(First of a Series)
I WAS excitedly looking forward to a countryside tour (aka la cuacha!) in Bohol this week, revisit the locales I had been to with fresh lens, and check the places I haven’t seen for the brand-new experience except that it rained, and our last stop was ruined! However, the best thing about an interrupted itinerary is we can still reset it for another time. So, there’s reason to come back . . . unlike a broken love, haha!
Today, Thursday, my millennial guest explored the small islands off Panglao, and I asked him to document the excursion so I can decide if I will do the same, perhaps, next year. I had a mind-blowing island-hopping experience in Dumangas, Iloilo, together with my Iloilo-based power industry friends and their lovely kids spearheaded by Grace B. Solis days before the campaign period began last year, and then, went to charming Cabgan Island, in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, in October 2022 with family. Thus, I had my fill of island-hopping and sandbar encounters last year.
Our first stop is Hinagdanan Cave. My fresh lens immediately activated aha! I didn’t realize there’s a small-paved path leading to the sea beside Hinagdanan Cave all this time! I must have missed it in the past! I made sure to explore it pronto with my guests, Dr. Gal Daño-Yumang, Kayla Yumang, and Patrick Villas.
True enough, it directed us to the sea. As usual, no matter the tide, the sea was beguiling, and my guests had fun dipping their feet in seawater whilst I scanned the horizon…thinking about a future romance, haha! When we returned from our short survey, Kayla and I stopped by the fire trees — just a few steps from the cave entrance–to appreciate those who had the vision to plant them. Kudos to you!
According to Mark (I should have asked for his family name), the personnel who supervised the entrance, during the past summer, the fire trees fully bloomed, and the profusion of flowers forming a canopy above the spot naturally attracted tourists to pose for photographs! That must have been magical!
That said, we entered the cave slowly since it’s rather steep and we didn’t want to bump our heads! The water is as refreshing as I saw it last in 2003! My guests wasted no time to swim. Now, when we got in, we were only less than ten people inside the cave, so it was quiet with the lifeguard dutifully doing dual roles including that of photographer! But boy! when a throng of tourists got in, the noise was deafening, no thanks to the local tourist guides whose voices echoed throughout the cave.
My question to the operator of Hinagdanan Cave: What is the Policy when we enter the cave? Should we observe silence? Should we be moderately to extremely loud? Because at the Underground River in Palawan, we were asked to observe silence and we did!
While my guests delighted in the cool underground water, I waited at Allex’s Fresh Fruit Shakes and Delicacies just a few meters from the entrance. I relaxed while waiting, elevated my feet like I owned the place, haha, and photographed. And surprise, they took photos of me, too, and posted it on their FB Page! I guess my modeling career has begun late huh!
From Hinagdanan, we proceeded to the Blood Compact (Sandugo) site between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in Barangay Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol, the actual place of the historical event, as declared by the National Historical Institute (NHI).
According to an article written by Ric V. Obedencio in The Freeman on March 28, 2017, the NHI did thorough investigations, ocular inspections, and interviews of divers, fisherfolks, and residents of both Tagbilaran and Loay, and pored over documents presented by both sides assisted by experts coming from the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority and the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines.
Eventually, Resolution No. 04 of 2005 (A Resolution Adopting The Recommendation of the Panel Resolving the Site of the Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi), declaring Loay town as the location where the Blood Compact took place on March 25, 1565, was signed by NHI Chairperson Ambeth Ocampo, and members: Jose Cruz; Benito Legarda Jr.; Corazon Alvina; Heidi Gloria; Serafin Quiason; and Prudenciana Cruz; and Director Ludovico Badoy. (To be continued)
***
The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
(First of a Series)
I WAS excitedly looking forward to a countryside tour (aka la cuacha!) in Bohol this week, revisit the locales I had been to with fresh lens, and check the places I haven’t seen for the brand-new experience except that it rained, and our last stop was ruined! However, the best thing about an interrupted itinerary is we can still reset it for another time. So, there’s reason to come back . . . unlike a broken love, haha!
Today, Thursday, my millennial guest explored the small islands off Panglao, and I asked him to document the excursion so I can decide if I will do the same, perhaps, next year. I had a mind-blowing island-hopping experience in Dumangas, Iloilo, together with my Iloilo-based power industry friends and their lovely kids spearheaded by Grace B. Solis days before the campaign period began last year, and then, went to charming Cabgan Island, in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, in October 2022 with family. Thus, I had my fill of island-hopping and sandbar encounters last year.
Our first stop is Hinagdanan Cave. My fresh lens immediately activated aha! I didn’t realize there’s a small-paved path leading to the sea beside Hinagdanan Cave all this time! I must have missed it in the past! I made sure to explore it pronto with my guests, Dr. Gal Daño-Yumang, Kayla Yumang, and Patrick Villas.
True enough, it directed us to the sea. As usual, no matter the tide, the sea was beguiling, and my guests had fun dipping their feet in seawater whilst I scanned the horizon…thinking about a future romance, haha! When we returned from our short survey, Kayla and I stopped by the fire trees — just a few steps from the cave entrance–to appreciate those who had the vision to plant them. Kudos to you!
According to Mark (I should have asked for his family name), the personnel who supervised the entrance, during the past summer, the fire trees fully bloomed, and the profusion of flowers forming a canopy above the spot naturally attracted tourists to pose for photographs! That must have been magical!
That said, we entered the cave slowly since it’s rather steep and we didn’t want to bump our heads! The water is as refreshing as I saw it last in 2003! My guests wasted no time to swim. Now, when we got in, we were only less than ten people inside the cave, so it was quiet with the lifeguard dutifully doing dual roles including that of photographer! But boy! when a throng of tourists got in, the noise was deafening, no thanks to the local tourist guides whose voices echoed throughout the cave.
My question to the operator of Hinagdanan Cave: What is the Policy when we enter the cave? Should we observe silence? Should we be moderately to extremely loud? Because at the Underground River in Palawan, we were asked to observe silence and we did!
While my guests delighted in the cool underground water, I waited at Allex’s Fresh Fruit Shakes and Delicacies just a few meters from the entrance. I relaxed while waiting, elevated my feet like I owned the place, haha, and photographed. And surprise, they took photos of me, too, and posted it on their FB Page! I guess my modeling career has begun late huh!
From Hinagdanan, we proceeded to the Blood Compact (Sandugo) site between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in Barangay Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol, the actual place of the historical event, as declared by the National Historical Institute (NHI).
According to an article written by Ric V. Obedencio in The Freeman on March 28, 2017, the NHI did thorough investigations, ocular inspections, and interviews of divers, fisherfolks, and residents of both Tagbilaran and Loay, and pored over documents presented by both sides assisted by experts coming from the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority and the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines.
Eventually, Resolution No. 04 of 2005 (A Resolution Adopting The Recommendation of the Panel Resolving the Site of the Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi), declaring Loay town as the location where the Blood Compact took place on March 25, 1565, was signed by NHI Chairperson Ambeth Ocampo, and members: Jose Cruz; Benito Legarda Jr.; Corazon Alvina; Heidi Gloria; Serafin Quiason; and Prudenciana Cruz; and Director Ludovico Badoy. (To be continued)
***
The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
