Panglao Beach, A Less Crowded but as White and Clean as Any Other Beach in Bohol

This is how beautiful the sunrise is in Panglao Beach as we watch from our cozy resort, the Bagobo Beach Resort. We watched the sun rises while we wait for our motorized boat to fetch us for our early morning tour to the Virgin islands and sand bars in Bohol. Not to worry about our stomachs, we brought some hot coffee and breads to the waiting area.

We had this photo taken while waiting for our boat. It is not a perfect shot but I just love how everything worked so well in the composition - except for someone's head replaced with the sun :)

This is how clear the water is in front of Bagobo Beach Resort. It was really a beauty.

We cruised while the sun is still rising. We hoped to see dolphins along the way but we were not as lucky as the others.

That's our boatman trying to look for the best spot to find dolphins but to no avail.

Finally, kuya - our boatman - gave up and instead led us to the Balikasag Island where we will have our lunch.

Getting Around Bohol and All Its Tourist Attractions

My first time in Bohol was in 2010. Some former officemates and I planned for a Cebu and Bohol getaway for 5 days. I had so much expectation and Tagbilaran is one not to disappoint. People are nice and helpful, the province was clean, and the food was great.

To reach Bohol from Cebu, we took a very early vessel to the province of Chocolate Hills. The cruise took 4 precious hours but with the nice scenery, nobody complained.

First off, we stop at the Blood Compact site then head to where the Tarsiers were. There were plenty of places to find these cute creatures and our helpful driver took us to one of the finest as seen below.

There were also Flying Trapeze and Snakes, and Monkeys that we stopped at along the way before we head off to the Lunch Cruise. Our driver was such a timid guy, and he did not join us in the cruise. It was fun and eyes and belly filling lunch as we navigate the great river of Tagbilaran.

This is a stop over for the Cruise where local singers perform to the delight of the tourists.

After the cruise, we head off to Bilar where the nice, tall woods are clustered. Here is a sample of what to see in the woods.

This is a photo of the beach near the Blood Compact site.  

Photos inside Baclayon Church

 

The Gamut House outside the Baclayon Church

 After the long day, our driver took us to a different hotel, which he believed was a better place than the one we booked. I'll post more information on that on another post.

Sinagtala, A Travel Guide to Camarines Norte's Infinite Natural Swimming Pool

 

Camarines Norte was once among the richest provinces in the region, if not the country, due to its abundant mining industry. It is also the nearest province of the region to the capital city of the Philippines, which gives it a lot of opportunity in economy and tourism. Once the Quirino Highway was completed though, all buses and transportations plying from and to manila have changed their routes to Camarines Sur. Everything shifted to Camarines Sur then and the province was left to sustain itself.   

 

Very many establishments in Camarines Norte closed due to lack of potential market. The province didn't die though because tourism was boosted. From natural to man-made adventures and attractions, Camarines Norte always has something to offer. A good example to this is Sinagtala, a river that was developed into a natural swimming attraction.

Sinagtala is a refreshing place to celebrate good times with good friends. There are a lot of cottages on either sides of the cool-water river, which all have convenient cooking and skewing areas.

Above is the river turned swimming pool and left is where we cooked our meals and ate them. Below is the cool river with its width and lounging areas visible.

 

At the time of our visit, the place is too crowded so there was no cottage available for us. We just paid 10 pesos for entrance and that's it. What a wonderful place to spend a laid back Sunday in Camarines Norte.

Daet Clubhouse, A Travel Guide in Camarines Norte's Finest in 2005

In 2005, I worked for one of the country's major manufacturing and distributing company, the Procter & Gamble Philippines. I was employed under the distributor in Bicol and was assigned as branch supervisor with the work that coincides that of the general manager - overseeing the entire operation of the branch. There, I had to work with mostly men of age higher than mine. They were all great people. Some days, we would go on an adventure to just reinforce our team and some days, we just go on a ride to places we wanted to see and venture.

 One of the places we ventured and see first - before others had the chance to discover it - was Daet Clubhouse, at least that was what it was dubbed in those days. It was in its finishing phase when we came to the place. We just frolic in the place and had talked about ourselves and not our work. 

There was a lounge, a big mezzanine or function hall and a nice pool. We didn't swim on the pool, and I still can't understand why.

