Discover the Natural Beauty of the Philippines!!!

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oo I saw this in the adventure quest thing last time!! I LOVE IT!!

I first thought that cacao grows in that area :D

Banaue Rice Terraces - Considered as the 8th wonder of the world!
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really interesting there :okay:!

Whahaha, those hills. They look funn:Dy!

actually there is a tale about those hills.... some say those are tears of a giant and some say it is the poop of a giant carabao...

banaue is one of my to go list....

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wow... how on earth did this landscape emerge?

no one knows.... but legend has it that those are tears of a giant but some say those are poop of a giant buffalo

The area was underwater before, those are lime deposits if I'm not mistakened but then scientists might be wrong, there's no proof on whether the area was underwater millions of years ago.

There are more than a thousand of those in Bohol, I want to see them!

The Philippines are surely gorgoues. Those chocolate hills are very nice, but how did they become like this? Is it a vulcano area?

^^ that part of the island used to be submerged in water that's why the hills are smooth...

it is called chocolate hills because during dry season, the grass turns into dark brown chocolate in color :)

^^ but foreigner thinks that its a boobs in a rude way... haha

the scientist explanation sounds logical.

amazing views indeed :O
earth is unbeliveable

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Wow SE Asia is surprising and so pristine! Indeed beautiful! Specially Philippines.

Alona Beach, Panglao Island

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A Map of dive sites in southern Bohol
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Panglao Island

Bohol can be reached by daily ferry from Cebu and Negros. Panglao lies in the southern part of Bohol. Alona beach can be reached in about 40 min. by car or taxi from the main city Tagbilaran.

1. Alona Beach
2. Kalipayan
3. Bohol Beach Club (BBC)
4. Doljo Beach
5. Napaling
6. Puntod

Balicasag Island

Balicasag lies to the south of Panglao, 30 min. by boat from Alona beach. There is a resort on the island. There is a resort on the island (do some snorkeling on the beach just outside, there are some colorful dragonets living on the sand). There are several very nice dive sites around this small island:

7. Black forest
8. Balicasag Marine Sanctuary
9. Heaven

Cabilao Island

Cabilao lies in the Cebu Strait. There are two resorts at Cabilao, but only one, La Estrella is nice. There are two dive operators on the island: Sea Explorers and Polaris. Many dive operators from Alona beach and from Cebu make day trips to Cabilao (2 hrs. by boat from Alona). Though if you want to see special animals like pegasus, seahorses or stargazers you have to stay on the island and make a night dive.

10. Lighthouse
11. Cambakis Point
Pamilacan Island
12. Pamilacan
13. Snake Island

East coast of Bohol

The dive area of Anda is not very known but I heard it is quite nice, indeed. All dive sites lie between Guindulman and Anda and are easily reached by boat from Bituon Beach resort in Basdio. The dive operator is German. The following descriptions are short translations from the report on their website (detailed description of dive sites in German on the website).

Baong Gala In
Panorama Reef
Pogaling
Edens garden and Edens grotto (house reef)
Lumayag
Snapper's Cave
Coral Garden
Dap Dap
Virgin and Bacong
Turtle cave

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Banded Boxers

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Beautiful Balicasag

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Cosy Home

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DelicateTones

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FishLips

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Floundering About

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BigFishLittleFish

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FlutteryFish

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ForeverBlowingBubbles

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GardenEels

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KnobblyNudibranch

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SoftCoralandAnthias

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SchoolofJacks

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CleanerShrimp

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SneakyScorpionFish

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SwimmingwiththeFishes

nice!

Bohol Beach Club (BBC)

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powder soft sand

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Resorts in Panglao

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1 Philippine peso = 0.019369 U.S. dollars (March 2, 206)
500 Philippine pesos = 9.6845 U.S. dollars
800 Philippine pesos = 15.4952 U.S. dollars
900 Philippine pesos = 17.4321 U.S. dollars

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Baclayon

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The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is one of the best presevered Jesuit build churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.

The first Spanish missionaries or doctrineros in the region, Fr. Juan de Torres and Fr. Gabriel Sanchez, first settled in Baclayon in 1595. Shortly after their arrival, a visita was erected on the spot.

Although Baclayon was the first seat of the Spanish Jesuit missionaries, fear of Moro mauraders soon forced them to move their headquarters more inland, to Loboc. Only in 1717, Baclayon became a parish, and construction of a new church commenced. Some 200 native forced laborers constructed the church from coral stones, which they took from the sea, cut into square blocks, and piled on to each other. They used bamboo to move and lift the stones in position, and used the white of a million eggs as to cement them together. The current building was completed in 1727. The church obtained a large bell in 1835. In the Baclayon church is a dungeon, which was used to punish natives who violated the rules of the Roman Catholic church.

Next to the church is the old convent, which also houses a small museum with centuries-old religious relics, artifacts and other antiquities, dating back to the 16th century. Included in the collection are an ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, old gold embroidered ecclesiastical vestments, books with carabao skin covers, and librettos of church music written in Latin on sheep skins. Here you can also find the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859.

