After Bohol quake, Panglao's waters obscured by sand and emptied of tourists

 

On regular days, tourists are ferried around the pristine waters of Panglao Island in Bohol by bangkeros, often as early as 5:30 in the morning. But nearly a week after the earthquake that shook up the province and the rest of Central Visayas, the same waters are now murky with sand—and visibly devoid of visitors.

“Dahil sa lindol nga, baka na-uka rin 'dun sa ilalim, kaya 'yung mga bottom natin na-sandy masyado 'yan eh,” speculated Mang Vicente, a dive master in a resort on the island, in Saksi's check on Bohol's tourist spots.



According to resort staff, tourists have cancelled their bookings, while the island's multi-purpose cooperative said their tours in other areas of Bohol were also affected since the roads were rendered inaccessible by the ground's upheaval.

Panglao's beach was not the only tourist attraction in Bohol troubled by the calamity. The famed Chocolate Hills, taught to generations of children as a natural treasure of the country, saw damage caused by the quake, and even the Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc had to be temporarily closed down.

The tarsiers in the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Tagbilaran twigged that something unnatural was happening the day before the quake happened, and jumped from tree to tree to find a safe hiding spot. Until now, workers are trying to find the small primates, whose homes fortunately remain intact after the disaster.

Bangkeros and vendors are among those most affected by the tourists' exodus. Balitanghali showed ferrymen huddled under trees by the coastline, waiting for fares, and vendors walking the beach with baskets still full of goods.



But there were still some local and foreign visitors on the island who decided to continue their vacation plans.

One foreigner said he went ahead with his plans to go snorkeling with his Filipina partner because the island hadn't suffered much, and was as welcoming as ever.

And believing that God would deliver them from harm, a group of middle-aged women tottered around the sand as a show of support for the local community.

As life goes back to normal in the affected areas, people are also finding ways to bring the province's cultural treasures back to their former glory.

Saksi also showed the social media's part in remembering and celebrating the Chocolate Hills by posting pictures and stories of their moment with the iconic attraction.

It is to be hoped that the sand finally settles in Panglao's waters soon, and that tourists will return to the island known to many as a natural paradise. — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News