Lifestyle
๐๐ข๐ง ๐ธ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ก ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ผ๐น
Tagbilaran- The Department of Tourism (DOT) officially started its year-long tour program for ASEAN 2026 delegates on Thursday (Jan. 22) with a cultural immersion in Bohol provinceโthe first in a series of curated tours.
The inaugural tour was joined by more than 80 delegates from the energy sector who also attended the Special Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), organized by the Department of Energy as part of the ASEAN 2026 regional meetings.
Anchored on โhandumananโ, the Cebuano word for memory or keepsake, the tour presented Boholโs cultural and historical sites as living elements that continue to shape the provinceโs tourism identity.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ผ๐นโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐
The delegates began their itinerary at the National Museum of the PhilippinesโBohol, one of the countryโs 22 regional museums. Particular focus was given to the works of Boholano National Artist Napoleon Abueva, whose sculptures reflect the provinceโs contribution to Philippine art.
The tour also revisited the impact of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol in 2013, with galleries highlighting conservation and restoration efforts undertaken in its aftermath.
๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐
Showcasing Boholanoโs religious devotion, the itinerary included a visit to Santa Monica Parish Church, also known as the Alburquerque Church โ a Spanish-era religious structure built in 1842 that continues to serve the local community as an active place of worship.
The tour also brought delegates to Baclayon Church, one of the oldest churches in the country and known for its historical significance and architectural features.
๐๐ผ๐ต๐ผ๐นโ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐
For its final stop, delegates joined a guided farm walk at the Bohol Bee Farm that highlighted sustainable and community-based tourism.
Delegates enjoyed hands-on activities, including chocolate making, cooking demonstrations of ube biko and kalamay, raffia weaving, and ice cream tasting.
Organized by the Department of Tourism as the lead agency of the Committee on Hospitality, Tours, Site Enhancements, and Events, a wide array of curated tours for ASEAN delegates are set to roll out across several destinations in the Philippines throughout the year.
