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Friday, July 29, 2016

BOHOL: A Great Geological Destination

(This output was part of our final requirements in the Undergraduate Seminar course. Other outputs with re: to our experiences in Cebu and Bohol are shown at ageos6.wordpress.com.)

Bohol, Philippines -- is a province in the Central Visayas region. It is a favorite destination for tourists because of its remarkable geologic features. Bohol, comes from the word, "boho", which means "sinkhole". This is due to the fact that Bohol island is a karstic region.

On December 9, 2015, the fourth year geology students from the University of Southestern Philippines visited Bohol Island as part of their activity on their Undergraduate Seminar course. The students were assisted by Mr. Boyet Boncales, a well-known tourist guide in Bohol and is working under World of Adventures Travel and Tours (WATT) agency.

The Tour
The students started the day by preparing themselves for the trip to Bohol. They departed Sarrosa International Hotel at 5:00a.m. and took their breakfast before going to the pier. After breakfast, they departed for Tubigon, Bohol via fastcraft. It is an hour ride from Cebu to the said port area. 

(First Stop: Anonang Faultline in Inabanga, Bohol)

A Magnitude 7.2 hit Bohol on October 15, 2013 at about 8:12a.m. (PST). It gave rise to a rocky wall, now popularly known as The Great Wall of Bohol. Going there, the studes were able to observe the North Bohol Fault and its vertical displacement extending to as high as five meters. Today, the displacement is hardly recognized due to the thick vegetative cover.

(Second Stop: Chocolate Hills)

After visiting the then unchartered faultline, they proceeded to Carmen, Bohol where the famous Chocolate Hills are located. It was emphasized to the group that these hills were the results of the past geologic events in Bohol -- exhibiting that a former tragedy could actually lead to something very essential in time.
      
(Third Stop: Bilar Manmade Forest, Loboc River and Tarsier Sanctuary)

Sidetrips were another highlight observed in the activities in Bohol trip. The geo students stopped by Bilar Manmade Forest for about ten minutes to take some pictures and to see the beautiful area. Afterwhich, they proceeded to the famous Loboc River, where they took their lunch on a rivwr cruise. They were able to see the structures present in Loboc. The lunch break ended with few of their classmates sang with the live band of the bamboo cruise. 

Aside from this, they went to the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol. They took pictures with the tiny creatures with the prohibition of not disturbing them.

(Fourth Stop: Maribojoc Bay Uplifted-Ridges)

In relation to the geologic event that had happened on October 2014, parts of Maribojoc and the neighboring town, Loon were also affected. They observed the seaward-shifting of the high tide mark that extends to 50 meters. The old tower facing the sea was slightly damaged due to the quake. The sea notch was also exposed in the area. 

According to the information board shown in Brgy. Punta Cruz in Maribojoc, the measured surface of ruptures ranged from 0.10 meters to as much as 5 meters vertical displacement. These ruptures were clearly observed on the first stop in Inabanga, Bohol.

* * *

After the long day of visit in some parts of Bohol, the team went to the pier of Tagbilaran City, Bohol for departure to Cebu. They sidelined in buying the usual "pasalubong" of Boholanos best food near the port area. They bid their goodbyes to Bohol as they departed the island via fastcraft. 

Bohol Island is a place that had experienced numerous and multiple geologic events that resulted to the formation of different structures such that of the Chocolate Hills. Ones we consisered such events as tragic, now made the island aesthetically different from the surrounding provinces, likewise, making it a great geological destination.

(Photos are to be followed)

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