The Famous Panglao Island, Bohol (Alona Beach/Bohol Bee Farm)

PANGLAO ISLAND, BOHOL

Municipality of Panglao - is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 33,553 people. It is one of two municipalities that make up Panglao Island. Panglao is known for its diving locations and tourist resorts.

The name Panglao may have come from its former name Panglawod, meaning "to the open sea" or derived from the word panggaw, referring to a fishing implement used by locals. Panglao Island International Airport will serve as Bohol's primary airport replacing Tagbilaran Airport. It is expected to be commercially available in August 2018.

History

Well before the Spanish colonization, the area was already long visited by Chinese and other Asian traders, as evinced by archaeological finds of Tang, Song and Ming dynasty porcelain and trade wares. Panglao flourished during the rule of the Dapitan kingdom, but raids by Moluccans and conquest by Ternate resulted in periods of depopulation when its population fled mostly to Panay and Mindanao, including Dapitan.

During the Spanish rule, a Jesuit mission post was established, that in 1782 was formed into a parish, known as La Iglesia de San Agustin de Panglawod. In 1803, the town was officially made into a municipality. The Panglao watchtower was built in 1851. The 5-storey octagonal tower is the tallest of its kind in the Philippines but suffers from neglect. 

Tourism

The primary tourist attraction of Panglao are its white sandy beaches, of which Alona Beach is the most famous and most developed. Alona Beach is about 1,500 metres long, lined with palm trees, resorts and shops. However, it has drawn critisms for its unrestrained development that ignored municipal development policies, warning against overcrowding and Alona to lose its paradise-like image. Therefore, the municipal, provincial and national governments are ploughing ahead with a plan to build a new international airport on Panglao Island, with the final approach path directly over Alona Beach. Currently plan is to be operational at the end of 2018. Other beaches include Bagobo, Bolod, Danao, Doljo and Momo Beaches.

Panglao is renowned for snorkeling and dive sites such as Doljo Beach, Garden Eels, Arco Point, Kalipayan, Napaling and Puntod. The island's southern portion is ringed with reefs that are relatively narrow and shallow (5 to 6 metres or 16ft to 20ft) with submarine cliffs plunging to depths of 33 to 56 metres. Tours can readily be arranged to further dive sites, including Balicasag and Pamilacan, Bohol.

ALONA BEACH

One of the most famous tourist spots in the province of Bohol, because of its white sand and the rocky cliffs. The beach is situated on the Panglao Island, 20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and accessible by a sealed road. Compared to other locations, the beach is rather small as it spans less than one kilometer of white powder sand surrounded by a rocky cliffs.

The beach is located near a "house" reef, where corals and colorful fishes can be seen even without diving equipment. It is a popular diving and snorkeling spot.

BOHOL BEE FARM

The Bohol Bee Farm is a very cozy and relaxing place on Panglao Island. Owner and Chef Vicky Wallace prepares delicious meals from organically-grown vegetables on her farm - from squash muffins, vegetable lasagna to her specially-brewed coffee from roasted corn and wild berries. She rents her chalet-styled home to guests who want to enjoy the peace and serenity of having the entire farm to themselves...

This is certainly a place apart: not only is it a wonderful relaxing place for visitors, it also tries to contribute to the local community and the environment. 

Bohol Bee Farm is geared towards encouraging and inspiring our farmers to practice Organic Farming. They don't need to spend for costly conventional fertilizers, nor use harmful pesticides in their farms. Basic composting and companion planting are alternatives we offer in their stead.

Facilities: Swimming Pool / Sea View / Garden / Restaurant / Wi-Fi / Scuba Diving / Transfer Service

Address / Contact: Dao, Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines.

Phone: +68 38 502 2288

+63 917 304 1491

Email: vicky.beefarm@gmail.com

SANTOS - KNIGHT FRANK - Connecting People & Property, Perfectly

Cebu office market to see unprecedented supply growth in
the next 3 years

• 47% growth in office supply seen between 2018 and 2020
• BPO industry remains a key driver of demand for office space in Cebu
• New airport terminal to sustain Cebu’s growth momentum
• Cebu’s residential real estate is a hot market for East Asian buyers

Metro Cebu’s real estate market will see a leap in office stock with as much
as 350,000 sqm (gross leasable area) set to open between 2018 and 2020. Representing
47% of the existing supply in Cebu, the growth reveals the long-term positive outlook of
developers amid healthy demand for office space by multinational companies and BPO
firms, says leading real estate service provider Santos Knight Frank.

During the first half of the year, Cebu continued to see new investments enter its booming
property sector, driven a strong local economy, presence of skilled labor force, affordable
office lease rates and enhanced international connectivity with the launch of Mactan-Cebu
International Airport’s Terminal 2.

