Bohol’s premiere destination for luxurious accommodations

By Tessa Prieto-Valdes
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 0 31 14

LAMIAN Restaurant at Bellevue Resort

Properties along the sun-bleached, sandy coastline of Bohol are becoming scarce. The island of Panglao in the Western Visayan province of Bohol has become one of the world’s most desirable destinations for travelers who want resort living without losing the charm of an island setting.

The Bellevue Resort, the newest venture of brilliant entrepreneur Johnny Chan, recently opened its doors as the island’s premiere destination for luxurious accommodations and topnotch hospitality.

The entire island of Panglao is ringed with resorts, from its northern shores to the famous Alona Beach on its southwest end. The Bellevue Resort is quietly tucked away in a sliver of secluded beach along the western side of the island, just a few minutes from Panglao town itself.

Experience a luxurious and comfortable life + affordable rates and plans.

Perfect getaway

The Bellevue has 159 luxury suites overlooking its picturesque Doljo Beach. The resort combines contemporary design and tropical lifestyle to create the perfect getaway in Bohol.

THE BELLEVUE Resort in Bohol

The large and welcoming lobby opens into an expansive infinity pool in front of the beach. Several koi ponds are designed around the sprawling garden leading to the pool area.

Rooms at the resort’s north wing are specifically designed with families in mind. With two queen beds in every masterfully designed guest room, The Bellevue Resort’s spacious rooms can easily accommodate up to four adults. With an addition of a rollaway bed, families of up to five can rest comfortably, and still have room to move about freely.

Rooms, pools

Couples have an option to stay in the resort’s deluxe rooms at the south wing which range from 35 to 45 square meters, or opt to indulge in any of the resort’s luxurious suites which range from 65 to over 170 square meters. The suites are all equipped with king beds and creature comforts like large LED TVs, and iPod-ready stereos.

Guests will also find it difficult to resist the temptation to swim in the resort’s magnificent infinity pool, which also has a kiddie area for toddlers going for a dip. The pool also has a diving area for those who really want to make a big splash. There is also an indoor playing area where children can enjoy themselves, while gym buffs need not to worry about skipping their routine while on vacation as the resort offers a well-equipped gym for guests to work on their muscles.

Restaurants, bars

The resort features several restaurants and bars, each with its own distinctive taste and style. Whether a quick snack, a buffet feast, or a special romantic dinner with a private table overlooking Doljo Beach, The Bellevue Resort offers various dining outlets to suit any appetite.

Flujo offers refreshing summer cocktails, tropical shakes and other bar chow, while Western and Filipino fusion cuisine takes center stage at Cena. Lamian offers a buffet of the best dishes from around the world, while seafood fans are in for a treat at the resort’s signature seafood restaurant, Marea, where the fine-dining experience is complemented by the stunning seaside ambiance.

Ideal sanctuary

John Patrick Chan, managing director of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, told me that the resort’s special location makes it an ideal sanctuary for privacy and indulgence. “The Bellevue stands for dedicated service, uncompromised quality and a penchant for innovation.” Check it all out at www.thebellevue.com or call (02) 771-8181 for info.

Personally I think it is amazing that we get entrepreneurs to invest in such great resorts for the increasing number of tourists coming to our country. I also discovered that the team behind The Bellevue Resort is the same group that put up The Bellevue Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Guests familiar with the five-star luxury and amenities of the preeminent hotel in the southern hub of Metro Manila can now be assured of the same quality, comfort and pampering level when they venture to Panglao.

Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or email her at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.

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Bohol Aims For The Top

Danao Adventure Park

The province of Bohol is out to reclaim its post as the top tourist destination in the country.

This is the newfound vision of the government of Bohol, which recently launched its newest tourism campaign—dubbed as Bohol: Heart of the Islands, Truly Philippines—in partnership with Philippine Bohol Arts Foundation Institute (PABFI) and the province’s tourism stakeholders.

Aimed at immensely boosting local and foreign tourist arrivals and making the province the country’s preferred travel destination, the campaign showcases Bohol’s rich cultural and historical heritage, highlighting its rich eco-cultural value beyond the Chocolate Hills and the diminutive tarsiers, the world’s smallest primate.

