Bol-anon

The City of Tagbilaran prides itself of being a city of friendship. This claim is based on the historic blood compact between Rajah Sikatuna and the Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The agreement between the Spanish conquistador and a native chieftain has been described as one of the first, if not the first, treaty between the east and the west. This tradition of hospitality and friendship continues as the city gives warm welcome to visitors and tourists especially through its port. We got to observe this hospitality when the ship we were taking to Dipolog City made a stop at the Port of Tagbilaran on - what better day - Good Friday. One would think that, considering that it was Good Friday, there would be little activity at the port. Wrong. The first to greet us was the the pilot boat which met our ship to "deliver" a pilot who will assist in steering and docking. The boat's approach provided brief entertainment to us passengers who have been watching the sea for around a day a...

The Presidential yacht. Manila Hotel at dusk. Manila from the sea. One Superferry to another. A traveller's reflections. View on top.

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...

Hopefully, this will be the first of many. I have recently started a survey on hotels, resorts, inns and pension houses in Bohol with the hope of getting more personalized information from them regarding their places. First to respond is Bob of Alambung Tropical Living located in Panglao. His responses clearly exemplify the kind of hospitality they offer. The place is named after their Lumbungs, traditional native Balinese rice barns which they have constructed with Filipino touch. The place is located in Danao, Panglao Bohol, and within five-minute walk to the sea and a two-minute ride to the famous Alona Beach . For inquiries, visit their website at www.alumbungbohol.com or email info@alumbungbohol.com . What's your place like? We have 2 villas and 1 cottage only, a small private place perfect for relaxing in a beautiful tropical garden. What are the accommodation options and how affordable are the rates? Villa rate for 2 persons is 1700 Php starting February 1st, 1500...

First | Second | Third | Last In the national elections of 1961, Garcia was defeated by then Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal. In 1971, he was again elected, this time as one of the delegates of the Province of Bohol to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. On June 14, 1971 , or three (3) days after he was elected President of the Convention, he died at the age of 74 due to a fatal heart attack. Garcia’s wisdom continues to inspire many of us. “Life is what you make it”, was his guiding philosophy. According to him "with the necessary consequences of your good deeds, you build the ladder through whose rungs you climb to sublime destiny, you build the dungeon of your own life’s imprisonment or bondage. There is no escape from the universal law of cause and effect. You always reap what you sow." Studies of the works of Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Cervantes, Ingersoll, Vargas Villa, among others, laid the foundations of Garcia’s life and shaped his path as a public official ...

First | Second | Third | Last Garcia’s administration is most remembered by its adherence to a comprehensive nationalist policy known as the Filipino First Policy, by its pursuance of an austerity program, and for its role in reviving Filipino cultural arts. Garcia popularized economic nationalism by the adoption of the Filipino First Policy. On March 3, 1960 , he affirmed the need for complete economic freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests, especially American, in the national economy. He promised to shake off "the yoke of alien domination in business, trade, commerce and industry." “ Only those can remain free who are worthy of it. Freedom must be constantly deserved.” The Filipino First Policy was intended to complete and guarantee Philippine economic independence and sovereignty. It gave priority or preference to Filipinos over foreigners in the acquisition of land and capital and in the operation of business...

First | Second | Third | Last During World War II, Garcia was active in the resistance movement in Bohol and was hunted by the Japanese military authority because of his refusal to surrender and cooperate with the occupation government. After the war, he received a citation from the late President Manuel L. Quezon. He also became part of several missions to Washington intended to secure the approval of the Philippine Rehabilitation and War Damage Claims. Garcia came to the notice of both President Quezon and Vice-President Osmeña and was drafted to the Nacionalista Party’s senatorial ticket in 1941. He was elected Senator for three consecutive terms, from 1941 to 1953. When he was in the Senate, he was chairman and member of numerous key committees, among them government reorganization, foreign affairs, public works, army and navy, and justice. He was also a member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. From 1946 to 1951 Garcia served as minority floor leader of the Senate. From 194...