Resort Review: Panglao Bluewater Resort (Panglao, Bohol)

Date of Stay: October 1-3, 2014

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: *********

Condition and Cleanliness: **********

Staff Performance: *********

Room Comfort: *********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: ********

Value for Money: ********

The 5.5-hectare, extremely quiet and refreshing Panglao Bluewater Resort, a Class "AAA" resort built in 2011, was designed by renowned wood artist, furniture designer and architect Benjie Reyes who utilized recycled wood (about 80%) which was repurposed, with minimal manipulation, for use in the resort.  Spaces here are well planned, no structures rise over two stories and the resort also uses an on-site water treatment facility.

The resort has 54 elegantly appointed, spacious, very Zen and modern airconditioned guestrooms (with 2 queen-size beds, mini bar, flat-screen cable TV, iPod dock, telephone, safety deposit box, coffee/tea service and private bathroom plus complimentary flip-flops and wi-fi).

Premier De Luxe Room

Free standing tub

On arrival, guests are offered welcome lemon grass drinks and cold towels while waiting for their rooms to be ready. Every member of the accommodating and friendly staff greeted us with "Maayong Adlaw" every time we met them on the hallways.

Baroto Poolside Bar

The ground-level Poolside Wing (PhP18,000/night) have a private veranda with direct access, via sliding doors, to the swimming pool. Beautiful flowers trellised each coved area.

The wooden bridge traversing the swimming pool

The fascinating, free-form, 4-ft. deep, very child-friendly lagoon swimming pool has a wooden bridge traversing the width of the pool.  Underneath, also accessible by a wooden stair from the bridge, is a raised kidney-shaped platform with some beach loungers.

Lounge area

The first-floor Poolview rooms (PhP15,000/night) has Bluewater's signature floating bed (cantilevered using recycled wood salvaged from old homes), a beautiful freestanding tub skylighted above (makes you feel you are bathing outdoors during the day), separate shower area (with rainshower head, natural stones and earth-tone tiles) and a sitting area. The private balconies use old wooden logs as railings.

Honeymoon Villa

Villa interior

Dipping pool

For guests who prefer more luxurious accommodation, more space and privacy, there are 2 Honeymoon Villas (PhP26,000/night) with their own private outdoor dipping pool.

The Family Pool Villa

Villa interior

There's also one Family Pool Villa (PhP50,000/night) with 2 connecting rooms (1 room with 1 king-sized bed and 1 room with 2 queen-sized beds), both with its own nice, deep freestanding tub (above which is flat screen TV) and a dipping pool and sundeck at the middle. Their Family Loft Room (PhP30,000/night) is considered a first in Philippine resorts.

Family Loft

The resort also has a full service restaurant (Aplaya), a well maintained Zen garden, a cliff with a view of the sea, bar (Baroto Poolside Bar), watersports center (Aquamania), boutique, facilities for disabled guests, gift shop, meeting facilities and children’s playground.

Anuma Spa

Their in-house spa (Anuma) offers local versions of various massage techniques (Hilot Lamang, Hilot Ablon, Hingut-an and Pikpik Kawayan sa Siki) at one of two cottages. You could have your massage in your room and massages lasts from 30 to 90 mins. Anuma is a Cebuano word meaning “to pamper or to spoil.”

Sea kayaking

Activities offered here include snorkeling and diving in the marine sanctuary, paddle boarding, kayaking, catamaran and glass bottom boat rides (9:30 am). They also have bikes and ATVs.  Though their private beach area, with several thatched cabanas, is quite small, it is located within a marine sanctuary ideal for snorkeling, kayaking and other sports activities.

Beachfront cabanas

The resort also has dive center  -  Submariner Diving Center.  A certified PADI 5-Star Dive Resort and Aqualung partner center,  it is operated by German PADI MSDT and TDI AN/DP instructor Ronny Oliwka.

