My Central Visayas Excursion (PHOTO BLOG)

Who said you can't do anything sensible in just four days? I beg to disagree on that because the four days I spent last weekend were full of fun-filled activities!

My friends and I already booked this Cebu-Bohol trip through a Cebu Pacific promo fare last February, 2012. Yes, 7 months prior to our trip. We were just randomly surfing the site when we saw a seat fare of just 26 pesos. So we grabbed it.

As the date was approaching, I couldn't help but get excited. It was my first time to go to Cebu and Bohol; and also my first time to go on a "plane" trip with friends...with my own money. :p

So yeah, we flew to Cebu City last September 21st, and our Queen City of the South & Heart of Philippine Islands excursion began. :)

September 21st, 2012

Waiting for our boarding at Davao International Airport. I was the earliest to arrive, though these girls were more excited than me. haha! :p

Our arrival at Mactan International Airport. Yeah, it was a required photo-op to remember the first time I stepped into the city. :)

Admiring our room at Gran Prix Hotel. It was very convenient, as it was located in downtown Cebu, and it was a very cozy hotel at an affordable price. :)

We arrived in Cebu at around 6 in the evening, and since it's Cebu, we shouldn't miss the delicious lechon that Sugbu is well known for. We had dinner at Zubu Chon, a very nice restaurant with one of the best lechons I've ever tasted! :)

We concluded our night with a Slurpee from 7-11, which is located in front of our hotel. Oh no, we didn't conclude the night yet. Of course, we bought some Rum to waste the night away! :p

September 22nd, 2012

After waking up pretty early and preparing for our trip to Bohol, we also had a very early breakfast at the hotel lobby. So Cebu! We had the boneless danggit. Yum! :p

With my girls while waiting for our SuperCat boarding. I was feeling really excited because it would be my first time riding a SuperCat. :)

"Touchdown" Tagbilaran! A courtesy Photo-op at their port. :)

We were picked up by a van contracted by the resort we were staying in, and instead of going straight to the resort to check-in, we asked the driver to tour us around Panglao for the afternoon. It wasn't included in the package that we acquired, so it was sort of a side-trip.

We visited the Dauis Church, where the "miraculous well" is located. Unfortunately, there was a wedding ceremony going on in the Church, so we weren't able to go inside. Instead, we just utilized the back of the church, where old ruins could be found. :)

The parola or lighthouse. At first I thought it was a bell tower, but Kuya George (the driver) said it was a lighthouse. Pretty small for a lighthouse, isn't it? :p

He may look like a baby, but he's already a grandpa. This is Bayoyoy. He's considered as one of the smallest man alive in the Philippines. He was already featured on TV, and currently, his family is accepting donations for his care. :)

Our next stop was the Nova Shell Museum, owned by Mr. Quirino Hora. At first, he was just a mere shell collector until his collections grew in number, and so he decided to build this museum for tourists to see.

The museum houses several amazing shells, and also the rarest kinds existing such as the Conus Gloria Maris, which is a famous collector's item; and the smallest shell found at the waters of Balicasag Island and named after Emperor Hirohito of Japan. It was really small, that we had to peer into it using a magnifying glass. What really surprised me was not its size, but how much it costs...A horrifying $1000! haha! I'd better start collecting, too. :))

Day suddenly turned into night when we descended upon the steps of Hinagdanan Cave, which is famous for its crystal clear brackish water. The cave is lit by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling; but of course, it was also well-lit with lamps. Wouldn't want to slip and hurt your butt, would you? :p

Hinagdanan Cave was accidentally discovered when the owner of the area was clearing the decaying branches of the land when he found the hole. The owner throw a stone into the hole, then he heard a splash. Then he build a ladder to get into the cave. They named it Hinagdanan, means "laddered" used to get into the cave's interior. (Wikipedia)

So I was reading about the history of Hinagdanan Cave in Wikipedia, and found out that what was written there were exactly the same words that our guide had told us. haha! So much for memorization; helpful for foreign tourists, really. :)

See those drawings at the back? Nobody really knew who drew that because according to the guide, if the person who drew that still existed, he would be imprisoned for vandalism. haha! He was such a funny dude, really! :))

