It's a sad day for Bohol where in addition to lost lives, limbs, and damage to property, several heritage churches and structures including churches were destroyed by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Herewith are the before and after pictures of old stone churches made from coral stones in the beautiful island of Bohol.

Restoring these architectural gems take time and millions of pesos as well as look into alternative materials that look like coral stones, different from old stone churches of Luzon made from adobe bricks and egg whites.

Old Bohol Churches of Coral Stones before the Earthquake of October 15, 2013:

Baclayon Church



Loboc Church

Loboc Church facade. nearby is the belltower that crumbled during the earthquake

Loay Church

Santisima Trinidad Church of Loay Bohol facade with the belltower

Dauis Church



These gems of heritage were badly damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake of October 15, 2013

(credit to the original photographer/s who posted these online)

The National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has an unenviable task of trying to restore these heritage gems made of coral stones that you can no longer harvest from the sea as it's not environment friendly.

related Bohol Posts:
Dimiao Church

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches, National Cultural Treasures

Home to the Loay River Cruise, the lost Loay Watchtower (that Tutubi tried but failed to visit) and the Clarin ancestral house, the Santisima Trinidad Parish of Loay, Bohol is a lesser-known old church in Bohol as it's also not located on the main highway.

UPDATE: this church was badly damaged during the earthquake of October 15, 2013

Parish of the Holy Trinity, Loay, Bohol (Loay Church):

Santisima Trinidad Church of Loay Bohol facade with the belltower

A National Historical Institute (NHI, now NHCP) narrates the history of Holy Trinity Church as built in the 1822, convent in 1838, bell tower in 1865. A certain Fr. Leon Inchausti served in this parish, a martyr of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) who was canonized as a saint in 1999. A good example of Filipino-Spanish architecture and declared a National Historical Landmark in 2003.

the tromphe l'oeil paintings on the ceiling, typical of Bohol's old churches

the neo-classicial altar of Loay Church

besides the double-facade and the historic link to a saint, the church also has an old pipe organ and can be reached via the stairs to the choir loft.

---
no information on mass schedules, telephone contact numbers
simbahan santisima trinidad loay bohol, parish holy trinity church loay bohol

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches, National Historical Landmarks, Visita Iglesia

The town of Loboc, famous for the Loboc River Cruise and the Loboc Boys Choir, also is home to the Church of San Pedro, the second oldest church in Bohol. Original structure was built in 1602, burned, and a stronger one built in place 1638.

The bell tower of Loboc Church is located a few meters from the church, quite similar to the earthquake baroque architecture of Ilocos churches.

Update: This old stone church was badly damaged by the earthquake of October 15, 2013

St. Peter Church, Loboc, Bohol:



How to get to Loboc, Bohol:
jeepneys with signboard Loboc are available in Tagbilaran near the cathedral. travel time is about 30 minutes. How far? Loboc is about 21 kilometers from Tagbilaran

no information yet on Sunday mass schedules (English), contact numbers and telephone numbers

Parish of St. Peter, Loboc, Bohol
San Pedro Church, Loboc Church

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches

As many of you who've been to Bohol most likely experienced the popular Loboc River Cruise where tourists dined on a catamaran cruising on the pristine Loboc River while serenaded with singers belting out pop to country to sometimes strange repertoire.

This one though takes tourists on a cruise along the same river at night where you'll see the (in)famous Loboc Bridge, other bridges, houses, buildings, trees and the waterfalls lit up with colorful lights-- with the cool evening breeze setting the romantic mood over dinner.

Loboc River Night Cruise

the quay where the Loboc River ends and starts is just near the Loboc Tourism complex

coconut trees using backlight of multiple, alternating colors

the quay in symmetry with a serene water of Loboc River as some sort of reflecting pool


the (in)famous Loboc Bridge suddenly became a multi-million peso lighting fixture

you'll be serenaded with a rondalla in the only stop-over with ladies and kids

Loboc River Night Cruise:
rates: PhP350.00/person inclusive of buffet dinner and boat ride

How to get to Loboc from Tagbilaran, Bohol:
You can ride a jeepney near Tagbilaran Cathedral to take you there directly. you can only book your Loboc River Cruise tours with one of the accredited Loboc boat tour operators


Related Bohol Posts:
Loay River Cruise
Anda White Beach
Bohol Car/Van Rental Rates
Bohol Itinerary

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Rivers

In addition to Bohol Kalamay, peanut kisses is one pasalubong traditionally identified with Bohol. There is, however, a "quite" new challenger in town: Peanut Kisses. How would you compare the two?

