Feast of Sto. Niño. The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City became the center of attraction as Cebuanos and Catholic believers all over the country celebrated the feast of the miraculous Sto. Niño last January. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Monday, May 30, 2005
Photo: Cebu's Sto. Niño Church
Feast of Sto. Niño. The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City became the center of attraction as Cebuanos and Catholic believers all over the country celebrated the feast of the miraculous Sto. Niño last January. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Friday, May 27, 2005
News: Octopus Kills Teener
. CEBU CITY - A 13-year-old girl died while five others were hospitalized after they ate an octopus, locally known as "tabugok", for supper inside their house in this city.
Daisy Fernandez died at the Cebu City Medical Center due to the alleged food poisoning. Physicians at the government-owned hospital, however, said they still have not taken samples of the octopus to determine what caused the poison.
Confined at the hospital where the victim's brother Gerald, 9; grandparents Prema and Cayetano Abaño; uncle Rosillo Abaño; and a playmate who was not identified.
The victims began vomiting and feeling dizzy several minutes after eating the octopus.
The case of the symptoms was initially recorded as food poisoning as city hospital director, Dr. Myrna go, said it could be the preparation of the food or the tabugok itself.
The Fernandez kids, residents of Barangay Pasil visited their grandparents who reside in Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. It was there where they all took their supper.
Victoria Fernandez, the mother, said the tabugok was his father Cayetano's catch that day and it was the only viand the victims had eaten.
She suspected that the food was prepared without removing the head of the tabugok, which could have devoured a poisonous crab before this was caught.
Teresita Lazarte, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional laboratory chief, said the suspicion of Victoria is possible or it could be that the waters off Mambaling are already polluted.
Lazarte, howeer, assured the public there is no red tide in this area that could have caused the tabugok to be poisonous.
Lazarte said samples from the cooked Tabugok should be taken first and examined to determine the source of the food poisoning. #
by Mars W. Mosqueda
Frontpage of Tempo newspaper
Saturday, May 28, 2005 issue
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Article: 28 dead kids and a journalist
I was beating the day’s deadline when local radio stations flashed the breaking news on the afternoon of March 9, 2005. Twenty-seven schoolchildren died of food poisoning in the sleepy, quiet town of Mabini in Bohol Island, a town located more than three hours away from the island’s capital, Tagbilaran City.
As a journalist that has been looking for big stories that will place my byline at the front page of a national newspaper, my instinct told me it was the break that I have been waiting for – the unusually large number of fatalities and the victims involved, mostly children aged 7 to 12 years old, are headline-material.
After getting clearance from my editors, I immediately took the first sea trip to Bohol from Cebu the following morning, eager and excited to write the “big story”. “This is it,” I told myself, as I anticipated the news headline bearing my name the following day.
The ride was excruciating. The road was bumpy and dusty. It was as if the government has forgotten that Mabini town is still part of the Philippines, thus also needs infrastructure projects and road repairs like the other towns.
The car driver told me that the town has witnessed several bloody encounters between government troops and communist rebels the past years, resulting to deaths of soldiers and rebels - an evidence that the place was far away from civilization.
After nearly three hours of trudging the seemingly endless road, I knew I was already in barangay San Jose at the sight of several curious individuals, who were all pointing at the same direction, like they knew where I was heading even without asking them.
Barangay San Jose is a very quiet, poor, and laidback place. The air was unpolluted and refreshing, the site of trees and lush vegetations were new to someone like me, who has grown up in the city, and the people were so warm even in the midst of a tragedy. It was a pity that something so tragic had hit the place.
A resident brought me to the house of Armando Salaum, whose two kids, Anna Rose, 7, and Kevin, 11, died before reaching the hospital after eating cassava cake, which according to the Philippine Department of Health was accidentally mixed with pesticide.
As a journalist that has been looking for big stories that will place my byline at the front page of a national newspaper, my instinct told me it was the break that I have been waiting for – the unusually large number of fatalities and the victims involved, mostly children aged 7 to 12 years old, are headline-material.
After getting clearance from my editors, I immediately took the first sea trip to Bohol from Cebu the following morning, eager and excited to write the “big story”. “This is it,” I told myself, as I anticipated the news headline bearing my name the following day.
The ride was excruciating. The road was bumpy and dusty. It was as if the government has forgotten that Mabini town is still part of the Philippines, thus also needs infrastructure projects and road repairs like the other towns.
The car driver told me that the town has witnessed several bloody encounters between government troops and communist rebels the past years, resulting to deaths of soldiers and rebels - an evidence that the place was far away from civilization.
After nearly three hours of trudging the seemingly endless road, I knew I was already in barangay San Jose at the sight of several curious individuals, who were all pointing at the same direction, like they knew where I was heading even without asking them.
Barangay San Jose is a very quiet, poor, and laidback place. The air was unpolluted and refreshing, the site of trees and lush vegetations were new to someone like me, who has grown up in the city, and the people were so warm even in the midst of a tragedy. It was a pity that something so tragic had hit the place.
A resident brought me to the house of Armando Salaum, whose two kids, Anna Rose, 7, and Kevin, 11, died before reaching the hospital after eating cassava cake, which according to the Philippine Department of Health was accidentally mixed with pesticide.
“Are you from the Health Department sir?” Armando immediately asked me as soon as I entered his small hut. I didn’t see any appliances or furniture. Or any sign of the existence of electricity inside the hut. “I want my kids to be embalmed immediately because they are starting to emit odor,” the teary-eyed father said.
I was stunned when I saw the two young victims inside their makeshift coffins. Their faces were starting to discolor, bubbles continuously flowed from their mouth. It was already 24-hours since they died but they were still not embalmed.
Sitting next to the coffins were Armando and his wife Elvira, who was being comforted by her mother Evelyn. The two kids were their only children, said the grieving Armando, who answered my questions after I introduced myself as a journalist.
“I wasn’t able to give them money when they went to school but their schoolmates gave them the cassava cake that has the poison during recess,” the farmer father said, tears started flowing from his eyes, as he recalled how the two kids hugged and kissed him before going to school.
I was almost speechless when I saw Armando crying. I had prepared questions for the trip but I was at a lost that time that I cut the interview short, took some pictures, and decided to leave the hut.
Cries from nearby huts can be heard as I headed towards the small chapel where 12 of the 27 victims were brought for final burial rights. The grieving shouts of parents, mothers most especially, echoed inside the chapel. Others were hysterical, many lost consciousness.
The sight was heart breaking. Small coffins that belonged to innocent children were lined up near the chapel’s altar. Emotions filled the small place that I wasn’t able to hold my tears from flowing. It was a tragic scenery that hit me deep in my heart.
The following day, Manila Bulletin carried my story as its headline, but I had no reason to celebrate. The sight of small coffins inside the chapel, the deafening cries of parents, and the faces of Armando’s children were still fresh in my memory.
It was a coverage that I will surely never forget for the rest of my life. Now, I don’t care if my stories will not land at the front page of the newspaper anymore. I am even ready to give up my job, as long as there will be no more tragedies to take place, no more crime stories to write, and no more deaths of innocent children to cover. #
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Photo: Cebu's Sto. Niño Fluvial Parade
.Sto. Niño Fluvial Parade. Hundreds of sea vessels yesterday (Saturday) joined in the annual fluvial parade in celebration of the feast of Cebu's Sto. Niño. Photo shows the galleon boarded by the image of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Photo: Bohol Beach Club
Life's a beach. The clear blue sky meets the serene, pristine water at the Bohol Beach Club. White sands extend as far as the eye can see, as the cold afternoon breeze gently sways the visitor's worries away. A beach like this is a perfect getaway from the hassle of everyday living. (Photo by Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Article: Life's A Beach In Bohol
Bohol continues to fascinate international and domestic tourists with its rich cultural, natural, and historical wealth. It’s wonderful Chocolate Hills and amazing Tarsiers are among its best sellers. Add to that the centuries-old churches that line up its main roads and the extremely warm and hospitable Boholanos.
Another wealth that surrounds Bohol are the various beaches that boast of crystal clear turquoise waters, fine white sands that squeak when walked on, and resorts that offer world-class services.
So when I was looking for a good place to lazy around and vegetate while the coconut trees sway in the sun, Bohol’s beaches immediately conjured in my mind.
Bohol remains to be an island that strives for further development but maintains its natural, classic setting – trees line up its roads, hills are still green, less pollution, less trouble.
I’ve been to Bohol several times. But going to one of its world-class beach resorts was a new, exciting thing for me.
Even before coming close to the shores of Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, a showcase of terrain that is a magnificent landscape of rolling hills, rice fields, elongated sugary-white coastlines, and crystal clear sea waters greeted me along with the early-morning sun.
Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life - from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales - teem in the surrounding waters.
“Maajong Pag-abot!” (Welcome!) A Boholano’s version of greeting visitors and frequents hang in streamers as our boat docked in the newly constructed port of Tagbilaran. The friendly gestures of locals selling Kalamay and peanut kisses were as warm as the early morning sun.
A short bus-ride brought me to the island of Panglao, home of Bohol Beach Club, the only first class resort in the Island, a seaside sanctuary for beach lovers and scuba diving enthusiasts.
WHITE SANDS, CLEAR BLUE SKY
A lovely stretch of white sand guarded by the swaying palm trees caught my attention the first time I sat foot in Bohol Beach Club. The place was quiet, the cool wind was rushing back and forth, and tourists took naps in hammock along the shoreline.
