It was actually my second time to go to Bohol but I still had the enthusiasm of someone who has yet to step foot on the breath-taking island-province.The tour could be briefly summed up as follows: sleepless nights, information overload, awe-striking sights, souvenirs, tons of photographs, and most importantly, EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN MEALS (yes you read that right)!
And just in case the EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN MEALS part caught your attention enough for you to actually want to visit Cebu and Bohol, I will mention the names of the restaurants where we indulged ourselves in a smorgasbord. I find this necessary because I am aware of the fact that, indeed, Filipinos really love to eat.
February 20th, Sunday
We boarded our ship (TransAsia Asia-Malaysia) at around 4:30pm. We chose to get to Cebu via ship and not airplane for a couple of reasons: Being from a state university, we are not expected to be filthy rich. While there are those who could afford to pay for plane tickets, majority of the class would find this a wee bit expensive. Also, you get the chance to bond with everybody when you’re on a ship. It’s either you do things with your friends, or go to sleep.
As for me, I struggled to get even a minute of sleep. All we did was stay up and watch the sun rise over the sea, which by the way, was a quite a poetic sight to see.
February 21st, Monday
After arriving at Cebu sea port, we went to have breakfast at Gemino’s Café then proceeded to Cebu Grand Hotel (by bus, courtesy of 7107 Islands Traveller’s Club agency), where we’ll be staying for the next couple of days. After taking quick showers and answering our respective calls of nature, we proceeded to the Office of the Ombudsman.
At the Office of the Ombudsman, we listened to a short lecture by Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas, Pelagio S. Apostol, about the role of the Ombudsman in the Philippine government and how we ordinary citizens could help in fighting crime and corruption. Despite our being drowsy due to the fact that we barely had sleep the previous night, the lecture turned out fun and informative.
Our itinerary for the afternoon after a nice lunch at Family’s Choice Restaurant is a countryside tour of Mactan Island. We first proceeded to the site where Datu Lapu-Lapu killed Ferdinand Magellan on April 27th, 1521 in the Philippines’ first recorded battle against foreign invaders. It was a very nice place to be in. The entire area was kept clean in general and the many trees and plants made it even more pleasing as there is a lot of shade when the sun gets too hot. A memorial for Magellan and a huge statue of Lapu Lapu can be found here.
Now, we all know how it went. Magellan wanted to be friends with Lapu Lapu but the latter refused, leading to the former waging war against the datu. History would tell us that Magellan was killed by Lapu Lapu on the beach during the battle which the Spaniards lost. However, our tour guide told us that some historians now say that Magellan actually died due to poisoning. He was invited by Lapu Lapu to a banquet, but the natives put poison on the foreigners’ food. I have never heard of that version before, and I’m not sure if it had at least an once of truth in it, but the tour guide looked serious while narrating.
Our next stop was Sugbo Otap factory. Most of us probably know that Cebu is famous for otap, that sugar-crusted bread we love, and Sugbo Otap factory is one of the many otap manufacturers around. A pack of Sugbo Otap costs PhP 28, which is really cheaper than other brand of otap. A box, containing ten packs, sells for PhP 280. If you want to buy pasalubong for your loved ones, then look no further.
We proceeded to a guitar factory, another industry Cebu is famous for. Here, they sell all kinds of acoustic guitars (as well as ukeleles) made from different type of trees. There are also a lot of guitar-themed key chains and knick knacks for sale.
The guitar factory was our last stop for the day before proceeding to Ayala Mall to unwind and dinner was at Joeven’s Mandaue Banilad.
February 22nd, Tuesday
We had to wake up at 4:30 to get to Pier 1 at around 5:30 so we won’t be late for the 6am trip of OceanJet to Bohol. It took roughly about two hours to reach Tagbilaran port (Tagbilaran city is the capital of Bohol) from Cebu. 
After arriving, we immediately proceeded (by another bus and with another tour guide) to a restaurant which I regrettably forgot the name. Beside the restaurant is a souvenir store where you can buy the usual stuff people buy for souvenirs – t-shirts, hats, bracelets, etc. On the second floor of the store, one can buy food products, some of which can only be found in Bohol, including dried squid, corn coffee, peanut kisses, pure honey and beverages. I personally recommend the Peanut Kisses, which are like Hersheys Kisses©, but made of peanut and not chocolate. A pack sells for about PhP 250 and each pack has 20 little packs containing eight “kisses”.
After our fill of food and souvenirs, we went to a place showcasing the animal Bohol is known for: Tarsiers. A trip to Bohol is never complete if you fail to see these gentle creatures. Here’s a head’s up for you all, though. Don’t use flash photography when taking pictures of tarsiers as their eyes are too sensitive to the bright light. They get stressed out and eventually commit suicide! Our tour guide said they do this by: banging their head onto something hard; drowning themselves in their drinking water; and holding their breath until they actually forget to breath. Tarsiers are gentle, yes, but also suicidal. Ironic. 
Other animals seen include monkeys, pythons, and flying lemurs. And as with almost every stop in Bohol, there is a souvenir shop, selling tarsier-themed key chains, wallets and cellphone holders, as well as t-shirts.