So as the afternoon came to a close, we decided to have our dinner at Bohol Bee Farm, which is known to serve every meal in "organic mode." Yeah, it was indeed so organic that we had to eat vegetable lasagna, and flowers for fresh garden salad. lol! :p

Aside from the sumptuous meal, we were mesmerized by the view of the sea while waiting for our orders. It was amazing. Just the perfect getaway. :)

As the night approached, we decided to conclude our tour and checked-in our resort. Before we drew our night to a close, we strolled along the shore, to admire the beautiful white sand beach (and also to metabolize our food). lol! :p We also took a short dip in the pool, and drank the night away. :)

September 23rd, 2012



We woke up really early so we could enjoy the beauty of the beach before we check-out of our resort, and start our Bohol City tour. Well, I really didn't bathe into the sea, thanks to my period. :p We had a nice filled meal, and then our day had started. :)

What's with the uniform? haha! It was our Intrams T-shirt in school, and decided to wear the same thing on our tour, just for the fun of it. At least we could feel that it was some sort of a field trip or something. :p

The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in the island of Bohol in the Philippines, between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition. This is considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood". (Wikipedia)

This wasn't the actual site where the blood compact happened, but a monument was erected in this area, because according to our driver/tour guide/photographer Kuya Aldrin, the festival for the Sandugo started in this barangay. :)

Baclayon is known for its historic Catholic Church, declared as a National Historic Treasure in 1995 because it is considered the best preserved of its kind in the region. Its first structure was built in 1595, but the current building is from 1724 and has a Spanish Colonial architecture. The church includes a small museum, with relics dating back to the early 16th century, and adjoining 21 metres (69 ft) high bell tower. Nearby are centuries-old stone buildings like the hermita, and elementary school, as well as the historic public marketplace, a Spanish-era building with giant stone columns supporting the roof. (Wikipedia)

As you can see, one of the pillars of the Church shows an image of Father Pio, a priest known for his bearing of the Stigmata during his priesthood. According to Kuya Aldrin, nobody really knew how the image appeared, but the locals of Baclayon considered it as a miracle, and so, they put up a small chapel for Father Pio at the side of the Church, showing a photo essay of his life, and also providing a petition box for the patrons.

A photo-op with the bell tower in the background which, unfortunately, isn't open to the public. We also weren't able to get inside the Church, because it was a Sunday and a mass was going on. We were also wearing shorts which was not allowed inside. :(

The butterfly farm was one of the best places that we visited. It was fun learning about the life cycle of a butterfly with real live caterpillars, cocoons, and butterflies for props. We also had the chance the sprout wings with the "butterfly effect" as what kuya Arman, the guide called it. :)

Inside the butterfly farm. We were able to walk with the butterflies, and even play with them. One butterfly stuck into Jody's hair and in the end, she decided to bring it home. :)

Playing with the butterfly net or sibot in Cebuano. :p

This snake is like the biggest of its kind that I've personally seen. His name is Prony, and he's so huge that at 15 years old, his weight is already that of a 45-year old Philippine Python. As what Marimar (the guide/entertainer) said, he grew up filled with tender, loving, care. :)

Of course! Touring around Bohol wouldn't be complete without experiencing the Loboc River Cruise while feasting on a buffet full of tummy-filling meals. So as part of our resort package, we had free lunch buffet at Riverwatch Floating Restaurant. We cruised the length of the river while munching down on our food, admired the virgin waters seemingly untouched, welcomed by the locals playing ukulele and dancing, and of course, entertained by the kids jumping off into the river or swinging on a rope before the splash. Downside of this cruise? You can't eat well, because you'll be busy getting mesmerized by the beauty of the river. :p

So what's the best way to digest the food you've just eaten? Me? I'll just cross the bridge when I get there. haha! And it isn't just a figure of speech. We really did cross a bridge...a hanging bridge! Though it was just a short bridge spanning across Loboc River, it was fun playing atop it when you get at the center.

