• Media walk out on TOSP’s presscon
• Candijay’s spring, falls & rice terraces
Wake-uppers:
Seen: Spotted in Bohol last Holy Week was Miss Universe 2006 Miss
Photogenic Lia Andrea Ramos.
Seen: GMA star Rich Asuncion also
spent her Holy Week in Bohol with her family. Also spotted in Bohol was Direk
Maryo delos Reyes who will direct GMA’s new teleserye Niño.
Scene: After years of absence, Alona Beach has a party place! U Lounge Bar (formerly Opps Bar)’s opening on Alona Beach
brought just about everyone out it the block.
It’s the night life you want, U Lounge Bar offers drinks, dancing and music with a perfect
Alona beach ambiance. There’s a big selection of beers, wines, cocktails and
shooters.
 |
| Quir Nicole Maghuyop |
Seen: Quir
Nicole Maghuyop is joining Miss
Teen Philippines 2014. Visit http://www.missteenphils.org
or Miss Teen Philippines on Facebook
page for updates.
Scene: Cuisina Ni Tisay, the home of
traditional Boholano cuisine is in Carmen town.
It can be found inside the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (Chap) before
the Chocolate Hills Complex. Owner Tessie Labunog-Sumampong posted on Facebook:
“New beginning, New hope, New adventure!!! GOD will always provide!”
Scene: The 15 candidates
of Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2014. The
organizers aim to make this year’s Mutya an
affair to remember.
Scene: From Jammy Ungab, this message she posted on
Facebook: Lesson learned thus far today.... You need to pack a lot
of patience in your backpack when you take a bus... in Bohol... like...
seriously. I'm reaching out to all municipal mayors or to the honorable
governor of Bohol. I have an idea for you. It would be sweet, really sweet to
put 4 or 5 BUS STOP in every municipality. You probably don't know how it feels
because you have your own transportation, but it is super annoying when the bus
stops each and every time to drop off and pick up
passengers. And by every time, I meant, almost every farking minute, almost
every 20 meters. And do you know what's worse? When the bus stops to drop off a
passenger, and a passenger from 4 meters away who wants to get in, waits for
the bus to stop in front of her. Seriousfarkingly???!!!! People are lazy to
walk 4 or 5 meters towards the bus. I almost went crazy, and definitely reached
my quota of saying "Jeeeeeeeez" and "faaaaaaaark" for the day.
The less than two hour trip became almost 4 hours because of the bus stopping
for like vagigazimillion times. So I guess our travel lives will be better with
a BUS STOP. This is my cry. Hear me. Please don't despise me. Thank you! But
on lighter side of things, pretty farking amazing scenery on the east side, ya
dig! All good! Whoooop!
***
I still have my hangover of last week’s Holy
Week. I had my visita iglesia-- covering
news of the church activities--- especially the Easter Sunday celebration when I
heard the Loboc Children’s Choir singing Alleluia! and saw the non-liturgical
ritual of burning Judas in Baclayon’s hugos.
You see, even in Holy Week, your favorite news reporters, anchors and writers need
to work to give you the latest news.
The good thing about journalist Mike Ligalig
is he knows how to share info. He doesn’t forget to “text blast” if there are press
conferences and other news events.
We
come to attend the media/presscon whenever there is an event an organization
wants to inform the community about or breaking news.
It was surprising to learn that last week’s
presscon of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) turned ugly.
I just found out that my media colleagues didn’t like the presscon and
walked-away.
It was Rey Anthony Chiu of PIA who tagged me
on Facebook to cover the event. One hour after, I got the same invitation from
Mike. (Thank heavens! I had a busy day so I wasn’t able to attend the presscon
or else I’d have a heart attack.)
“It
was a horrible press conference,” said EG, a radio reporter. “Everything was unprepared to think it was a national event
or something.”
The media colleagues “lectured” the
organizers about press and media conferences. That a great press conference can mean
blanket coverage in newspapers, radio, TV and blogs -- but a horrible press
conference can haunt the organizer.
Reporters
want to hear a little about the news, then ask questions and get quotable
answers. We hate sitting for almost one hour
before opening up for questions.
Reporters
want documents. Make sure there are enough copies to go around -- and post
those documents online for reporters and bloggers who are interested in the
press conference but couldn't make the trip.
It was not the first media walk out. Last April
12, media people had to wait for couple of hours for a presscon organized by
Edcom only to find out the resource person was not able to make it.
“For those who invite media people to cover your
events,” said EG. “Please have a heart. We are also human beings. We have busy
schedules. We have families.”
As you are reading this page, please excuse
me, ehem, I need to visit my friends
this week for the fiestas. May 1 marks the beginning of merriment in Bohol as
almost everyday fiesta celebrations are held where people are rotating here and
there to partake lavish preparations.
Ang humba,
lechon, imbutido ug bahalina, ayaw kalimti!
Cheers!
***
If you’re looking for another summer
adventure, try the enchanting Canawa Spring and Can-umantad Falls in Candijay.
 |
| The cold Canawa Spring |
Canawa Spring is located in barangay Canawa. Its
shaped like a pan or cawa. Its refreshing cold aquamarine water
meanders into the streams irrigating rice fields on the plains near the idyllic
pastoral town of Canawa.
According to residents, Canawa has unfathomable depth.
Years ago, divers tried to solve the mystery but they could not reach the
bottom of the spring.
“
Even its source remains a mystery,” said our guide-driver.
Four or five kilometers from Canawa Spring is
the Can-umantad Falls, the tallest waterfalls in Bohol. To see the falls, go to barangay Cadapdapan (not
barangay Can-umantad) to also marvel the lustrous rice terraces before reaching the falls.
Can-umantad’s natural crystal clear pools are good
for swimming while its cool and green surroundings are ideal for picnic.
 |
| Can-umantad Falls |
Believe me, a trip to this place is a very
worthwhile experience for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike.
Oopps, here are some tips:
* Barangay Lungsud-daan, Candijay, is a good landmark for
meet-up. It is situated along the highway.
* It’s advisable to take habal-habal or 4-wheel vehicles to access the bumpy section of the
road. The road directions are easy to follow. Look for the signs. Caution:
Taking the habal-habal is costly.
* Free and plentiful parking is available.
* Entrance fee is Php 10 (adults) and
Php 5 each for kids in Canawa Spring, while it is free in Can-umantad Falls.
* Bring change of clothes and towel.
* There is a small restroom in Canawa Spring and Can-umantad
Falls.
* Bring your own food and water. Refreshments are sold
at the parking area in Canawa Spring but not in Can-umantad Falls.
***
 |
| Selfie at Can-umantad Falls |
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
