— witsandnuts

(A friend’s wedding reception in Bohol Beach Club in time for the sunset.)

BOHOL BEACH CLUB

Centuries ago, the island was branded as a lonesome place. No wonder that the Spaniards described it as “mapanglao” (lonely). While it retained its name, Panglao Island is now oozing with energy and celebrations that there is no way it is going to be gloomy again. With the mushrooming hotels and resorts, the commercialization is shaping abruptly. I hope it would be able to sustain its natural beauty.

(Benjamin Abalos, the former Chairman of Philippine Commission on Elections and Metro Manila Development Authority, as regaled by the romantic and refreshing breeze.)

Being first time visitors, we were advised to stay in Panglao Island instead of being in the sentro, Tagbilaran City. Since the latter is 30-minute drive to the beach and there is no regular commute (yes, transportation arrangement is the deal), we really intended to stay footsteps away from the beach. While the resorts share the same shoreline, Bohol Beach Club has the longest stretch which we got to appreciate when we attended the wedding reception of a friend.

~~~~~

LOST HORIZON HOTEL in Alona Beach

Taking the combined recommendations from non-blogger and blogger pals, we booked the family “room” (i.e. three rooms via two connecting doors — much preferred in our case) overlooking the pool in Lost Horizon Hotel. The establishment’s name stuck in my head even before the reason to visit Bohol materialized. I gave a high regard to almost anything Lost Horizon since I watched that very interesting black and white movie which has the same title (initially shown in 1937) in-flight. I think that it’s a genius production especially during that time when the idea of hidden paradise and “other world” was infant.

(Beach front of Lost Horizon Hotel)