Its name notwithstanding, it is obviously no longer a virgin’s island. Commercialism has crept into what must have been a poor man’s paradise, disrobing Bohol’s Virgin Island of its innocence.But what else is new? Many years ago, my wife and I visited Anda, also in Bohol, spending one night in a cottage by the beach. […]
Tag: island
Editorial: Bohol’s Virgin Island in social media’s realm
A woman’s repost of her friend’s images on Facebook, including that of the list of food items at Virgin Island in Panglao Island, Bohol that totaled P26,100, has gone viral. It did not make sense to the woman that her friend, part of a group of 13 local tourists, had to pay that much.One of […]
Cebu boat builder to construct yachts for Korean firm
A SOUTH Korean firm has tapped Cebu-based marine vessel builder Seals Boatyard Inc. for the construction of luxury yachts to answer the maritime travel demand amid the tourism boom in the North East Asian nation.Jeju Sea World, based in Jeju Island in South Korea, recently signed a build contract with Seals, with the vessel targeted […]
Satellite broadband: bringing high-speed affordable internet to private island resorts
Bambunet, powered by Kloche Communications, is a local internet service provider partnered with Singapore-based satellite operator Kacific.WITH international tourism coming back onto the agenda in Southeast Asia, governments have been working hard to make up for lost time. Like other countries in the region, the Philippines opened its borders on April 1, easing health protocols […]
Siargao-based cafe survives Typhoon Odette, opens in Cebu
One of the most popular cafes in Siargao finally makes its debut to Cebu—but its journey is like no other.Hab Hab Cafe, founded by Cebuano Ronald James “RJ” del Rio in 2018, were among the first 24-hour restaurants on the island and quickly became the locals go-to spot for late night “habhab” or “panic eating.”RJ […]
US vows more high-level engagement with Pacific islands amid China push
WASHINGTON — White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Thursday he expects more high-level US officials to visit Pacific island countries as Washington steps up its engagement to counter China in the strategically important region. Mr. Campbell said the United States needed more diplomatic facilities across the region, and more contact with Pacific island […]
Coron: a tale of tourism and sea monsters
1 of 2 CORON islands drone shots — PHOTO COURTESY FROM NARJAY CALINAO, TPB PHOTO COURTESY FROM NARJAY CALINAO, TPB MY first visit to Coron won’t be forgotten easily. Coron, the final leg in an interisland tour earlier this summer consisting of stops in Boracay and Cebu, organized by Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the Tourism […]
Boracay Water spends P4B for sustainability efforts
BORACAY Island Water Co., Inc. said it invested more than P4.32 billion in capital expenditures for its water and wastewater facilities to ensure environmental sustainability and water security. The company, also known as Boracay Water, said it developed a 25-year plan to sustainably serve the water requirements of Boracay Island, as it is a major […]
Pescador reopens to tourists
PESCADOR Island in the town of Moalboal in southern Cebu has formally reopened its shores to tourists, particularly to local and foreign certified divers.The Provincial Task Force, led by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, launched the Dasig Pescador, a volunteerism program on coral aggregation around Pescador Island on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 to signal the reopening […]
Easter Island Moai stone statue begins long journey home
SANTIAGO — A huge Moai statue, one of the iconic stone monuments from Easter Island, began its journey back home on Monday following a years-long campaign to get it returned to its original setting since it was housed in a museum in Santiago in the 19th century. The 715 kilogram (0.72 ton) sculpture will be […]
105 Covid dead in Cebu in first 22 days of year
AT LEAST 105 individuals have so far been reported dead due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in public and private hospitals in Cebu Island in the first 22 days of January this ye…
‘One Cebu Island’ policy needed vs. Omicron, says Mayor Cortes
MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes wants all local government units (LGUs) in Cebu to come up with a “One Island” policy when it comes to allowing individuals from Alert Level 3 areas…
Boracay rehabilitation on track to finish by early 2022 — DENR
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it expects to complete the rehabilitation of Boracay Island by the first half of 2022, after an overhaul of the island’s environmental and land use practices that required a full closure to visitors in 2018. “To reverse the degradation of the island, we have to work […]
Daanbantayan, Esperanza to resolve fishing dispute
CONFLICTS between fisherfolk from Carnaza Island in Daanbantayan, Cebu, and the town of Esperanza in Masbate for the last 20 years may soon be put to rest, as the two local governments are set to sign a Town Twinning Agreement to resolve fishing disputes. La Manok Island, locally known as Manok Manok Island, is geographically […]
Cebu’s Bantayan Island now has 24-hour power supply with new plant
BANTAYAN ISLAND, a tourist destination located off the northwestern side of Cebu, will now have 24-hour electricity supply with the completion of a new 23-megawatt power plant owned by Isla Norte Energy Corp. (INEC). “These engines… will provide the power Bantayan Island needs today and the years to come,” INEC President and Chief Executive Officer […]
Bantayan’s power woes seen to end
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued a resolution allowing the Bantayan Island Electric Cooperative Inc. (Banelco) to source its power from any supplier to ensure unhampered power supply, ending the rotational brownouts that had plagued residents of Bantayan Island. Banelco, Bantayan Island’s power distributor, announced Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, that Isla Norte Energy Corp. […]
ERC urged to help solve power supply woes in Bantayan
THE Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas hopes that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will issue a provisional authority to power generator Isla Norte Energy Corp. (Inec) to address the power woes of Bantayan Island, following the appeal of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. DOE Visayas Field Office Director Russ Mark Gamallo said they support any power […]
Gov. Garcia urges ERC to help solve Bantayan Island’s power supply problems
CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has appealed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to provisionally allow a new power generator to operate in Bantayan Island, to solve the power outages in the area. The governor urged the ERC to grant provisional authority to Isla Norte Energy Corp. (Inec) so it can supply power in the island, […]
Lapu-Lapu City Hall teaches Olango women to cook snacks
THE Lapu-Lapu City livelihood office personnel recently gave Olango Island women a double treat—they trained them to cook snacks and gave them cooking equipment to start their small business. “Ang dos sientos pesos nga empanada mokita na na og kuwatro sientos. Dako-dako na na (The P200 worth of empanada would earn you P400. That is […]
Good life: Cebuano entrepreneurs in Siargao
The sweeping views of the crystal-clear waters, the calming sound of the waves, the relaxing sight of palm trees swaying along with the sea breeze—there is something about being on an island that make us hang loose, take it easy and unwind. It’s an ideal place to escape to when we want to slow down […]