We then left for Chocolate Hills, the very tourist attraction associated with the word “Bohol”. The road going to The Hills is winding, and elevated. Before reaching the town of Carmen where The Hills are greatly concentrated, we passed by Bohol’s man-made forest. It was started by the provincial government of Bohol in the 1950’s as part of its environmental projects.
The viewing deck for Chocolate Hills is actually situated on one of the hills. That particular hill, developed by the government during the term of former president Joseph Estrada, is a tourist spot where local and foreign tourists could get a panoramic view of the area around. There is also a stairwell (with 214 steps) that leads to an even more elevated portion of the hill. 
Here, you can get a better view of the surrounding area, mostly hills and grasslands. The uppermost part of the hill, though, is not for the weak hearted. And those with knee problems.
We ate lunch at the renowned Loboc River floating restaurant. What you see on TV about the river cruise is not just hype. All the talk with regards the awesomeness of the cruise or, the cleanliness of the river is true. How could the cruise not be awesome? It’s a floating restaurant for crying out loud! You don’t have a lot of that here in the country. And it’s a buffet, which means: EAT ALL YOU CAN! And while you’re eating, you are being entertained by dudes with guitars and great voices. If you’re lucky, at the middle of the cruise, you might be able to see (and perform with) actual rondalyas composed of locals of all ages! This appeals a lot, especially to the foreign tourists partly because rondalyas are rare nowadays and partly because one can join in dancing the tinikling. At the end of the cruise is a busay or a mini waterfall. If that isn’t awesome, I don’t know what is.
And by the way, before leaving Loboc, tourists get to see an actual bridge heading towards a church! Tour guides, who sometimes call the bridge “Stupid Bridge”, say that it was due to a planning error. The bridge was supposed to connect two sides of Loboc separated by the river. It just so happened that a church was located beside the river, and before the engineers found out the mistake, it was all too late. So as to not let this humiliating project go to waste, the local government of Loboc turned the bridge into a “hanging plaza”.
Our next stop for the Bohol trip was Baclayon Church, found in the town of Baclayon. It is the oldest church in Region VII, and one of the oldest in Southeast Asia. The church is made of limestone and corals and it still retains its Spanish-era aura. A part of the church has been made into a mini museum showcasing statues of saints and other Spanish-time artifacts.
Lastly, we went to visit the Sikatuna shrine. It is where (supposedly) Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, first Governor General of the Philippines during Spanish time, and Datu Sikatuna performed a blood compact as a sign of friendship between the locals and the Spanish. The shrine is situated on top of a cliff, thus giving people another panoramic view of Bohol. The cliff overlooks the sea and Panglaw Island (Panglaw Island is a part of Bohol separated from the mainland by a very narrow strip of water).
We left Bohol for Cebu at around 4:30pm. Dinner was at Sugbahan Restaurant in Cebu city.
February 23rd, Wednesday
It was time for us to check out of the hotel and visit the remaining sites in Cebu city which we have not been to yet. Of course, we couldn’t do so with an empty stomach. Breakfast was still at Sugbahan.
Our first destination for the morning was the Cebu Provincial Capitol. We were supposed to meet Cebu governor Gwen Garcia but she was unavailable at that time so Provincial Administrator Eduardo T. Habin entertained us and gave a short lecture on the goals and accomplishments of Cebu.
After the visit to the Capitol, we headed to Beverly Hills subdivision where the Taoist Temple could be found. It was another uphill trek with lots and lots of stairs! If you have arthritis and you want to visit the temple, I pity you. Once you’re at the top, you can feel that Chinese mysticism blowing against you like a gentle breeze. I certainly had goose bumps. There are a lot of souvenirs stands where you can buy amulets, lucky charms and all that. They’re a bit pricey, though, as the cheapest item I’ve seen costs PhP 260.
After having lunch at Patio Isabel Restaurant (a very fine restaurant with traditional Filipino cuisine, I must say), we went to the Cebu City Hall for a courtesy call with Mayor Michael Rama (who happens to be a relative of Anabelle Rama). Unfortunately, the good mayor was very busy as with every Cebu city official due to the fact that the next day, February 24th is Cebu City’s charter day. Instead, the Assistant City Protocol officer, Pancho Ramirez (who we mistook as one of the mayor’s goons with the way he looked. sorry), took time to be with us and talk about why Cebu city is booming in almost every aspect. Two major projects that are currently being done in Cebu city caught my attention: SM Superdome, which is 5% bigger than SM Mall of Asia; and Universal Studios, the first one in Southeast Asia! Both are expected to be finished in six or seven years’ time.
Our last stop of the entire four-day tour was Magellan’s cross and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, which were a few minutes walk from the city hall. The Basilica has preserved its Spanish-era atmosphere and the roads around it are jam-packed with people. Magellan’s cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan).
That concluded our tour of Cebu and Bohol. We boarded TransAsia Asia-Philippines at around 4:00pm, heading to Iloilo carrying with us memories and experiences that not only add up to the knowledge we already possess, but could help us various aspects in life.
Summer is almost here and that spells “vacation” for some. If you still haven’t decided where to spend your break from all the crummy routine in your life, why not try Cebu and Bohol? I assure you. You will get your money’s worth.
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