Oh, My Dear Home Bohol !

                                                Brief History of Bohol

Created by virtue of Act 2711 of March 10, 1917, the island province of Bohol is the tenth largest island in the country. This oval-shaped province is located in the central portion of the Visayas lying between Cebu to the northwest and Leyte to the northeast. To its south is the big island of Mindanao, which is separated from Bohol by the wide Mindanao Sea. Aside from the mainland, Bohol has 61 smaller offshore islands and islets. Bohol is about 700 kilometers directly south of Manila and is about 70 kilometers southeast of Mactan Island.

The people of Bohol are said to be the descendants of the last group of inhabitants who settled in the Philippines, called Pintados (the tattooed ones). Before the Spaniards came in 1521, Boholanos already had a culture of their own, as evidenced by the artifacts dug at Mansasa, Tagbilaran, and in Dauis and Panglao, using designs associated with the Ming Dynasty (960-1279). They had already a system of writing although most materials used were perishable, like leaves and bamboo barks. They spoke a language similar to that of the nearby provinces.

The name Bohol is thought to be derived from the name of the barrio of Bo-ol, a barangay found in Tagbilaran City, which was among the first places toured by the Magellan expedition. History has it that one of the Spanish ships of Magellan (the Concepcion) was burned in this province after Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu in Mactan. In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi anchored in Jagna, one of the eastern municipalities of Bohol. He made a blood compact with Chiefs Sikatuna and Sigala in a small village near the present capital of the province, Tagbilaran City, signifying that they were blood brothers.

The province became a Jesuit mission in 1595. At this time, Bohol was a part of the province of Cebu and was called a residencia. It became a separate politico-military province on July 22, 1854, together with the island province of Siquijor. In 1879, there were 34 towns belonging to the province, with a total population of 253.103.

Two significant revolts that occured in Bohol were recorded during the Spanish regime: the Tamblot Uprising in 1621 led by a Babaylan (native priest), and the Dagohoy Rebellion from 1744 to 1829 led by Francisco Dagohoy, which is considered as the longest revolt recorded in the annals of Philippine history. American forces seized the province in March 17, 1900.

Bohol is the home province of the fourth President of the Republic of the Philippines, Carlos Polistico Garcia (1957-1960), who was born in the municipality of Talibon.

                                             Wonders of Bohol!!

Chocolate Hills is about 1-1/2 drive by car from Panglao Island. It is advisable to to arrive at the Chocolate Hills as early as 07AM in the morning feel the cold breeze or just enjoy the scenery at its finest.

                                                                                                          

                                                   The Philippine Tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men's hand. Mostly active at night, it lives on a diet of insects. Folk traditions sometimes has it that tarsiers eat charcoal, but actually they retrieve the insects from (sometimes burned) wood. It can be found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines.

If no action is taken, the tarsier might not survive. Although it is a protected species, and the practice of catching them and then selling them as stuffed tarsiers to tourists has stopped, the species is still threatened by the destruction of his natural forest habitat. Many years of both legal and illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have greatly reduced these forests, and reduced the tarsier population to a dangerously small size. If no action is taken now, the Philippine tarsier can soon be added to the list of extinct species.

The Bayongan Dam is a reservoir-type dam located at the heart of the municipality of San Miguel in Bohol, Philippines. The dam was built to augment the existing water supply for the farmlands of the municipalities of San Miguel, Ubay and Trinidad which has more or less 3,605 farmers tilling over 5,300 hectares of land. Hopefully, through the dam, the farmer’s living standards will be uplifted and the economic growth in the 2nd District of Bohol will be enhanced.

Construction of the dam went under so much controversy over its funding yet now that it is standing and complete, it has become a favorite hideaway of picnickers from the local vicinity and neighboring towns. From our barrio alone in Talibon, the Bayongan Dam is often a chosen destination during outings or group tours.

The first time I was at Bohol, the Loboc river cruise started from the Poblacion of Loboc near the Loboc church going north. This time around, there is another starting point for the Loboc river cruise, the new one starting from below the Loay Bridge which is nearer to Tagbilaran. The difference between the 2 river cruise is the scenic view along the way.

The Largest Snake

Alburquerque is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,715 people in 1,670 households.
The town's short name is "Albur". Alburquerque is reputed to have one of the longest (23 feet or 7 meters as of 2005) and heaviest (300 kg or 660 lbs) python in captivity. The python named Prony is Albur's star and has known to the people as "Live Anaconda of Bohol."

Just a few hundred meters is a Python sanctum which is 5 years old in existence with a length of approximately 23 feet and an estimated weight of about 300 kg. The biggest python in captivity ever known. Named after its captor, Prony, it loves to eat during feeding time. The winding barangay road leading to the sanctuary and the majestic sights along the course keeps one feel the prime of nature.

No tourist trip to Bohol would be complete without visiting Baclayon Church or to give it the proper title “The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception”, and considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

The Church dominates the surrounding landscape. A large tower at the front of the building served a duel purpose as both Bell and Watch Tower.