Classic Bohol Pasalubong/Specialty: Peanut Kisses

Peanut Kisses is advertised as peanut and egg white cookies

The relatively new Pasalubong/Specialty: Star Peanuts
Star Peanuts is tagged as Peanut meringue clusters

in a "nutshell," peanut kisses is shaped like Hershey's Kisses, more crunchier and sweeter than Star Peanuts. Star Peanuts are more like star-shaped meringue, and more chewable.

It really depends on the one buying for it's a really subjective topic.

Solution: Tutubi bought both of them :P


Where to buy pasalubong in Bohol:

Tagbilaran airport, at several Bohol Malls: BQ Mall, Island City Mall,

Other related Bohol posts:

Bohol Kalamay
Bohol: Ancient Cave Art

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Pasalubong

This is a revelation for Tutubi who was informed of this virtually unknown destination by his friened from France who came here on his invitation, and got wind of this place from Lonely Planet Philippines (which makes the overrated travel guide book quite useful in this case): The Mystical Island of Lamanoc, Anda, Bohol

Why is it mystical? Well, this place is a small island off the coast of Anda with ancient rock art in the form of red hematite paintings (the Angono Petroglyphs in Binangonan, Rizal is another ancient cave art), ancient cave dwellings, tombs and burial grounds, prehistoric human settlement (prehistoric, in Philippine historical context does not mean dinosaurs) and mystic practices mostly involving chicken in the rituals (called manok or manok, thus the name)



Lamanoc Island (or Lamanok Island in some travel journals) has the Bakhawan Mangrove Forest of Anda as gateway where you board a very small outrigger boats (banca) for for only three persons from Lamanoc Point to the "enchanted island" about a kilometer away.

You can see one of the large wooden crosses (upper left of the photo) planted on the caves claimed by locals to drive away evil spirits

The first stop of the eco-tourism and historical tour is the ancient rock art in the form of red hematite paintings meaning ancient cave dwellers used tools made of rock and blood of animals on cave walls.

the most sought after tour guide on the island (meaning: only one) explaining how the place was discovered and the history of the place. Tutubi doubts though some historical claims as they don't really add up. Perhaps a more authoritative source like the National Museum can put everything in black and white as this tour guide inserts too much folk lore, superstitions and his own comments on the place.


Close up view of rock art which is very different from the famous cave art of Lascaux, France. No images of bison, horses and cattle, only abstract hand paints. Evidence of vandalism, looting (grave robbers), as always, are present

This prehistoric rock art is said to be evidence of Paleolitic era (Stone Age) civilization which can be found in this southern town of Bohol Island.

Coming up: Burial grounds and caves of Lamanoc Island

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Lamanoc Island Guide:

Entrance Fee: PhP180.00
Boat ride rental fees: PhP180.00
includes Tour guide fee already

How to get to Anda, Bohol:

from Tagbilaran Airport, you can already rent a van/car rental to take you there or ride a tricycle to the bus station to Anda. In Anda you need another tricycle to take you to Barangay Badiang. The easiest and leisurely way is to rent a motorbike/motorcycle in Tagbilaran to explore the island at your own pace.


Related Bohol Posts:
Tagbilaran Airport Guide
Bohol Van for rent,
Bohol White Beach

Labels: Art, Bohol, Caves, Central Visayas, Ecotourism

Thinking of Bohol Pasalubong before returning home? The town of Jagna, Bohol makes sweets enclosed in coconut shells similar to binagol of Leyte (bagol means shell thus binagol).

Tutubi saw some bohol kalamay peddled near the Port of Jagna but he didn't buy there on advise of his friend and instead led him to a home/factory along the highway, also in Jagna, called Ching's Calamay, one of the more famous makers of the Bohol pasalubong in coconut shells.



The owner of the calamay factory allowed Tutubi to enter her home factory to take pictures of her sweet creations. Tutubi just missed the actual pouring of the hot syrupy calamay on the coconut shells but it's still quite warm when he got there.

Newly-poured calamay syrup on coconut shells.

How to make Bohol Kalamay? It's just cooking ingredients (rice, coconut milk, sugar) in a large wok until syrupy consistency. Pour on half coconut shells to cool down and settle before stacking another half shell on top of another and seal with paper with adhesive.

Price of bohol calamay is just PhP50.00 with or without peanuts and also in ube (purple yam) flavor.



