D.A.T.E. Park, Catigbian, Bohol

The Dagook Adventure Tour Experience Park or D.A.T.E. Park as locals often call is in Catigbian, Bohol.  It is situated in Poblacion Weste and Rizal in Catigbian- a municipality in the interior of Bohol Island.  35 kilometers Northeast of Tagbilaran City.

A 3-hectare natural forest reserve that conserves the swift-running Sampilangon River and lies towards the marvelous cascades of Dagook Falls.  I had the chance to visit the place unfortunately wasn’t able to experience the activities there.  It was a very quick stop so I just took advantage of taking pictures.  The park is owned by the local government unit of Catigbian so I believe they have a very minimal entrance fee or at least none.  The activities were also affordable and if I remember it right, I believe they offer a package of Php700 inclusive of guides, use of equipment, park amenities (50% discount for students, senior citizens and Catigbian locals) for a trail course where you can enjoy most of the activities.

The activities in DATE Park are with intent ready to test your courage and endurance but less extreme than E.A.T. Danao Park.  So if you’re not yet ready for intense ones, this is perfect for less daring adventure-seekers and for family bonding.

The park opens from 8am until 5pm.  Visitors are briefed first and armed with safety harness, slider roller, headgear and outsized hooks at the main center. Activities include Canopy Walk, Monkey Bridge, Mountain Slides and Trails.

(photo from google)

 Canopy Walk

60-meter canopy walk suspended in 20 meters of 7 high-tension steel cables in about 60 feet above the ground deep.

 (photo from google)

 Monkey Bridge

45-meter bridge hanging through 4 cables, one of which the harness will be fastened, walk along in 90-120 feet above the ground deep.  You will be wearing a double harness here attached to a safety cable.

 (photo from google)

Mountain Slide

2000-meter zipline negotiates through Sampilangon River and Dagook Falls. This will take you back near the area where you started the activities. So before you do the monkey bridge, be ready for a 25-second slide!

 Trekking

500-meter ascending trail to get to Dagook Falls.

Medicinal plants are abundantly found in the area and are labeled with local names and what they’re used for.  Amusingly, monkeys are everywhere which made me so anxious.  They’re creepy.  But the guide said they’re harmless.  Still, I’m reluctant because they love to tease you if they see you scared.

How to get to Catigbian DATE Park:

From Tagbilaran city, travel by bus bound for Danao or Sagbaan via Cortes Town at Dao Terminal. Ask the driver to drop you at First Consolidated Bank near the Barangay road leading to DATE Park. Across the street are motorcycles (habal-habal) that can take you to DATE Park.  If you’re in a group, getting a van is more convenient.

JMJ Transport is offers a car/van rental service going to this DATE Park.

Available vehicles such as: Toyota Hi Ace Commuter  ( Van) ,Toyota  Vios  (car ), Hyundai Accent (car)

Contact numbers. Mobile numbers 09173043818, 09183348481, Pldt.landline: 03841125271

Or you may visit their website: www.jmj-transport.com.

Address: Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines

Source: DATE Park Facebook fanpage

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Misty day in Choco Hills

On our Bohol trip, these two first-timers enjoyed the misty view of the Chocolate Hills.

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Chocohills ATV Rides

Chocolate Hills is not the only feature you can stop by at Carmen, Bohol.  ATV (All-terrain vehicle) Rides are also available just at the foot of the main hill.  It can be easily spotted because it’s just along the road where a big sign is fixed on your way to the top.  For 400 pesos, you can enjoy ATV Rides for 30 minutes (often more).

And what’s so cute about it is you can have your photo taken with the huge hill as background. 🙂

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Baclayon ATV Rides

Few kilometers from Tagbilaran City, ATV Rides are available for rent in Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines.  The famous Baluarte just across Baclayon Church has ATV’s for rent and kayak and some pedal boats.

kayaks

pedal boat

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These photos are actually more than a year ago and the ATV rental probably are much different now.

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Hinagdanan Cave

Bohol is known for many caves.  The place where I grew up is just a few steps to a cave.  One cave that is now become a tourist attraction is the underground Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol.

When I was younger, my parents used bring us to beaches and places where we can swim.  Although I never learned how to swim, I enjoyed the cave’s pool.  Being so scared of the deep water; I am equipped with a life ring and just play with the icy cold and chilling water in the shallow side of the underground pool.  I manage to enjoy watching kids diving from the ceiling’s hole above and splurge their way to the middle of the pool.

The entrance of the cave is narrow that only one person at a time can fit in. Today, the cave’s entrance has improved. They constructed a rounded steel hand rail and the stairs are conveniently cemented. Yet, visitors should be extra cautious to watch their head and their steps.  The steps are slippery because of the cave’s humid temperature and people come up and down with wet soles.

The cave is dark so it is only open when the sun is already up.  Although lights are now installed, it cannot suffice the darkness inside it so it’s best to visit this underground cavern during daylight.  The two holes aboveground give a streak of light towards inside the cave.

