American Gothic The iconic painting, American Gothic, has been a staple for me when it comes to creating personalized wine labels for a select few. For Kat's parent's 46th wedding anniversary in Bohol, I defaulted to this old classic. I lost my original Photoshop file so I had to rebuild from scratch. Kat helped with the raw picture of the couple and printing. For text, I emulated a vintage Bordeaux label while substituting the original chateau for Smartbod Balays and France to Bohol. I was careful with the details.
American Gothic original painting vs Bohol Gothic wine label
Doc Frank and Auntie Edna They are such a lovely couple who took me in as part of the family when I was still staying with them. I was part of the dinner table and they tagged me along as well to some of their social events. I wanted to do something special for them - thus the Bohol Gothic label.
The Party It was a lively social, attended to by the couple's poker and tennis buddies. Political and industrial heavyweights were also there - expectedly. On our table, Kaye was there, fresh from her Bali sojourn and so was Rahel, looking ravaging and sultry. Kat would join us sporadically as she mixed in with the crowd. She also belted out a karaoke song!
me, Kat, Kaye, and Rahel...come to think of it, being with 3 lovely ladies, I was perhaps seated at the most coveted table in the house!
Ending Thoughts It was good to see Kaye again after the Bohol Yoga Festival. I'm happy to be doing my wine labels again - I get to express my artistic side. And I'm happy for Auntie Edna and Doc Frank for being together this long - there's lots to be learned from this union.
(July 6, 2024) Mehul, a BCBP member, invited me one more time to give an inspirational talk about yoga to a group of 35 students ranging 10-25 year olds. I thought about telling something they didn't expect - they don't need yoga!...more »»
More on Tagbilaran:
Tagbilaran Map
Tagbilaran Local Info
- xxxxxxxxxxx
Tagbilaran to Cebu by Boat
Lite Ferries (Roro) (updated Jan 25, 2025) info from website, Economy P370, 4 - 5 hours, daily, departs 12 noon and 12 midnight, but info is inconsistent with online booking, website and office info. Best to double check.
As a Roro, you can load your motorbike or car, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase
Ocean Jet - 2 hours, departs 10:40 am, arrives 12:40 pm, Pier 1 Cebu. Ocean Jet is NOT folding bike friendly - it charges on a per kilo basis. My folding bike amounted to P500 extra.
Chelsea Starlite Ferries Inc. - MV Starlite Pioneer (CARGO-PAX), 5 hours, P400/P670, Sun, Tue, 1 am,
Can-umantad Falls - long narrow drop until it hits a bulbous mound spreading it into a a curtain-like water canopy and down into a splash pool
Canawa Cold Spring - deep refreshing cold spring with developed pool area
Firefly Tour - evening boat ride into the river to watch fireflies
hotel
Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol
Bohol Tropics Resort - seafront location, manicured surroundings, swimming pool, resto/bar
0133 Graham Avenue, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran, Bohol 6300
Oasis Resort - Alona Beach location, dive center, resto / bar
Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
yoga
Jing Yoga - health & well being through yoga
The Courtyard - Airport Road fronting the church
Bohol Meditation and Yoga Center - 2nd Floor Lim Magtajas Bldg. CPG Avenue
Bohol Travel Info/Tips
Bohol FYI / Tips
the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed
Tagbilaran Port to Panglao
You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,
don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)
Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat
** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule
Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Things to do, Places to go in Bohol
Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.