There I was – feet hitting tarmac again after an hour’s travel from Manila, wondering how my second visit to Bohol would be like this time around. After an uneventful first trip to conduct business with a private school in one of the province’s upland municipalities, I was a bit skeptical on how my second stay in this “eco-cultural tourist destination” would turn out, remembering my ho-hum initial experience. I kept reminding myself that I now had more time to explore the heritage province – five days to be exact – to check-out the amenities offered by two of Bohol’s exclusive facilities: the MetroCentre Hotel & Convention Center in Tagbilaran City and the Panglao Island Nature Resort located in Bingag, Dauis.

Going Downtown
Conveniently situated along Tagbilaran’s main thoroughfare, the MetroCentre struck me as an oddity when I first saw it because its imposing eight-storey glass facade was juxtaposed against rustic fixtures like a run-down town market and bazaars offering household wares and small appliances. I brushed this thought aside, reminding myself to hold my critique in reserve. Upon entering the hotel’s main lobby, I was surprised to see a huge saltwater aquarium – complete with live corals – neatly mounted on the wall of the check-in counter. This, I said to myself, was not your typical run-of-the-mill accom-modation. And as the bellhop took my baggage and pushed the button on the polished brass elevator control plate, I decided to dismiss all my uncertainties about my temporary home for the coming days.

While the MetroCentre does not aspire to replicate all the features of five-star hotels in Manila, it does aim to be a better alternative to the other convention venues located in Cebu. It has all the things that an average hotel could offer and more. No wonder the MetroCentre is fast becoming the venue of choice of Visayans for their meetings, functions, and social events.

Rich accents and fine attention to detail gave me the impression that the hotel catered to people with taste. With the superb 24-hour service accorded to its guest, I had a feeling that the MetroCentre really aims to pamper its guests.

Island Getaway
Bohol is virtually untouched by typhoons that frequent other provinces in the region, making it an ideal winter retreat for those who want to get away from the rains that spoil the climate of other tourist spots in the country. Such is the year-round versatility of the province that it is now aggressively marketing itself as the best place for “business ventures and holiday adventures.” Among its proudest showcases for this eco-industrial presentation are the countless resorts located in Panglao Island, where lay my second destination for the remainder of my stay.

Probably the only “double-A” Department of Tourism-certified resort on the island, sprawled over 14 hectares of natural land amidst gentle sand dunes and powdery white beach, lies the Panglao Island Nature Resort (PINR). Although it was really late in the night when we got there on a different route (coming from the town of Jagna on the other end of Bohol), the resort is only a 15-minute ride away from Tagbilaran City or a 20-minute trip if you come directly from the airport. What could have been a good opportunity for the resort to make its best impression on me as it basked in glorious daylight had to be postponed for the next day. A full and hectic ten-hour day really took its toll on me so I just decided to go straight to my room to catch some sleep.

Early the next day, enjoying coffee on the cottage’s wooden-planked veranda, a thought occurred to me – the Panglao Island Nature Resort (PINR) really embodied the true Panglao which people most often talk about, but only a few have had the privilege of experiencing. I couldn’t have come up with a better description as I observed the view that I was taking in – a beachfront horizon that gives the guest both the opportunity to watch the sun rise in the east in, the morning and see it disappear in the horizon at dusk.

A True Nature Resort
The PINR is, in all essence of the word, a true nature resort – from site plan, architecture, and gardens to an elaborate landscape design. Nipa, bamboo, stainless steel sheets, rough-hewn wooden railings perched atop reinforced concrete beams – all provide a fascinating interplay of resiliency and versatility that can only be seen in resorts in Bali, Indonesia. This fusion of materials gives a refreshing architectural style, a sort of modernist-cum-ecological design that seamlessly combines the old and the new.

Dining in the restaurant’s high-ceilinged, nipa-thatched roof naturally illuminated with a bamboo-framed skylight re-defines the meaning of al fresco dining. A wide variety of sumptuous cuisine, as well as efficient and friendly service, guarantees a filling experience every time. Guests are also given the option to dine anywhere in the resort, be it in their cottages, at the pool bar, the sea view or garden gezebo, the beach, or for a truly memorable experience – at a man-made island right smack in the middle of the ocean!

As I was touring the place, I observed that the pathways were all curving and the elevation in some parts of the grounds were uneven. PINR General Manager Gretel Marie Ong explained that this was also in keeping with the resort’s “natural” theme. The landscape’s design utilized the natural contours of the land to reduce terrain movement and erosion. Buildings are almost all raised off the ground for minimal environmental impact and almost all the building materials came from the neighboring villages.

Bamboo was harvested from the surrounding mountain forests. Stone and sand were supplied by the river and nearby quarries. Natural features such as caves and cliffs were left virtually unscathed except for some modifications to make them more accessible to guests. Nevertheless, golf carts are readily available to ferry guests around the resort to ensure that they don’t suffer any unwanted stress

Lots to Do
Harnessing the rich water sources of the province, the resort offers its guests a wide choice of places to dip in. Its white-sand beaches offer a wide array of water sports and activities such as snorkeling, windsurfing, and kayaking, although one would not find jetskis and motorboats in PINR as motorized equipment are not allowed in the area. The resort strictly enforces this rule to comply with the policies of marine sanctuaries that are located within the vicinity. Fresh-water pools are appropriately located within the resort’s central complex including an illusion-creating infinity pool.

Like many travelers’ ideal island vacation spot, the resort’s other amenities make for a wide range of activities. Complete gym facilities are available for those who do not want to miss out on their daily workout schedules. Indoor games such as billiards, darts, ping-pong, and various board games are also at hand. But what other locations cannot possibly provide are the tours that can only be had in Bohol. Guests can avail of the optional activities like the island-hopping tour – where one can choose to go to Balingasan or to Pamilacan island for some dolphin and whale watching; go sunset cruising; make a countryside tour of Bohol and see Spanish Colonial era churches and go antique shopping; cave-diving and swimming; or go on a Loboc river cruise.

Seasoned business travelers would not find it hard to lay back in this relaxing environment as the resort promises a “harmonious blend of nature and human comfort” for all its visitors. Resort cottages have corner glass-paneled bathrooms that overlook private gardens on the inside while a slew of trees and shrubs surround the perimeter to provide both shade and privacy. The latter I found to be a very convenient feature as it muffled unwanted noise from the other side of the cottage walls. It even mutes the presence of people when viewed from the outside as one can only ascertain that a cottage was in use when its porch lights go up at night. Regardless of whether the sun is up or has already disappeared far below the horizon, the whole resort gives off an aura of peace and tranquility.

As I left Panglao feeling all reinvigorated and refreshed, I had a new feeling growing in my chest, not unlike one feels when you’re parting with a dear old friend – it was a longing for the next opportunity that I can get to savor the serenity of this secluded retreat.

For inquiries and reservations, visit www.metrocentrehotel.com or www.panglaoisland.com