The large underground cavern has a pond, looking dark yet alluring. As far as I remember, the pond is deep and the water icy cool and fresh.

Getting inside the cave is very captivating.  It has a huge pool of water that stretches up to 10 feet deep at the middle portion.  Unfortunately today, swimmers cannot experience the water anymore because it is now filthy and I don’t know…perhaps not safe any longer (for sanitation sake).

The cave is filled stalactites hanging from the ceiling.  Although, you can barely see anything but if one takes a photo, you’ll see bats hanging.  It explains the unending squeaking noise.

History of Hinagdanan Cave

The barrio of Bingag was once covered by thick untilled vegetation. In the 16th century, people slowly came to settle in the surrounding area and cleared most portions for tilling.

One day, while the owner of this land was clearing the area for a farm and the far ridge as a look-out, he discovered two holes on the ground, adjacent to each other. The holes were found after decayed trunks of trees were removed from the ground.

To determine the depth of the hole, he threw a stone down the hole and was surprised to hear a splash. Intrigued, he further explored the inside of the caves and found to his delight a beautiful sight of stone formations hanging from the ceiling and some protruding from the ground.

A pond is in the center of the cavern. The cave is full of bats and smells bad. The news of the discovery spread. Adventurous people entered and swam in the pond. It eventually became a swimming pool for the local folks.

Eventually a ladder was improvised down a small hole at the side of the cave. In the local dialect, “hagdan” means ladder so the cave became known as Hinagdanan Cave.

source

panoramic view of the cave

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Buko Pandan Salad

Next week will be our Company’s summer outing.  I was assigned for the preparation of  the dessert.  They asked me to prepare Buko Pandan which I have never tried.  I just learned Buko Pandan originated from Bohol, Philippines.  With the help of some friends and google, I came up with this.  I made few modifications that fits my taste.  Sorry, the presentation looks pretty bad.

Ingredients:

5 leaves of Pandan

1 grated Buko

3-4 cups of water

2 boxes of Nestle Cream

1 small can of Condensed Milk

1 box 10g Green gulaman

1 cup sugar

 

Instructions:

• Clean pandan leaves very well.  Remove the soil in between the leaves.
• Boil 4 cups of water together with 5 pandan leaves twisted.  Let it stay until it boils.
• Remove the pandan leaves and measure 3 cups of water.
• Pour into the water green gulaman powder little by little while stirring.  When the gulaman powder is dissolved, add 1 cup of sugar (add more if you want it to become sweeter) until everything is dissolved.
• Pour through a strainer into a square molder.  Let it cool and harden then place it in the refrigerator.
• Mix Nestle Cream, Condensed milk and buko strips.  Set aside.
• Cut gulaman into cubes.  Then mix with the prepared buko mixture.
• Chill and serve.
• Serves 5.

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Cafe Lawis

Cafe Lawis is an outdoor restaurant in Dauis, Bohol.  It’s conveniently found beside Our Lady of Assumption Church in Dauis.  It offers a magnificent view of the distant harbor lights of Tagbilaran City and the sea which separates the island of Panglao from its main province of Bohol.  The two causeways that connects it from the mainland are now suitably reconstructed, thanks to the people responsible.  The town of Dauis, about 3 kilometers southwest of Tagbilaran City, is one of the two towns in the island of Panglao facing the city.

Tables and chairs and nicely lied under a big mahogany tree that sits at the middle of the place spreading its branches to cover most of the it underneath.  They also have a souvenir shop where tourists can have a wide and diverse selection to choose from.  The place is also a wifi hotspot so one cannot worry about tweeting or posting or perhaps, bragging about the bliss they are enjoying right at that moment.

Cafe Lawis offers an ample amount of choices from meals to pastas to dessert to salads and a lot more.  My favorite is their tuna salad.

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website http://www.cafelawis.com/

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St. Joseph Cathedral

May 1st is Tagbilaran City’s fiesta.  We honor this day to our patron saint, St. Joseph, the worker.  It falls on a Labor Day– the title our patron saint is taken from.  We all know that St. Joseph is the hardworking foster-father of Jesus Christ.

St. Joseph Cathedral is the main cathedral of Tagbilaran City– named after the patron saint, St. Joseph, the worker.  The Cathedral has a very old Bell tower and the statue of the St. Joseph carry the baby Jesus.

It is one of the 12 Cathedrals that was founded by the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the Philippines. The 55-year old Diocese of Tagbilaran, that is one of the 2 archdiocese in the province of Bohol, was established on November 8, 1941.

Across this cathedral is the Rizal Park where most kids grew visiting this park.  I was one of them.  I used to feed the city pigeons with uncooked rice grains and chasing them as they took the bait.

Inside St. Joseph Cathedral.  Above the alter is the statue of St. Joseph, the Worker.