*Ching's Calamay is open from 4am to 8pm daily

Of course, this is not a sponsored post. Tutubi paid for his sugar-fixing bohol calamay. bought a handful as pasalubong to family and officemates

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Pasalubong

(This is the first part of the Lamanoc Island Mystic Island Adventure Tour)

A place heard first by Tutubi from his French friend who went to visit him after 7 year (whom he met in India on a ferry to Elephanta Island) and acted on a tip by Lonely Planet (hmmm, Lonely Planet Philippines Travel Guide has some nice tips though many are quite dated). He mentioned something about caves, ancient burial grounds and rock paintings but not similar to the ones in Angono Petroglyphs.

To get to Lamanoc Island, you need to get past a mangrove forest via a 200 meter long wooden footbridge plus a less than a kilometer boat ride.

The Mangrove Forest of Badiang, Anda, Bohol: The Jump-off point to the Mystical Island of Lamanoc


the road-side sign and registry of Lamanoc Island. You need to pay here a minimal entrance fee plus the banca ride

the long wooden footbridge to the wharf where boatmen awaits

interesting patterns of roots of bakhawan/bakawan or mangrove in english

a parked boat on the mangroves

the boat that will take Tutubi and his friend to Lamanoc Island, the island on the upper right of this picture

What is the significance of mangroves to our lives? they provide fishes sanctuary to lay eggs and multiply, they provide shelter to birds and other creatures of the food chain, they supply communities with wood (though not recommended), they're home to quire icky but tasty woodworms called tamilok, and they protect coastal communities from dangerous waves during typhoons, even tsunamis.

Coming up: The Mystical Island of Lamanoc's Red Hematite Paintings (Rock Art) and Ancient Burial Caves

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Flora and Fauna

One of Tutubi's tip for other travelers and bloggers looking for something new is to always visit local markets to ask around and search for unknown delicacies, specialties and other "what have you" of locals that have not been known to outisders.

Though this small town of guildulman may have been made (almost) famous for Guindulman grave sites where ancient burial practices put the dead in boats, kept on the walls of caves near the marine sanctuary.

Tutubi, though, wasn't able to see the ancient burial site of Guindulman, he only visited the public market to buy some stuff: charcoal, freshly-caught fishes, pork, tuba (for sinuglao), bottled water et al

the public market of Guindulman, Bohol

the municipal fishport of Guindulman

Guindulman is Tutubi's last stop before going ahead on his real destination: the mystical island of Lamanoc Point

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas

The town of Jagna in Bohol, besides being the home of Bohol Kalamay, also hosts the Port of Jagna where you catch daily ferry trips to Camiguin.
The gates of Port of Jagna, nearby are stalls selling Bohol Kalamay

GPS Coordinates: N9 38 57.8 E124 22 00.6

Schedule of Ferry to Jagna, Bohol: (Bohol to Camiguin)

daily ferry trips on Ocean Ferry (OceanJet) to
Cebu, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Dumaguete, Siquijor, Dapitan (zamboanga del norte), Bacolod, Iloilo

Jagna, Camiguin Cagayan Daily Trips

Jagna to Benoni, Camiguin 1:30pm daily via OceanJet
travel time is 1.5 hours

no information on ferry fare to camiguin but you can try to contact OceanJet for this information

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Ferries, Seaports

Tutubi stumbled on these historical ruins of an old chapel and cemetery, with honeycomb tombs similar to those in Paco Cemetery, just beside Dimiao Church called the Ruins of Ermita, while he was taking pictures of the old church and the nearby Dimiao Tourism Office.

the ruins of ermita with the walls of the chapel lined with the honeycomb tombs

For the history of Ermita ruins, here's what a marker at the site states:

"Ermita is a Spanish term for a small church or chapel in a lonely place.

In a study conducted by a team from the National Museum entitled Archaelogical
Exposition of the 18th Century structure, Ermita Ruins is an 18th century structure which has the closest resemblance to Paco Cemetery, a historical site in Paco, Manila. Built in 1800 until 1815 by Fr. Enrique de Santo de Villanueva, it was constructed during the Spanish colonial period that has been abandoned and erected by a population that was willing to work for the church and the Ermita.

It has honeycombed-arranged tombs or sepulchers that are unique and so far, the only one found in the the Philippines, which make up the walls of the Ermita.

The researchers, were surprised why no graves were found in the tombs. To them, perhaps, it was constructed not only as a chapel but also as a cemetery. But even before it was completed, it could be possible that a big catastrophic event occured, an epidemic perhaps =, which explains the mass burial as evidenced by skeletons excavaed from the ground, not properly arranged but just laid on top of the others.





