Baclayon Church

Still on my Bohol trip, I present to you one of the oldest churches in the Philippines - Baclayon Church!



In 1717, Baclayon was finally created as the Parish of the Immaculate Concepcion and the present church totally finished in 1727. The parish acquired a big bell in 1835. Its antiquity is written in its high altar and upon the painting in the ceilings.



Beside the church is a museum that houses centuries-old religious relics and other antiquities. One can find a statue of the Blessed Virgin (said to be given by the Queen Catherine of Aragon),an ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking heavenward, relics of famous saints like St. Ignatius of Loyola, old vestments embroidered in gold thread, mass songs written in sheepskin and books with covers made of carabao skin.

With a monastery type building, the Baclayon church has an eerie dungeon reserved for natives who violated the Roman Catholics Laws - a concrete evidence of the extreme measures of discipline imposed upon the natives in order to suppress their supposedly pagan ways of living.



Baclayon Church background info courtesy of Bohol Tourism.

Chocolate Hills of Bohol

I was absent from making blog posts for a few days, all the while thinking what places have I been to that I haven't written about here. It was yesterday when I finally hit the jackpot! The clan attended the first birthday of a niece yesterday. We were laughing and talking about our most recent out-of-town trip - our Manila sojourn and our subsequent adventures - on to trips of the past years - to our adventures in Bohol. And so, I now present you ... the Chocolate Hills of Bohol!



Basic Facts

The Chocolate Hills is a rolling terrain of haycock hills — mounds of general shape which are conical and almost symmetrical. Estimated to be at least 1,268 individual mounds to about 1,776, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually grass-covered limestone hills. The large and numerous perfect domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 metres (98 to 160 ft) high with the largest being 120 metres (390 ft) in height. Aesthetically extensive, they are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol. Bohol's "main attraction", these unique mound-shaped hills are scattered by the thousands on the island's central plain, concentrated near the town of Carmen.

During the dry season, the precipitation is inadequate such that the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of "chocolate kisses". The branded confection is the inspiration behind the name, Chocolate Hills


The Legend

When giants live with mortals, a gentle giant fell in love with a beautiful village girl. Agoro, the giant was handsome and though a favorite among female giants, was also a loner. When everything and everybody sleeps, Arogo would sit by his favorite spot near the river to ponder or just watch the night pass by.

One night while Arogo was by his spot, he noticed a beautiful native girl with hair as black as the night by the river bank. He instantly fell in love with Aluya. After that night, Arogo would always wait by his place to take a glimpse at his beloved Aluya. A rumor reached Arogo that Aluya would soon marry a man her parents chose for her.

The night before Aluya's wedding, Agoro kidnapped Aluya. Seeing a giant, Aluya screamed, kicked and cried, but to no avail. Arogo was successful in abducting Aluya.

In the giant's cave, Arogo tried to give Aluya food and water but the girl kept on crying. Her sadness reached her heart that she died with tears in her eyes. Arogo buried her and kept his vigil. He cried for days and months. Giant tears fell to the ground. He cried a thousand years for the loss of his love.

After sometime, Arogo's tears hardened and became what we know today as Chocolate Hills. The Hills were witnesses of an unrequited love of the years go by.

The Fame



World-renowned. Cited as a Geological Movement of the country. Nominee for the New 7 Wonders of the World. With that fame, people from all over the world would come to see for themselves - and would hardly believe what their eyes are telling them. There is no way this awesome geological feature could ever be man-made!

That was my feeling even when we were still from afar, seeing only the tips of the hills on the horizon. As we went nearer, the clearer our view of the hills became. On both sides of the road and as far as your eyes can see, the famous Chocolate Hills struck us with awe. You know, there are probably a few times in your life that you'd feel humbled and amazed by the Creator's masterpieces. My up close encounter with Bohol's Chocolate Hills was one of them. It made me feel breathless!