"Other than the usual sites that are being promoted here—the Loboc River, the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, and the white sand beaches of Panglao—there is more to discover in Bohol that will make greater tourism impact, not only for the province, but also in relation to the Philippine context of promoting the country," said Bohol Governor Edgar Migriño Chatto.

The event, held at the Centennial Hall in Manila Hotel, gathered key public officials and tourism leaders, including Manila Hotel President and former senator Joey Lina, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Cesar Cruz, and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr.

Located in Central Visayas, Bohol literally sits at the heart of the Philippine archipelago. Boasting of diving sites revered as among the best worlwide, the province is home to a number of natural wonders, such as—aside from the Chocolate Hills—the biggest mangrove plantation in Asia, and the Dajanon Bank, the lone double-barrier reef in the region and one of only six such marine structures in the world.

“Bohol and its people have a certain respect and appreciation for heritage and tradition,” Chatto shared. “This is why we have come up with this campaign to highlight the captivating charm that Bohol exudes and the heartwarming hospitality offered by Boholanos themselves.”

One of the things that Bohol would like to promote and enrich through its new tourism campaign is the element of nationalistic pride. “By showing everyone how Boholanos have preserved practices and beliefs that other Filipinos have already seemed to forget, we are also able to emphasize the value of cherishing their heritage,” PBAFI Executive Ria Cauton noted. “In an age when our culture are soaked in various colonial ideas and influences, that’s really something that has become rare.”

Bohol’s colorful history can be seen all over the province—especially when one looks upon its well-preserved Hispanic structures scattered all over, like the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, which attracts thousands of devout Catholics every year, and the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, which is touted as Asia’s best-preserved Jesuit church.

In addition, other reasons that permit the province to say, ‘You can’t say you’ve been to the Philippines and truly experienced Filipino culture without having gone to Bohol,’ are its rich and distinct culinary offerings, vibrant nightlife, thriving art scene and ancestral craft-making practices. All of these underscore the fact that, indeed, one of Bohol’s main assets are its hospitable, constantly jovial and honest people.

“You don’t have to be from Bohol to love Bohol,” revealed Secretary Jimenez. “It’s simply being part of a rich cultural experience that makes a visit to Bohol unforgettable. The Loboc Children’s Choir, for example, has become a symbolic icon of the province precisely because, as an American friend who heard them once said, ‘You cannot sing the way they do if you are not happy.
”

Bohol is so cool this summer

It’s the year for local travel–and to have fun in the Philippines

By: Erica Paredes
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 0share8 8

GET INTERACTIVE at the Loboc River Cruise.

My resolution this year is to see more of my own country. In the past, traveling abroad was the thing to do, with domestic travel reserved for those doing business or visiting their provincial hometowns.

Plus, even just a decade ago, rural roads were not very tourist-friendly, or even nonexistent. More and more, though, Filipinos have become more open to local travel, and also eager to show off their homeland to the  international traveler.

In the race to become the go-to vacation spot in Asia, the Philippines has a few no-longer-secret destinations. Bohol is definitely one of them, with its mix of provincial charm, history and high-end resorts.

CHOCOLATE Hills

I had always wanted to go to Bohol, mostly for the Chocolate Hills, which was one of my favorite places on earth as a child, even if I had never been there. On this trip, I finally got to see them, plus  much more!

Beaches and resorts

Bohol has something for everyone. If you like socializing and meeting  people, find accommodations along Alona Beach, where you will meet people of all nationalities.

Don’t expect the Boracay nightlife, but there are a few bars sprinkled around the beach and nearby places if you want a night-out.

DAUIS Church

For a newer, more lavish stay, check out Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, a place that seems right for both couples and families alike. There you will enjoy all the comforts of a hotel, but with native details, and also a very good international menu.

For those who want a more rustic setting, the Bohol Bee Farm might be your best bet. From fresh food to a shop where edible take-home items are available, and of course, the bee farm, it’s a charming place and perfect for a trip with girlfriends. Don’t forget to try their homemade ice cream and bring back their fresh spreads and honey!

History and tourist attractions

If you want to see more than just the beaches, there are many historical places you can check out.  Dauis Church is one of the oldest churches in the region, impressive even on the outside, and more so when you step in, look up, and see the artwork that dates back to 1916.

