Bohol

Bohol
Province
Flag Seal
Anthem: Awit sa Bohol[1] Bohol Hymn
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°53′N 124°13′E / 9.88°N 124.22°E / 9.88; 124.22Coordinates: 9°53′N 124°13′E / 9.88°N 124.22°E / 9.88; 124.22
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Discovered Founded	25 March 1565 22 July 1854
Capital	Tagbilaran
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Edgar Chatto (LP)
• Vice governor	Concepcion Lim
• Provincial Board	Members 1st district Cesar Lopez Abeleon Damalerio Venzencio Arcamo 2nd district Jovanna Jumamoy Gerardo Garcia Tomas Abapo 3rd district Dionision Balite Elpidio Jala Godofreda Tirol Brigido Imboy Commission on Elections
Area [2]
• Total	4,820.95 km2 (1,861.38 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)[3]
• Total	1,255,128
• Density	260/km2 (670/sq mi)
• Voter  (2013) [4]	775,785
Demonym(s)	Boholano
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	1
• Municipalities	47
• Districts	3
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6300–6346
IDD : area code	+63 (0)38
ISO 3166 code	PH-BOH
Income class	1st class
PSGC	071200000
Website	www.bohol.gov.ph

Bohol is a first income class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands.^[5] Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,821 km² (1,861 sq mi) and a coastline 261 km (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines.^[6] To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts.^[7] The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formations, are the most popular attraction. The formations can be seen by land (climbing the highest point) or by air via ultralight airplane tours. Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and is routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts and dive centers dot the southern beaches. The Philippine tarsier, amongst the world's smallest primates, is indigenous to the island.

A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol, and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos. Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.

It is the home province of Carlos P. Garcia, the eighth president of the Republic of the Philippines (1957–1961) who was born in Talibon, Bohol.^[8]

On 15 October 2013, Bohol was devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Sagbayan town. The earthquake, which also devastated neighboring Cebu City, claimed 156 lives altogether and injured 374 people. It also destroyed or damaged a number of Bohol's heritage churches.^[9][10]

History

Early history

Bohol was first settled by Australoid people, like the rest of the Philippines. They still inhabit the island today and are known as the Eskaya tribe. Their population also was absorbed into the Austronesian or Malayo-Polynesian peoples who later settled the islands and form the majority of the population. The Austronesian people living on Bohol traded with other islands in the Philippines and as far as China and Borneo.

The people of Bohol are said to be the descendants of a group of inhabitants who settled in the Philippines called pintados or "tattooed ones."^[11] Boholanos already had a culture of their own as evidenced by artifacts unearthed at Mansasa, Tagbilaran, and in Dauis and Panglao.

Bohol is derived from the word Bo-ho or Bo-ol.^[6] The island was the seat of the first international treaty of peace and unity between the native king Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact alliance known today by many Filipinos as the Sandugo.^[12]

Spanish colonial period

The earliest significant contact of the island with Spain occurred in 1565. On March 25 (March 16 in the Julian Calendar), a Spanish explorer named Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Bohol seeking spices and gold. After convincing the native chieftains that they were not Portuguese (who raided the islands of Mactan in 1521), Legazpi made a peace pact with Datu Sikatuna. This pact was signified with a blood compact between the two men.^[13] This event, called the Sandugo ("one blood"), is celebrated in Bohol every year during the Sandugo Festival. The Sandugo or blood compact is also depicted on Bohol's provincial flag and the Bohol provincial seal .^[14]

Two significant revolts occurred in Bohol during the Spanish Era. One was the Tamblot Uprising in 1621, led by Tamblot, a babaylan or native priest. The other was the famous Dagohoy Rebellion, considered the longest in Philippine history. This rebellion was led by Francisco Dagohoy, also known as Francisco Sendrijas, from 1744 to 1829.^[13]

Politically, Bohol was administered as a residencia of Cebu. It became a separate politico-military province on July 22, 1854 together with Siquijor. A census in 1879 found Bohol with a population of 253,103 distributed among 34 municipalities.^[15]

The culture of the Boholanos was influenced by Spain and Mexico during colonization. Many traditional dances, music, dishes and other aspects of the culture have considerable Hispanic influence.

U.S. intervention and occupation

After the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish–American War, the U.S. bought the entire Philippine islands. However, under the newly proclaimed independent government established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, which was not recognized by the U.S., Bohol was governed as a Gobierno de Canton.

During the resulting Philippine–American War, American troops peacefully took over the island in March 1899.^[16] However, in January 1901, Pedro Sanson led 2,000 in rebellion, due to the harsh treatment imparted by these troops and the destruction they caused.^[16] General Hughes led a campaign of repression in October 1901, destroying a number of towns, and threatening in December 1901 to burn Tagbilaran if the rebels did not surrender.^[16] Pantaleon E. del Rosario then negotiated the rebel surrender.^[16]

On March 10, 1917, the Americans made Bohol a separate province under Act 2711 (which also established most of the other Philippine provinces).

