Bohol’s tourism is back, says Lourdes Sultan

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The art classes (De Juan School for Music and the Arts Recreational Training or The One SMART School) will start on April 6. Enrollment will be on March 30. The Tambahayan Cafe and the school are located at the basement of Garcia-Sarmiento Building along Ma. Clara Street, Tagbilaran City. It's between Cristal E-College and the UB gym.

Scene: Dr. Freddie Bernal, director IV of the Commission on Higher Education, is the guest speaker of University of Bohol’s 146^th Commencement Exercises on March 31.

Scene: Atty. Julius Gregory Batausa Delgado posted on Facebook: Announcing the Bohol Football Summer Camp brought to you by Football and Futsal Association of Bohol, Inc. (FFABI), ClassAct Philippines (formerly Oplan Bangon Bohol), Kaya F.C. and Stallions F.C. on April 14-16, 2014 in HNU Football Field and CPG Grandtstand. Featuring the following: 1) Free Football Clinic for Boys and Girls with UFL Players; 2) Coaching Seminar with Australian Kaya F.C. Coach David Perkovic and National Women's Football Team Coach Ernest Nieras; 3) Football Festival; and 4) Exhibition Match: Kaya-Bohol East Team vs. Stallions-Bohol West Team. For more details please contact FFABI Officials: Coach John Torregosa (President), Coach Erwin Angalot (EVP), Coach Clarence Rosco (Auditor) or Coach Bruce Zabala (PRO) or Bb. Pilipinas World 2006 Anna Maris Igpit or Atty. Greg Delgado. See you Boholano Footboleros!

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Perfect beaches. Interesting places. Friendly locals. Fascinating history.

Lourdes Sultan Photo by: Ric Obedencio

That is how tour operator and businesswoman Lourdes Sultan of Travel Village Tours and Travel (inside Bohol Tropics Resort Club, Graham Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines; Tel. No: (+63 38) 411.4023 / 411-5928/501-8078; Mobile: +639228996107; Email:  tvillage@yahoo.com.ph) wants to sell Bohol to boost the province’s tourism using her expertise in marketing, advertising and promotions.

Last week, Lourdes was very busy entertaining her guests onboard the luxury ship Happag Lloyd’s Ms Europa 2. With her was Bohol tourism officer Josephine Remolador-Cabarrus (“Bohol is a place and is back to normal and back to 

business again.”) who welcomed MS Europa’s second visit to Bohol this year.

But despite her busy schedule, she still had time to answer our queries.

“Thank God! Improving ang atong figures although we are not expecting to hit the same figure last summer but we are going there,” shared the hopeful Lourdes.  

Our tourism industry was affected after the killer quake last year. There were renovations, twists, and a facelift of our attractions to invite tourists to come back to Bohol.

 “We never lose hope,” said Lourdes. “We just have to work hard for promotions, telling our friends and everyone we are up on our faith.”

Lourdes Sultan (2^nd from left) with Ric Obedencio, Leo Udtohan, Bohol Tourism Officer Jo Remolador-Cabarrus and Edward Guyano. Courtesy: Ric Obedencio

As a tourist destination, the island-province of Bohol in the Philippines is loaded with the attractions travelers dream of: clean and white-sandy beaches, interesting places, friendly locals and fascinating history.

Antequera’s majestic Mag-aso Falls...so cool this summer. –LPU

Yet for all its advantages, the province has a big problem attracting travelers after the quake.

“We need expertise in hospitality management for us to be competitive,” said Lourdes who also owns the Travel Village floating resto in Loboc.  

The biggest challenge, according to Lourdes, is the need of a bigger airport to accommodate the expected tourism influx with updated airport facilities. Five star resorts and hotels in the province can magnetically attract visitors.   

Lourdes also shared that rebranding and selling Bohol should begin with Boholano themselves.

“Believe in the beauty of our province of Bohol. We are a beautiful place to sell at every turn. Sell it to all your friends on Facebook and Twitter,” encouraged Lourdes. “We should also help each other especially the tourism stakeholders. At the end of the day, it will not be Loboc River, it will not be Travel Village but Bohol. It’s still Bohol.”

One of Bohol’s enchanted rivers, Makapiko remains beautiful.- LPU

While we are at it, Inday Charity and I visited some tourist attractions in Bohol for our Summer Gimik 2014.