The place is a world-class resort and mini park combined. Going to the different guest rooms of the resort brings one to a gathering of beautiful tall trees and various floras lining up the sidewalk. Songs from different kinds of birds, that make Bohol Beach Club their home, can be heard – it was like walking in a mini forest just a few meters away from the enticing seawater.
The resort, part of the Tambuli group of resorts, offers world-class amenities and more than 60 guest rooms that surpass international standards. And just recently, Bohol Beach Club inaugurates its conference hall that is actually the biggest in Panglao Island.
AMENITIES
After taking a dip at the crystal clear, blue water of the resort, my curious feet brought me to the enticing swimming pool. I’m actually not a good swimmer but the water was so inviting that I ended up splashing into the pool.
Life on Bohol Beach Club is not confined to the beach. It also has facilities that include a pool bar, beach bar, restaurant, swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, scuba diving, glass bottom boat, tennis court, billards, darts, chess, table tennis and backgammon.
The restaurant overlooking the sea also serves sumptuous Filipino cuisine that will surely tickle your senses and fill your tummy. Seafood, straight from the sea, is heavenly to taste!
A day was not enough to enjoy nature at it’s fullest in Bohol but I have to go home and get back to the hassle of everyday work. While the bus rushes to the Tagbilaran port, my mind plays the images it gathered from my short stay at the Bohol Beach Club.
Indeed, life’s a beach in Bohol, and Bohol Beach Club offers an ideal escape from the hassle and dazzle of civilization. #
@ Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Manila Bulletin
Another wealth that surrounds Bohol are the various beaches that boast of crystal clear turquoise waters, fine white sands that squeak when walked on, and resorts that offer world-class services.
So when I was looking for a good place to lazy around and vegetate while the coconut trees sway in the sun, Bohol’s beaches immediately conjured in my mind.
Bohol remains to be an island that strives for further development but maintains its natural, classic setting – trees line up its roads, hills are still green, less pollution, less trouble.
I’ve been to Bohol several times. But going to one of its world-class beach resorts was a new, exciting thing for me.
Even before coming close to the shores of Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, a showcase of terrain that is a magnificent landscape of rolling hills, rice fields, elongated sugary-white coastlines, and crystal clear sea waters greeted me along with the early-morning sun.
Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life - from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales - teem in the surrounding waters.
“Maajong Pag-abot!” (Welcome!) A Boholano’s version of greeting visitors and frequents hang in streamers as our boat docked in the newly constructed port of Tagbilaran. The friendly gestures of locals selling Kalamay and peanut kisses were as warm as the early morning sun.
A short bus-ride brought me to the island of Panglao, home of Bohol Beach Club, the only first class resort in the Island, a seaside sanctuary for beach lovers and scuba diving enthusiasts.
WHITE SANDS, CLEAR BLUE SKY
A lovely stretch of white sand guarded by the swaying palm trees caught my attention the first time I sat foot in Bohol Beach Club. The place was quiet, the cool wind was rushing back and forth, and tourists took naps in hammock along the shoreline.
The place is a world-class resort and mini park combined. Going to the different guest rooms of the resort brings one to a gathering of beautiful tall trees and various floras lining up the sidewalk. Songs from different kinds of birds, that make Bohol Beach Club their home, can be heard – it was like walking in a mini forest just a few meters away from the enticing seawater.
The resort, part of the Tambuli group of resorts, offers world-class amenities and more than 60 guest rooms that surpass international standards. And just recently, Bohol Beach Club inaugurates its conference hall that is actually the biggest in Panglao Island.
AMENITIES
After taking a dip at the crystal clear, blue water of the resort, my curious feet brought me to the enticing swimming pool. I’m actually not a good swimmer but the water was so inviting that I ended up splashing into the pool.
Life on Bohol Beach Club is not confined to the beach. It also has facilities that include a pool bar, beach bar, restaurant, swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, scuba diving, glass bottom boat, tennis court, billards, darts, chess, table tennis and backgammon.
The restaurant overlooking the sea also serves sumptuous Filipino cuisine that will surely tickle your senses and fill your tummy. Seafood, straight from the sea, is heavenly to taste!
A day was not enough to enjoy nature at it’s fullest in Bohol but I have to go home and get back to the hassle of everyday work. While the bus rushes to the Tagbilaran port, my mind plays the images it gathered from my short stay at the Bohol Beach Club.
Indeed, life’s a beach in Bohol, and Bohol Beach Club offers an ideal escape from the hassle and dazzle of civilization. #
@ Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Manila Bulletin
Friday, May 20, 2005
Article: Golf with a View in Cebu
Cebu is the traveler’s fantasy of a tropical island come true - balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living. The island-province of Cebu was where the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521. But even before Cebu became the Occidental gateway to the Orient, it was already a popular entry point among Asian merchants.
From a small fishing village and trading port, Cebu has grown into a highly urbanized metropolitan area while retaining its stature since the Spanish colonial times as the center of trade and commerce in Souther Philippines. Cebu has since transformed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location.
Metropolitan Cebu, the country’s second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist’s whim.
"Cebu is strategically located at the center of the Visayas Region. When you come to Cebu, you can also visit neighboring islands in just a matter of hours," said Patricia Roa, the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism.
Cebu also takes pride in having the country’s oldest colonial city, Cebu City. Many landmarks attest to the richness of its history. On April 14, 1521, Spanish voyager Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross to mark the spot where some 800 natives - led by Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana - were baptized into the Catholic faith. The original cross is now encased in a hallow hardwood cross and can be found in a roofed kiosk along Magallanes Street.
Cebu's accessibility, its reputation for excellenct peace and order, and the fact that is houses most of the best beach resorts in the country, makes it a primary destination of more than 40 percent of foreign tourists who visit the Philippines.
Cebu's attractions, however, do not only cater to the itinerant beach lovers. For the sightseers, Cebu's tourist spots are abundant. The cityscapes also have their own brand of cosmopolitan charm, touched with unique island warmth. There are luxurious hotel accommodations, complete sports facilities, cuisine, from native to exotic and a vibrant nightlife.
As Cebu is home to the two greatest Asian golfers, Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot, it's no accident that several excellent championship courses have been located around the the area.
The first golf course, Cebu Country Club, was organised in 1935 but it wasn't until 1948 that the first country club facilities were constructed on a rural farm site near the edge of a then quiet country town. Now boasting of an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course, Cebu Country Club hosts several national golf tournaments every year. It's reputation as a world-class golf course, with white sand traps that are furnished with coral rock, situated in the city's premier business district also adds to the club's flavor.
Carved out of the verdant hills of Pardo in Cebu City, another championship golf course, the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, follows the natural terrain and beauty of this breathtaking hilltop recluse from the world. Golf aficionados, nature-lovers, and family members will fancy the surrounding view of the city, birds-crowned hills, the blue waters of the Cebu Straits and the isles of Mactan and Bohol that lurk beyond.
The golf course-cum-recreational center features a par 72, 18-hole championship golf course, a multi-function clubhouse, two covered tennis courts, a covered basketball court, covered squash court/badminton court, 8-lane tenpin bowling alley, swimming pools (adult/children), a gym (men/women), table tennis, and fine-dining restaurants among others.
Designed by the Black Knight Desing Company, the same designer of The Legacy Course of The Orchard in Manila, Alta Vista features challenges which include several tee mounds for different player levels, carefully-made sandtraps, sparkling lakes and waterfalls --- all of which do not just pose obstacles, but more importantly, become sources of inspiration.
Just a little further but worth the visit is Verdemar Golf & Dive Resort in Bogo, Cebu -- a quiet town located on the northern tip of the Island of Cebu. Although the golf course is exclusive to members, tourists and guests are allowed to putt into Verdemar's greens and have the opportunity to meet very interesting people.
Verdemar features a golf course that offers a true test of skill for golfer. The meticulously maintained par 71 is extremely challenging due to the distances including the challenge in teeing off over five natural creeks. The golf course is nestled on a 120-hectare oasis and is surrounded by mango trees and tropical plants, white beaches, and the South China Sea. The several creeks and well-manicured greens add to the pleasurable golf experience.
“The entire property is really spectacular. Their golf course is truly one of the best golf courses that I’ve visited in the Philippines,” remarked Bill Benedict, chief operating officer of SMARTWEB Philippines.
The club house and facilities are welcoming and allow golfers to enjoy the tranquil surroundings. With fantastic sea views during the day and loverly sunsets at night. The club is currently planning several expansions to accommodate golfers who seek pleasure and leisure in a quiet place.
On the opposite side lies Badian Island, a little sleepy island that houses the Cebu International Golf and Resort, an 18-hole, par 72 golf course set amid a majestice landscapre, where rolling hills meet the "dolphin habitat" Tañon Straight.
Cebu International Golf and Resort is considered as a "hideaway"-tropical gem built on the lagoon side of the island of Badian, in eight hectares of lush landscaped gardens.
Indeed, whoever said that the best golf courses in the Philippines are only found in the capital Manila has never been to Cebu. #
Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Pargolf Magazine, Malaysia
November, 2004
From a small fishing village and trading port, Cebu has grown into a highly urbanized metropolitan area while retaining its stature since the Spanish colonial times as the center of trade and commerce in Souther Philippines. Cebu has since transformed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location.