At the end of the bridge was the Buko King, who set a record many years ago in the Philippines. Though we didn't watch him anymore because his show was a little too expensive. hihi. :p

So the number one in my list of things to do when I get to Bohol, is visiting the Tarsier Conservation Area. Much to my dismay, unlike before, we aren't allowed to touch the tiny little creatures anymore due to their sensitivity.

That didn't dampen my excitement though. As I looked at these little things, holding onto a tree branch and sleeping, I couldn't help but make gigil at their cuteness overload. What made me extremely excited was when one of them woke up and looked at us. It was like the best Tarsier experience that I've ever had...well, I've nothing to compare it to, though since that was my first time to see them. haha! :p

This is the man-made Mahogany forest, stretching around 2 kilometers off the road, located between Loboc and Bilar. It would make you feel like you've stepped into Narnia, especially when you get into the part where the sky is covered by the thick trees, and the light will instantly turn to darkness. It was just too mesmerizing, that we had to put our lives on the line and pose in the middle of the road, just to be able to show its background beauty. :)

After like, a hundred attempts, this was the only successful jumpshot that we had. haha! Kuya Aldrin even already gave up. Well, it was his idea, anyway. :p

Our last stop was the Chocolate Hills, since it is the farthest from Tagbilaran. The almost one hour travel was worth it though, as we came across mounds and mounds of conical green hills. Why Chocolate Hills? According to Kuya Aldrin, during the summer, the green grass turns brown, hence the name. :)

It was just so beautiful. We went up and admired the view from above, trying to count how many hills were there. hehe. :p We also had the epic "broomstick" jumpshot with the hills in the background. It really felt like flying over the beauty of nature. :)

So on our way to the Port of Tagbilaran, we passed by this Shiphaus, a house shaped into a ship owned by Capt. Gaudencio Dumapias. He accepts donations, in exchange for a pictorial in front of his house. He even wears his Captain uniform everyday, for the entertainment of the tourists. :)

So that about concluded our trip to Bohol. By 6 in the evening, we went back to Cebu via Supercat, and our Cebu adventures started then. :)

So when we got back to Cebu, we contacted a friend of ours, Zebedee who's currently living there to tour us into the night life of the city. He brought us to the I.T. Park in Lahug, where we had dinner at Chicken & Beer. The chicken was so great, and so hang, which is the Cebuano accent for halang, which means spicy hot. :p

Since it was a Sunday night, most of the bars closed early, but we were fortunate to find one that was still open. At Ilaputi, they served Cebuano style cocktails that you couldn't see in other cities. It wasn't disappointing though. Their cocktails were superb! :)

After "tipsying" a little, we tried out iTea's Milk Tea. It was good, but for me, 360 is still better. hihi. Went back to the hotel a little after 2 in the morning. We didn't stay long outside because we would be early the next day for our Cebu City tour. :)

September 24th, 2012

Breakfast time! This was our last breakfast at Gran Prix hotel, so we made the most out of it. :)

Courtesy photo-op outside the hotel. Manong guard's hands were a little too shaky, don't you think? :))

Since our time was limited (we only had a whole day to tour the city and buy pasalubong), we only visited one of the most historical places in Cebu, the Magellan's Cross, and Basilica del Sto. Nino. There was a really long queue, just to touch the real thing, and as much as I wanted to fall in line, my friends looked like they weren't up to it, so we just had some pictorials instead. :p

Lunch at Casa Verde in Ayala Center Cebu. Parents weren't with us, so we could be as unhealthy as we wanted to be, as evidenced by the huge 12-inch Mighty Ton burger that we ordered. The result? We weren't able to finish it, and we felt really sick. haha! :))

We went to SM City Cebu afterwards to shop for pasalubong, and by nighttime, we went to the Shamrock shop to bring home their famous Otap and Rosquillos. We had dinner at Chuwabungga (I had Korean Seafood Stew), and as the night came to a close, we bid farewell to Zeb, and went back to our hotel room to pack our stuff for our flight back home the next day.

It was indeed just a very short weekend trip, but going to Cebu and Bohol with friends, even a few hours could turn into a lifetime. Will definitely go back there in the future! :)