The first time I went to Bohol was back in 2012. It was a year before the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the province and nearby Cebu on October 15, 2013. The earthquake rendered a lot of Boholanos homeless and destroyed many roads and old historical churches which were vital to the province's tourism industry.
I visited Bohol again on March of 2014, just five months after the earthquake, eager to see how well the locals have recovered from the disaster. As we rode through Tagbilaran City inside our hired van, I didn't see any damaged home or store or road or lamppost. It seemed that the locals have recovered quite well within the town proper.
During the countryside tour, however, as we drove farther away from the city and into the rural areas, we saw more and more houses that were badly damaged and eventually abandoned. Makeshift bridges were used as the destroyed ones were undergoing repair. It was good to know that the government was trying its best to reconstruct the old churches using the original material which were gathered from the rubble, as was the case in Baclayon Church.
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| Baclayon Church in 2012 and 2014 |
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| The rubble collected from the debris was covered to prevent further damage to them. |
It was also my first time to stay in Panglao Beach, and again I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the beaches in our country. There was a long stretch of fine white sand (though not as powdery as that of Boracay) and a calm blue sea.
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| From fishing boats to tourist boats - a shift in livelihood. |
The area wasn't as commercialized as Boracay. There was not much night life because there were no clubs, though restaurants did serve liquor. Panglao Beach was definitely more laid-back and peaceful and had a more rural vibe to it, the perfect place to relax and unwind.
31 March - 3 April 2014
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