Metropolitan Cebu, the country’s second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist’s whim.
"Cebu is strategically located at the center of the Visayas Region. When you come to Cebu, you can also visit neighboring islands in just a matter of hours," said Patricia Roa, the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism.
Cebu also takes pride in having the country’s oldest colonial city, Cebu City. Many landmarks attest to the richness of its history. On April 14, 1521, Spanish voyager Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross to mark the spot where some 800 natives - led by Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana - were baptized into the Catholic faith. The original cross is now encased in a hallow hardwood cross and can be found in a roofed kiosk along Magallanes Street.
Cebu's accessibility, its reputation for excellenct peace and order, and the fact that is houses most of the best beach resorts in the country, makes it a primary destination of more than 40 percent of foreign tourists who visit the Philippines.
Cebu's attractions, however, do not only cater to the itinerant beach lovers. For the sightseers, Cebu's tourist spots are abundant. The cityscapes also have their own brand of cosmopolitan charm, touched with unique island warmth. There are luxurious hotel accommodations, complete sports facilities, cuisine, from native to exotic and a vibrant nightlife.
As Cebu is home to the two greatest Asian golfers, Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot, it's no accident that several excellent championship courses have been located around the the area.
The first golf course, Cebu Country Club, was organised in 1935 but it wasn't until 1948 that the first country club facilities were constructed on a rural farm site near the edge of a then quiet country town. Now boasting of an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course, Cebu Country Club hosts several national golf tournaments every year. It's reputation as a world-class golf course, with white sand traps that are furnished with coral rock, situated in the city's premier business district also adds to the club's flavor.
Carved out of the verdant hills of Pardo in Cebu City, another championship golf course, the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, follows the natural terrain and beauty of this breathtaking hilltop recluse from the world. Golf aficionados, nature-lovers, and family members will fancy the surrounding view of the city, birds-crowned hills, the blue waters of the Cebu Straits and the isles of Mactan and Bohol that lurk beyond.
The golf course-cum-recreational center features a par 72, 18-hole championship golf course, a multi-function clubhouse, two covered tennis courts, a covered basketball court, covered squash court/badminton court, 8-lane tenpin bowling alley, swimming pools (adult/children), a gym (men/women), table tennis, and fine-dining restaurants among others.
Designed by the Black Knight Desing Company, the same designer of The Legacy Course of The Orchard in Manila, Alta Vista features challenges which include several tee mounds for different player levels, carefully-made sandtraps, sparkling lakes and waterfalls --- all of which do not just pose obstacles, but more importantly, become sources of inspiration.
Just a little further but worth the visit is Verdemar Golf & Dive Resort in Bogo, Cebu -- a quiet town located on the northern tip of the Island of Cebu. Although the golf course is exclusive to members, tourists and guests are allowed to putt into Verdemar's greens and have the opportunity to meet very interesting people.
Verdemar features a golf course that offers a true test of skill for golfer. The meticulously maintained par 71 is extremely challenging due to the distances including the challenge in teeing off over five natural creeks. The golf course is nestled on a 120-hectare oasis and is surrounded by mango trees and tropical plants, white beaches, and the South China Sea. The several creeks and well-manicured greens add to the pleasurable golf experience.
“The entire property is really spectacular. Their golf course is truly one of the best golf courses that I’ve visited in the Philippines,” remarked Bill Benedict, chief operating officer of SMARTWEB Philippines.
The club house and facilities are welcoming and allow golfers to enjoy the tranquil surroundings. With fantastic sea views during the day and loverly sunsets at night. The club is currently planning several expansions to accommodate golfers who seek pleasure and leisure in a quiet place.
On the opposite side lies Badian Island, a little sleepy island that houses the Cebu International Golf and Resort, an 18-hole, par 72 golf course set amid a majestice landscapre, where rolling hills meet the "dolphin habitat" Tañon Straight.
Cebu International Golf and Resort is considered as a "hideaway"-tropical gem built on the lagoon side of the island of Badian, in eight hectares of lush landscaped gardens.
Indeed, whoever said that the best golf courses in the Philippines are only found in the capital Manila has never been to Cebu. #
Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Pargolf Magazine, Malaysia
November, 2004
Photo: Vigilante Victim
Criminals in Cebu. Despite the series of kilings allegedly initiated by a vigilante group against suspected criminals, police here said various petty criminals from the different areas in the country are now in Cebu to victimize the public during the Sinulog festival. Photo shows the body of Henry Milagrosa, alias Boy Tigre, one of the victims of the alleged vigilante group. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Article: Lucky Strike
Entering one of the 13 government-owned casinos in the Philippines is akin to entering an entertainment center, leisure spot, and a fun area gathered into one. Add to that the good view of Taal volcano and white sand beaches in Olongapo City.
“We are not considered Asia’s friendliest casino for nothing,” said Jojo Bautista, senior marketing officer of Casino Filipino in Cebu City, one of the 13 casinos operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
With PAGCOR’s commitment to continuously operate and build new casinos with modern amenities, unique attractions, and enticing packages, more domestic and foreign gamers are trooping to the country’s casinos, which boast thousands of gaming tables that cater to tourists, including families with kids in tow.
FUN GAMES
While gambling has always been the primary business of a casino, Mr. Bautista revealed that they have shifted their focus into providing entertainment (ie: nightly band performance or monthly concerts and shows).
“Gaming sounds more acceptable, more sporty and fun. This is how gaming should be like – they should not call it gambling anymore,” he added.
PAGCOR has teamed up with five-star hotels (most of the casinos are to be found here) to provide promotional packages for guests. The Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, for instance, has vouchers worth US$4 for a game at the casino or 10 percent discount on the Pop Pera (bingo type card game) for their hotel guests.
Frequent patrons of Casino Filipino on Mactan Island have the High Roller promo for game discounts etc.
“These types of promotions bring patrons back to the different casinos in the country,” Mr. Bautista stressed.
Apparently, the staff’s hospitable demeanor is another pull factor for the casinos.
“I have always been fascinated with the Filipino’s hospitality inside their casinos. The people are so warm and the staff is all smiling,” observed Adrian Benedict, a frequent visitor to the casinos in isle.
YOUR TYPE OF CASINO
Casino Filipino in Olongapo is for casino-goers that also love a bit of adventure and nature. Apart from casino games, there is a plentitude of leisure spots and majestic destinations. The 681 sq. meters Casino Filipino at the Taal Vista Hotel features 150 slot machines plus a stunning view of Taal Volcano.
At the newly renovated Casino Filipino Heritage in Pasay City, slot machines have been placed in a “cosier” venue and Super Six gaming tables, owing to the growing number of its avid players.
Meanwhile, at the Casino Filipino in Cebu City, everything is there from casino to bank facilities including ATM machines.
And yes, you can even engage in a game of chance in war-torn Mindanao at the Casino Filipino Davao at the posh Mercure Grand Hotel – the only casino in this part of the country. Casino operations admittedly have been greatly affected with the ongoing “insurgency problem. But we have immediately recovered,” stated Annalyn Villanueva, PACGOR”s information officer.
The all-time favorite casino in the country is the 3,342 sq. meter Casino Filipino at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion Hotel.
“The Casino Filipino at the Manila Pavilion provides more gaming tables, more entertainment shows, and a lot of surprises and promotions for their guests. It is also located at the heart of the country’s capital,” said Ms. Villanueva.
You can take a chance at the Pavilion’s 105 gaming tables offering baccarat, blackjack, roulette, piagaw, and craps – or try your luck at its 518 slot machines. If lady luck has left your side, your “donation” to the casino’s coffers will find its way to the regular outreach programs to poor communities engaging in health and sports activities.
Indeed, casinos in the Philippines mirror PAGCOR’s goal of providing the highest quality of service, catering to the different needs of casino gamers.
“Our very desire is to put the needs of guests at the prime,” Mr. Bautista emphasized. “We always aim to equal or even surpass the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas’ famous casinos. We are almost there!” #
Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Frequent Traveller Magazine, Singapore
June 2003
“We are not considered Asia’s friendliest casino for nothing,” said Jojo Bautista, senior marketing officer of Casino Filipino in Cebu City, one of the 13 casinos operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
With PAGCOR’s commitment to continuously operate and build new casinos with modern amenities, unique attractions, and enticing packages, more domestic and foreign gamers are trooping to the country’s casinos, which boast thousands of gaming tables that cater to tourists, including families with kids in tow.
FUN GAMES
While gambling has always been the primary business of a casino, Mr. Bautista revealed that they have shifted their focus into providing entertainment (ie: nightly band performance or monthly concerts and shows).
“Gaming sounds more acceptable, more sporty and fun. This is how gaming should be like – they should not call it gambling anymore,” he added.
PAGCOR has teamed up with five-star hotels (most of the casinos are to be found here) to provide promotional packages for guests. The Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, for instance, has vouchers worth US$4 for a game at the casino or 10 percent discount on the Pop Pera (bingo type card game) for their hotel guests.
Frequent patrons of Casino Filipino on Mactan Island have the High Roller promo for game discounts etc.
“These types of promotions bring patrons back to the different casinos in the country,” Mr. Bautista stressed.
Apparently, the staff’s hospitable demeanor is another pull factor for the casinos.
