by anyajulia | Jan 26, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News, Tourism
BOHOL would be the training ground for the country’s tourism ambassadors as the government launches an apprenticeship program for students taking tourism related courses.
Through Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Durano’s help, the government has recently launched the DOT’s Apprentice Program. This program allows the exposure of students in tourism-related courses to be immersed or exposed in the country’s top destinations.
Students eligible for the program are from the following schools:
Arellano University,
University of Sto. Tomas,
Centro Escolar University,
Colegio de San Juan de Letran,
College of the Holy Spirit,
De Ocampo Memorial School,
Emilio Aguinaldo College,
St. Scholastica’s College,
Sta. Catalina College,
University of Manila,
San Beda College,
University of the East,
Far Eastern University,
Feati University,
Lyceum of the Philippines,
Philippine Women’s University,
San Sebastian College Recoletos,
St. Jude College, and
St. Paul University, Manila.
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by anyajulia | Jan 14, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events, National News, Tourism
A 100 Chinese students together with their 20 teachers of Sichuan, China will visit he country and tour Bohol in the following days.
The delegation from China confirmed the invitation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after she saw the destruction in the province caused by the earthquake last May 2008. The visit is included in the psychological regress of the children after the experience after the earthquake.
Click here, for vernacular version.
by anyajulia | Jan 8, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tourism
The tons of white sand washed away in the Alona Beach area can possibly return if the efforts won’t be in vain to avoid further damage in the aforementioned area.
This was the statement said by Gov. Erico Aumentado in a meeting with the Alona owners and stakeholders in their porject to bring back the white sand of Alona beach. The governor added that Manila Base Construction will be the one in-charge of vacuuming out sand in a deep level of the seabed and will be placed along the Alona shoreline.
This “airless method” was the conclusion of a study done by Dr. Wilfred Welldimir of the Tropical Marine Ecology, Fishery, Biology, Agriculture and Physical Oscillography. This study was conducted for Alona Beach Foundation years ago but was presented to the government just recently.
by anyajulia | Dec 22, 2008 | Features, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tourism
A world-class musical drama by a community theater rendered at the foot of the centuries old watchtower is the latest in culture and history pedagogy now making a hit in Bohol.
Here, a community theater tells the story in a brilliant weaving of music and dance.
The artistic cultural presentation retells the infamous pangayaw raids of the moro Tirones, one that would force the people to fortify for themselves and build a stone watchtower for their defense and organize an armada of boat riding men to meet the raiders and engage them in battle at sea.
Pangayaw is a traditional pillaging of moro tribes in the region for gold, food and slaves to be sold to rich sultans in Mindanao in the 17th century.
Performed by local Cultural Collective at the foot of the centuries old watchtower, the Castillo del San Vicente Eco-Heritage Tour officially opened with much fanfare Thursday, December 18 at the Punta Cruz Complex in Maribojoc.
Mayor Leoncio Evasco, in an interview before the musical and artistic rendition of the tour’s main highlight aired his elation over the outcome of their effort to help the community.
Aided by a funding agency partner and assisted by an NGO, the government and contacted artists, the mayor said the town has developed livelihood and enterprise as well as harnessed young talents in the area.
Along with Bohol Alliance of Non-Government Organizations in a project called Building Livelihood Enterprise in Support for Sustainable Eco-Tourism (BLESSED) in Maribojoc, the local government has also effectively reclaimed the town landmark from it’s an image as just one of the many heritage towers here, but as a root of local history and culture becoming a major crux of tourism activities.
“Along the process, the Punta Cruz Cultural Collective, a community theater comprised by 21 artists who went through the Basic Integrated Theater Arts Workshop was established” creative and artistic consultant Lutgardo Labad said.
“The soft launching turned out to be a major event which opened eyes to the historical realities that shaped the local culture and tradition,” admits a Maribojoc local artist who witnessed the 30 minute artistic performance.