Scuba diving at the marine sanctuary

The resort, literally off the beaten track, is not on the main beach or socializing zone but they offer twice daily shuttle service to the busier Alona Beach which is only 10-15 minutes away.  The resort also offers airline booking/confirmation, airport transfers, baggage storage, mail service, parking, safety deposit boxes, tourist transport, laundry/pressing service, currency exchange, credit card facilities, in-house nurse, on-call company doctor, luxury sightseeing, room service and wake-up call. The resort is a 20-km./45-min. drive from Tagbilaran Airport.

Swimming pool at night

Panglao Bluewater Resort: Bluewater Rd, Sitio Daurong, Brgy. Danao, Panglao, 6340 Bohol.  Tel: (038) 416-0702 and (038) 416-0695 to 96. Fax: (038) 416-0697.  Email: panglao@bluewater.com.ph. Website: www.bluewaterpanglao.com.ph.  Manila sales office: Rm. 704, Cityland Herrera Tower, Rufino cor. Valera Sts., Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City, Metro Manila.  Tel: (632) 817-5751 and (632) 887-1348.  Fax: (632) 893-5391.

Bohol Media Familiarization Tour

The author and Ms. Joy Felizardo bike zipping at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP)

Our tour guide Josue Hinay and
Carlito Pizarras at the Tarsier
Research Development Center

Last October 1 to 3,a Bohol Media Familiarization Tour was organized by the Department of Tourism.  It was participated in  by travel writers Ms. Czarina Nicole Ong of Manila Bulletin, Ms. Kathleen Llemit of the Daily Tribune, Ms. Eula Dennisa "Euden" Valdez of Manila Times, Ms. Lara Louise Gabriellle Antonio of Mabuhay Magazine and Ms. Julia Wimmerlin of Travelife Magazine; and travel bloggers Mr. Ermelo "Melo" Villareal, Jr.  (www.outoftownblog.com) and Ms. Ma. Joy Elaine Felizardo (www.gastronomybyjoy.com).  I joined in as a travel writer for the Business Mirror and a blogger (www.benjielayug.com and  www.firingyourimagination.blogspot.com)

Media ladies frolicking at the lagoon pool of Panglao Bluewater Resort

Visiting Baclayon's damaged church

The tour took place almost one year after the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol on October 15, 2013, destroying or damaging at least 10 churches. Tourism is a major revenue earner for Bohol, an agricultural province with beautiful nature spots.  

The DOT and local stakeholders want to help in the revival of Bohol’s tourism by reinvigorating the island’s tourism program through the opening of alternative destinations in Bohol.  Boholanos are also looking to turn the tragic aftermath of the earthquake into tourist attractions. 

Loboc River Cruise

Abatan Firefly Tour

Joining the media group were tour operator and ground handler Ms. Edna M. Faustino, Product Development Manager of CCT.168 Travel & Tours, plus three personnel from the Department of Tourism - Mr. Ramon Rebulado (Media Coordinator), Mr. Rolando ""Rollie" Cagasca (photographer) and Mr. Herminio Reyes.  

Our home in Bohol during the 3-day/2-night tour was the 54-room,Class "AAA" Panglao Bluewater Resort.  Here, we were all pampered by Rooms Division manager Mr. Leo P. Go and resort consultant Mr. Pete L. Dacuycuy. Our local tour guide was Mr. Josue Hinay of Travel Village and Tours.

Hopping off to Pamilacan Island

Feasting on seafood at Lic Lic Fastfood

Day 1 was the Bohol Countryside Tour which included visits to St. Monica Church (whose painted ceiling was recently restored by Manila-born but Spain-based artist Guy Custodio) in Alburquerque, the Tarsier Research and Development Center (where we met the celebrated "Tarsier Man" Mr. Carlito “Lito” Pizarras) in Corella, the Loboc River Cruise and the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (where some of us tried out  the famous, exciting  and very unique bike zip line dubbed as "The Rush" and interviewed Managing Director Mr. Jing E. Velasco) in Carmen.

Hinagdanan Cave (photo: Ms. Joy Felizardo)

Merienda of camote and corn coffee at Pamilacan Island

Day 2 featured an island hopping tour to Pamilacan Island in Baclayon, a visit to Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, watched the sun set at Punta Cruz Watchtower (where the sea-bed was lifted more than a meter due to tectonic uplift and, as a result, the coastline receded some 50 to 100 m.)  in Maribojoc, shopped for seafood at Manga Public Market (which was prepared and cooked for us and partaken of at Lic Lic Fastfood & Sutukil) in Tagbilaran City and observed fireflies lighting up trees along the Abatan River in Cortes. 