“I have always been fascinated with the Filipino’s hospitality inside their casinos. The people are so warm and the staff is all smiling,” observed Adrian Benedict, a frequent visitor to the casinos in isle.
YOUR TYPE OF CASINO
Casino Filipino in Olongapo is for casino-goers that also love a bit of adventure and nature. Apart from casino games, there is a plentitude of leisure spots and majestic destinations. The 681 sq. meters Casino Filipino at the Taal Vista Hotel features 150 slot machines plus a stunning view of Taal Volcano.
At the newly renovated Casino Filipino Heritage in Pasay City, slot machines have been placed in a “cosier” venue and Super Six gaming tables, owing to the growing number of its avid players.
Meanwhile, at the Casino Filipino in Cebu City, everything is there from casino to bank facilities including ATM machines.
And yes, you can even engage in a game of chance in war-torn Mindanao at the Casino Filipino Davao at the posh Mercure Grand Hotel – the only casino in this part of the country. Casino operations admittedly have been greatly affected with the ongoing “insurgency problem. But we have immediately recovered,” stated Annalyn Villanueva, PACGOR”s information officer.
The all-time favorite casino in the country is the 3,342 sq. meter Casino Filipino at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion Hotel.
“The Casino Filipino at the Manila Pavilion provides more gaming tables, more entertainment shows, and a lot of surprises and promotions for their guests. It is also located at the heart of the country’s capital,” said Ms. Villanueva.
You can take a chance at the Pavilion’s 105 gaming tables offering baccarat, blackjack, roulette, piagaw, and craps – or try your luck at its 518 slot machines. If lady luck has left your side, your “donation” to the casino’s coffers will find its way to the regular outreach programs to poor communities engaging in health and sports activities.
Indeed, casinos in the Philippines mirror PAGCOR’s goal of providing the highest quality of service, catering to the different needs of casino gamers.
“Our very desire is to put the needs of guests at the prime,” Mr. Bautista emphasized. “We always aim to equal or even surpass the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas’ famous casinos. We are almost there!” #
Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Frequent Traveller Magazine, Singapore
June 2003
Photo: Philippine Tarsier
Tarsier Man Carlito Pizzaras checks out one of the tarsiers inside the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol. (Photo by Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Article: Upclose with the Philippine Tarsiers
Although it was still sleeping time, seven-year-old Datu Charles moved down slowly from the branches as we were approaching his territorial domain inside the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary one rainy afternoon. Still clinging to a much larger branch, he moved his head almost 360 degrees to the right with eyes open wide, as if he was checking the faces of his unexpected visitors.
Tarsiers, like Datu Charles, are known to be solitary animals that are not comfortable with the presence of human beings or any other animals within their territories. But when Datu Charles saw his master Carlito Pizarras, a diminutive 49-year-old with dark eyes and a quick grin internationally known as the Tarsier Man, he blinked his huge eyes several times and willingly allowed us to touch his head.
Datu Charles, the tarsier named after and who made the acquaintance of the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, during the royalty's visit to the Philippines, is just one of the few tarsiers (an endangered prehistoric primate that looks like a cross between E.T. and a koala the size of an apple) who have found a safer home inside the sanctuary. With a huge area of more than 167 hectares, the sanctuary houses more than a hundred tarsiers and other wildlife animals.
But while the sanctuary aims to protect and preserve the endangered tarsiers, threats against the animal remain. Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming in the different parts of the country continue to destroy the tarsier's habitat. At present, only a few Philippine tarsier can still be found in Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao and is variously known to the natives as mamag, mago, magau, maomag, malmag and magatilok-iok.
"Unless the government strongly and religiously implements the law that protects the endangered animals, the tarsiers will be gone in few years' time," said Pizarras, who is also the sanctuary's field supervisor.
Pizarras, whose fascination to the tarsiers started when he was still 12, also stressed that the government's inaction against several families in Loboc town who hold tarsiers in cages as pets and make them perform like apes, have led to the death of several tarsiers.
Indeed, ignorance and greed of human beings have led to the massive destruction of what is touted today as the smallest primate. And while the government has adopted and approved laws that would protect endangered species, like the Philippine tarsiers, implementation of the said laws remains a problem.
SOME BASIC FACTS
Before reaching the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in the quiet town of Corella in Bohol, I was still of the impression that tarsiers, because of their appearance and lifestyle, are monkeys. I remembered my high school zoology teacher calling the tarsier as the smallest monkey in the world. But it is not a monkey, according to researchers and scientists.
Some say it should be classed as prosimians like lemurs, lorises and bush babies, an older (or "lower") order of primates that could date back 55 million years. Other researchers think the tarsier, whose name "tarsier/tarsius" is derived from its very long anklebones, is part of a more recent (or "higher") order of primates, like monkeys and humans.
But for Pizarras, who has spent more than half of his lifetime taking care of the animal, the tarsiers are unique creations with unique characteristics and lifestyle. With grayish brown fur and a nearly naked tail, the animals rarely grow to more than half a foot long. They are nimble climbers in the trees and hop like tiny kangaroos on the ground. They can leap as far as 10 feet (about 20 times their body length) to flee predators. Their huge eyes allow them to see well at night, when they hunt for crickets, beetles, termites and other creatures.
Tarsiers are not social creatures who are always willing and eager to have photo sessions with humans. Although looking cute and cuddly, the tarsier is an extremely nervous creature, instantly upset by unwanted intrusions. They live in territories where no other tarsier can enter; else a fight could ensue leading to one's death.
Another unique characteristic of the tarsiers is its mating style, said Pizarras. During mating season, male tarsiers produce a unique sound which signifies that they are welcoming female tarsiers into their territory. Female tarsiers then troop to the male tarsier's territory and leave their urine on the branches or trees. After making his choice by sniffing the female tarsier's urine, the male tarsier then calls back the female tarsier that he wants to mate. After mating, the male tarsier then shoo the female tarsier away from his territory.
The tarsier, whose pregnancy lasts for about six months, gives birth to only one offspring each year. A newborn tarsier can already cling to branches after another six months, the baby tarsier is weaned from the mother. Tarsier fathers don't care about their offspring, Pizarras said.
Pizarras said that keeping the tarsier as a pet shortened its lifespan drastically. He said visitors to some places in Bohol who had the chance to hold and pet the tarsier and be photographed with them probably thought they were the same animals others before them have seen.
In fact, Pizarras said, handlers of those "show" tarsiers had to replace their animals so often because the frequent encounters with humans greatly stressed the primates, leading to their deaths.
The tarsiers also have suicidal tendencies when they are locked up in cages or compressed places, I was told. They bang their head into their cages until they die or they refuse to eat the food given by their owners.
SAVING THE TARSIERS
The decreasing number of tarsiers in the Philippines is very alarming. With less than 1,000 tarsiers scattered around the country, the animal, listed as endangered by the World Wildlife Foundation, may soon be extinct. The tarsiers are becoming fewer but only a few seems to care.
In the early 60's, Pizzaras said one can see tarsiers everywhere, even on streets and highways. Pizarras, who was then a teenager, could not stop his neighbors from trapping the tarsiers. It wasn’t even against the law. But when people came to the little store he ran in front of his house, he tried to bluff them by concocting wildlife protection laws before they existed.
Finally, in 1996, inspired by the hardwork and perseverance of Pizarras, a group of prominent Bohol residents joined together to help save the animal that made their island distinctive. With the support of the national government, they established the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, the protector of Bohol’s living jewels - the tarsiers.
The foundation opened its office in Bohol´s capital of Tagbilaran in September 1997 and hired Pizarras as a field officer. The group has since established a research center and a protected breeding area in the jungles of Corella, not far from Pizarras´ house. In the past few years, due in part to the foundation’s work, the tarsier has found its way into the Philippines´ national consciousness. On the same year, President Fidel V. Ramos declared the tarsier as a protected species. But while the tarsiers have found a safe home inside the sanctuary, they might soon lose the man who has been taking care of them for years due to financial woes. According to Pizarras, he might soon be forced to abandon his job as field officer of the sanctuary since he has not been receiving financial support from the government and other concerned agencies.
“The government has been inviting foreigners to visit the sanctuary but it has not supported us financially,” Pizarras lamented. “They (government officials) are proud of what the sanctuary has done but they have not done their part.”
Concerned government agencies also seem to close their eyes on what is taking place in Loboc town where tarsiers are considered as pets and tourist attraction, Pizarras added. The tiny animal, declared by The World Conservation Union as "vulnerable and threatened by habitat destruction and hunting," can hardly live in captivity as a pet.
“Tarsiers are often misunderstood animals. The ignorance of man has lead to the significant decrease of the tarsier’s population. Without the government’s and the people’s support, this endangered specie will surely be gone in few years,” Pizarras said before we parted ways on my way home.
While trudging the 400-meter road from the sanctuary to the main highway of Corella, images of my encounter with the smallest primate in the world conjured in my mind. Will my future kids ever see this unique creature? Will the government sharpen its claws against those who are endangering the lives of tarsiers and other endangered animals?
Indeed, endangered animals, like tarsiers, are animal species that need our attention. They are having difficulty staying alive in their natural environments because of man’s meddling ignorance. Unless we take appropriate action now to help these animals, many of them will become just mere pictures on animal books - extinct, gone forever. #
Tarsiers, like Datu Charles, are known to be solitary animals that are not comfortable with the presence of human beings or any other animals within their territories. But when Datu Charles saw his master Carlito Pizarras, a diminutive 49-year-old with dark eyes and a quick grin internationally known as the Tarsier Man, he blinked his huge eyes several times and willingly allowed us to touch his head.