One of the two highest hills has a viewing deck on top for tourists to view the grand panorama. However, before anyone could take in the wonderful view, one has to climb all 214 steps (used to be 213 but added one step to make it more romantic - 2/14, gets?) to the viewing deck. My aunt balked at the thought of too much physical exhortion and opted to wait at the bottom. meanwhile, I and my cousins even raced as to whoever could reached the top first. All went well at the start but a few moments later, we realized we were just tiring ourselves out foolishly - who could enjoy the magnificent view while panting our lungs out, right?



Many tourists were already at the viewing deck when we arrived at the top, slightly panting (Ok, fine! More like panting noisily, thanks to our mini race!). We took a picture of the bell - I forgot, though, what its significance was. If anyone could tell me, please do. Thanks!




PS. Another thing Bohol's Chocolate Hills is known for - a big heartbreak for all chocolate lovers worldwide! Even if you'd dig a hill through, you could never find chocolate - only limestone, dearies!

Bluewaters Beach Resort

Samal Island has always been a favorite place to hang out with for beach lovers. With its white sand and pristine waters, it's no wonder people from all over the country flock to this small island. Many beach resorts line its coast. One of which is Bluewaters Beach Resort.

The clan spent an overnight in this beach resort - frolicked at the beach, played water games at the pool, and lounged under coconut trees. What we liked about this place is the scenic location of their pool. Situated a few meters above sea level, one could swim in the pool while viewing the grand vista below. It was a pretty amazing that I and my uncle couldn't resist having our pictures taken.

Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village

Speaking of communing with nature, like visiting Eden Nature Park, I recalled visiting a similar place when I was still working in Cagayan de Oro City. I and Dennis had decided to go back to Davao City and work telecommute. So, it was like the last hurrah for us - enjoy and see CDO's sights before we leave the city. Supported by two of our close friends, Mhai-Mhai and Clyde, we went nature communing in Gardens of Malasag.

The information we gathered at this site enthralled us so much. However, to our disappointment, some facilities were already, shall I say, obsolete. These were not maintained and, thus, fell to deterioration. Nevertheless, the four of us were determined to enjoy the place regardless of its state. There were still nice spots. Hiking the acres-large establishment and absorbing the scenic views along the way, I'd say, we have conquered the Gardens of Malasag. *wink*




Some photos are taken from this site.

Eden Nature Park

The first time I've heard about Eden Nature Park was also the first time I visited this place. That was years ago, when my high school bestfriend had this venue for her 18th birthday celebration. The place was still quite raw then. A work in progress, an employee said. However, I could already see the makings of a fantastic place for those who enjoy Mother Nature.

I had visited the place twice since. Each time, new attractions were added. Each time, Eden Nature Park became more and more beautiful and enjoyable for me. Indeed, Eden Nature Park has established its reputation as one of Davao City's premier destinations for nature lovers, like me.

Eden Nature Park has a lot to offer for all ages - guided tour, hiking and trekking, camping, swimming, and fishing among others. The place also boasts of using farm-grown organic herbs and vegetables in their restaurant's fares. The flowers, trees and others plants also come from their garden and nurseries. They also have an animal sanctuary and scenic spots like ponds and waterfalls. For more information, visit their website. Pictures shown are courtesy of their site. (P.S. I'm berating myself for not bringing a cam each time I come to Eden!)

The Venue

Watch. Dance. Eat. Play. Where can you do all these in one place? The Venue!

Located beside Davao Central Bank, the Venue is a big factor why the city's residents changed their nightly habits. The party place as it's called, the Venue features a very large space for entertainment. The country's top comedy acts, bands, and solo artists are usually featured. When such live performances aren't offered, live bands play on stage for crowds to dance or simply listen to. Outside is a compound of cafés, bars, restaurants and other places to hang out. The usual crowds are a varied mix - from teens to yuppies to the more mature patrons. Dress code is anything goes. But as this is a party place and where you might just bump into someone interesting, it might be a good idea to don up your best rags! hehe

Photos courtesy of their site.