Learning organic farming techniques at the Bee Farm

Observing loom weaving at Bee Farm

Day 3 featured a healthy lunch at the Bee Farm (where we tasted malunggay ice cream. observed weaving and organic farming techniques and bought their signature food products for pasalubong) in Dauis, a visit to the Church of the Immaculate Conception (whose facade was seriously damaged during the earthquake) in Baclayon and shopping for souvenir at Aproniana Gift Shop, also in Baclayon.

Watching the sunset (and the tectonic uplift) at Punta Cruz

The tarsier in its nature habitat

CCT.168 Travel & Tours: Unit 501, The Richmonde Plaza, 21 San Miguel Ave. cor. Lourdes St., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila. Tel: (632) 638-6721, (632) 631-3505, (632) 633-4856 and (632) 687-0129.  Fax: (632) 687-0010. E-mail: cct168travelandtours@pldtdsl.net.

Travel Village and Tours: Bohol Tropics Resort Club, Graham Ave., Tagbilaran City, Bohol.   Tel (038) 411-4023  and (038) 501-8078. Fax (038) 411-5928.  Website: www.boholtravelvillage.com.

Panglao Bluewater Resort: Bluewater Rd, Sitio Daurong, Brgy. Danao, Panglao, 6340 Bohol.  Tel: (038) 416-0702 and (038) 416-0695 to 96. Fax: (038) 416-0697.  Email: panglao@bluewater.com.ph. Website: www.bluewaterpanglao.com.ph.  Manila sales office: Rm. 704, Cityland Herrera Tower, Rufino cor. Valera Sts., Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City, Metro Manila.  Tel: (632) 817-5751 and (632) 887-1348.  Fax: (632) 893-5391.

World Tourism Day (Far Eastern University, Manila)

Guest speakers, teachers and students in one big World Tourism Day selfie

Consul Michael Alexander M. Ang

The U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is celebrating World Tourism Day this year with its theme entitled “Tourism And Community Development.”  To celebrate it, the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM) of Far Eastern University hosted a symposium held at the FEU Main Auditorium.  

Guest speakers during the symposium were Mr. Michael Alexander M. Ang (Honorary Consul of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), Mr. Christof Wegner (Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany) , Mr. Thelmo Luis Cunanan (Honorary Consul of the Republic of Georgia) and Ms. Anna Marie Ablan (Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus). 

Mr. Wegner and Consul Ang with their Plaques of Appreciation

Mr. Christof Wegner of the German Embassy

The first speaker was Mr. Ang who presented the traditional and non-traditional tourist sites of Jordan, notably Petra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site featured in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Transformers: World of the Fallen”), the Dead Sea (the lowest and saltiest spot on earth), the stupendous and timeless Wadi Rum, the ancient Crusader stronghold of Al Karak, the fortified hilltop palace of Macaherus (location of the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist), the Jordan River (site of the baptism of Jesus Christ), the ruins of the Graeco-Roman city of Jerash and the Red Sea resort city of Aqaba. 

The FEU Bamboo Band

Consul Thelmo Luis Cunanan

Mr. Buddy Cunanan delivered a political, historical and cultural overview of Georgia as well as its tourist attractions which include over 12,000 historical and cultural monuments, four of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Bagrati Cathedral (Kutaisi), Gelati Monastery, Mtskheta, and the Upper Svaneti. 

Special mention was made of the latter, the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus (four of the 10 highest peaks are located here). This historic province, in the northwestern part of the country, is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians.  Svanetia is known for its architectural treasures, with dozens of Georgian orthodox churches and various fortified buildings, and picturesque landscapes.  Mr. Cunanan also presented a teaser video on Georgia tourism featuring lively Georgian dancers.

Consul Ablan and Consul Cunanan with their Plaques of Appreciation

Consul Anna Marie Ablan

Christof Wegner, on the other hand, gave an overview of the tourist infrastructure of Germany.  Incidentally, Germans are the second biggest tourist group from Europe coming to the Philippines.  

