Elections in Bohol Organized and Orderly - Int'l Election Observers

Bohol election observers share their experience at a press briefing in Tagbilaran City. 

The International election observers found the conduct of the May 9 elections here in Bohol generally “organized and orderly”.

In a press briefing here on Tuesday, May 10th, the team deployed to sixteen voting precincts in Panglao, Tagbilaran, Baclayon, Tubigon and Inabanga, Bohol as part of the Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Elections (COMPACT) - International Observers Mission (IOM) 2016 said the voting process here was well coordinated.

International observers to monitor the May 9 elections in Bohol

An international election observers’ mission will monitor the elections in the towns of Tubigon, Baclayon, Panglao and the city of Tagbilaran.

The group of five international observers deployed to Bohol is part of the 15-delegate Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Elections (COMPACT) - International Observers Mission (IOM) comprised of parliamentarians, academics, development workers, youth and student leaders from the United States of America, Germany, Sweden and Japan who will monitor the conduct and outcome of the 2016 Philippine elections.

In Photos: Saulog Tagbilaran 2016

Saulog! Tagbilaran Festival, now on its 4th year, is getting more spectacular! spectacular! by the year. We can't say we haven't seen these costumes and dance moves and formations before, but those smiles are sure Tagbilaranon! 

Maayong pista!

Earth Day Jam with Joey Ayala

Joey Ayala

Boholanos were once again regaled with one of the country's quintessential folk singer/songwriter Joey Ayala, this time in an intimate setting by the Tagbilaran Bay in celebration of the Earth Day, April 22.

In Photos: Saulog Arts Exhibit 2016

The 22-28 April 2016 Saulog Arts Exhibit at the BQ Mall Atrium features the latest works of Bohol visual artists. It is organized by Bohol visual artists led by Joey Labrador and Jhacky Curambao in cooperation with the City Government of Tagbilaran.

Deep Deep Blue (Updated)

Bohol Dance Project dancers Marvin Ablao, Jerrey David Aguilar, Jay Banquil, and Yassie Nalo dance, fly, swim, move the blue way.

Blue Way is a trippy choreographic creation -- a metaphysical study in contrasts and progressions set to motion by  the ebb and flow of sea/river waters -- by French dance guru/choreographer Gigi Caciuleanu (with music by French-Cameroonian Manuel Wandji) featuring Bohol Dance Project dancers Marvin Ablao, Jerrey David Aguilar, Jay Banquil, and Yassie Nalo.

Bohol Fever

Behold...Bohol
"BEHOLD (the beautiful)...BOHOL" Take a peek at the newest promotional video for the island of Bohol, including #SUPToursPhilippines, in partnership with Bohol Tourism Office and the Philippine Department of Tourism. filmed and edited by Bohol's finest, Chris Ramasola. #suprivers #suplove #supbohol #supholiday #suptravel #supyoga #supyogaretreat #standuptraveller #supschool #asieducation #starboardsup #beholdbohol #itsmorefuninthephilippines #thephilippines #travelPH
Posted by SUP Tours Philippines on Sunday, March 13, 2016

With Bohol being THE hottest destination this part of the islands, thanks to the Tenten and Serena's Dolce Amore wanderings in the island, the release of this beautiful no-nonsense Bohol promotional video (filmed and edited by Bohol's finest, Chris Ramasola) is very timely -- and a much-needed follow-through to the stunning Bohol imagery that was backdrop to Tenten and Serena's budding "thing".

We say no-nonsense because devoid of the usual voice over and captions -- it "shows" not "tells". And we like it!

The catchphrase Behold... Bohol, though, still "meh". 

Mga Kalaki sa Baji (The Baji Arts Exhibit 2016)

"Ang Bildo nga Kisame", installation by Regina Estorba Macalandag

Now on its 6th year, the annual Baji Arts Exhibit 2016 was unveiled last Monday evening at the Oak Brook Library, showcasing 38 Boholana artists aged 11-86 and around 70 works of arts, creative interpretations of this year’s theme: “mga kalaki sa baji”.

In her installation work “Ang Bildo nga Kisame” where red female figures are barred from going further up the ladder by a glass ceiling only occupied by black male figures, research and development worker Regina Estorba Macalandag enjoins women to take on the “glass ceiling”, the “unacknowledged discriminatory barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to positions of power or responsibility”. The accompanying note reads: Unsay kalaki sa mga baji?/ No.1 tig-atiman sa pamilya./ Mao na sa trabaho, gawas niini, /maglisod na mobida./ Kalaki sa mga baji/ Ang dugmokon ang Bildo nga Kisame/ ang dili makita nga babag/ naghikaw ug nag-abog / sa kaangayan sa responsibilidad ug gahum /nga angayang pagabahinon sa laki ug baji. 

Another one bites the dust.

The corner building in front of the Royal Theater (now Novo Jeans) in Tagbilaran City.

Another old-ish building (70s or 80s) succumbed to demolition and will soon be supplanted by some bland or gaudy concrete and glass mid-rise.

(Bohol Republic is documenting the changes in the urban fabric of Tagbilaran City.)

Dolce Amore de Bohol

The #LizQuen #SerTen tandem just made Bohol even more sweeter. Loveteams are cash cows, let Bohol milk them, why not. Symbiosis. 

Baji Exhibit 2016 opens Monday at the Oakbrook Library

The Baji Arts Collective once again celebrates womanhood with the annual Women’s Month showcase Baji Arts Exhibit that is set to open on Monday, March 7, 2016, 6:00PM at the Oakbrook Library and shall open until March 20, 2016.