Hudyaka sa Panglao is back

By Leo Udtohan

Last weekend, the town of Panglao, the jewel tourism of Bohol province, has revived the "Hudyaka sa Panglao" Festival, two years since the pandemic forced most festivals in the Philippines to go virtual.

"Hudyaka sa Panglao street-dancing is back," said Anthony Ceniza, Panglao's Culture and Arts officer.  "Sadya kaayo ang Hudyaka namo karung tuiga."

He said the last time Panglao held an in-person street dance competition was in 2019. The festival turned virtual in 2020 and 2021. 

“Hudyaka” is a Cebuano word for revelry and merrymaking.   

Dubbed the province's oldest festival which presumably started in 1987,  the "Hudyaka sa Panglao" is staged every 28th day of August to celebrate the feast of the town’s patron saint San Augustine. 

The Hudyaka is an occasion in the Panglao community where faith, culture and tradition converge and oceans of people come together as one. 

"It is also to reflect Panglaoanons' strong faith and devotion through an established cultural identity and to express the gratitude to our patron saint," Ceniza added. 

The street-dancing had been the main highlight of the Hudyaka sa Panglao festivities.  This year, all the 10 barangays (villages) joined the event, together with their respective festival queens.

Mayor Edgardo "Boy" Arcay emphasized that the challenges brought by the pandemic could not stop the Panglaoanons to celebrate the feast of Saint Augustine.  

Carousel type

Each contigent was composed only of 31 participants- 20 dancers and one festival queen and 10 drummers-just enough for the fanfare. 

The street-dance had a carousel route that started at the front of the church then to the plaza repeatedly on a progressive choreography.

Residents and tourists witnessed the street dance where the performers wore bright-colored costumes and amazing props who danced to the rhythm of drums and native gongs. 

The contingent from Barangay Lourdes was declared grand champion. 

"Nakita nako ang ilahang diversity of culture, gipakita nila ang ilang pagka-relihiyoso sa Panglaoanon," said Edison Gumapac, one of the judges. 

Through the festival, Ceniza said the town was able to showcase the reviving economy and other side of Panglao which was affected by the  Coronavirus pandemic.  

The  tourism makes up 15% of Bohol economic output with Panglao as the principal destination of the province.  Many of the town's businesses were closed during the pandemic. 

Bohol has suffered greatly during the pandemic when tourist arrival had 177,341 in 2020, the lowest in a decade. 

Tourist attractions

The town of Panglao was established as an independent parish in 1782, but Recollect records show that they took charge of the town in 1803.

Since the central theme of the Hudyaka is Saint Augustine, the church dedicated to him is worthy to visit.

The St. Augustine Church, probably one built by the Jesuits before their expulsion in 1768,  has facade inspired by neoclassical architecture and includes the typical portico with Corinthian columns.

The centuries-old watchtower built in 1851 is said to be the tallest in the Philippines.

If you’re already in Panglao, then a side trip to emerging and existing destinations are a must. On top of it is the  white-sandy beaches on Alona Beach and  Dumaluan Beach Resort in Barangay Bolod. 

A five-minute drive from Dumaluan,  you will reach the South Farm, where you can find a 9-hectare organic land property promoting rural, handmade, handcrafted, hand built tourist destinations.

Other attractions are Virgin Island for swimming, Cliff Dive for snorkeling with shoals of sardines and Balicasag Island for a world-class diving site.  

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Most memorable lines from our newsmakers (and why we are moved, if we are moved): 

Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite on  assuring the public on the purchase of 14 new vehicles:  "Rest be assured nga during the budget hearing and approval of the budget for the next year, dili man jud mo makalimtan. Number jud sa amua health, agriculture and tourism, the rest will follow.  Ayaw mo kaguol, wala mo pasagdi sa atong  governor, sa board members. Naa rami kanunay nagtutuok ninyo. Ang tanan namo nga trabaho masubay kanunay para sa kalambhan kanatong tanan." 

Jorryme Lorono- Vodisek, who has recently just parted ways with his husband due to the 

 latter’s controversial extramarital affair with a friend: "Sa kadaghan sa trials nga atong naagian karun pa ta mo surrender? Beri wrong. Papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part. Laban Japan." 

Shaira Mae Boyonas, the so-called "best friend" of the afam who was allegedly ruined the wedding of Jorryme:  "During the wedding day preparation, walang malisya." 

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These "practical" tips shared to us by Jeycelle Espejo-Inting of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School. She got this from Financial Talks on Facebook: 

The toxins of the house are: 

1. Objects you no longer use.

2. Clothes You Don't Like Or haven't used in a while. Damaged underwear.

3. Broken things.

4. Old cards and notes.

5. Plants that are dead or sick.

6. Receipts and old magazines.

9. Shoes broke.

7. Stuff of all kinds calling the past.

8. If you have children, toys that are not used, that do not work or broken.

WITH CLEANING THEM OUT:

1. Health gets better.

2. Creativity grows.

3. Relationships get better.

4. There is greater reasoning capacity.

5? Improved mood.

QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT HELP CLEANSING:

- Why am I saving that?

- Is it about me today?

- How will I feel if I release that?

Separate and classify:

1. To donate.

2. To throw.

    3. To sell.

INSIDE CLEANING REFLECTED OUTSIDE.

1. Avoid extreme noises.

2. Less strong lights.

3. Less saturated colors.

4. Less chemical odors.

5. Less sad memories.

6. Finish unfinished projects.

7. Cultivate positive energy in your home.

Do a general cleaning and use boxes for organization. Start with drawers and cabinets and conclude each piece, do everything at your pace...

a) Trash.

b) Arrangements.

c) Recycling.

d) In doubt.

e) Gifts.

(f) Donation.

g) Sell.

As you cleanse, watch what changes in you.

As we clean our physical house, we also place order to our mind and heart.

Practice detachment with material things that just fill your space and you'll see how you'll slowly be able to do the same with more momentous situations.

Blessed be for you always.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Photo captions:

"Hudyaka sa Panglao" street-dancing competition is back last Aug.  28, in Panglao,  Bohol after it went virtual for two years due to the pandemic. Photos:  Leo Udtohan

Contingent from Barangay Lourdes is this year's Hudyaka sa Panglao grand champion. Photo: Leo Udtohan

Bohol Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite (with his chief of staff, lawyer Glenn Rey Anino) says the purchase of new vehicles is timely and relevant so officials could function effectively and reach their constituents easily.  Photo: Leo Udtohan

Panglao, still beautiful

 

In Panglao, without all the boats and people in the sea, the water is as clear as it's been in a long, long time. Photo by Leo Udtohan

I terribly missed the beach.  Swimming and snorkeling is one of the pleasures of pre-quarantine life.

When veteran journalist Ric Obedencio asked us if we could join him for an excursion in Panglao town, Helen Castano and I didn’t waste time.

We visited Alona first. The place is almost empty where it is used to be packed with tourists. Without all the boats and people in the sea, the water is as clear as it's been in a long, long time.

In an interview with Panglao Mayor Leonila Paredes-Montero she told us that Panglao tourism will be back to business this week if they will be allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force, Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to re-open.

 

And if allowed to open, Maam Nila said the target would be domestic tourists.

Maam Nila said at least 5,000 tourism-related business establishments in Panglao were affected since February.

The tourism industry in Bohol has been tested by times. The 1990 typhoon Ruping (international name: Mike), the 2000 Y2K bug and the 2013 7.2 magnitude earthquake crippled the tourism industry particularly in Panglao. But slowly, the tourism was able to bounce back.

"The tourism stopped and it took us years to recover. Since this is pandemic it will take time to recover because the world economy is really affected," said Maam Nila.

But even if tourism is back, some resort owners chose to suspend operations for fear of the virus.

 

When I met Anthony Ceniza, supervisor of Marilou Resort in Barangay Bolod, he said they will remain close indefinitely.

"So far, we can't open until there is a vaccine. It will be difficult since there's no assurance of what will happen to us. Let's us leave it this way, we will wait and follow the government," he said.

Anthony said one seemingly positive impact of the majority of Bohol remaining inside during the coronavirus outbreak is being seen off of our shores.

He said the beaches become clearer with less garbage in the absence of human activity due to the government’s efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

 

Anthony said visitors can see a refreshing Panglao during their next trip in Bohol.

 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome atleoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Busy in Bohol

Busy in Bohol

Love to travel? Share your best tips

My summer getaway started a bit earlier.

Last week, my friend Louie Guarin was here for the first time.  As a travel and tourism writer for the past 17 years for Manila Bulletin, Louie had seen and covered most of the places and festivals in the country, not only as journalist but as festival juror. For many years, however, his travel to Bohol hadn't materialized due to some unavoidable circumstances.  

Bohol is bursting with adventurous activities

 and stunning natural sites, with Panglao

 Island as travelers’ favorite for its miles 

of powder sand beaches. Leo Udtohan

Louie, who is now with Vanity Magazine, arrived on Monday morning. He stayed at the Dumaluan Beach Resort 2 (For inquiries and reservations at Dumaluan Beach Resort 2, call [+6338] 502 9092) in Panglao where he was enjoying authentic hospitality from the owners (Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan and his wife, Malou, and daughter, Reichyl) and staff.

Panglao is still the traveler’s favorite spot. Here, you'll find miles of white sand and pristine waters — hence it’s called the jewel of Bohol. 

“With summer just around the corner, travel buffs need look no further than the gem that is Dumaluan Beach Resort,” said Roldan Cuevas, operation manager of Dumaluan Beach Resort 2.