Rick Santos, Chairman & CEO of Santos Knight Frank comments: “The growth of Cebu’s
property sector this year solidifies the metropolis’ position as the leading investment
destination in the Philippines outside Metro Manila. With a strong economy, large pool of
talent and new infrastructure in place, Cebu is well on its way to becoming a global city.”
Santos continues: “The launch of Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s Terminal 2 is a
particularly exciting development. While a number of cross-border transactions have recently
been closed in Cebu, in particular from China, South Korea and Japan, the improvements to
the airport will further increase tourism, facilitate greater inflow of capital and help continue
the metropolis’ growth momentum in the coming years.”

In the office market, weighted average asking lease rates increased by about 2% to
PHP548.31 during 1H 2018 from PHP536.96 in 2H 2017. Done deals tracked by Santos
Knight Frank were recorded with transacted rents of PHP 600 to 650 per square meter – a
9% increase from last year’s transacted rents. Meanwhile, office capital values typically
range from PHP 150,000 to 200,000 per square meter.

Joey Radovan, Vice Chairman and Head of Occupier Services & Commercial Agency
at Santos Knight Frank reveals: “By 2020, the greater Cebu business districts will have
close to 1 million sqm of total space serving the office market. The IT-BPO industry will
continue to drive commercial demand and traditional office operations will have the
opportunity to upgrade to new, modern buildings for their front office needs.”

(Key Properties and Offices managed in Cebu)

Residential demand

Prices across the residential real estate market have increased during 1H 2018 year-onyear.
The affordable sector grew by 14.5%, midscale by 12.0% and high-end sector by
12.0%.

Buyers mostly consist of investors motivated by capital appreciation and leasing
opportunities. A large volume of availed inventory was intended for employee housing of
Chinese gaming companies. With the traffic congestion in the city, residential demand is also
seen in city centers which are closer to offices. Buyers from South Korea, Japan and China
– three of the top sources of foreign arrivals in Cebu – are reported to purchase bulk
condominium units.

Tourism and hospitality

Cebu’s international visitor arrivals grew by 14% in 2017. Of the 4.9 million visitors who
arrived last year, 54% were foreign guests. South Korea led the list of top sources of tourists,
comprising 41.2% of foreign arrivals, followed by Japan (20.1%) and China (10.5%).
To support the influx of tourists, Cebu developers have partnered with international hotel
operators to bring in leading brands such as Sheraton with AppleOne Mactan; Dusit Thani
Mactan Cebu with Robinsons Land Corporation; Dusit Princess Cebu with Grand Land, Inc.
and Citadines Cebu City and lyf Cebu City with Cebu Landmasters. Homegrown hotel
brands such as Seda of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. and Aruga of Rockwell are
also in the pipeline.

A rising gaming destination, Metro Cebu will soon see integrated resort projects such as
Emerald Resort and Casino of Udenna Development Corp. in Lapu-Lapu City, Pan-Asia
Millennium Hotel and Resort’s Inc.’s casino resort in Mandaue City and the Gokongweiowned,
Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc.’s Isla dela Victoria in Cebu’s South Road
Properties generate more arrivals in Cebu.

Emerging cities in Visayas

Migration to Cebu from other Visayas provinces has been key in driving demand across all
real estate sectors. As the Cebu real estate market continues to grow, other real estate
market players are setting up in the fringes of the city and other areas within the Visayas
region, building more competition and facilitating growth in secondary areas. With the
presence of employment opportunities in other provinces of Visayas, it is possible for the
Cebu migration to decrease.

Iloilo and Bacolod are two destinations exhibiting increasing commercial and development
activities, particularly the Iloilo Business Park, Bacolod Capital Corporate Center and
Bacolod Capital Central Mall.

For inquiries, Contact:

Rick Santos

Chairman & CEO

rick.santos@santos.knightfrank.ph

Manila Head Office:

10F Ayala Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Ave., Makati 1226

T (+632) 752-2580

Cebu Office:

Suite No. 30, Regus Business Center. 11F AppleOne Equicom Tower, Mindanao Ave. corner Biliran Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000

T (+6332) 318-0070 / 236-0462 

Chocolate Hills in Bohol

The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. They look like giant mole hills and remind us of the hills in a small child's drawing. Most people who see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact.

There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,766 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that turns brown (like chocolate) during the dry season, hence the name.

The chocolate hills form a rolling terrain of haycock hills - mounds of a generally conical and almost symmetrical shape. Estimated to be from 1,268 to about 1,776 individuals mounds, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually made of grass-covered limestone. The domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 meters high with the largest being 120 meters in height. 

Legends has it that hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted days. When they were finally exhausted, the made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made.

For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very string giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the giant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief.

However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they were formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay. If you climb the 214 steps to the top of the observation hill near the complex, you can read this explanation on a bronze plaque.