Getting there. Baclayon is some 6 km east of Tagbilaran. Catch a bus or jeepney in Tagbilaran, going into the direction of Baclayon. You may also find a tricycle willing to bring you there.

http://www.bohol.ph

Dauis Church

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Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, on the Island of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge that connects Panglao with Bohol. The church was founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio. The church is build in a mixture of styles, influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Inside, on the ceiling, are some impressive frescoes painted Ray Francia in 1916. Lito Arraya renovated the building in 1970.

The church's patron saint, the Virgin of the Assumption, is said to possess miraculous powers. An old legend relates that once, when the town was invaded by pirates, the people of Dauis locked themselves into the church. However, they soon ran out of provisions and water. Then a miracle occurred: a well appeared at the foot of the altar. This same well is still the main source of water for the people living close to the church, and, although the well is only a few meters from the sea, the water is absolutely fresh. The water is said to have healing powers, so, if you're visiting here, don't forget to bring a bottle and take some home.

Getting there: The church is a nice three kilometer walk from Tagbilaran city. Alternatively, you may catch a tricycle or jeepney to bring you across.

http://www.bohol.ph

Loon

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The Church of Our Lady of Light in Loon is the biggest church in Bohol. At the spot of the current church, a chapel was constructed during the term of Fray Manuel de Elizalde in 1753. Some fifty years later, the Augustinian Recollects replaced by the current church in Ionic and Corinthian style. The building has two towers octagonal bell towers, and is fully symmetric.

From Loon Church leads of long stairway of 174 stone steps, which connect Napo, the former seat of the town.

Wood to build the church was carried from the forest of Maitum by forced laborers, who had to beat their way through uncharted trails and across rivers.

Getting there. Loon is some 25 km north-west of Tagbilaran City, along the route to Tubigon. Catch a bus to Tubigon from the Integrated Bus Terminal and ask the driver to let you out in Loon.

http://www.bohol.ph

Loay Church

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Maribojoc Church

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The parish of Maribojoc was founded in 1768, and construction of a church started 1798 and lasted 18 years.

Getting there: The church is located in Maribojoc town, 14 kilometers from the Tagbilaran. The place can be reached by bus of jeepney.

BOHOL is an island province in central visayas in the Philippines. Though it is an island, it is easily accessible either by air or by sea if one comes from other Metro Manila or other provinces.

BY AIR

The easiest and fastest way coming to Bohol from Manila and Cebu is by air direct to Tagbilaran City. At present there are three airline companies servicing these routes: Asian-Spirit, Philippine Airlines and the Laoag International Airlines. Daily trips direct from Manila and Cebu are provided by these airlines. Schedules vary, so please check with the airline companies.

Coming from other countries and if one wants to avoid the hassles in the Ninoy Aquino Internation Airport in Manila, you can book your flights from your country and chose Cebu City as your entry point in the Philippines. Then from the Mactan International Airport in Cebu, you can then take a connecting flight (Asian Spirit Airlines) direct to Tagbilaran City. Or if your schedule does not allow you to have a connecting flight upon your arrival at MIA, then you may opt to sleep over in Mactan or take the boat trips to Tagbilaran City.

BY SEA

Travelling by sea is a less expensive alternative in getting to Bohol. Different shipping companies serve the sea routes direct from Manila, Cebu, Cagayan, Dumaguete and Dipolog. Most of the ships/boats dock at the Tagbilaran City Pier while other ships/boats dock at the town ports of Jagna, Ubay, Tubigon, Jetafe & Buenavista. Aside from the super ferries and the regular boats, fastcrafts are also servicing the different routes. Daily trips from Cebu and back are available either by fastcraft or regular boat and trips from Manila and other points of destinations have different schedules during the week.

While in Bohol, you can also rent out some smaller boats or bankas to take you to the islands for island hoppings or scuba divings.

ON LAND

While in the island province of Bohol, different modes of public land transportation can be availed of. Within the city of Tagbilaran, tricycles,
multicabs and aircon taxis transport commuters to and from different points.
For the tricycles, multicabs, jeepneys and other common transportations, the regular fare within the city limits is P4.00. For taxis, the first 500 meters is
P20.00 plus P2.00 for every succeeding 500 meters.

To commute from the city of Tagbilaran to the different towns, buses, aircon vans and taxis can also be availed of. These aircon vans and taxis are readily available at the Tagbilaran City pier and airport. Rates vary depending on the destination and the duration of the use of these vehicles. However majority of the commuters use the public buses or mini buses (few aircon buses are also available) which are found at the Tagbilaran City Grand Terminal at Dao.

Aircon Van for hire

To get to the terminal from the city proper, one has to take a tricycle, taxi or a multicab to the Tagbilaran City Integrated Bus Terminal.

Most of the hotels in Bohol provides free hotel transfers from the ports to the hotel and back. However, if you wish to have your own transportation that would take you around to any destination in Bohol, you can book for a private van or car. Just click here for bookings.

http://www.globalpinoy.com/travel/province/marinduque.php
www.wowphilippines.com/ph