The Mag-aso Falls in barangay Can-umay in Antequera town is back to normal. Belyn Omila, the caretaker of Mag-aso Falls, shared that their guests have tripled this year. Most of them are European visitors. Entrance fee is Php 20 pesos for adults and Php 10 pesos for kids (and there is a toll fee of 10 pesos per vehicle), you will enjoy the falls to sawa.

Last Friday, we went to Chocolate Hills Adventure Park in barangay Buenos Aires,Carmen town. I’d found the place so relaxing. If you like nature trek, you will love this place. It has a well-manicured garden with different species of plants, trees and flowers.  The entrance fee is Php60 pesos.

Check “serpentarium” which houses pythons and oriental whip snakes. They are extremely slender snakes.

If you have Php 400, you can try Bike Zip to experience the excitement and thrill riding a mountain bike on a zip line. 

Ang Pinaka host and model Rovilson Fernandez at the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park. ‘Zip-line? Nope. Zip-BIKE! Cycling above the Chocolate Hills cause' that's how I roll.’ Courtesy: Rovilson Fernandez

While I had my muni-muni at the top of the hill, Inday Charity convinced me to visit Makapiko Nature Park in barangay Rizal in Batuan town. Inday visited the place in 2005 where adventure trip using tubes, paddles and life vests were necessary to float down the Makapiko River. But when we checked the place, it’s already abandoned. However, the river remains beautiful.

...What’s up?

Last week’s VRS about a former queen who is battling the Big C drew a lot of reactions from our readers. An email from Erma Sarigumba: A diagnosis of cancer, or even being told of a suspicion of cancer, can make you extremely fearful. You reflect on friends or family who died of cancer or of celebrities with cancer that died. Cancer is one most feared disease in the world. I advised women to have a regular check-up. Lumps are usually visible on a mammogram long before they can be seen or felt. Although lumps are usually painless, pain or tenderness in the breast can be a sign of breast cancer. Another reaction from beauty watcher James Obedencio who shared that 1977 Most Beautiful Bohalana Ellen Campbell has succumbed to cancer, too. “She would always be remembered as one of the loveliest Miss Bohol winners,” said Raul Gatal on Campbell in his blog.

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

Former Boholana beauty queen battling the Big C

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The biggest winner during the opening of the 1st Bohol International Choir Festival on March 18 was no other than the Bohol Queen of All Media Ardy Araneta Batoy. I'd enjoyed watching the show with her expertise on emceeing the event! No need to say more! Salute!

Scene: How to raise an eyebrow? This factotum on special services (FSS) in the Highest Kingdom of Choco (HKC) is now suffering from hydrocephalous. “FSS was very down to earth when FSS was new,” said HKC’s the intruding cupbearer-VRS. “Now FSS feels like the king in HKC. In fact, FSS has PSG even inside the mall. Nakatungtong ra gani sa buko-buko sa kabaw Hahahaha”

Tagbilaran Woman's Club members

Scene: Catch the Teen Idol 2014 Artista Search in your school: March 21 (Friday), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School gym and March 22 (Saturday), 1 p.m.- 3p.m. at PMI College Main Campus gym.

Scene: A strong call from Tagbilaranan Woman’s Club: We call on everyone to support the campaign to observe Wednesday as" no plastic bag day" and hopefully to eventually expand to everyday of the week. This initiative will enhance the earth's carrying capacity against pollution. We are enjoining all Tagbilaranons to hang the 2x2 ft. tarp as seen in this car in front of their residences so people can be reminded that for a start, let us make Wednesday, a plastic bag free day. It is only 60 pesos. You can order and get tarp yourself at EBA Printers: Tel no 4123502 or 0918 6029804. Look for Vicvic. Please. Help in the info drive. Our dumping site in Dampas cannot take anymore of the plastics. Thank you Tagbilaranons.

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Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr., one of Bohol’s great educators, dies

Former DepEd-Western Visayas regional director and University of Bohol President Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr.  died Friday, March 21, at St. Luke’s Hospital, according to his family and relatives. His sudden death has left many in the academe nearly too stunned to speak. They are mourning the loss of a great educator and leader.

Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr.

As a lawyer and educator by profession, Atty. Tirol Jr. served as national president of the Philippine Public School Teacher, Employees Association (PPSTEA) and initiated the Magna Carta for Public Schools.

In July 2009, Atty. Tirol Jr. was awarded as one of The Outstanding Boholanos around the World (Tobaw) in the field of education. In his desire to open more avenues for educational advancement, he founded Cristal e College in Panglao, Information Computer Institute Bohol and Galeria, a computer school in Quezon City.

