Philippine Travel Notes

Alrightie. All four of us happy and gay after the hefty lunch and the restful cruise up and down the Loboc River, we hustled onwards to the rest of our trip going to Loay, Albur, Baclayon, Panglao, Tagbilaran, Cortes, Maribojoc, Loon, Calape and back to Tubigon. Quite a number of places yet to see, right? Very right! And it was already mid-afternoon! So I did not expect to cover things I would have wanted. But happily go on we did, with me telling the group, we’ll just have to omit what we can and make the most out of daylight. First though, we must see the ever evolving Loboc Municipal Hall. Its getting beautiful, the outside surroundings at least, by the day! Just like the plaza/park fronting it. So we went for it even if briefly. Hey what would you expect of a town frequented by a lot of tourists everyday? They enjoy lots of tax earnings, so they have quite a deep “kaban ng bayan” to beautify things here and there. Reason why the municipal building looks new? Certainly! And the park...

So, on the boat we were! And we were happily front seat just two steps from the buffet table! I was up front taking pictures of whatevers when I heard one of the crews do her usual welcome remarks and declared lunch was served. What else, of course I was first to toe that buffet line, then quickly signaled for my companions to follow me. Note: at 1:46PM, yep 1346H, all of your boatmates are tourists who have also missed their schedules by staying too long at their previous tour destinations, therefore are quite hungry and craving for lunch. So, I think poise and finesse are two words you may want to temper down a little bit if you come to this place at such a time. Just don’t be wild hehe. Okay?! Hey, on this boat that we took, the buffet did not even have that extensive a variety of choices if I may compare them to previous tours. But having seen that red thingy (second tray) beside the fish fillet, ah I was already fine, and I knew I’d have a fulfilling lunch. Plus pineapple, banana ...

I was excited… not because I was going on this nostalgic cruise once again, but because I was nearing lunch! And it was past lunchtime, argh! From the Tarsiers I ‘commanded’ we go straight to park the motorbikes and buy tickets for the first available boat with buffet lunch. I told them we better just see whatever else is in town after the cruise (lunch). Yeah yeah, I still noticed and even got impatient at that one-way bridge where men in radios have to control passage of vehicles by doing their roger-roger and/or over-over. Its been so for a long time now and that one-way traffic is getting a bit excruciating since more and more vehicles are passing by this area. The timing is always subjective and dependent on the radio-wielding men as to when your turn will be called. Anyway… At the ‘departure area’, I bought our tickets, and wondered where the two drivers went. I kept looking around as to where they might be. Its easy to spot a person in this area but I could not see them. Soon th...

If our drivers might have been zooming faster than usual this time, ah I was not complaining hehe. My principles on safety, comfort and convenience do get a bit twisted when the tummy grumbles. I think you my dearest readers should also take note of this. Its just impossible to depart from Tubigon in the morning and expect to have a timely lunch at Loboc River after attempting to enjoy Inabangga, Danao, Carmen, the hills, Batuan, Bilar, the Tarsiers and many other things. Don’t worry, I pre-advised the companion that I acceded to his plan on the condition that I will blame him forever and ever. The reply: we can always come back here. Awk! See that picture? I never even got to say hi and hello to the operators of that buggy tour. I could have asked questions like “what’s with those two front tires slanting inwards at the top” hehe! I snapped this photo by twisting my body as if to turn back as we sped past them. Then there was Batuan but we did not even make a stop anywhere in this tow...

If you are looking for the best guided and annotated tour in the Philippines, you will only find it in Bohol. I will stand on that declaration with my chin high up! Howsoever you arranged for it, your tour will be the same - a grand look around the various natural and man-made wonders of the place, PLUS a barrage of historical information you will itch to write every detail down on a notebook. Best if you bring your palm or XDA! I have taken this tour three times (in three years) and each of those times I got so excited and too absorbed into the sceneries, the stories and the histories about the place. While the tour guides im part basically the same information, there is always something else new that I discover (or remember for good)! First time I went was with a big tour group – a whole bus load of about 40 tourists. Second time I went there, I was traveling with a special friend – only the two of us! And the third time, I was with seven of my adventurous friends! In all those tours...