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BOHOL GENERAL INFORMATION |
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| Bohol is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formations, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is home to some of the finest beaches in the country. The Philippine Tarsier, considered by some to be the smallest primates, is indigenous to the island. The Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the 'Republic of Bohol' with both conviction and pride. 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 lies between the islands of Cebu on the northwest, Leyte on the northeast and Mindanao to the south. The hills dominate the island of Bohol. Two ranges run roughly parallel on the northwest and the southeast. An interior plateau is dominated by limestone hills. In Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, these hills form near perfect cones in great numbers and are collectively referred to as the Chocolate Hills. Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast. |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BOHOL |
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Region: Central Visayas (Region VII)
Capital: Tagbilaran City
Founded: March 25, 1565
Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest)
Area: 4,117.3 km² (29th largest (10th largest island))
Divisions: Highly urbanized cities—0 Component cities—1 Municipalities—47 Barangays—1,109 Congressional districts—3
Languages: Visayan(Boholano) |
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| PEOPLE AND CULTURE |
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| According to the 2000 census, there are a total of 1,137,268 Boholanos or Bol-anon, as the residents of Bohol call themselves. The same census also states that Bohol has 209,588 households with an average household size of 5.41 persons, significantly higher than the national average of 4.99. The annual growth rate is 2.92%, higher than the national growth rate of 2.36%. With this growth rate, Bohol's population will double in 24 years. Life expectancy at birth is estimated at 68.19 for the males and 72.93 for the females for the period 2000–2005. This is lower than that of Cebu but higher than that of Negros Oriental and Siquijor. |
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| ECONOMY |
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| Tourism is playing an increasing role in the island's economy. An international airport is currently planned for Panglao which houses the most-visited and pristine beaches in the province. It is hoped that this will increase Bohol's reputation as an international tourist destination. |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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| 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 leftover from coral reefs during the ice age when the island was submerged. They turn brown during the summer, hence their name. Most beaches are of white sand. The sand is often of such high quality that it is exported to other beaches in the world. The most well known of these beaches are in Panglao Island, and there, numerous islets have similar, yet untouched and pristine beaches. The Loboc River is the most famous, running from the southeastern coast to the center of the island. It is famous for its River Cruise going up to its water source. The largest, Inabanga River, runs in the northern part of the province. Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including the beautiful 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. Panglao is a small island southwest of the main island, connected by a causeway to Tagbilaran. |
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