Ms. Ablan narrated her travel experiences, with her daughter, around Belarus, presenting slides of their observation of the country’s cottage industries.  In between proceedings, the audience was regaled by the performance of the FEU Bamboo Band.  After the presentation of plaques of appreciation, the speakers gamely joined the students and teachers for a group selfie.

The 25th Philippine Travel Mart (Manila)

The 25th Philippine Travel Mart

The Negros Occidental Pavilion

The yearly, 3-day Philippines Travel Mart (PTM), the biggest travel trade exhibition in the promotion and marketing of domestic and inbound tourism, is the longest running travel trade exhibition in the Philippines.  

Now on its 25th year of staging (thus the logo “Its 25X More Fun in the Philippines”), this year’s staging was the biggest and most meaningful, with 245 exhibitors, truly worthy of this silver anniversary celebration. 

The Visit Davao Pavilion

The PTM is organized by the non-stock, non-profit Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), the biggest association of DOT-accredited tour operators and allied agencies (hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments) and associations that are actively involved and exclusively promote domestic and inbound tourism.  

The PHILTOA, with its nationwide membership, has been at the forefront of domestic tourism promotion, partnering with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its regional offices.

The author at Oriental Mindoro Pavilion

Tourism Quiz Bee

The double decker jeepney

This year’s Travel Mart had more colorful exhibits, 25 “Pasasalamat” Sale ng Bayan Tour packages, and bigger & exciting cultural events, making sure that 25th Philippine Travel is 25 times More Fun In the Philippines.  

Also on display is a sleek, airconditioned 40-seater double decker jeepney, designed by industrial engineer Mark Bautista and built by the Jeepney Company, Inc.,  with refrigerator, videoke, 2 televisions, microphones and speakers. It has 2 doors on both sides, 2 stairs to the second deck, is painted yellow and shows the Department of Tourism slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines." 

The 2Go Pavilion

In view of the forthcoming 2015 implementation of the ASEAN Integration, which aims to promote seamless and border-less traveling within the region and the adoption of the Mutual Recognition Agreement among the ASEAN nation members, the organizing committee of the 25th Philippine Travel Mart will, for the first time, now include ASEAN regional packages and Twin City packages (Philippines+1 ASEAN City).

The Zamboanga Pavilion

The Philippine Airlines Pavilion

The “Sale ng Bayan” sells travel packages of twinned Philippine destinations and ASEAN cities such as Boracay-Bali (Indonesia), Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)-Cebu, Laoag-Cambodia, Manila-Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), among others. The 2014 PTM will also showcase cultural competitive events like choral, cultural dance, the “Patimpalak ng Kasuotang Filipino,” the “Himig Kundiman” and the tourism quiz bee.

The Cebu Pacific Air Pavilion

This year's PTM  also racked up hundreds of must-grab travel deals on airfare and hotel stays.  Airline companies  such as Air Asia, Cebu Pacific Air (Php 1 fare to all domestic and ASEAN destinations, travel period from January 1 to March 2015) and Philippine Airlines, for instance, are slashing off their prices.  Local (as low as PhP2,307) and international (US$55) tours, inclusive of accommodation, round trip air transfers, daily breakfast and travel insurance, were also offered by tour operators. 

The ALMASOR Pavilion

Sili-flavored ice cream

The Bohol Pavilion, with its underwater theme featuring Anda as a new beach destination and the replica of the adrenaline-rushing bike zip of the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP), was awarded as the Best Pavilion in the Provincial Category. 

Votes are made by visitors, who are given 1 sticker upon registration.  They then place the stickers on a board designated for each pavilion. 

The ALMASOR (Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon) Pavilion offered delicious, bite-size pinangat slivers on crackers; halved tasty Guinobatan longganisas; packets of crunchy pili nut candies; luscious pili-infused chocolate bites; and gallons of sili and ginger-based ice cream (where a circling queue of eager visitors waiting patiently to have a taste).

The author trying out the bike zip at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park at the award winning Bohol Pavilion