Hello Jagna

Daylight was fading fast on me. It had been raining intermittently, so it was getting too dark a day than usual. Mr Sun only lit its brightest early in the morning, then it turned 'generally cloudy'. Ah September!

But the 'traveling life' must go on! Everything is part of the experience! I was already on a 'return' route to Tagbilaran anyway. See or do what still was possible. Otherwise, "tomorrow is always another day"!

The next town center, Jagna, is only 10 kilometers from Duero. But halfway on that route is this:

That is Alejan Bridge, marking the boundary between Duero and Jagna. Interestingly, both ends of the bridge are named Barangay Alejan of each town! Yes, Brgy. Alejan of Duero and Brgy. Alejan of Jagna!

The breathtaking panoramic sea views of the Bohol Sea never stop in these southern coastal towns.

On a clear day, especially in the mornings, Camiguin Island can be seen from here. Did you know that? In fact, Camiguin can be seen from all southern coastal towns (from Anda to Panglao), on a clear day.

Soon, driver stopped at center of town. Oops, the Jagna Municipal Hall, I didn't see it was to our left!

There are buildings at the back, but you can already see Bohol Sea at the end of that little road at left! There's a wharf (not Jagna Port) and a promenade/food park by the side of a sports/events complex!

Further left of that little road by the way, are tennis courts that even have their own stage.

But I loved looking at this generally-still-wooden edifice. It looks just like an old house of yesteryears!

Small as it is, you can easily reflect on its nostalgic grandeur in bygone eras of Boholano generations. I even like the 'municipal seal' up at the nave. That's now uncommon among new municipal buildings.

There's not much of a green-frontage in their municipal hall, but next to it (to the right) is a wide "Plaza De Jagna" which is like a modern park all around its edges, and is a grassy football field in the middle.

There's a fountain, the planters and flower boxes are nice, there is a monument, but not Dr. Jose Rizal.

Opposite that plaza (other side of the highway), is St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Jagna.

Wow, another Bohol old church! It's been renovated many times due to fire or natural calamities since the 1800s 'til the 2013 tremor, yet my guide says, it is still one of the most beautiful churches in Bohol.

He was talking about the interiors of this church, the Francia-painted ceiling and so on. So I rushed to catch a glimpse. Alas, dimalas! It was already closed. We pleaded with the caretaker, to no avail. Argh!

Ang mapag-birong langit, tumigil pa sa pag-ulan! Ah, so I made my self happy shooting the outside!

Look at the left-most pic in the collage. It's the national historical commission's marker. Last line says this was already damaged by a 1990 earthquake. My guide says, good that it was not serious in 2013!

I was amused at the third pic. The writings say "This door was donated by CFI Judge Salas. I suppose that's old? Now I wonder what other things we will see in the future bearing donors' names hehe. Who knows, baka pagdating ng panahon, we may see things like "this piece of tile was donated by". Ganun!

Okay, here are more pics I got from the outside (aba, nilibot ko na) sarado na rin lang eh!

If you noticed, the two bell towers aren't the same size, height or location. Probably due to calamities.

Anyway, we moved on westwards, and I could not help but click at least a pic of the old houses.

Oh, the little park at right is just after the church. It's also a nice well-maintained park, and Jose Rizal's monument is there. Across the road (not seen in photo) is their district hospital. Everything is in here!

That's one thing I observed.., this town has a number of big old wooden houses still standing.

Some are those I saw just near the corner going to Ilihan Shrine, before entering this busy district. But many are within this 'business area', and almost all have their ground levels already 'commercializing'.

A few meters on, I saw this signage that seem to have a 'title'". It says "National Highway". Oo ito nga!

The name "Sierra Bullones" drew my bewildered attention, and it sent my disoriented brain a twirling!

So I asked my guide "didn't we pass by that town earlier, and it is behind us"? He said "yes and no". Yes we passed by the town early in the day; and No, it's not behind us but now already above (north) of us!

Woa! He explained that we actually already turned around the island clockwise, because we wanted to go to Pilar, Alicia, Mabini, etc. But, if we just wanted to go straight from Sierra Bullones to Jagna, there is already that road, also good, passing by the hills and mountains of central Bohol. Wow! New lesson!

And he told me places to see along that road, like strawberries, springs, caves, falls, rice terraces, etc!

Then we reached the public market where he turned left before the big building, and we reached this:

That was to the left of the car, we did not stop, but just slowed down, and my driver/guide was saying "that is the Port of Jagna" to which I butted-in with "ah oo, yung mga RORO to Nasipit Cagayan De Oro and fastcraft to Camiguin". Oops.., that might have pre-empted his 'tour guide's spiel'. How bad of me!

But, he just smiled as he parked by a Talisay tree on the water's edge, in front of some eatery, while he said "di ba gusto mo mag-yosi muna at mag-Coke sir? Dito maganda, at meron akong ipapakita sayo"!

THAT, was such a special information, experience. But I'll tell about it in my next story. Wait for it!

Anyway, after spending some time at the port, we headed onwards, with a last glance of town center.

We were turning left here, to the highway once again, and onwards westwards to "Garcia Hernandez". I think I was trying to capture here, my last snippet at those big old wooden houses. I really like them!

Outside of the busy Jagna town proper, the wonderful sea-views along the highway beckoned again.

I know it was already getting dark, that my driver/guide even asked me if my phone could still capture clear images at such low illumination, as we sped along. Ah, lumalaban pa. The pic above is my proof!

Five kilometers on, we reached this point along the Bohol Circumferential Road, yes this highway!

Yep, that is the highway boundary between Jagna (where we just came from), and Garcia Hernandez (the town we were about to enter). Then what happened? Blurred na ang pictures, nagdilim na talaga!

But I did not give up that easily! I still took blurry pictures hahaha! Wait for it in my next story.

After I tell you about that "special experience" at the Jagna Port! C ya tomorrow!

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