On the other hand, researchers consider the idea that perhaps, the absence of bones in the hndreds of small niches (akthough there were few sets of bones recovered and transferred to the municipal cemetery) explained byt the clousre of the cemetery in 1844 by Fr. Manuel Carususan; its nearness to the church was deemed unhealthy.

The preservation of the ERMITA RUINS is a joint project of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, the St. Nicholas paarish and local government of Dimiao. The preservation is in accordance with the policies of the National Heritage (sic) Institute (NHI) to retain the antiquity of the place and preserve its natural beauty and attraction."

Labels: Bohol, Cemeteries, Central Visayas

A quick tour of Dimiao Church, dedicated to San Nicolas Tolentino, is an old church with an uncertain history but the church was declared by National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011.


the picture-perfect facade of dimiao church taken late afternoon (the ideal time, actually if not early mornings)

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches, Visita Iglesia

An old stone church in Panglao Island, just a few minutes from Tagbilaran Airport, sporting a neo-gothic and neo-classical architecture on the facade an where devotees and faithful flock for a claimed miraculous water from a well inside the church, in front of the altar.

Update: this church was badly damaged during the earthquake of October 15, 2013




Dauis Church history: according to the NHI marker in front of the church, the current stone church began construction in 1863 and finished in 1879, declared a national historical treasure in 2009.

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches, Visita Iglesia

A lesser-known River Cruise on Loboc River in Loay town of Bohol with starting point near the Loay Bridge. It features the catamaran-style floating restaurant, using two single-hull bancas supporting the weight of the restaurant, using a diesel engine, where guests partake buffet lunch (or dinner) while being serenaded by musicians.


the Rio Verde I Floating Restaurant cruising the Loay part of Loboc River

buffet table being prepared with the usual seafood on the restaurant menu

a family on a native boat with the nipa palm-fringed river

Loay River cruise takes about an hour with a stop-over at an "authetic" Ati Tribe of aborigines upstream (more on this in a future post).

Loboc-Loay River Cruise Rate: PhP350.00/person
Trip Schedules: around lunch time usually 11am with actual boat departures depending on tourist arrivals

Related Bohol Posts:

Tagbilaran Airport
Bohol Van Rental rates
Bohol Beach Resorts
Loboc River Cruise

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas

Tutubi visited, for the second time, the old church of Baclayon, Bohol and again failed to enter the nearby Baclayon Museum. He just settled with taking a few pictures of the facade.

Not much has changed with the old stone church, there are now only more houses there, particularly along the shoreline, unlike the first time he went there in 2003.

Update: this church was badly damaged during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of October 15, 2013 :(




Baclayon Church history, with the historical marker installed by the National Historical Institute (NHI), now National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)

Constructed in 1727 (thus the claim of some Boholanos that it's the oldest stone church in the Philippines is false) and made of coral stones, using neo-classical architecture. Recognized as national historical treasure in 1994

people near church pointed to this image on the wall and buttress as that of Padre Pio. Seems there was a fire that imposed this image there

Baclayon Museum hours:
Monday to Saturday 8:45am to 11:45am; 1:30pm to 4:45pm

Sunday 9:30am to 11:45am, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
Museum Entrance Fee: PhP50.00

Bohol Travel Tip: the wharf in front of Baclayon Church is where you can catch boats that can take you to Pamalican Island (famous for dolphin wathching and the Punta Cruz Watchtower, at a cheap price, instead of renting your own boat that can set you back not less than PhP1000.00)

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Churches, Visita Iglesia

About 2.5 hours travel time from Tagbilaran City, Anda, Bohol is home to a long stretch of fine white sand beach that is open to the public and (backpackers who pitch tents on the beach front) and devoid of expensive and exclusive resorts (except a few including Anda White Beach Resort).

Tutubi visited this small zero-crime-rate town, located on the southeast of Bohol Island, to visit a mystical place.

Anda White Beach, Bohol:

Anda White Beach where Tutubi even found the mayor personally supervising workers clearing the beach front of rocks in preparation for the Timex Triathlon the morrow





Anda White Beach sand is indeed fine white sand, several kilometers long and backpacker-friendly, not much resorts and happenings here, just peace and quiet (Anda is a zero crime rate town where the prison is empty and police doesn't have anything to do)

A local told Tutubi the sand were quarried and hauled to neighboring Cebu and Mactan Island for use of some resorts there.

What did Tutubi do in Anda, Bohol that he actually travelled this far out?