Overall, it was a great cost-effective adventure for us. We grew closer and we loved our team a little bit more than we already did.

Black Nazarene or Santo Intiero of Capalonga, Camarines Norte

The Philippines is one of the most religious countries in the world. It has embraced Christianity since the invasion of the Spaniards, whom taught the locals to follow the teachings of the Holy Bible. This explains the similarities of the belief of Spaniards and Filipinos. One of the most criticized practices of Catholic believers is their loyalty to wooden idols. To us, these are symbols of our belief and we are paying respect not to the idols but to what they symbolize. This practice is even observed in provinces, like ours.

 In my younger years, I had the fortune to work for Procter &  Gamble's Bicol distributor, Accelerated Distribution Inc. (ADI). This job allowed me to travel the entire administrative area of Bicol region. One of the destinations I loved so much to visit was Camarines Norte. It is the last province of Region V bordering Region IV's Quezon province. The province was known for its gold and silver mines, beautiful white and black beaches, and alluring islands. Aside those natural resources, the province is also known to have a miraculous replica of the Santo Intiero or the Black Nazarene.  

 Curiosity got the best of me so I braved the verdant and still uber underdeveloped town of Capalonga, one of Camarines Norte's farthest towns. many believed that this town is infested with rebels but young that I was, the intrigue got the better of me. I do not know if it was loyalty to my job or curiosity or just for the fun of another adventure that I jumped in one of our company's branch vans to work with the team that visits the town once a month.

Above is a picture of our team lighting candles, asking for miracles and praying for safety. At the right is a picture of the cross with Jesus Christ already pinned on it. Below is a picture of me and the nearby beach that is more used as a port to fishermen than swimming or frolicking the beach.

Boracay Island in Summer of 2000

My first Boracay experience was way back in 2000, when cameras are all point and shoot and require films. I hope that pardons my blurry and not so nicely taken photos, which I still posted although they are not flattering. I did that just to give you guys something to compare to if you happen to see this top attraction now. Back in the days, the beach feeling was more real because there was powdery white sand everywhere, most hotels have cottages that are made of local natural materials and the foods and drinks were all sourced from the island. When you eat, you'll have the pleasure to select your raw seafood and watch the islanders to cook your pick right before your eyes.

Left is a picture of then Boracay Plaza. The entrance was made of wood, the raw kind which adds to the allure of island feel. Above is the old entrance to The Mall which is a far cry to how this establishment looks these days.

Here is a photo taken at the LeSoleil de Boracay, one of the posh hotels in the island in those days. If you stay in this hotel at the time, you are a celebrity. In the photo is then leading actor Michael DeMesa.

At the right is how station 1 looks like in those early days of Boracay. There was already a high influx of tourists but nothing compared to the number it receives these days.

Below is a photo of our group taken on an island where tourists are taken to have a sip of young coconut's juice, enjoy snorkeling, and all those things that the island offers in those days.

Before Busay Falls, It was Oraz Falls

 I had so much fun in college. I had the pleasure of joining clubs that introduced me to first aid, survival, and mountaineering. I was able to go to destinations that no one ever in my age had. The best thing about it is I was able to use it to introduce other people to these places. It seemed that I loved exploring attractions not only in Albay but others as well. One of these Albay attractions that is now better known as Busay Falls is the Oraz Falls, which is believed to have 7 stages. I only had the luck to venture to the nearest the town of Malinao, Oraz Falls.  

The first time we ventured to Oraz Falls, it was on my 18th birthday. My friends and I were so excited, but expected a long walk that turned out to be just less than a kilometer from the drop off point. It was really not far and at the time, I was thinking of how lucky the people of Malinao, Albay are for having such a wonderful water wonder so near them.

Still, on our way to Oraz Falls, there was a river to cross which luckily has a coconut tree placed over it so people can cross conveniently. That is by far the only thing that separates the falls from the barangay proper. Today, you will wonder how you can reach Oraz Falls aka Busay Falls without crossing a river. Above is the picture of that river and the make-shift bridge.

 At the time, we only had to ask permission from the Barangay Captain and we trekked further to where the falls is and enjoy to our hearts' content. Since we had food brought with us, as well as drinks, we didn't need to spend anything more. Those were the days when every Albay Natural attractions were for free.