and so one time after realizing we are being deprived of fun because of too many late nights at work, my friend and i decided to book a flight to cebu and bohol for a weekend get away…
its a spur of the moment decision like an idea that must be executed at once. no long talks and planning which often ends in nothing so better this way. book a flight online, surf the net for places to visit and know of recommended itineraries, pack lightly and off we go…
CEBU, Queen City of the South
We were there around 11am if my picture below is right…
Flight detail
We had an uneventful flight (as if i was expecting something unusual to happen), we arrived on time, hehehe… we asked for jeepneys to get us to the Magellan’s Cross but the very helpful police at the airport says, its best to take a taxi. We took the advice and were there in record time. Great!
Magellan's Cross
Close up of the Markers are shown here…
A little walk and you’ll see the nearby Church and Convent of Sto. Nino…
There is the convent I suppose (please comment if I got it wrong 
)
and the facade of the Church…
plus some statues of Saints I can’t recognize…
this one I am familiar with, the feast of St. Augustine (August 28) is relevant to me that is why. There is no notice saying it is prohibited to take a picture and so I took one.
There was a 12 noon mass then and so the church was full. We went inside and prayed and left planning to walk towards the nearby port. We pass by the market where fresh flowers and fruits are sold…
Flowers for sale at a Cebu market
We walked and asked where is the pier but we didn’t quite get the instructions, hehehe. We had a map mind you but eventually the scorching heat of the sun defeated our want for strolling adventure. We hailed a taxi and found out we are just so near the snake it could have bitten us already. The cab’s starting rate is 30 pesos and when we arrived at the destination, the fare is still the same hahaha. We paid a tool fee of 10 pesos so we could enter the port premises and gave a tip of 10 pesos to the driver. Fifty pesos for a few meters, harharhar.
Ok. OCEAN JET. Don’t trust their website’s booking system. We reserved online and we got a generic answer to our email saying we will be contacted for our reservation confirmation. We waited for nothing and the cashier at the pier says their system is not working (I don’t know is its working now though). They have more trip schedule to Tagbilaran than SuperCat that is why we opted for OCEANJET.
TAGBILARAN
We arrived at Tagbilaran port around 3:30 in the afternoon and were fetched by the driver of El Portal Inn. The inn is conveniently situated near the seaport and Tagbilaran airport. It is in the heart of the city and is therefore within walking distance to shopping malls and banks. The place has a free wi-fi internet service and as their ad says, you get the “Best Value and Comfort for your Money”. We chose the place because of its location and the very reasonable price.
By 4pm, we started the adventure… we hired a cab and off we go to the nearest church…
Our Lady of Assumption Church (Dauis, Panglao Island)
The Church is located not far from the bridge that connect Panglao Island from the mainland. The Church’s patron saint, Our Lady of Assumption, is said to have miraculous powers. The church has a well that has healing water. We were offered a free bottle and some refill by the church workers. We were asked for donations in return. After some prayers my friend and I walked passed the back door where we sat for a little while to appreciate the peace and quiet of the place. I took this picture at the back of the church…
Next destination was the Bee Farm… we went there just to have dinner and to satisfy our curiosity on the advertised organic salad with edible flowers. We ordered organic teas, vegetable pizza (with okra(!)) and the salad. I got to eat the yellow flower in the picture plus some bougainvilla and hibiscus petals. The taste is forgetful by the way. Maybe because I am a vegetable eater so the taste is pretty much usual already. The
Organic Garden Salad
View of the sea from Bee Farm…
View of the sea from Bee Farm
We toured the place for a while and then left the place by 7pm.
THE NEXT DAY
If there is one thing I can say to this friend with me in this adventure, she is a Good Influence (GI) in my life in a way. I am her Bad Influence. Complementary, hehehe.
Early morning, we went to attend mass. We walked to the nearest church from the place where we are staying.
Church of the Virgin Mary
The sermon was in the native dialect and so we just catch a few words. There are a few church goers but the choir member seems to be complete and so the songs were very audible and lively. The church is a modern one.
After having our breakfast, the tour began…
1st stop : Blood Compact
and the marker a few meters away from the monument. Our driver and guide said this was the real coordinates where the blood compact took place.
Blood Compact Marker
2nd Stop: Chocolate Hills in Carmen town
Chocolate Hills (Carmen, Bohol)
3rd Stop: Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Garden (Bilar, Bohol)
4th Stop: Man-made Forest
5th Stop: Tarsier Sanctuary where i was irked by an insensitive tourist. There is a list of reminders, one which says NO FLASH when taking pictures of the primates. The tourist ignored it and proceeded taking pictures with flash until the poor tarsier closes its eyes and did not open its eyes again for the other visitors to see. I hope that we should be sensitive enough to care. It is good that we are given the privilege of seeing this tarsiers in captivity; we should at least respect the rules.
The Philippine tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta)
6th Stop: Loboc River where we had a cruise accompanied by live music from young local singers while eating lunch. Such a treat!
Cruising Loboc River
… to be continued
Jonathan Piquero, Mobile # 09057089241
Need a patient driver and tour guide in Bohol? Contact Jonathan Piquero at this number 09057089241. He was the one who toured us in the various places we visited in Bohol. I promised to help him via this blog and here it goes. My friend and I had fun with his anecdotes and local knowledge. He drives safely, very patient and not encroaching. Very respectful, considerate and patient you cannot help but be generous to him after a day’s tour. He has been a driver in Manila but went back to Tagbilaran where he can be with his parents and family.