Coming up: the Red Hematite Rock Paintings of Lamanoc Island and the ancient people of Bohol :P

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Anda White Beach
Coordinates: N9 44 36.4 E124 34 36.1

Table Rental Rates

Big Table: PhP150.00 good for 8 persons
Small Table: PhP75.00, good for 4 persons
Chair: PhP25.00

* pay at the municipal treasurer's office nearby


Related Posts on Bohol:

Tagbilaran Aiport Guide
Bohol Tour Itinerary
Van Rental rate to Anda, Bohol

Labels: Beaches, Bohol, Central Visayas

Probably the most expensive and exclusive beach resort on Panglao Island, Bohol, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa was visited by Tutubi just for one purpose:

To take a picture of the exclusive Eskaya Beach Resort's entrance and ask about entrance fee and day tour rates, something not posted on the official website of Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa

picture of the Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa gate, taken in the late afternoon/early dusk. Other pictures are simply blurred (no tripod, as usual)

Eskaya Beach Resort Entrance Fee/Day Tour Rate: PhP1000.00/person, consumable on resort food at the restaurant or spa services. Tutubi was not able to see sample menu food prices so he can't comment if how far the PhP1000 entrance can take you. With Eskaya beach resort's room rates that is astronomically high due to their exclusivity and niche market, don't be surprised if your PhP1000 can only buy you drinks, light meal and desserts.

The meaning of Eskaya? Eskaya is a group people in Bohol, surrounded by controversies, with their own language, culture and script. This explains the syllabary writing on the resort's gate written in Eskaya (the script)

Now, is there such a thing as an exclusive Amanpulo day tour rate? :P

Tutubi is a budget traveler but it doesn't mean he doesn't want to experience being pampered.

Related Posts on Bohol:

Bohol Tour Itinerary
Tagbilaran Airport
Bohol Van Rental rates
Bohol Beach Resorts

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas, Hotels and Resorts

Just for your information, herewith are the standard rates for van rentals, car rentals and Bohol tour packages if you don't feel like taking public transportation. These are convenient and safe for big groups but quite pricey for penny-pinching couples.

Information taken from a Bohol tourism billboard on van rental rates on Bohol just outside Tagbilaran Airport:


Chocolate Hills Tour Rate car/van rental
1 person up to 4 pax= PhP2500 (car)
5 person up to 10 pax= PhP3000.00 (van)
11 persons up to 14 pax = PhP3500.00

Chocolate Hills - Sagbayan Tour
car= PhP3000; van = PhP4000

EAT Danao Tour rate = PhP3500 (car), PhP4500 (van)

Loboc Tour = PhP2000 (car), P2500 (van)

Panglao Island Tour = PhP2000 (car), PhP 2500 (van)

Tagbilaran City Tour (1st three hours) = PhP1000 (car), PhP1500 (van)
additional PhP250/excess hour

Punta Cruz and Mag-aso Falls = PhP 1500 (car), PhP2000 (van)

Cambuhat Mangrove, Nipa Plantation, Fishing Activities (Dait, Buenavista, Bohol) = PhP3500 (car), PhP4000 (van)

Transportation Type

Transportation in and out of Panglao Beach PhP600 (car), PhP700 (van)

Transportation in/out of Anda beach Resort PhP2500 (car), PhP3000 (van)

Related Bohol Posts:
Bohol Tour Itinerary
Tagbilaran Airport terminal fee

bohol van for hire rate, bohol car rental rates, bohol vhire rates, bohol tour packages, tagbilaran airport van for hire, tagbilaran car rental, tagbilaran van for hir rate, cheap bohol package tour 3d/2n, bohol transportation rental rates, motorcylce rental, motorcycle for hire rates, motorbike for rent

Labels: Bohol, Central Visayas

Uplated information for first time (and even seasoned) visitors to the beautiful Bohol, the gateway to Bohol island: Tagbilaran Airport

Tagbilaran Airport arrival area near the runway and arrival passenger terminal



Tagbilaran Airport terminal fee/departure tax/airport tax: PhP20.00

Airport taxis: no taxis there but plenty of tricycles waiting for passengers. you can ride tricycles to the city center (usually minimum fare) to take buses or jeepneys to various towns of Bohol (Loboc, Loay, Anda and others)

Car rental to Panglao Island is PhP600.00, van for hire costs PhP700.00

notes:

Tagbilaran Airport is small and cramped and needs expansion. It's not more fun waiting for your flight here.

There are no restaurants inside the departure area terminal, just small pasalubong kiosks and snack counters.

Related Bohol Posts:
Bohol Tour Itinerary

Labels: Airports, Bohol, Central Visayas