Datu Charles, the tarsier named after and who made the acquaintance of the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, during the royalty's visit to the Philippines, is just one of the few tarsiers (an endangered prehistoric primate that looks like a cross between E.T. and a koala the size of an apple) who have found a safer home inside the sanctuary. With a huge area of more than 167 hectares, the sanctuary houses more than a hundred tarsiers and other wildlife animals.
But while the sanctuary aims to protect and preserve the endangered tarsiers, threats against the animal remain. Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming in the different parts of the country continue to destroy the tarsier's habitat. At present, only a few Philippine tarsier can still be found in Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao and is variously known to the natives as mamag, mago, magau, maomag, malmag and magatilok-iok.
"Unless the government strongly and religiously implements the law that protects the endangered animals, the tarsiers will be gone in few years' time," said Pizarras, who is also the sanctuary's field supervisor.
Pizarras, whose fascination to the tarsiers started when he was still 12, also stressed that the government's inaction against several families in Loboc town who hold tarsiers in cages as pets and make them perform like apes, have led to the death of several tarsiers.
Indeed, ignorance and greed of human beings have led to the massive destruction of what is touted today as the smallest primate. And while the government has adopted and approved laws that would protect endangered species, like the Philippine tarsiers, implementation of the said laws remains a problem.
SOME BASIC FACTS
Before reaching the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in the quiet town of Corella in Bohol, I was still of the impression that tarsiers, because of their appearance and lifestyle, are monkeys. I remembered my high school zoology teacher calling the tarsier as the smallest monkey in the world. But it is not a monkey, according to researchers and scientists.
Some say it should be classed as prosimians like lemurs, lorises and bush babies, an older (or "lower") order of primates that could date back 55 million years. Other researchers think the tarsier, whose name "tarsier/tarsius" is derived from its very long anklebones, is part of a more recent (or "higher") order of primates, like monkeys and humans.
But for Pizarras, who has spent more than half of his lifetime taking care of the animal, the tarsiers are unique creations with unique characteristics and lifestyle. With grayish brown fur and a nearly naked tail, the animals rarely grow to more than half a foot long. They are nimble climbers in the trees and hop like tiny kangaroos on the ground. They can leap as far as 10 feet (about 20 times their body length) to flee predators. Their huge eyes allow them to see well at night, when they hunt for crickets, beetles, termites and other creatures.
Tarsiers are not social creatures who are always willing and eager to have photo sessions with humans. Although looking cute and cuddly, the tarsier is an extremely nervous creature, instantly upset by unwanted intrusions. They live in territories where no other tarsier can enter; else a fight could ensue leading to one's death.
Another unique characteristic of the tarsiers is its mating style, said Pizarras. During mating season, male tarsiers produce a unique sound which signifies that they are welcoming female tarsiers into their territory. Female tarsiers then troop to the male tarsier's territory and leave their urine on the branches or trees. After making his choice by sniffing the female tarsier's urine, the male tarsier then calls back the female tarsier that he wants to mate. After mating, the male tarsier then shoo the female tarsier away from his territory.
The tarsier, whose pregnancy lasts for about six months, gives birth to only one offspring each year. A newborn tarsier can already cling to branches after another six months, the baby tarsier is weaned from the mother. Tarsier fathers don't care about their offspring, Pizarras said.
Pizarras said that keeping the tarsier as a pet shortened its lifespan drastically. He said visitors to some places in Bohol who had the chance to hold and pet the tarsier and be photographed with them probably thought they were the same animals others before them have seen.
In fact, Pizarras said, handlers of those "show" tarsiers had to replace their animals so often because the frequent encounters with humans greatly stressed the primates, leading to their deaths.
The tarsiers also have suicidal tendencies when they are locked up in cages or compressed places, I was told. They bang their head into their cages until they die or they refuse to eat the food given by their owners.
SAVING THE TARSIERS
The decreasing number of tarsiers in the Philippines is very alarming. With less than 1,000 tarsiers scattered around the country, the animal, listed as endangered by the World Wildlife Foundation, may soon be extinct. The tarsiers are becoming fewer but only a few seems to care.
In the early 60's, Pizzaras said one can see tarsiers everywhere, even on streets and highways. Pizarras, who was then a teenager, could not stop his neighbors from trapping the tarsiers. It wasn’t even against the law. But when people came to the little store he ran in front of his house, he tried to bluff them by concocting wildlife protection laws before they existed.
Finally, in 1996, inspired by the hardwork and perseverance of Pizarras, a group of prominent Bohol residents joined together to help save the animal that made their island distinctive. With the support of the national government, they established the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, the protector of Bohol’s living jewels - the tarsiers.
The foundation opened its office in Bohol´s capital of Tagbilaran in September 1997 and hired Pizarras as a field officer. The group has since established a research center and a protected breeding area in the jungles of Corella, not far from Pizarras´ house. In the past few years, due in part to the foundation’s work, the tarsier has found its way into the Philippines´ national consciousness. On the same year, President Fidel V. Ramos declared the tarsier as a protected species. But while the tarsiers have found a safe home inside the sanctuary, they might soon lose the man who has been taking care of them for years due to financial woes. According to Pizarras, he might soon be forced to abandon his job as field officer of the sanctuary since he has not been receiving financial support from the government and other concerned agencies.
“The government has been inviting foreigners to visit the sanctuary but it has not supported us financially,” Pizarras lamented. “They (government officials) are proud of what the sanctuary has done but they have not done their part.”
Concerned government agencies also seem to close their eyes on what is taking place in Loboc town where tarsiers are considered as pets and tourist attraction, Pizarras added. The tiny animal, declared by The World Conservation Union as "vulnerable and threatened by habitat destruction and hunting," can hardly live in captivity as a pet.
“Tarsiers are often misunderstood animals. The ignorance of man has lead to the significant decrease of the tarsier’s population. Without the government’s and the people’s support, this endangered specie will surely be gone in few years,” Pizarras said before we parted ways on my way home.
While trudging the 400-meter road from the sanctuary to the main highway of Corella, images of my encounter with the smallest primate in the world conjured in my mind. Will my future kids ever see this unique creature? Will the government sharpen its claws against those who are endangering the lives of tarsiers and other endangered animals?
Indeed, endangered animals, like tarsiers, are animal species that need our attention. They are having difficulty staying alive in their natural environments because of man’s meddling ignorance. Unless we take appropriate action now to help these animals, many of them will become just mere pictures on animal books - extinct, gone forever. #
Photo: Fisherman's Lunch
While waiting for fish to bite his hook, a fisherman helps himself with a serving of pork adobo and rice for lunch. The fisherman, who was fishing at the South Reclamation Area in Cebu City, said after several days of eating fish, it feels good to eat pork sometimes. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
Article: Cebu, Southern Retreat
Cebu is the primary destination of approximately 30 to 40 percent of foreign tourists who visit the Philippines. It is the best beach-oriented tourist destination in the archipelago with an excellent peace and order track record. Its beach resorts are accessible and characterized by white sands, crystal clear waters, and cool sea breezes.
THE NEWEST HAUNT
Cebu’s newest tourist destination is Casa Del Mar Golf & Dive Resort located in the northwest part of Cebu, in the charming town of San Remigio. It’s about 99 minutes away from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA). The spectacular views of the Tañon Strait and Cebu’s skyline can be seen from each air-conditioned suite beautifully adorned with patterned Spanish tiles.
“The long white sandy beach and crystal clear waters of the sea are just two of the great attractions of Cebu’s resorts,” said Lisa Lofgren, proprietor of Casa Del Mar Golf & Dive Resort.
Although it’s a new resort – they started their international marketing campaign drive only this year – Casa Del Mar has seen an increase in the number of visitor arrivals compared to last year’s figure. Bur, revealed Ms Lofgren, “we have had cancellations due to the September tragedy in the US, yet still we also had guests from Asian countries who felt it was safe to visit Cebu instead of the US or Europe.”
Casa Del Mar features a golf course that offers a true test of skill for golfer. The meticulously maintained par 71 is extremely challenging due to the distances including the challenge in teeing off over five natural creeks. The golf course is nestled on a 120-hectare oasis and is surrounded by mango trees and tropical plants, white beaches, and the South China Sea. The several creeks and well-manicured greens add to the pleasurable golf experience.
“The entire property is really spectacular. Their golf course is truly one of the best golf courses that I’ve visited in the Philippines,” remarked Bill Benedict, chief operating officer of SMARTWEB Philippines.
Aside from the golf course, Casa Del Mar also offers diving, sailing, volleyball etc. “We will also have horse back riding, day fishing trip, and island hopping in the future,” announced Ms Lofgren.
Casa Del Mar has three types of packages for guests and visitors. First is the Gold Package and is ideal for beach and golf enthusiasts as it includes green fees at the golf course as well as free breakfast and airport transfers. The second is the Platinum Package, which is perfect for diving enthusiasts – it comprises of three free dives with qualified dive masters.
The last is the Plus Package suitable for a family or a couple and a friend. Children and friend enter the resort-hotel free of charge.