Performed at the foot of the 17th century watchtower venerated to San Vicente Ferrer, the brilliant dramatization of historic moro raids intricately weaves the past with the present, reinstating the towering role of the heritage structure in the lives of Maribocjanons, shared a retired teacher too awed by the performance.
Trained local artists from barangays Punta Cruz, Guiwanon, Lagtangon and Bood all of Maribojoc staged the dramatization using classic pangalay (southern temple worship dance) choreography, indigenous instrumentation and the age-old chanted narration to thread the entire story line.
At the opening rites, PACAP Bohol project coordinator May Blanco hailed the town for the integration of culture, empowerment, conservation and history to develop economic and livelihood opportunities for communities.
She pointed out that several development plans overlook the crucial culture and environment, but now Maribojoc.
The Castillo del San Vicente Eco-heritage Tour is unlike your other stops that takes about 15 minutes.
This is may be an hour-long tour featuring local guides, cultural presentations, souvenir item shopping and the soon to open marine protected area guided tours, Fritzie Mae Zamora tells.
Zamora coordinates Bangon tourism assisted events and also helps communities develop tourism support products.
The tour at the Punta Cruz complex also feature banana chip pasalubongs, native souvenir items crafted by nearby communities and next year also adds a guided marine protected area tours, she added. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 19, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tourism
TERRAZA de Mariveles, the romantic trysting nook at the historic plaza de Dauis becomes the main hub of classical and joyous Christmas music this Tuesday, December 30.
The romantic terrace transforms itself into another heart-warming venue for Christmas music as two of the region’s most sought after music groups perform a concert billed as Christmas Jamming `08.
Performing are Loboc’s famous youth band and Cebu’s Philippine Peace Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet, says Rev. Fr. Val Pinlac, Assumption parish priest and Dauis Renaissance Program (DRP) key figure.
Fr. Pinlac said aside from the romantic seaside terrace just across scenic Tagbilaran strait, the terrace which features the historic Mariveles palms and grand acacia trees also exude yuletide music to saturate everyone with the mood for joyous giving and sharing.
Both groups fill the air with noels and classical yuletide compositions from the worlds greatest composers in an event organized by the parish.
The event is one of the activities that the parish offers to cause the full operation of the Dauis Renaissance Program.
The program, a partnership initiative with the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Assumption Shrine Parish and Ms. Bea Zobel Jr., and aims to promote Dauis heritage conservation leading to community development and empowerment through sustainable tourism.
Aside from managing the Pilgrim Center Complex, DRP also works for the operation of the Café Lawis, Handumanan Souvenir Shop, a 100 person fully furnished function room and the Terraza.
The end goal is to train locals to be responsibly operating the tourism enterprises upon its full turn over of responsibilities a few years from now, Fr. Pinlac adds.
The Terraza, within the church complex forms a major part in the local oral traditions as told by visiting fishermen from Argao, at least a century ago.
A story handed down tells about Argao fishermen landing between two marvelous trees (mariveles) in Dauis where their woman hitch rider from Cebu, disembarked.
The woman accordingly wanted to be near her husband in Bohol. She was later seen resembling the image of the Lady of the Assumption now enthroned at the altar of the shrine.
True enough, about a kilometer behind the Dauis Church is the imposing Cathedral of St, Joseph the Worker Parish.
The site also now comes alive with the nearby terrace fully lit and becoming a very romantic venue for al fresco dinner dates and functions. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 5, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tourism
The Caingit Vendors & Fishermen Association along with the Booy Barangay council awaits the results of the water sample near the outfall drainage that they requested from the Department of Health (DOH) – Bohol. They have requested faster results as to know if the waters in Caingit are still safe to bathe in. The Association’s President Abner Lontoc said that there have been a decrease in visitors in the aforementioned area since the drainage was opened. He adds it has already affected their daily income.
Booy Barangay Captain June Telmo had already submitted to the City Mayor’s Office their Resolution No.2008-0211 stating to immediately close the drainage near the shell Depot at Graham Avenue.
