BOHOL: The Island Paradise

There must be more to Bohol than just the Chocolate Hills. This thought occupied my mind when I first set foot on Bohol sands recently. Why else would it be twice named “Destination of the Year” and be the featured venue of an award-winning movie?

It is also possible that the Tarsier would be another of Bohol’s more prominent attractions, as would be the highly acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir. The Loboc River, the main setting for the former film fest entry " Panaghoy Sa Suba", is also an inviting stretch of nature, where one can enjoy a river cruise while taking pleasure in local delicacies and songs.

Journeying further, I discovered the local old churches do not only boast distinctive architectural designs, but stories behind their construction. How many people know that the Baclayon Church, one of the biggest in the province, was made from thousands of egg whites? Thousands of eggs, indeed, were cracked to finish this enormous house of worship! (One would wonder what happened to the egg yolks, but that’s another story.)

But after the innumerable feasts for the eyes, hearing every local song, and visiting every local church—however magnificent they may be—what else is there to do in Bohol?

For this, the island offers its beaches in Panglao Island, a municipality. Panglao was declared a tourist zone through Proclamation No. 1801 (VII) dated November 10, 1978, and placed under the Integrated Protected Areas (IPAS) under Proclamation No. 2152 on December 20, 1981 by the DENR.

A total area of 8,740 hectares has been declared as Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves. Panglao boasts of numerous resort establishments of varying standards, one of which is classified as an AA resort and frequented by European visitors. Alona Beach is the most famous on this island, boasting an 800-meter stretch of white sand, and linking to other resorts such as Sunrise Beach, Dumaluan Beach and Doljo Beach.

From end to end, the shore is dotted with dive shops and centers, and the sea sanctuary to pristine dive sites. The Alona, as some foreign divers call it, takes pride in its intact coral reefs and unspoiled marine life, with much collaborative effort by both the government and private sectors. To them, there is an awareness to preserve the environment, because without it, there's nothing more special for the divers to see. Dive instructors and dive masters in Panglao Islang are trained to help preserve the environment by conducting reef clean-up days.

As well, the government and private sectors formed the Panglao Municipal Tourism Council ( PMTC) to professionally promote Panglao as a major tourist destination. Another group, the Foundation for Philippine Environment ( FPE) also gives its fair share to the environmental effort, developing the Bohol Marine Triangle Project ( BMTP) to protect marine ecosystems and resources in the three municipalities of Panglao, Baclayon and Dauis. These municipalities are known to contain diverse coral reef and mangrove ecosystems as well as a variety of large marine animals such as dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays.

The Alona Beach Foundation, the local government unit and the PMTC steadfastly support the project. Dive masters from the dive centers around the area pitch in by ensuring the proper maintenance of the marine protected areas and the improvement of the marine environment. A planned beach promenade and installation of proper lighting are expected to further beautify the beachfront. While a user’s fee scheme for divers is seen to provide funding for buoys and boats and allowances for coast rangers.

The PMTC, while supporting all these, intends to make Panglao a well-known vacation site for divers, families, island-hoppers, snorklers, honeymooners and cultural enthusiasts. Maintaining an island paradise like Panglao is not easy. There are obstacles to overcome and bad habits to break. But for its people, striving for a sustainable and healthy environment is a way of life.

Text by: Chared Q. Ballo
Photo's by: Mark Verschuur

Photo's from Bohol