THE OTHER SIDE
Another favorite destination on the island is the nine-year-old Alegre Beach Resort. Located in Sogod, Cebu, about 75 km from MCIA, it is a paradise nestled amidst 27 hectares of lush tropical gardens with 20 luxurious cabanas and bedrooms fitted with verandas overlooking the sea. Regular visitors are from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Europe.
Said Evan Fermin, senior sales account manager of Alegre: “The pristine white sand beach of Alegre offers privacy. And on the way to Alegre, one can see Cebu’s rich history through picturesque homes and Old Spanish churches.” The resort boasts three private beach coves, a restaurant that serves international cuisine, a 47-meter swimming pool, and two children’s pools. Activities from Aquamarina cover a wide range of water sports activities from jet skiing, snorkeling to diving.
“We are continuously improving our services, amenities, and packages. We have to show that we always have something new for our guests,” Mr Fermin added. “The most popular activities in Alegre are diving and island hopping. We have a very unique house reef just few meters from the shore where interesting corals of different forms and colors can be seen. The Sunset Cruise – subject to weather conditions – provides guests the chance to see whales and dolphins within the area.”
Rate is US$288 per night per room. This deal is good for two adults and with two children below 12 years old. It includes airport transfer.
Take a romantic stroll on the beach. Explore the depths of the sea. Or get a birdie. You can do all on your next southern retreat. #
by Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Asia Travel Trade Magazine, Singapore
May, 2002 Issue
THE NEWEST HAUNT
Cebu’s newest tourist destination is Casa Del Mar Golf & Dive Resort located in the northwest part of Cebu, in the charming town of San Remigio. It’s about 99 minutes away from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA). The spectacular views of the Tañon Strait and Cebu’s skyline can be seen from each air-conditioned suite beautifully adorned with patterned Spanish tiles.
“The long white sandy beach and crystal clear waters of the sea are just two of the great attractions of Cebu’s resorts,” said Lisa Lofgren, proprietor of Casa Del Mar Golf & Dive Resort.
Although it’s a new resort – they started their international marketing campaign drive only this year – Casa Del Mar has seen an increase in the number of visitor arrivals compared to last year’s figure. Bur, revealed Ms Lofgren, “we have had cancellations due to the September tragedy in the US, yet still we also had guests from Asian countries who felt it was safe to visit Cebu instead of the US or Europe.”
Casa Del Mar features a golf course that offers a true test of skill for golfer. The meticulously maintained par 71 is extremely challenging due to the distances including the challenge in teeing off over five natural creeks. The golf course is nestled on a 120-hectare oasis and is surrounded by mango trees and tropical plants, white beaches, and the South China Sea. The several creeks and well-manicured greens add to the pleasurable golf experience.
“The entire property is really spectacular. Their golf course is truly one of the best golf courses that I’ve visited in the Philippines,” remarked Bill Benedict, chief operating officer of SMARTWEB Philippines.
Aside from the golf course, Casa Del Mar also offers diving, sailing, volleyball etc. “We will also have horse back riding, day fishing trip, and island hopping in the future,” announced Ms Lofgren.
Casa Del Mar has three types of packages for guests and visitors. First is the Gold Package and is ideal for beach and golf enthusiasts as it includes green fees at the golf course as well as free breakfast and airport transfers. The second is the Platinum Package, which is perfect for diving enthusiasts – it comprises of three free dives with qualified dive masters.
The last is the Plus Package suitable for a family or a couple and a friend. Children and friend enter the resort-hotel free of charge.
THE OTHER SIDE
Another favorite destination on the island is the nine-year-old Alegre Beach Resort. Located in Sogod, Cebu, about 75 km from MCIA, it is a paradise nestled amidst 27 hectares of lush tropical gardens with 20 luxurious cabanas and bedrooms fitted with verandas overlooking the sea. Regular visitors are from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Europe.
Said Evan Fermin, senior sales account manager of Alegre: “The pristine white sand beach of Alegre offers privacy. And on the way to Alegre, one can see Cebu’s rich history through picturesque homes and Old Spanish churches.” The resort boasts three private beach coves, a restaurant that serves international cuisine, a 47-meter swimming pool, and two children’s pools. Activities from Aquamarina cover a wide range of water sports activities from jet skiing, snorkeling to diving.
“We are continuously improving our services, amenities, and packages. We have to show that we always have something new for our guests,” Mr Fermin added. “The most popular activities in Alegre are diving and island hopping. We have a very unique house reef just few meters from the shore where interesting corals of different forms and colors can be seen. The Sunset Cruise – subject to weather conditions – provides guests the chance to see whales and dolphins within the area.”
Rate is US$288 per night per room. This deal is good for two adults and with two children below 12 years old. It includes airport transfer.
Take a romantic stroll on the beach. Explore the depths of the sea. Or get a birdie. You can do all on your next southern retreat. #
by Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Published in Asia Travel Trade Magazine, Singapore
May, 2002 Issue
Article: Around Cebu In Minutes
A lot has been written and said about Cebu's top tourist destinations, including its sugary-white sandy beaches, the historical Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, and the Sto Niño Basilica.
But more than those places, Cebu still has a lot more to offer than you think. When you come to Cebu, you might want to visit the following places for a change:
JUMALON BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY & ART GALLERY
The first of its kind in the Philippines, the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is an all-natural haven of butterflies with no enclosure. It exists since 1974 as a result of a personal passion of artist Julian Jumalon. You can find 53 kinds of butterfly species flying freely around the garden sanctuary including the beautiful Daedalus with a least 10 to 15 kinds guaranteed to be spotted within a day.
The garden has at least 100 kinds of butterfly food plants, the source of attraction for these graceful creatures. The sanctuary also houses complete life histories of butterfly species - a precious tool for biology students working on their theses - and the oldest existing collection of butterflies with specimens dating back to the 1930's and some of the most wanted butterflies in the world.
The sanctuary also has an Art Gallery featuring a description of artist professor Julian Jumalon's dedication to art and a collection of the paintings including a number of his lepido-mosaics, cottages utilizing butterfly wings as its medium. The sanctuary and gallery is located along the Basak Elementary School Side Road in Basak, Pardo, Cebu City.
THE GUADALUPE CAVE
Witness the deep faith of the Cebuanos as they line up to enter a little cave and cover their heads with Our Lady of Guadalupe's blue veil to heal their sorrows. The story of the image found in the cave narrates that Cebuano forefathers hid the image there for fear that it will be taken back by the Spaniards or dishonored by non-believers. The image in the cave was eventually forgotten until a local trapper of wild chicken accidentally found it. The image was placed in a chapel where the present Guadalupe Parish Church now stands.
For many years, the cave was left unattended until an unknown benefactor offered to renovate it. On December 8, 1977, parish priest Rev. Msgr. Esteban S. Binghay had it blessed. Dripping water from the cave is said to possess healing powers and pilgrimage to the cave is said to grant a believer's wish. The Guadalupe Cave is located at Langub, Kalunasan, Guadalupe, Cebu City.
USP RIZALIANA MUSEUM
A pride of USP President Dr. Ronald Duterte, the University of Southern Philippines Museum showcases original personal belongings of Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal. 1890 Cerrada coats, undershirts, summer clothes, polo shirts, pants, socks, and a classic sketchbook, featuring Josephine Bracken as his model, were all donated by Doña Trinidad Rizal during her visit to the USP-Mabini branch in February 1951. The museum also has and original KKK Flag donated by Doña Marcella Agoncillo.
Other priceless collections are also on display like the original letters of Josephine Bracken-Rizal, a report card of Doña Trinidad Rizal, 1899 and 1900 copies of the classic books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with its original receipt from the Chofre Printing Company, a complete set of 1906 Jose Rizal Memorabilia postcards, a 1906 handkerchief with prints of the song "Canto Patriotico de Maria Clara", and photographed manuscripts of Noli and El Fili. You may visit the museum at the USP Campus along Salinas Drive in barangay Lahug.
CASA GORORDO MUSEUM
A 19th century ancestral house formerly owned by the Gorordo Family and acquired and restored by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in 1980, the Casa Gorordo Museum offers a collection of fine antique furniture, small and life-size statues of saints and other effigies as well as the historical grandeur of the house itself.
Upon entering the museum, one is transported into the 19th century with the nostalgic architecture and house design, rooms with specific ancient lifestyle functions and furniture types. Among the generations of Gorordos who lived there was Bishop Juan Gorordo (1862-1934) known to be the first Filipino Bishop in Cebu.
Located at 35 Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City, the Casa Gorordo Museum is also host to a varied array of cultural events and exhibits.
QUIJANO MUSEUM
A general museum of local artifacts and antiquities, the Quijano Museum carries an interesting mix of displays that is sure to be of interest to any local or foreign tourists. It showcases old wooden implements like the duwang, old lamps, and cavans. It also holds authentic old ethnographic materials like gongs and jewelry.
The museum also offers a collection of priceless memorabilia of World War II like American and Japanese troop canteens, helmets and medicine boxes, even ammunitions and a bomb. It also offers memorabilia of former Philippine President and Cebuano Sergio Osmeña Sr., like the original photos of the grand old man himself and his son Serging. Paintings and sculptures can also be found at the Quijano Museum, which is located in Cabancalan, Mandaue City, Cebu.
-Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Manila Bulletin, Travel and Tourism Section 2004
But more than those places, Cebu still has a lot more to offer than you think. When you come to Cebu, you might want to visit the following places for a change:
JUMALON BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY & ART GALLERY
The first of its kind in the Philippines, the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is an all-natural haven of butterflies with no enclosure. It exists since 1974 as a result of a personal passion of artist Julian Jumalon. You can find 53 kinds of butterfly species flying freely around the garden sanctuary including the beautiful Daedalus with a least 10 to 15 kinds guaranteed to be spotted within a day.
The garden has at least 100 kinds of butterfly food plants, the source of attraction for these graceful creatures. The sanctuary also houses complete life histories of butterfly species - a precious tool for biology students working on their theses - and the oldest existing collection of butterflies with specimens dating back to the 1930's and some of the most wanted butterflies in the world.
The sanctuary also has an Art Gallery featuring a description of artist professor Julian Jumalon's dedication to art and a collection of the paintings including a number of his lepido-mosaics, cottages utilizing butterfly wings as its medium. The sanctuary and gallery is located along the Basak Elementary School Side Road in Basak, Pardo, Cebu City.
THE GUADALUPE CAVE
Witness the deep faith of the Cebuanos as they line up to enter a little cave and cover their heads with Our Lady of Guadalupe's blue veil to heal their sorrows. The story of the image found in the cave narrates that Cebuano forefathers hid the image there for fear that it will be taken back by the Spaniards or dishonored by non-believers. The image in the cave was eventually forgotten until a local trapper of wild chicken accidentally found it. The image was placed in a chapel where the present Guadalupe Parish Church now stands.
For many years, the cave was left unattended until an unknown benefactor offered to renovate it. On December 8, 1977, parish priest Rev. Msgr. Esteban S. Binghay had it blessed. Dripping water from the cave is said to possess healing powers and pilgrimage to the cave is said to grant a believer's wish. The Guadalupe Cave is located at Langub, Kalunasan, Guadalupe, Cebu City.
USP RIZALIANA MUSEUM
A pride of USP President Dr. Ronald Duterte, the University of Southern Philippines Museum showcases original personal belongings of Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal. 1890 Cerrada coats, undershirts, summer clothes, polo shirts, pants, socks, and a classic sketchbook, featuring Josephine Bracken as his model, were all donated by Doña Trinidad Rizal during her visit to the USP-Mabini branch in February 1951. The museum also has and original KKK Flag donated by Doña Marcella Agoncillo.
Other priceless collections are also on display like the original letters of Josephine Bracken-Rizal, a report card of Doña Trinidad Rizal, 1899 and 1900 copies of the classic books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo with its original receipt from the Chofre Printing Company, a complete set of 1906 Jose Rizal Memorabilia postcards, a 1906 handkerchief with prints of the song "Canto Patriotico de Maria Clara", and photographed manuscripts of Noli and El Fili. You may visit the museum at the USP Campus along Salinas Drive in barangay Lahug.
CASA GORORDO MUSEUM
A 19th century ancestral house formerly owned by the Gorordo Family and acquired and restored by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in 1980, the Casa Gorordo Museum offers a collection of fine antique furniture, small and life-size statues of saints and other effigies as well as the historical grandeur of the house itself.
Upon entering the museum, one is transported into the 19th century with the nostalgic architecture and house design, rooms with specific ancient lifestyle functions and furniture types. Among the generations of Gorordos who lived there was Bishop Juan Gorordo (1862-1934) known to be the first Filipino Bishop in Cebu.
Located at 35 Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City, the Casa Gorordo Museum is also host to a varied array of cultural events and exhibits.
QUIJANO MUSEUM
A general museum of local artifacts and antiquities, the Quijano Museum carries an interesting mix of displays that is sure to be of interest to any local or foreign tourists. It showcases old wooden implements like the duwang, old lamps, and cavans. It also holds authentic old ethnographic materials like gongs and jewelry.
The museum also offers a collection of priceless memorabilia of World War II like American and Japanese troop canteens, helmets and medicine boxes, even ammunitions and a bomb. It also offers memorabilia of former Philippine President and Cebuano Sergio Osmeña Sr., like the original photos of the grand old man himself and his son Serging. Paintings and sculptures can also be found at the Quijano Museum, which is located in Cabancalan, Mandaue City, Cebu.
-Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Manila Bulletin, Travel and Tourism Section 2004
Article: The Churches of Bohol
Another trip to Bohol was not even in my travel itinerary. Besides, a sojourn to Bohol a few years back had already made me a living witness to its breathtaking cone-shaped Chocolate Hills, its unpolluted waterfalls, beaches, natural and man-made forests, caves, caverns, seas, and calm rivers. Beyond these, we thought the province was more of the same.
But what brought me back to the Island of Bohol is not the known. It was the fact that many Filipinos and foreigners are still unaware of the berth of historical legacy the island of Bohol can boast of, especially in the realm of the Spanish brand of Catholicism. What is already known is interesting enough, but what has yet to be discovered remains my ultimate fascination.
The magic of my visit began with the journey itself. While still inaccessible by plane from Manila then, a one and a half-hour ride through fast crafts, with jump off points in Cebu City and a good conversation with fellow passengers, brought me to this tenth largest island in the country.
The sea trip was smooth and calm. Even before coming close to the shores of Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, a showcase of terrain that is a magnificent landscape of rolling hills, rice fields, elongated sugary-white coastlines, and crystal clear sea waters greeted me along with the early-morning sun.
Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life - from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales - teem in the surrounding waters.
“Maajong Pag-abot!” (Welcome!) A Boholano’s version of greeting visitors and frequents hang in streamers as our boat docked in the newly-constructed port of Tagbilaran. The friendly gestures of locals selling Kalamay and peanut kisses were as warm as the early morning sun.
A friendly tricycle ride from the port area safely brought me to one of the lodging houses in the city which, although not exactly as luxurious as the lodging houses in Manila, look after their guests with a rare charm and comfortable hospitality.
Then my real adventure began.
Baclayon Church
From the developing city of Tagbilaran, a 20-minute-ride on a pedicab, and an occasional chuckle with the friendly cab driver, brought me to the serene and peaceful town of Baclayon where the oldest stone church in the Philippines is nestled - the famous Baclayon Church.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is obviously very old, yet stays in original condition. It is one of the best persevered Jesuit-built churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern façade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.
Tracing Baclayon's well-preserved history would show that the church, then a very small chapel, was built sometime in the 16th century upon the orders of a Jewish priest. Subsequently, the religious priests and residents built a bigger church made of corals taken from the sea, which is located a few meters from the structure.
The Baclayon Church's ancient, massive edifice still retains its centuries-old architectural design. Church relics and artifacts from this early period can also be viewed at an adjacent museum where a rich collection of religious art wrought by Boholanos, ecclesiastical vestments embroidered in gold thread, and librettos of church music printed in Latin on animal skin are housed.
Also included in the collection is the ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859 also caught my attention.
The seashore just across the Baclayon Church was even more enchanting. With fresh air and sands untainted by commercialism, the picturesque Laya beach was so inviting that I settled down for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery and its crystal clear waters.
Albur Church
My next stop was the historical town of Alburquerque (also known as the town of Albur) where the centuries-old Sta. Monica Church is settled. A 10-minute drive is more than sufficient to reach this serene and unique place. I arrived on a hot noon-day glare but the people of Albur, who were welcoming new comers with the usual shy interest, made the rays unnoticeable.
From the old church walls to the wooden, Spanish-style convent, the impression was one of a 19th century Spanish-built church. But the Sta. Monica church was first built as a chapel to accommodate Alburanons who were attending church rites in neighboring towns.
Soon the parish priests sensed that the chapel was already too small for its numerous parishioners making them decide to build a church in place of the tiny chapel. Everyday, the place where the church was to be built was filled with people who were willing to work or donate something for its construction. What ensued was a very beautiful permanent edifice patterned after those churches in Spain and Mexico, replete with art and symbolic piety.
But what really caught my attention were the marvelous paintings on the church’s ceilings and walls, which remained intact in spite of age or of the war years. I knew from my heart that behind those church walls and paintings was a facet of history that still awaits discovery.
A short distance from the church is a yet undiscovered paradise – the Sta. Fe beach. Blue water laps at the edges of the Sta. Fe beach for as far as the eye can see. The tranquility of the shore was only disturbed by the occasional laughter of children swimming and the occasional return of fishing boats.
The beach was perfect for a short nap, but I had to move on to my next destination – the Loboc Church.
The town of Loboc, less than 30 minutes away from Albur, is known not only for its floating restaurant and captive tarsiers, but also for its beautifully preserved church established in 1602, the second oldest church in Bohol.
Just before reaching the church, I had to stop at the invitation of the calm yet exciting Loboc River where several floating restaurants carried visitors to the awesome source of the river. The water was blue. Its bed is lined by smooth white rocks and fine light-colored sand. The enchantment, however, vanished when I realized that I went there to see the church.
Loboc Church
The Loboc Church was first established in dedication to San Pedro Apostol. The church, however, was badly destroyed by fire sometime in 1660. But the parishioners did not lose hope. In 1670, the present church was built from the ruins of the old church, and it was completed in 1734.
Inside the church, remarkable native paintings on the ceilings and walls tell fascinating stories of the past. The Spanish coat of arms can also be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. Snugly nestled in the compound of the ancient building of God is Museo de Loboc where the well-preserved historical artifacts and a few old statues of saints are kept. Also an interesting sight is the separate octagonal bell tower located a few meters away from the main church structure.
