The secret to helping Bohol keep its charm while the livelihood of its people is improved does require attracting business, but the greater task will be in educating local government and businesses to create long-term plans that create the future its citizens wish to inhabit. Zoning and pricing access in a way that gives local entrepreneurs an incentive to preserve the natural beauty of Bohol, East-and-West.

One of the miracles of southern Africa - to name an extreme case - is that of Botswana, squeezed between Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe - all troubled countries. Nonetheless, successive governments have heavily promoted (through selective channels) but rationed access to its natural wonders. The result is a country with high-margin, moderate-volume tourism that has replaced diamonds as the new source of sustainable prosperity.

One can not rely upon the luck of finding another 100 Herr Hohmanns, who have a transcendant vision. One must create that vision in Bohol and recruit like-minded partners from home and abroad.

For example, my company would be proud to improve the micro-finance and small-business-finance sector there, to help local entrepreneurs build responsibly, as a local partner and new resident.

More power to you!

Thanks for your comment. Yes, we want to see tourism developed in Bohol in such a way that local entrepeneurs can develop a viable and sustainable source of income from it, without the environmental destruction and social disruption that uncontrolled mass-tourism can bring. It is for this reason that we try to show the beauty of this island to all, including our many local visitors, such that they can appreciate it and start caring for it, and at the same time oppose mega-projects that are beyond the current capacity of the island to take up.--Jeroen.

There are even faster ways to destroy natural beauty: lack of interest, indifference, and lack of means to something about it. This website tries what it can to awaken interest in what we have, encourage a responsible way of dealing with it, stir up some pride, and tries to bring some development of the place. BTW, the email address you use translates to Uncle Greedy, which is not a flattering nickname in the Philippines, I hope you are aware of that.--Jeroen.

Thanks for the information on your resort. Yes, I am aware that Bituon normally only accepts visitors on pre-booked arrangements, and made an exception for us staying for a couple of days. Also, as I mention, they are strongly oriented to German speaking guests. At that time, there were only two facilities near Anda. Now there are more, and if we find time, we may come again, and also visit some other resorts.--Jeroen.

Regards

Richard and Irene (Granada) Van Raay

Long time ago when I was in high school and even when I was in college in the mid 80's and early 90's, Bohol was inexistent to the minds of the people living in Manila or to anyone not very familiar with the history of our country. Whenever they asked me where my province is and I proudly say Bohol, they would always say "Saan Yun?" (where is that?) and it would always annoy me and hurt me a little thinking how they look down on my province when in fact it is heaven for us coming from that side of the Philippines. I would always say "malapit sa Cebu" (near Cebu) just to give them the visual location of my province and they would say "Okay." uninterested. Then suddenly in late 90's when Cesar Montano ( the actor) kept mentioning about his province ( Bohol-that is) people started to take notice. Now, Bohol is the talk of the town and it makes me laugh sometimes. Anda is like a hidden treasure. some of the people coming from other towns in Bohol do not know where Anda is, would you believe? ridiculous as it may seem but it is true. they think Anda is like far far away land in the east.. and IT is.. I love going home every summer and sitting on the right side of the bus in the early morning where I can see the sun rising and the smell of the sea against my nose.. So liberating. So very much a part of my childhood, my person. There are lots of things I can say about how I feel about my home province . Even if I just stayed there for the first 14 years of my life. I would always long and look forward to summer because it is the time of the year to go back to Bohol..after all, Bohol is where the heart is. salamat doro.