in native costumes
perform folk dances amid
general hoopla. I cheer and
wave and leave a larger tip
than I might have under
different circumstances.
These are efforts that
should be rewarded.
As our cruise continues,
we hear peals of laughter
and spy children leaping
from tree branches and
landing in the water with
giant splashes. This is
idyllic provincial life
at its best. The ruins of
Loboc Church loom in
the background. Our van
driver later points out that
it has become a favorite
spot for taking selfies.
This makes me laugh and
reassures me that Bohol
can’t help but get back on
its feet given this make-
lemonade-out-of lemons
attitude.
For much of the day,
we’ve been treated to
beautiful countryside
scenery and a pristine
coastline. Fully operational
luxury resorts dot our
route, forming a chain of
private sanctuaries for
travelers who want to get
away from it all.
Back on terra firma, I
find a spot on the white-
sand beach of Panglao
Island just as the sun is
setting and reflect on my
day. It occurs to me that,
despite the devastation,
Bohol is as attractive
as ever, if not more so,
thanks to the ingenuity of
the locals. The province,
long known for its natural
beauty and culture, has
been redefined as a place
with a little more grit, an
irreverent wit and the
can-do spirit necessary to
bounce back from a pair
of natural disasters with
grace and ease.
62
B O H O L
Cebu Pacific flies to
Tagbilaran from
Manila. www.
cebupacificair.com
Clockwise: On the beach
at Pamilacan Island; the
Tarsier Conservation Area;
local wildlife; the makings
of fresh seafood dish
PHOTOS
PAOLO PINEDA; LESTER LEDESMA
ON MODEL
MINI-DRESS BY SE LA VI;
NECKLACE SET BY NOTHING BUT H20
Stay here
Just 10 minutes from
Tagbilaran Airport, right
beside the Blood Compact
Memorial, the newly opened
Ocean Suites Hotel offers
views of the Bohol Strait and
both Panglao and Pamilacan
islands. Sleek, clean lines
and an all-white motif create
an airy feel at this 14-room
boutique hotel. When you
find the time to emerge
from the infinity pool and
grab a bite, the hotel has
two dining outlets: Azure, at
the poolside level, and the
Ocean Café, a gem of a local
restaurant where the house
specialties include
humaba
(a signature Boholano meat
dish),
kinilaw
(raw fish salad),
flatbread pizza and fish and
chips.