According to parishioners, the bell tower was purposely detached from the church after the first church was razed by fire. The priests thought of building the tower away from the church so that the bell could be used to alarm parishioners in case another fire takes place.
In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed since the Church will have to be destroyed to do so.
Dauis Church
Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of the Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis,
on the Island of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge that connects Panglao with Bohol.
The church is a magnificent replica of mixed styles influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Although no date is carved up on its walls, the look of the church, founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio, explains why it should be considered as one of the oldest churches in the country. Impressive frescoes painted by Ray Francia in 1916 also decorate the ceiling of the church.
The history of the church is a mixture of mystery and miracle. According to local folks, the church patron saint, the Virgin of the Assumption, is said to possess miraculous powers. When the town was invaded by pirates, the people of Dauis locked themselves inside the church. But they soon ran out of provisions and water.
Then a miracle occurred – a well appeared at the foot of the altar. This same well is still the main source of water for the people living close to the church, and, although the well is only a few meters from the sea, the water is absolutely fresh. The water is said to have healing powers, so, I had to fetch a bottle and took some home.
My trip back to Tagbilaran City after visiting the churches had given us a lot of new discoveries and enchantments. Indeed, scenic Bohol casts an enigmatic charm drawn from the many archaic mementos spread throughout the oval-shaped island – from unique rock formations to a 45-million-year-old mammal species, from massive stone watchtowers built in the 18th century to the historical and mysterious churches that witnessed the rise of Christianity in the country.
Safely, before sunset, I arrived at my rented room in Tagbilaran City where I took a shower and packed up for our journey back home.
Just before leaving Bohol on my way to Cebu City, thoughts of what to bring occupied my mind. Intricately printed souvenir shirts, along with the famous sweet delicacies of special Kalamay and peanut kisses, renowned throughout the country, conjures in my mind.
But perhaps the best image I saw on my departing was the lazy sunset along the newly-renovated port area – a reminder that real adventure and spiritual rediscovery could come together in little places of serenity. Like Bohol. *
How to get there:
From Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Bohol is an hour away by plane. Philippine Airlines flies direct from Manila to Bohol daily.
copyright @ Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Printed in Manila Bulletin, Travel & Tourism section
But what brought me back to the Island of Bohol is not the known. It was the fact that many Filipinos and foreigners are still unaware of the berth of historical legacy the island of Bohol can boast of, especially in the realm of the Spanish brand of Catholicism. What is already known is interesting enough, but what has yet to be discovered remains my ultimate fascination.
The magic of my visit began with the journey itself. While still inaccessible by plane from Manila then, a one and a half-hour ride through fast crafts, with jump off points in Cebu City and a good conversation with fellow passengers, brought me to this tenth largest island in the country.
The sea trip was smooth and calm. Even before coming close to the shores of Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, a showcase of terrain that is a magnificent landscape of rolling hills, rice fields, elongated sugary-white coastlines, and crystal clear sea waters greeted me along with the early-morning sun.
Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life - from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales - teem in the surrounding waters.
“Maajong Pag-abot!” (Welcome!) A Boholano’s version of greeting visitors and frequents hang in streamers as our boat docked in the newly-constructed port of Tagbilaran. The friendly gestures of locals selling Kalamay and peanut kisses were as warm as the early morning sun.
A friendly tricycle ride from the port area safely brought me to one of the lodging houses in the city which, although not exactly as luxurious as the lodging houses in Manila, look after their guests with a rare charm and comfortable hospitality.
Then my real adventure began.
Baclayon Church
From the developing city of Tagbilaran, a 20-minute-ride on a pedicab, and an occasional chuckle with the friendly cab driver, brought me to the serene and peaceful town of Baclayon where the oldest stone church in the Philippines is nestled - the famous Baclayon Church.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is obviously very old, yet stays in original condition. It is one of the best persevered Jesuit-built churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern façade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.
Tracing Baclayon's well-preserved history would show that the church, then a very small chapel, was built sometime in the 16th century upon the orders of a Jewish priest. Subsequently, the religious priests and residents built a bigger church made of corals taken from the sea, which is located a few meters from the structure.
The Baclayon Church's ancient, massive edifice still retains its centuries-old architectural design. Church relics and artifacts from this early period can also be viewed at an adjacent museum where a rich collection of religious art wrought by Boholanos, ecclesiastical vestments embroidered in gold thread, and librettos of church music printed in Latin on animal skin are housed.
Also included in the collection is the ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859 also caught my attention.
The seashore just across the Baclayon Church was even more enchanting. With fresh air and sands untainted by commercialism, the picturesque Laya beach was so inviting that I settled down for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery and its crystal clear waters.
Albur Church
My next stop was the historical town of Alburquerque (also known as the town of Albur) where the centuries-old Sta. Monica Church is settled. A 10-minute drive is more than sufficient to reach this serene and unique place. I arrived on a hot noon-day glare but the people of Albur, who were welcoming new comers with the usual shy interest, made the rays unnoticeable.
From the old church walls to the wooden, Spanish-style convent, the impression was one of a 19th century Spanish-built church. But the Sta. Monica church was first built as a chapel to accommodate Alburanons who were attending church rites in neighboring towns.
Soon the parish priests sensed that the chapel was already too small for its numerous parishioners making them decide to build a church in place of the tiny chapel. Everyday, the place where the church was to be built was filled with people who were willing to work or donate something for its construction. What ensued was a very beautiful permanent edifice patterned after those churches in Spain and Mexico, replete with art and symbolic piety.
But what really caught my attention were the marvelous paintings on the church’s ceilings and walls, which remained intact in spite of age or of the war years. I knew from my heart that behind those church walls and paintings was a facet of history that still awaits discovery.
A short distance from the church is a yet undiscovered paradise – the Sta. Fe beach. Blue water laps at the edges of the Sta. Fe beach for as far as the eye can see. The tranquility of the shore was only disturbed by the occasional laughter of children swimming and the occasional return of fishing boats.
The beach was perfect for a short nap, but I had to move on to my next destination – the Loboc Church.
The town of Loboc, less than 30 minutes away from Albur, is known not only for its floating restaurant and captive tarsiers, but also for its beautifully preserved church established in 1602, the second oldest church in Bohol.
Just before reaching the church, I had to stop at the invitation of the calm yet exciting Loboc River where several floating restaurants carried visitors to the awesome source of the river. The water was blue. Its bed is lined by smooth white rocks and fine light-colored sand. The enchantment, however, vanished when I realized that I went there to see the church.
Loboc Church
The Loboc Church was first established in dedication to San Pedro Apostol. The church, however, was badly destroyed by fire sometime in 1660. But the parishioners did not lose hope. In 1670, the present church was built from the ruins of the old church, and it was completed in 1734.
Inside the church, remarkable native paintings on the ceilings and walls tell fascinating stories of the past. The Spanish coat of arms can also be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. Snugly nestled in the compound of the ancient building of God is Museo de Loboc where the well-preserved historical artifacts and a few old statues of saints are kept. Also an interesting sight is the separate octagonal bell tower located a few meters away from the main church structure.
According to parishioners, the bell tower was purposely detached from the church after the first church was razed by fire. The priests thought of building the tower away from the church so that the bell could be used to alarm parishioners in case another fire takes place.
In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed since the Church will have to be destroyed to do so.
Dauis Church
Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of the Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis,
on the Island of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge that connects Panglao with Bohol.
The church is a magnificent replica of mixed styles influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Although no date is carved up on its walls, the look of the church, founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio, explains why it should be considered as one of the oldest churches in the country. Impressive frescoes painted by Ray Francia in 1916 also decorate the ceiling of the church.
The history of the church is a mixture of mystery and miracle. According to local folks, the church patron saint, the Virgin of the Assumption, is said to possess miraculous powers. When the town was invaded by pirates, the people of Dauis locked themselves inside the church. But they soon ran out of provisions and water.
Then a miracle occurred – a well appeared at the foot of the altar. This same well is still the main source of water for the people living close to the church, and, although the well is only a few meters from the sea, the water is absolutely fresh. The water is said to have healing powers, so, I had to fetch a bottle and took some home.
My trip back to Tagbilaran City after visiting the churches had given us a lot of new discoveries and enchantments. Indeed, scenic Bohol casts an enigmatic charm drawn from the many archaic mementos spread throughout the oval-shaped island – from unique rock formations to a 45-million-year-old mammal species, from massive stone watchtowers built in the 18th century to the historical and mysterious churches that witnessed the rise of Christianity in the country.
Safely, before sunset, I arrived at my rented room in Tagbilaran City where I took a shower and packed up for our journey back home.
Just before leaving Bohol on my way to Cebu City, thoughts of what to bring occupied my mind. Intricately printed souvenir shirts, along with the famous sweet delicacies of special Kalamay and peanut kisses, renowned throughout the country, conjures in my mind.
But perhaps the best image I saw on my departing was the lazy sunset along the newly-renovated port area – a reminder that real adventure and spiritual rediscovery could come together in little places of serenity. Like Bohol. *
How to get there:
From Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Bohol is an hour away by plane. Philippine Airlines flies direct from Manila to Bohol daily.
copyright @ Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.
Printed in Manila Bulletin, Travel & Tourism section
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