Just within the Cathedral ground is the schedule for mass.

St. Joseph Cathedral

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Bohol Fiesta!

Everyone loves fiestas!

Fiestas happen all year round in Bohol but mostly during the month of May. Tagbilaran City’s fiesta is held on May 1st.  It is at that time that Boholanos from different places, even where they have already settled, within the Philippines or abroad, come home to celebrate the fiesta in their town.  They often bring pasalubong for family & loved ones and so reunions take place.  TBTK or Tigum Bol-anon Tbuok Kalibutan which means “Boholanos get together from all around the World” is an event held each year as Boholanos get together and catch up.

Boholanos are so warm that everyone is invited during this celebration.  Before we open our house for guests, my family is used to hear the pontifical mass (mass for the fiesta).  I remember, the priest in my place say Misa una before lamesa which means “Mass first before the table”.  It’s a local funny quote, actually (because it rhymes in our local dialect).

In Bohol, every town celebrates their fiesta in honor of the patron saint.  Boholanos love fiestas as we love welcoming and treating our guests.  So we always come home during this event and decorate the entire town with banderitas, parade on floats, organize pageants, concerts & different activities, and prepare food like lechon & tuba for bisperas (day before the fiesta) and fiesta itself.   No fiesta is complete without having a roasted pig– often raised by most throughout the year to be slaughtered and served for the fiesta.

List of Fiestas in Bohol

January 16	Cortes	Santo Niño
January 16	Pres. Garcia	Holy Child
January 16	Valencia	Sr. Santo Niño
January 17	Carmen	Saint Anthony de Abbot
January 29	Ubay	Holy Child
Last Saturday of January	Getafe	Holy Infant
February 11	Dagohoy	Our Lady of Lourdes
February 11	K of C – Tagbilaran City	Our Lady of Lourdes
April 5	Bool – Tagbilaran City	Saint Vincent Ferrer
April 27	Corella	Nuestra Señora del Villar
May 1	Tagbilaran City	Saint Joseph the Worker
May 3	Dao – Tagbilaran City	Santa Cruz
May 4	Alburquerque	Santa Monica
May 4	Mabini	Santa Monica
May 4	Sagbayan	San Agustin
May 8	San Miguel	Saint Michael
May 10	Calape	Saint Vincent Ferrer
May 15	Bilar	Saint Isidore the Farmer
May 15	Trinidad	Saint Isidore
May 15	Tubigon	San Isidro Labrador
May 15	San Isidro	Saint Isidore
May 19	Candijay	Saint Joseph
May 29	Talibon	Blessed Trinity
June 13	Sikatuna	Saint Anthony de Padua
June 24	Garcia Hernandez	Saint John the Baptist
June 29	Loboc	Saint Peter the Apostle
June 30	Inabangga	Saint Paul
July 16	Balilihan	Virgin of Carmel
July 16	Taloto – Tagbilaran City	Immaculate Heart of Mary
July 25	Batuan	Saint James
July 26	Alicia	Saint Joachim
August 15	Dauis	Our Lady of Assumption
August 16	Tip-tip – Tagbilaran City	San Roque
August 22	Taloto – Tagbilaran City	Immaculate Heart of Mary
August 28	Sagbayan	San Agustin
August 28	Panglao	San Agustin
First Saturday of September	Guindulman	Our Lady of Consolation
First Saturday of September	Lindaville – Tagbilaran City	Birhen sa Barangay
September 8	Loon	Our Lady of Light
September 10	Dimiao	Saint Nicolas de Tolentino
September 29	Clarin	Saint Michael
September 29	Jagna	Saint Michael
October 7	Buenavista	Santo Rosario
October 7	Lila	Holy Rosary
October 11	Pilar	Virgen del Pilar
October 16	Cogon – Tagbilaran City	Birhen sa Barangay
Last Saturday of October	Antequera	Virgin of the Most Holy Rosary
November 24	Maribojoc	Saint Vincent
December 8	Baclayon	Immaculate Conception
December 8	Catigbi-an	Immaculate Conception
December 8	Duero	Immaculate Conception
December 8	Sierra Bullones	Immaculate Conception
December 12	Sevilla	Virgen of Guadalupe
December 12	Booy – Tagbilaran City	Virgen of Guadalupe
December 30	Danao	Holy Family
Movable	Anda	Holy Infant
Movable	Bien Unido	Holy Child
Movable	Loay	Santisima Trinidad

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Bohol Package Tour (edited 111312)

Bohol Countryside tour

car rental   2000 pesos

van rental  2500 pesos

E.A.T Danao Adventour Tour 

car rental   3000 pesos

van rental  3500 pesos

Panglao Island Tour

car rental   1500  pesos

van rental  2000 pesos

Panglao Island Hopping Tour

boat rental 1-4 pax     1900pesos

boat rental 5-10 pax  2100 pesos

Bohol Tourist Destinations

source

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