Japanese occupation and liberation

Japanese troops landed in Tagbilaran on May 17, 1942. Boholanos struggled in a guerilla resistance against the Japanese forces. Bohol was later liberated by the local guerrillas and the Filipino and American troops who landed on April 11, 1945.^[17]

A plaque placed on the port of Tagbilaran commemorating the liberation reads:

One thousand one hundred seventy two officers and men of the 3rd Battalion of the 164th Infantry Regiment of the Americal Division under the command of Lt. Col. William H. Considine landed at the Tagbilaran Insular Wharf at 7:00 o'clock in the morning of April 11, 1945.

The convoy taking the Filipino and American liberation forces to Bohol consisted of a flotilla of six landing ships (medium), six landing crafts (infantry), two landing crafts (support), and one landing craft (medium-rocket). Upon arrival, the reinforced battalion combat team advanced rapidly to the east and northeast with the mission of destroying all hostile forces in Bohol. Motor patrols were immediately dispatched by Col. Considine, Task Force Commander, and combed the area to the north and east, approximately halfway across the island, but no enemies were found during the reconnaissance. Finally, an enemy group of undetermined strength was located to the north of Ginopolan in Valencia, near the Sierra-Bullones boundary.

By April 17, the Task Force was poised to strike in Ginopolan. The bulk of the Japanese force was destroyed and beaten in the ten days of action. Bohol was officially declared liberated on May 25, 1945 by Major General William H. Arnold, Commander of the Americal Division. About this time, most officers and men of the Bohol Area Command had been processed by units of the Eighth United States Army.

On May 31, 1945, the Bohol Area Command was officially deactivated upon orders of Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger, Commanding General of the Eighth United States Army, together with the Philippine Constabulary, the former Philippine Commonwealth Army Forces and the Boholano guerrillas.

During the Second Battle of Bohol from March to August 1945, Filipino troops of the 8th, 83rd, 85th and 86th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 8th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary captured and liberated the island province of Bohol and helped the Boholano guerrilla fighters and U.S. liberation forces defeat the Japanese Imperial forces under General Sōsaku Suzuki.

2013 earthquake

At 8:12 a.m. (PST) on October 15, 2013, the island province suffered a severe earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale.^[18] Its epicenter was at 9°52′N 124°04′E / 9.86°N 124.07°E / 9.86; 124.07 (6 km (3.7 mi) S 24° W of Sagbayan and 629 km (391 mi) from Manila), and its depth of focus was 12 km (7.5 mi). The quake was felt as far as Davao City, Mindanao. According to official reports by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 57 people died in Bohol, and 104 were injured.^[19]

It was the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines since the 7.8 magnitude 1990 Luzon earthquake.^[20] Earlier that same year Bohol was struck by an earthquake (on February 8, 1990) with an epicentre almost exactly the same as in 2013,^[21] causing six fatalities and 200 injured. Several buildings were damaged and it caused a tsunami.^[22]

Geography

The Chocolate Hills are considered one of Philippine's natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. They are hills made of limestone left over from coral reefs during the Ice Age when the island was submerged. They turn brown during the summer.

There are four main rivers that run through Bohol, with the Loboc River running from the center of the island to the southeastern coast. The largest river, the Inabanga, runs in the northwestern part of the province; the Abatan River runs in the southwest, and Ipil River in the north.

Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including Mag-Aso Falls in Antequera. Mag-Aso means smoke in the native tongue. The water is cool and often creates a mist in humid mornings which can hide the falls.

The Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape protects Bohol's largest remaining lowland forest and can be found in the island's southern portion near Bilar.

Physical

With a land area of 4,821 km² (1,861 sq mi) and a coastline 261 km (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. The main island is surrounded by about 70 smaller islands, the largest of which are Panglao Island, facing Tagbilaran City, in the southwest and Lapinig Island in the northeast.

The terrain of Bohol is basically rolling and hilly, and about half the island is covered in limestone. Near the outer areas of the island are low mountain ranges. The interior is a large plateau with irregular landforms.

Near Carmen, the Chocolate Hills are more than 1,200 uniformly cone-shaped limestone hills named for the grass growing on the hills that turns brown in the summer, making the landscape look like chocolate mounds. The Chocolate Hills appear on the provincial seal of Bohol.

Islands

The outlying islands surrounding mainland Bohol under the jurisdiction of the Bohol Provincial Government are:

Tarsier

In 1996 the Philippine Tarsier Foundation was established in Corella, Bohol in efforts to help conserve and protect tarsiers and their habitat. Forest and habitat sanctuaries have been created to ensure the safety of tarsiers while allowing visitors to roam and discover these miniature primates in their natural habitats.