“We have the finest white-sandy beach! Parents can enjoy a "time-out" together while the kids play, too,”  said Anthony Ceniza, the resort’s supervisor who was Cebu’s choreographer extraordinaire who fell in love with Panglao.  

 Louie Guarin is enjoying his Bohol trip.  Leo Udtohan

With romantic beaches like Dumaluan Beach Resort, this is a destination where you can swim and sunbathe year-round. Its list of activities range from swimming to jetski, parasailing and sailing on glass-bottom boats.

Roldan said they are preparing for the influx of international travelers this summer. 

 “We are training our staff to help them understand more about the culture of different travelers,” he said “That is to develop cultural sensitivity and meet traveler’s expectations like foods and other comforts of home.”

On Tuesday, Louie had visited the “must see” destinations in Bohol. So much to see, so many places to visit in Bohol. How can you do that in 24 hours? Well, it was arranged by Wow Bohol Travel and Tours (+6338 510-6177; Email: wowboholtravelandtours@gmail.com; 639954533402/+639081724641/+639287582804).

Even though I’d accompanied Louie in his countryside, I’d love visiting the countryside even if I am doing it for the nth time.

He visited Sandugo Blood Compact monument in Bool district, one of the promoted historic spots in the island.  A few minutes from Bool, he visited the Baclayon town where the Immaculate Conception Parish Church.  Built in 1595, the Baclayon Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.  Unfortunately the church is one of the historical monuments that was badly damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013.

Travel and tourism is one of the country’s

 largest industries. In Panglao,

 the Dumaluan Beach Resort 2 (l-r) Anthony Ceniza, 

Malou Dumaluan, Reichyl Dumaluan-Vallente 

and Roldan Cuevas) delivers an authentic

 hospitality experience to their guests. Leo Udtohan

He also visited the Bohol Wildlife Park where he saw some rescued wildlife, including pythons, monkeys and tropical birds. Marimar also showed her sterling performance.

In Loboc town, he enjoyed the buffet lunch at the Loboc floating restaurants for P450.   While eating Filipino foods,  the hour-long ride takes you along the wooded river, past a small waterfall, and to a station where folk singers  regaled the visitors with native songs and a Tinikling Dance. Anybody was welcome to dance. The tour ended watching the picturesque Busay falls.

After Loboc, he felt the cool temperature at the man-made forest. The two-kilometer man-made forest is between the towns of Loboc and Bilar is an amazing sight that offers tranquility.

He also defied gravity at the Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge, most spectacular footbridge in Sevilla town.  The bridge which is about 40 meters long hangs 25 meters (82 feet) above the river made of woven bamboo slats and steel.  When you step onto the bridge, you will experience some side to side sway and up and down bounce. Entrance fee is P20.

He had a close encounter with tarsier, the smallest primate in the world. At the Tarsier Conservation Area in Bilar, a P60 (regular) and P50 (senior citizen and student) fees, visitors could get you a quick view of the tarsier. 

For the nth time, I looked at it eyeball-to-eyeball and that’s how I noticed lonely its eyes were, so huge that, for a while, I felt that those eyes would kill me with gentleness.

The tarsier (Carlito syrichta), locally known as “mawmag,” has all the basic qualities of cute: enormous eyes which can turn 360 degrees set in a tiny body no bigger than a human fist and tiny knobbly paws with which it grasps onto tree branches.

However, there are some rules when meeting them. Don’t touch them, don’t be noisy, and don’t use flash when taking photos.

Good life, good food and good company. 

Louie was breathless when he saw the postcard-famous Chocolate Hills.  The hills are alive with the whatever sound you can imagine, all those 1,268 mounds (count ‘em!). In summer, when the grasses with which they are covered in turn into a brown color, they look like mounds of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses, hence the name "Chocolate Hills."

48 hours in Bohol is too short. I told Louie that Bohol has list of unexpected places that we never knew we wanted to visit–but now can't wait to explore.

“Definitely, I will come back,” Louie said.

 “I love Bohol, I love the Boholanos,” he added.

Speaking of summer, the favorite place is Bohol. Here at VRS, we'd like to celebrate by making a list of your favorite things about Bohol.

Tell us your favorite thing about Bohol. Is it a beautiful province? The best beaches? The highest waterfalls? A particularly delectable dish? A relatively unknown custom? Tell us what it is and why it's

important to you.

We love to travel.  Do you have best tips and tricks to smoother, smarter, stress-free journeys? How do you find affordable airfare and hotel rooms? What’s your secret to avoiding flight delays, navigating a crowded airport? How about a tip for getting better service at a hotel or resort?

Submit your best advice -- the more specific, the better -- along with a photo of you on vacation. E-mail to leoudtohan@yahoo.com. Then stay tuned to see if your top tip makes the cut on VRS.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.