The Bohol Sojourn

Time stood still for a day last April 26, Wednesday when twenty-two teachers of Maguikay Elementary School and three students including me went on leisure tour. We had long planned the summer sight-seeing and was finally hatched when our dearest principal arrived from Tagbilaran City and surprised us for her announcement to personally act as tourist guide to Bohol.
We left from Pier1, Cebu city at 7:30 p.m. of Tuesday via our destination. We felt so happy and carefree as we huddled together in near- by cots. How fast has time flown when everyone was chatting (with one another) during the cruise that we forgot that Cokaliong Ship had landed at the Tagbilaran City port, at 11:30 midnight. We only disembarked from the ship at 6:00 o’clock am of Wednesday.
We had breakfast of rice, chorizo and coffee or milk at the Pasalubong Port at the Tagbilaran City. And others shared their packed lunch. We had several lively picture-taking while others bought the Bohol delicacy called ‘kalamay’. Suddenly the two tourist buses (which our principal had contacted) arrived and off we went for the real sight-seeing.
Nature has bestowed this beautiful island with exotic rich and historical places which are not found in other places in our country. And we are very fortunate to be given that special privilege as domestic tourist for the day.
Our first stop- over was the Shrine of the Blood Compact situated just a short drive from the Tagbilaran City Port. The shrine depicted the Blood Compact between Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez De Legaspi in the earlier time of the Spanish dominion in our shore. We had a jolly picture- taking in this historical spot each vying a statue like pose. The group then proceeded to the Baclayon Church which is believed to be the oldest church in the Philippines built in 1595. we got inside the Baclayon Church Museum and then, at the ancient Baclayon church where we saw rare and exquisite religious relics. We also took a few pictures of the historical church. We passed by the Cabilakan Island where whale-watchers are frequenting. However, due time constraint, we decided not to drop by that tourist attraction. We then proceeded to the famous Loboc River where we, (in two hired bancas wearing orange life jackets) cruised happily along the cool, serene blue waters of the beautiful river. We passed – by the Busay Springs along sides of the river and Mrs. Gimoros, Mr. Rebacca, Mrs. Malazarte and I had the experience of climbing the trocky cliffs above the flowing springs. We disembarked on that side of the river where few of the ‘tourist’ bought ‘honey’ by the river bank. And for our last trip the world- famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol. It was such an awesome sight, looking down at the 1000 more or less scattered hills below , as we climbed up at the tallest hill to view this wondrous work of nature. We climbed atop where we tossed a coin at a wishing well . Then we ate lunch at the only restaurant in that one hill. Afterwards, we proceeded to another beautifully developed and landscaped hill not so far- The Sagbayan Peak. There, we saw the spreading ornamental scattered in wide plains where we could stroll. The view is so inviting that even with our tired limbs, we pretended to be sustainingly ‘able’ just to join the other people to savor the beauty of the place. There for the second time, we saw and met the tarsiers. A few of my teachers also viewed the Beautiful Garden where the multi- colored butterflies hovered among pretty flowers. Standing atop the Sagbayan peak overlooking the beautiful green hills around the vicinity makes us think and realize of the existence of an ‘Almighty Being’ who could create such wondrous exhilarating sights.
We could have stayed a little longer but when we disembarked at Tubigon wharf we knew that we are heading home. As awakened from a mesmerizing sleep, we let our memory freely whirl in reminiscence of the trip as the ship sailed back to Cebu. That question raised by my teacher during the presentation of the itinery as how to visit such many places in just a day, was well answered. What with a superbly dynamic principal around, nothing is impossible.