The Bard from Bohol

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When Boholanos talk about “our President”, there is a big chance we are not talking about the incumbent. More likely, we are talking about the first and only Philippine President who came from our dear province.

Carlos P. Garcia was born on November 4, 1896 in Talibon, Bohol to Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia Polistico. He grew up with politics in his blood, his father having served as Municipal Mayor for four (4) terms. He married pharmacist Leonila “Inday” Dimataga-Garcia and had one daughter named Linda Garcia who later married Fernando Campos.

Garcia had been described as "quiet and serene career politician". He was both an artist - a poet at that - and a politician (in Tagalog, “makata at pulitiko”). He was adoringly referred to as the “Bard from Bohol” or as the “Prince of Visayan Poets”. He was also a school teacher, a legal luminary, and a guerilla leader.

Garcia studied in the Cebu Provincial High School, took up his pre-law degree at Silliman University and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree at the Philippine Law School. In law school, he was holder of the Malcolm Scholarship Award for four (4) consecutive years and was one of the top ten in the bar examinations held in 1923.

After graduating from law school in 1923, Garcia became a school teacher and taught law in Metro Manila colleges. He resigned to join politics in 1925 and was elected for three terms (1925-1931) as representative of the third district of Bohol. Then, he served for three terms (1933-1941) as provincial governor of Bohol.

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White sands of Candabong, Anda, Bohol

No doubt it was the highlight of our vacation in Bohol. Last December 30, we trooped from the mountains of Sudlon, Alicia, Bohol, where my wife hails, to the enchanting white sands of Candabong, Anda, a nearby town, for a cool Rizal Day splash. The beach was public. We paid absolutely nothing to get in. The sand was creamy white and not artificial, unlike those in other private resorts in the province. At the farthest end of the semi-oval stretch of white sand is a small rock/island shaped like a soldier's helmet. Along the shore were lines of boats and huts lying idly, as if time has stopped in that corner of the world. When we arrived (at around 9am) there was nobody there. We had the whole place to ourselves. When my 5-year old son saw the place, he smiled all the way up to his ears. Then he plunged and spent the whole day on the water. A few other groups arrived later, but there was still plenty of space run around. In fact, there was plenty of space to do our barbecue and some...

A pilgrimage to the Baclayon Church

Sometimes, when we are too close to something, we fail to see its beauty. This is probably the reason why there are still many Boholanos, especially those living at the coastal areas, who have yet to visit the viewing deck of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol, or even the new one in Sagbayan, Bohol. Because we know it is just nearby, we sort of miss out on how extraordinary the thing is. It is exactly the same with the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, Bohol, the second oldest stone Church in the Philippines. I don't think many really appreciate its place in the history of our country. Baclayon is a municipality which is 6 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City. It is Bohol's oldest municipality and the mother of 3 other municipalities, namely, Alburquerqe, Balilihan and Sikatuna. In Cebuano, "baclayon" means the distance that one needs to walk. This is probably the reason why the town was so named as it is located at the coast of Bohol sever...

List of Bohol Town Fiestas

They say that the island of Bohol sinks about an inch in May due to the thousands of Bol-anons who come home to attend the many town and barrio fiestas celebrated during the month. You can almost feel this once you disembark from those overloaded ships docking at the Tagbilaran Port in May. Fiestas in Bohol are occasions of great joy and merry-making, as well as lots of free food. Almost every household in town or in the barrio is on a welcome mode and, yes, you can literally go to any house, even if you do not know the owner, and eat your heart out. Experience this to believe. The following is a list of Bohol town fiestas in chronological order and with their corresponding patron saints. January 16 - Cortes - Santo Niño January 16 - Pres. Garcia - Holy Child January 16 - Valencia Sr. - Santo Niño January 17 - Carmen Saint - Anthony de Abbot January 29 - Ubay - Holy Child Last Saturday of January - Getafe - Holy Infant February 11 - Dagohoy - Our Lady of Lourdes April 27 - Corella - N...

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