Bohol On My Mind
After the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake last October 15, 2013, we have been seeing pictures of destroyed bridges, collapsed churches and houses and fissured roads in Bohol. Even without being there, one could get a feel of the pitiful scenario of survivors especially those in remote areas, scrambling for relief goods, some to the point of begging by the roadside. They have been requesting for water, food, medicine, and tarpaulin to shield them from the elements. With continuous aftershocks in varying intensities and frequencies, it is far from over. It may take time to rebuild and get back to what and how Bohol used to be.
But once again, the resilience of Filipinos in the face of crisis, most especially the Bol-anons, and the bayanihan spirit manifested by people from all over make me hopeful that everything will be okay. God bless the generous souls, donations continue to pour in. Thank heavens for selfless doctors, medical missions are ongoing. Though the scenario may seem bleak for now, with everybody pitching in in his own little way, Bohol will rise again. There is no other way but up. Bohol will get back to what and how she used to be.
A few years back we had the chance to see Bohol and her natural beauty. In a series of old family pictures, this is how I remember her...
Photos from April 2007
Jake with a stuffed tarsier toy
![Jake and stuffed tarsier](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/234/515716318_2dbf87b1a7.jpg)
at Carmen, going up
![CARMEN_A](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/247/462318381_a7e90239c9.jpg)
with officemates at Carmen to view the Chocolate Hills
![CARMEN_5](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/197/462318377_36c5137099.jpg)
a real tarsier sighting at Sagbayan Peak
![Tarsier sighting (Sagbayan Peak)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/206/472827499_533d93286b.jpg)
our family at Sagbayan Peak with part of the Chocolate Hills in the background
![Family pic at Sagbayan Peak](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/201/472823603_9f25534935.jpg)
![Sagbayan Peak](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/185/472823619_2460234a2a.jpg)
inside Hinagdanan Cave
![Inside Hinagdanan Cave](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/169/472849022_ff02e06a9f.jpg)
![HINAGDANAN_A](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/232/462665012_46968d31b3.jpg)
Loboc River
![Serenity (Loboc)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/202/462673889_8ccab4a74a.jpg)
during our Loboc River Cruise
![Jerry and me (Loboc)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/175/462673879_219780ab01.jpg)
![Loboc river cruise](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/203/462676790_bbfd85956f.jpg)
![Loboc river cruise](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/177/462673873_31c56626a1.jpg)
man-made forest
![FOREST_3](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/178/462408726_fbeac670ef.jpg)
![FOREST_2](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/194/462408716_ef6f122dcb.jpg)
off to Balicasag to snorkel
![Mykah, Kyle, Matt & me](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/250/514721951_608dbd0aa2.jpg)
![Kyle, Matt, Jake, Jerry](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/200/515711183_857b8d9283.jpg)
brain corals at Balicasag
![Brain coral](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/247/515711191_2e4eb1af2d.jpg)
picture-perfect Panglao beach
![Panglao](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3290/2714905238_a79b6d3a1e.jpg)
my boys enjoying the pristine sand
![Panglao](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3179/2714937560_58610ddc55.jpg)
Jake
![Jake and the powdery white sand (Panglao)](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3075/2714956724_eca089ce6c.jpg)
overjoyed Matt and Kyle
![Overjoyed (Panglao)](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3245/2714883182_afdbd4d239.jpg)
![Matt with starfish (Panglao)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/208/472805063_bc7e1e90a7.jpg)
Photos from June 2011
Chocolate Hills in Carmen
![bohol chocolate hills](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/10467959615_1fd843922b.jpg)
![bohol chocolate hills2](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/10468149213_8b0783c6ff.jpg)
wishing well at Carmen, before it collapsed
![bohol wishing well](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/10467957375_19d398474e.jpg)
Jake and the tarsier
![bohol tarsier](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/10467965486_7d9da79c8a.jpg)
Baclayon Church
![bohol baclayon church](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/10467970284_c9d2355c68.jpg)
![bohol baclayon church2](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/10467961305_4fdf927fe8.jpg)
Blood Compact monument
![bohol blood compact](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/10467967546_62b2fd5ecc.jpg)
But once again, the resilience of Filipinos in the face of crisis, most especially the Bol-anons, and the bayanihan spirit manifested by people from all over make me hopeful that everything will be okay. God bless the generous souls, donations continue to pour in. Thank heavens for selfless doctors, medical missions are ongoing. Though the scenario may seem bleak for now, with everybody pitching in in his own little way, Bohol will rise again. There is no other way but up. Bohol will get back to what and how she used to be.