Atty. Tirol Jr. was a practicing lawyer with three Doctoral Degrees in Philosophy major in English, Education and Administration. He has also earned six masteral degrees. He also graduated Master of Arts in Theology, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Divinity. The Confederation of Evangelical Ministries Association of Bohol Inc. ordained him Evangelical Bishop. 

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Having known friends who are fighting the Big C, I can feel what US-based socialite Mikey Gatal and his family are going through when he shares about the condition of his sister, the 1983 Miss Young Bohol Marcel Gatal-Diego, who battles the Big C.

“Any journey down that road is not easy for a family,” says Mikey, holding back tears.

Marcel is suffering from breast cancer stage 3, the same one singer-songwriter Anastacia is a survivor of.

The American Cancer Society says, “Stage 3 breast cancer is more advanced than Stage 2, but it is not considered metastatic. For this diagnosis, cancer has not spread from the breast to organs or other distant sites in the body, but cancer cells will have traveled to nearby underarm (axillary) lymph nodes, or lodged in lymph nodes beneath your breastbone (sternum) or even under your collarbone.”

Marcel Gatal-Diego (Courtesy: Raul Gatal)

“She’s in high spirits,” adds Mikey, who will visit Marcel this summer.

VRS is requesting its readers to pray for Marcel’s speedy recovery. Remember, as poet Alfred Tennyson said, more things are wrought by prayers than this world dreams of. Prayer can move mountains.   

The news first appeared on Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal’s blog (www.raulgatal.blogspot.com). Yes, what’s in the blog is true.

My Ate Marcel Battles the Big C

I have been trying to keep this to myself but I realized that by sharing our pain, people would get to be more cognizant of breast cancer and how it affects and devastates the families of its victims

It was only last December 2013 when I visited Ate Marcel and her family in Manila that I found out about the Big C. The biopsy results confirmed what she had dreaded ever since she felt a lump in her chest. The diagnosis was breast cancer stage 3b.  

I remember going to the toilet right after we talked. It was there at that very private area where I tore up and really cried. After regaining my composure, I went back to the living room where Ate Marcel, Kuya

Tony and their kids were gathered.

I remember going out with the whole family and with younger brother Junjun for some bonding moments. It was supposed to be a happy occasion for Christmas was approaching and yet there was that dark cloud of gloom that hovered over us.

.. with daughter Katrina after a chemotherapy session.

That was one sad Christmas reminiscent of the one that we had the year Papa Rogie passed away.

  

Yes, my dear Ate Marcel is facing the biggest battle of her life and we need the power of a Prayer Brigade as she continues her treatment regimens

Ate Marcel’s last visit to Bohol was only last January. She insisted in coming home to pay her last respects to our late uncle “Papa Rey Gatal” before he was to be buried last January 3. It was a heart-wrenching reunion for Ate Marcel and cousins Ate Roni and Manoy Rocky who practically grew up together since our respective houses in Gallares St. were right beside each other.

I couldn’t help but shed a tear when Ate Marcel was sobbing on Manoy Rocky’s shoulders. Manoy Rocky, then Tagbilaran City’s Kabataang Barangay Chairman was the one who insisted that Ate Marcel accept the offer to represent the city in the 1983 Miss Young Bohol Pageant. She followed his advice and the rest is history.

Cancer is such a treacherous disease. Once it latches onto the cancer patient’s system, it is irreversible unless there is medical intervention. The malignant tumour results from the abnormal and uncontrolled division of affected cells

Right now Ate Marcel has lost her hair as a result of her ongoing chemotherapy. Ate Marcel has always been a survivor and been a veteran of life’s battles and wars. She has always been a strong, opinionated and determined woman who never been known to back out from trials and challenges.

But Ate Marcel can never do this alone. Let’s rally behind her as she faces the biggest battle of her life. Give her some words of encouragement and please offer a prayer for her

Making this public has been a very difficult decision for us. We could just keep quiet about this but it would be unfair for family, friends and classmates.

We want to share this so that everyone would realize that cancer is very real and can happen to anyone including your loved ones.   

(Note: The American Cancer Society (ACS) stresses the importance of finding breast cancer early.  The goal of screening exams for early breast cancer detection is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms.

“Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save thousands of lives each year,” says ACS’ website. If you have sore, red and itchy nipples, upper back pain, a change in nipple appearance or size, change in breast size and pain, lumps or swelling in the armpits, it is advisable that you contact a doctor as early as possible.)

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