The tarsier is the smallest living primate that exists in several South East Asian countries today. The Philippine tarsier, Tarsius syrichta, is near to threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.^[23] Adaptation to their large bulging eyes allows them to catch prey clearly at night, and with elongated limbs and fingers, leaping from tree to tree gives no limitation to the Tarsier.^[24] Their brain is about the same size as their eyes. The connection between its eyes and brain serves a unique function to these animals which is important for their stability and balance.^[25] Tarsier's have incredible hearing abilities. They can hear a frequency of up to 91 kilohertz and send sounds of 70 kilohertz.^[26]

Climate

From November to April, the northeast monsoon (amihan) prevails. Except for a rare shower, this is the mildest time of the year. Daytime temperatures average 28 °C (82 °F), cooling at night to around 25 °C (77 °F). The summer season from May to July brings higher temperatures and very humid days. From August to October is the southwest monsoon (habagat). The weather during this season is not very predictable, with weeks of calm weather alternating with rainy days. It can rain any day of the year, but a higher chance of heavy showers occurs from November to January.

Subdivisions

The province of Bohol is a first-class province subdivided into 3 congressional districts, 47 municipalities and 1 city.^[27] It has 1,109 barangays^[28] (1,114 barangays per NEDA^[27]) with a total population of 1,255,128 (2010) and an average household size of 5.41.

Congr. district	City	Municipality	Population (2010)
1st	Tagbilaran City	Alburquerque, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna, Tubigon	415,420
2nd	none	Bien Unido, Buenavista, Clarin, Dagohoy, Danao, Getafe, Inabanga, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay	415,878
3rd	none	Alicia, Anda, Batuan, Bilar, Candijay, Carmen, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Mabini, Pilar, Sevilla, Sierra Bullones, Valencia	423,830

Demographics

Population census of Bohol
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	948,403	—
1995	994,440	+0.89%
2000	1,139,130	+2.95%
2007	1,230,110	+1.07%
2010	1,255,128	+0.74%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][29]

According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 1,255,128.^[3] In the 2013 election, it had 775,785 registered voters, meaning that 62% of the population are aged 18 and over.^[4]

Economy

Tourism plays an increasing role in the island's economy. The Panglao Island International Airport is currently planned for Panglao, which houses the most-visited and accessible beaches in the province. Proponents of the scheme hope that the new airport will increase Bohol's reputation as an international tourist destination although the plan has been dogged by ongoing criticism.^[30]

Infrastructure

Airport

Though a number of national flag carriers serve the Tagbilaran Airport, a proposed international airport (see Panglao Island International Airport) has been planned on nearby Panglao Island to accommodate bigger aircraft and handle larger volumes of passengers and tourists to the province. The Panglao airport project is controversial. Private land in the planned right-of-way that was bought cheaply is being sold expensively, creating further issues and delays.

Seaports

The Port of Tubigon, the busiest among the smaller ports, offers more than ten daily round trips plying the Cebu-Bohol route. The Catagbacan Port in Loon serves the roll-on roll-off services between Cebu and Bohol for those who have vehicles. The Port of Jagna offers service between Bohol to Cagayan and Camiguin (with roll-on/roll-off) route. The other ports are Ubay, Talibon, Getafe, Buenavista, and Clarin.

Media Organizations

Bohol has 2 major AM radio stations, DYRD and DYTR, both based in Tagbilaran City. Another AM radio station, DYZD, based in Ubay, is being operated by DYRD. Both DYRD and DYTR also operate FM stations with the same names. There are multiple weekly or bi-weekly newspapers like Bohol Chronicle, Sunday Post, Bohol Times, Bohol Standard and Bohol Bantay Balita. An online news website called Bohol News Daily aggregates news from various sources.

Education

The literacy rate of the province of Bohol is high at 98%.^[28]

Institutions of Higher Learning:

Notable people

Festivals

Gallery

• 

  Alona beach

• 

  Bohol interior

• 

  Loboc river

• 

  Mahogany forest in Bohol

• 

  Baclayon church

• 

  Panglao watchtower

• 

  Tarsier

• 

  Kalamay delicacy

See also

• Awit sa Bohol - official hymn of the province of Bohol
• Boholano dialect
• Boholano people
• Diocese of Tagbilaran
• Diocese of Talibon
• Eskaya
• Eskayan language
• List of Bohol Churches
• List of Bohol flora and fauna
• List of Bohol-related topics

References

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bohol (province).

Wikisource has the text of the 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article Bohol.