Constructed out of coral, cut by local artisans into square blocks. It is said that the whites of a million eggs were mixed with lime to cement the coral stones together. I am not sure who counted the eggs but the mixture seemed to do an excellent job.

The inner facade of the church is Classically inspired. While the outer facade dates to the early 1900’s, added by the Recollects, is a portico decorated by three arches.

Annexed to the Church is the museum, housing historical religious artifacts and antiquities, dating back to the 16th century. The building is a great example of Colonial Spanish design and while a little rickety in places, seems to have withstood the test of time. Please note taking of pictures inside the museum is not allowed.

The church does not date back to 1595 as often claimed. The Philippines Heritage Conservation Society issued the following statement on this matter:

The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in the island of Bohol in the Philippines, between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition. This is considered as the first treatyof friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood".^[1]

The Sandugo is depicted in both the provincial flag and the official seal of the government in Bohol.^[2] It also features the image of the blood compact. The top of the seal explains the history behind the Sandugo event that occurred in Bohol, the fleet and the location where the Spaniards anchored and the place where the treaty was conducted which was dated on March 16, 1565

Petit Verdot Floating Restaurant

With the Petit Verdot Floating Restaurant you can have a dining experience with the Vaal River completely surrounding you. Your palate will be enticed with out of this world dishes while your eyes feast upon magnificent views. This hotel restaurant in Gauteng is ideal for social gatherings such as cocktails, birthdays, dinners and special occasions. All the hotel restaurants in Gauteng at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club serve Zorgvliet wines. Zorgvliet wines has four ranges - Zorgvliet Richelle which is the flagship Bordeaux blend; Zorgvliet range which represents Zorgvliet Wine Estate´s premier products; Silver Myn range which is a portfolio of unique wines including Petit Verdot; Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Semillon, Pinot Noir and lastly the Le Pommier range offers exciting drink-me-now wines. The Bohol Manmade Forest is a man-made mahogany forest stretching in a two-kilometer stretch of densely planted Mahogany trees located in the border of Loboc and Bilar towns. Before and after this man-made forest are the naturally grown forests of Loboc and Bilar which are thick with a kaleidoscope of green foliage, different species of trees and giant ferns lining the road. The man-made forest stands out because of the uniformity in height of the big trees, the spread of its branches, thickness and design of leaves. Seedlings abound around the older trees. Trunks, some thick and others just a few months old, grow resplendently straight up towards the sky which is obscured by the branches and the thick leaves.                        The Bohol Hymn   and   Ang Awit sa Bohol The Awit sa Bohol or Bohol Hymn is the official provincial hymn of the province ofBohol, Philippines. The lyrics and music were written by Justino Romea and arrangement was made by Ms. Maxelende Ganade. The original lyrics are inBoholano with an available English version. The Cebuano translation is credited to Ms. Maxelende Ganade.During every program or gatherings, the Boholanos sing the Bohol Hymn after the Philippine National Anthem. According to Boholanos "The Boholanos are a freedom loving and independent people, who take pride in their Island, wherever they are. No wonder, the province even has its own provincial anthem". Visayan Version Awit sa Bohol Yuta kong minahal, Hatag ni Bathala; Sa adlaw’g gabi-i, Taknang tanan Dinasig sa kinaiyahan Sa mga bayaning yutawhan Imong kalinaw gi-ampingan Lungsod sa bungtod nga matunhay Ug matam-is nga kinampay Puti ang kabaybayunan Walog sa suba binisbisan Bahandi sa dagat ug kapatagan Gugma ang tuburan Sa kagawasan sa tanan Panalanginan ka Ihalad ko lawas ug kalag Sa mutya kong Bohol. English Version Bohol Hymn This is the land I love, The land God gave to me, Caressed by the sun, Bathed by the sea, And kissed by the cool breeze Night and day. Here’s where the early heroes lived, Here’s where they wrought peace and here they bled, Here rise the marvelous cone-shaped hills,  Here’s sweet kinampay grows.  Blessed with white sandy beaches, Rivers that water valleys, Seas teem with fishes and cows graze on the plains, In ev’ry home love reigns, God keep my homeland always free, Let her forever be, I pledge my strength, my heart and soul, To my dear home, Bohol.                                       ANG KINAGISNANG LUPA:                              Ang Lungsod ng  San Miguel                                     The San Miguel Hymn This song is what unites the whole San Miguel and this is also a way of saying we're proud of the changes in this town which I love most and I'd love to linger and wonder.   The School I've Been: San Miguel Technical Vocational School             Here is where i expressed myself much for proudly, almost all students here are achievers! tinagurian pa nga itong school of achievers because it in every competition we always reach national and varsity competitions and always inside top 3!  Mapa sports msn o academic, we really excel! I even reached  regional in science quiz bees!                       The St. Michael Archangel Parish          The only parish in the town!