A few years back we had the chance to see Bohol and her natural beauty. In a series of old family pictures, this is how I remember her...
Photos from April 2007
Jake with a stuffed tarsier toy
![Jake and stuffed tarsier](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/234/515716318_2dbf87b1a7.jpg)
at Carmen, going up
![CARMEN_A](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/247/462318381_a7e90239c9.jpg)
with officemates at Carmen to view the Chocolate Hills
![CARMEN_5](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/197/462318377_36c5137099.jpg)
a real tarsier sighting at Sagbayan Peak
![Tarsier sighting (Sagbayan Peak)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/206/472827499_533d93286b.jpg)
our family at Sagbayan Peak with part of the Chocolate Hills in the background
![Family pic at Sagbayan Peak](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/201/472823603_9f25534935.jpg)
![Sagbayan Peak](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/185/472823619_2460234a2a.jpg)
inside Hinagdanan Cave
![Inside Hinagdanan Cave](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/169/472849022_ff02e06a9f.jpg)
![HINAGDANAN_A](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/232/462665012_46968d31b3.jpg)
Loboc River
![Serenity (Loboc)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/202/462673889_8ccab4a74a.jpg)
during our Loboc River Cruise
![Jerry and me (Loboc)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/175/462673879_219780ab01.jpg)
![Loboc river cruise](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/203/462676790_bbfd85956f.jpg)
![Loboc river cruise](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/177/462673873_31c56626a1.jpg)
man-made forest
![FOREST_3](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/178/462408726_fbeac670ef.jpg)
![FOREST_2](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/194/462408716_ef6f122dcb.jpg)
off to Balicasag to snorkel
![Mykah, Kyle, Matt & me](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/250/514721951_608dbd0aa2.jpg)
![Kyle, Matt, Jake, Jerry](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/200/515711183_857b8d9283.jpg)
brain corals at Balicasag
![Brain coral](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/247/515711191_2e4eb1af2d.jpg)
picture-perfect Panglao beach
![Panglao](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3290/2714905238_a79b6d3a1e.jpg)
my boys enjoying the pristine sand
![Panglao](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3179/2714937560_58610ddc55.jpg)
Jake
![Jake and the powdery white sand (Panglao)](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3075/2714956724_eca089ce6c.jpg)
overjoyed Matt and Kyle
![Overjoyed (Panglao)](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3245/2714883182_afdbd4d239.jpg)
![Matt with starfish (Panglao)](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/208/472805063_bc7e1e90a7.jpg)
Photos from June 2011
Chocolate Hills in Carmen
![bohol chocolate hills](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/10467959615_1fd843922b.jpg)
![bohol chocolate hills2](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/10468149213_8b0783c6ff.jpg)
wishing well at Carmen, before it collapsed
![bohol wishing well](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/10467957375_19d398474e.jpg)
Jake and the tarsier
![bohol tarsier](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/10467965486_7d9da79c8a.jpg)
Baclayon Church
![bohol baclayon church](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/10467970284_c9d2355c68.jpg)
![bohol baclayon church2](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/10467961305_4fdf927fe8.jpg)
Blood Compact monument
![bohol blood compact](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/10467967546_62b2fd5ecc.jpg)
You're lucky to have gone to Bohol with your family. I haven't been back after I got married though. I hope my kids will get to enjoy Bohol soon. I know Bohol (and Cebu) can bounce back from this. :)
ReplyDeleteBohol is really a wonderful island. So sad to see the best tourist destinations ruined by the earthquake. I hope they will be able to rebuild them the soonest.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Bohol yet. I do hope it will be restored soon with help from generous people and prayers to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteA week before the quake, my cousin and I were planning a trip to bohol for next summer. I am sad that this happened but I know na mubangon ang Bohol and I can't wait to see that happen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your family photos from Bohol. This is also how I choose to remember the lovely island. I have many good memories of Bohol and hope to visit again someday.
ReplyDeleteI want to have some me time there. Btw, Jake's so cute with the tarsier stuffed toy. I thought it's real. :)
ReplyDelete