Davao Crocodile Park

Shame on me... Had it not been for friends from Cagayan de Oro wanting to see the sights of the city, I wouldn't have set foot on the new Crocodile Park. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Me, being a native Davaoeña at that!

Oh, well. There's a reason for that, see. I visited the park a long time ago and was dismayed by its conditions. It was called Crocodile Park - but a park it was not. It was more like a large backyard where the owners bred crocodiles. It was also like a so-so zoo where a number of different animals where caged and displayed. I thought back then, "So, this is it, huh? I'm never coming back to this place."

Years passed, news of the park's renovations and new attractions spread on to ears from far away. It was with this fame that my CDO friends egged us Davao locals to accompany them to the park. Though I was hesitant at first, I was soon caught up in their excitement to see the famous Pangil, the park's resident giant croc. And was I ever surprised! The place was transformed! Now, I can truly say, Davao Crocodile Park is a park! Lol!

We thoroughly enjoyed the place. The park was clean and the animal exhibits very orderly. The animal shows were fascinating as well as amusing (thanks to the playful orangutan, Vivian). The Crocodile Dance was quite frighteningly mesmerizing. I didn't think heavy, short-legged crocs could jump and lift its whole body out of the water to snap at the dangling dressed chicken! But it did! It was awesome. I wish I had taken a snapshot of that exact moment. Oh well, maybe next time.

For more information about the Davao Crocodile Park, do visit their site here. Picture credits to the Davao Crocodile Park site.

The Apo View Hotel

Nestled in the heart of Davao City's bustling metropolis is the imposing facade of the 10-floor city landmark. The Apo View Hotel is a first class hotel with world-class facilities - 159 guest rooms, ballrooms and conference rooms, business center, live-music lounge, discotheque, pool, casino, and spa services among others.

I got a chance to taste this hotel's luxurious amenities when my mother became a member of the Diamond Club. Armed with complimentary tickets, the family trooped inside our spacious room for a night's stay. We swam in the exclusive pool. What's nice about this experience was the view. Situated at almost mid-height of the building, we could see the busy streets below. It was specially made beautiful because it was nighttime and the city's lights were twinkling a different colors. After rinsing ourselves, we roamed the hallways and discovered where the casino, the restaurants and pubs are. We dined at the Top of the Apo, the hotel's restaurant, aptly named so as it was located at the topmost floor of the building. We dined on the scrumptious buffet offerings while gazing the city's nightscape. It was with satisfied smiles that we plodded back to our room. With the very inviting bed before us, we tried to delay the inevitable by watching the television and talking non-stop with each other. When we could no longer keep our heavy eyelids from closing, we laid down on super soft comforters and slept soundly. The morning after was again spent on roaming around the hotels grounds and facilities. We left the hotel before lunch. Short though the stay was, the experience was well worth it. It isn't everyday that common people like us could sample world-class service and surroundings.

Manila Ocean Park

A picture paints a thousand words... I'll give a you a few pictures for a few thousand words! Lol! What can I do? I simply feasted my eyes on the marine life exhibited on Manila Ocean Park, the Philippines' first state-of-the-art oceanarium.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel

I had a chance to be billeted in this premier hotel for two nights. Was the experience ever luxurious! With the exquisite furnishings, elaborate designs and the friendly staff, I felt like a star. Unconvinced? See for yourself!






To learn more about the hotel, its rates and packages, and reservations, check this out.

Reminiscing Camiguin

Who could forget such picturesque views? It was the summer of 2004 - my first ever trip to Camiguin. We filled our schedules with bathing at cold and hot springs, visits to the sunken cemetery, the old church, and plodding our way through all fourteen stations of the cross.

Oh! Did I forget to mention our trip to Katibawasan Falls? Yeah, the water was very cold but very invigorating. Our trip to White Island was somewhat so-so. We were a bit regretful we didn't bring our bathing suits! Lol! We'll have to go back and be ready the next time.