there are many mini-tarsier zoos that are maintained by resorts. These resorts or mini-zoos often put these tarsiers in small cages and crowded, considering the wild nature of these animals. While my friend assured me that these resorts have adoption certificates from the local environmental offices, I still find it disturbing to find these magnificent creatures caged like birds.In the town of Albuquerque, there is a mini-zoo that claims to hold the biggest python in captivity ever known. Its name is Prony, approximately almost 30 feet and an estimated weight of intimately 300 kilograms. They also have a variety of birds species like parakeets, pigeons and other avians. However, a star magnet would be the entertainer which we humorously call Kakambal ni Prony. Clad in shiny gaudy costumes, she would dance near the snakes spectators.We were also fortunate to visit the Mahogany Man-Made Forest in the town of Bilar, a two-kilometer stretch of densely planted mahogany trees located in the border of Loboc and Bilar.River CruisesThe ultimate part of our trip would be the scenic Loboc River Cruise. We took the nighttime cruise as my friend advised because of the lamps that would light up as our boat would pass by. The boat fee includes a buffet meal that included seafood, pump and desserts.As the boat commenced its trip, a man with his electric guitar started to sing, his repertoire including American hits from the seventies. My companions and I found the menu rather distracting as he started with Don McLeans Vincent then to assorted songs from Bread and Air Supply. However, as the colored lamp posts began glowing from the sides, we were already transfixed and astonished. We briefly stopped on a floating raft that has a big group of singers belting their original songs. We all got off and started clapping. I interviewed some of the children and the adults who actually make a living from the song and dance number, and it ended with them selling their very own musical comedy CD to the tourists.The visit to Bohol was short and partly fulfilling. I am decided to pursue this island more and belief forward to seeing more of its assets very, very soon.