Baclayon Church is another must-see. One of the oldest churches in the country, it was built by Spanish settlers in the 1600s and still stands today. If you go to the side of the church, you will see a watermark from years of rainfall. Locals say it is the image of Padre Pio.

Watermark of Padre Pio on the side of Baclayon Church

Of course, a Bohol trip is not complete without seeing the Chocolate Hills. Whatever you have seen in books or television will never compare to the view when you get there. It is absolutely majestic and I found myself open-mouthed, in awe of the place. It was my childhood dream to see it, after all!

Another attraction on the must-see list is the tarsiers, the image-models of Bohol tourism. They recently built a more tarsier-friendly sanctuary for these endangered animals, and tourists can walk in a “forest” and see them in their natural habitat. Photographs holding or touching the tarsiers are no longer allowed.

Lastly, if you want to take a leisurely lunch, try the Loboc River Cruise, a one-hour ride down the river, with a buffet lunch and on-board live entertainment.

If you’d like to experience all of these things, now is the best time. Philippine Airlines has partnered with Allied Bank and created the Mabuhay Miles Mastercard. Get the “Lipat na, Lipad pa” promo and get 5,000 miles for a minimum  P10,000 transfer and up to 30,000 instant bonus miles that will allow you to book international flights.

The Mabuhay Miles Mastercard also offers travel insurance coverage as well as a low mile conversion at only P33 per mile. For details, visit your nearest Allied Bank or Philippine National Bank branch and fill up the “Lipat na, Lipad pa” application form. Promo will last until April 15 so get your summer vacations sorted out now!

Explore Bohol

Think you’ve seen enough of Bohol beyond Panglao and the Chocolate Hills?

November 17, 2011, 9:31am

Panglao Nature Park

MANILA, Philippines — Beyond the Chocolate Hills and the beaches in Panglao, is there actually more to Bohol than what ends up in travel brochures and high school textbooks?

 Rep. Arthur Yap (3rd District, Bohol) answers a resounding yes—animatedly talking of a yet-to-be-explored side of Bohol that awaits the eager, adventurous tourist.

“Bohol is to Chocolate Hills as Chocolate Hills is to Bohol—and Panglao’s pristine beaches are a microcosm of the beauty that is our province,” he said. “But after you’ve seen these tourist favorites, the challenge is—what other adventures are just waiting to be seen, heard and felt by the many daring travelers that flock to our province?”

Yap excitingly notes that everyone will be surprised at the multitude of experiences available.

 “Bohol is a teeming hub of never-before-seen experiences—whether you’re a history geek, a culture vulture, or a nature buff, you definitely won’t leave the province without something to brag to your family and friends.”

 Himself having taken a journey through Bohol’s towns, dirt roads and clear waters, Yap recounts how he himself fell in love with the majestic views and interesting history associated with each destination. “Take for example, the man-made forest that connects Loboc and Bilar—who would suspect that this thicket of mahogany trees is the result of the hard work of hundreds of laborers who reforested the area, after it has been cleared and converted to farmlands during the war?”

He vividly describes the solemn, captivating sight of the lush greens with the sun languidly streaming through the haze. “People who pass through this road surely can’t help but be smitten by the otherworldly atmosphere,” he says.

 The Blood Compact site in Tagbilaran, where chieftain Datu Sikatuna and the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legazpi sealed the two countries’ friendship during a momentous event on March 16, 1565, is a venue Yap believes will enchant locals and foreigners interested in the Philippines’ colonial past.

“Apart from this spot which marks how the country opened up to the outside world, Bohol’s many colonial architectural wonders, like the Baclayon church and the incomplete church in Dimiao dubbed the Ermita Ruins, as well as Lamanoc Island’s petroglyphs in Anda, are echoes from the past which prove how Bohol figures in the rich and multifaceted history of the Philippines.”

 Yap hopes that, like him, many more tourists will discover the hidden side of Bohol, firsthand. “With Explore Bohol, District 3’s very own tourism program, we are giving travelers wishing to go beyond the popular tourist spots the chance to create their own adventures,” he said.

(Photos from: www.bohol-philippines.com;www.bohol.ph; www. wikipedia.com;www.theboholstandard.com; Chocolate-Hills by Jeroen Hellingman )

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