• Official website of the provincial government of Bohol
• Provincial Planning and Development Office of Bohol (includes provincial atlas)
• Bohol travel guide from Wikivoyage

	Cebu | Cebu Strait		Camotes Sea | Leyte
			Canigao Channel | Southern Leyte
		Bohol
	Siquijor | Bohol Sea	Bohol Sea Camiguin, Misamis Oriental

Province of Bohol Tagbilaran (capital) Municipalities Alburquerque Alicia Anda Antequera Baclayon Balilihan Batuan Bien Unido Bilar Buenavista Calape Candijay Carmen Catigbian Clarin Corella Cortes Dagohoy Danao Dauis Dimiao Duero Garcia Hernandez Getafe Guindulman Inabanga Jagna Lila Loay Loboc Loon Mabini Maribojoc Panglao Pilar President Carlos P. Garcia Sagbayan San Isidro San Miguel Sevilla Sierra Bullones Sikatuna Talibon Trinidad Tubigon Ubay Valencia Component city Tagbilaran Islands Bansaan Bohol Juagdan Lapinig Pamilacan Panglao Tintinan

Central Visayas (Region VII) Regional Center Cebu City Provinces Bohol Cebu Siquijor Metropolitan Area Metro Cebu Highly Urbanized Cities Cebu City Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Component Cities Bogo Carcar Danao Naga Tagbilaran Talisay Toledo Provincial Capitals Cebu City Siquijor Tagbilaran Municipalities Alburquerque Alcantara Alcoy Alegria Alicia Aloguinsan Anda Antequera Argao Asturias Baclayon Badian Balamban Balilihan Bantayan Barili Batuan Bien Unido Bilar Boljoon Borbon Buenavista Calape Candijay Carmen (Bohol) Carmen (Cebu) Catigbian Catmon Clarin Compostela Consolacion Cordova Corella Cortes Daanbantayan Dagohoy Dalaguete Danao (Bohol) Dauis Dimiao Duero Dumanjug Enrique Villanueva Garcia Hernandez Getafe Ginatilan Guindulman Inabanga Jagna Larena Lazi Lila Liloan Loay Loboc Loon Mabini Madridejos Malabuyoc Maria Maribojoc Medellin Minglanilla Moalboal Oslob Panglao Pilar (Bohol) Pilar (Cebu) Pinamungajan Poro President Carlos P. Garcia Ronda Sagbayan Samboan San Fernando San Francisco San Isidro San Juan San Miguel San Remigio Santa Fe Santander Sevilla Sibonga Sierra Bullones Sikatuna Siquijor Sogod Tabogon Tabuelan Talibon Trinidad Tubigon Tuburan Tudela Ubay Valencia Visayas, Republic of the Philippines

Administrative divisions of the Philippines Capital Manila (National Capital Region) Island groups Luzon Visayas Mindanao Regions Administrative I – Ilocos region II – Cagayan Valley III – Central Luzon IV-A – Calabarzon IV-B – Mimaropa V – Bicol region VI – Western Visayas VII – Central Visayas VIII – Eastern Visayas IX – Zamboanga Peninsula X – Northern Mindanao XI – Davao region XII – Soccsksargen XIII – Caraga CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region NCR – National Capital Region NIR – Negros Island Region Autonomous Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Provinces Abra Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Aklan Albay Antique Apayao Aurora Basilan Bataan Batanes Batangas Benguet Biliran Bohol Bukidnon Bulacan Cagayan Camarines Norte Camarines Sur Camiguin Capiz Catanduanes Cavite Cebu Compostela Valley Cotabato Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Occidental Davao Oriental Dinagat Islands Eastern Samar Guimaras Ifugao Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur Iloilo Isabela Kalinga La Union Laguna Lanao del Norte Lanao del Sur Leyte Maguindanao Marinduque Masbate Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental Mountain Province Negros Occidental Negros Oriental Northern Samar Nueva Ecija Nueva Vizcaya Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Palawan Pampanga Pangasinan Quezon Quirino Rizal Romblon Samar Sarangani Siquijor Shariff Kabunsuan Sorsogon South Cotabato Southern Leyte Sultan Kudarat Sulu Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Tarlac Tawi-Tawi Zambales Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Other subdivisions List of primary LGUs Legislative districts Metropolitan areas Cities Municipalities Barangays (by province) Poblacion Puroks Sitios Historical Former provinces Formally proposed provinces

Major islands of the Philippines Alabat Balabac Bantayan Basilan Biliran Bohol Bucas Grande Bugsuk Burias Busuanga Camiguin Cebu Catanduanes Culion Dinagat Dumaran Guimaras Homonhon Jolo Leyte Luzon Masbate Marinduque Mindanao Mindoro Negros Olutanga Palawan Panaon Panay Polillo Samal Samar Siargao Sibutu Sibuyan Siquijor Tablas Tawitawi Ticao See also Geography of the Philippines Island groups of the Philippines List of islands

Authority control WorldCat VIAF: 151299850 LCCN: n82211832 GND: 4226903-9