Bee Simply Amazing: 2nd WINTER ESCAPADE BOHOL LEG – IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES ARRIVAL & TOUR

2nd WINTER ESCAPADE BOHOL LEG (FEB.01-03, 2015)

Background of the Event:

The 2^nd Economic Diplomacy Workshop of Team Philippines Canada, held on 06 October 2012 in Edmonton Alberta, Canada, decided to organize a Team Philippines Canada (TPC) Tour from February 25 to March 3, 2013 for the Canadian market. This has led to the birth of the first Winter Escapade – It’s More Fun in the Philippines Tour (WE – IMFIT PH), an offshoot of the Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines. (source: TPB)

(The Filipino-Canadian delegates of the 2nd Winter Escapade Bohol Leg)

This is entice Filipino-Canadians in Canada to deepen their appreciation of the beauty of our country, its rich history, heritage and culture, to attract not only Filipino-Canadians but also foreign tourists to see and visit the various destinations in the Philippines and discover the beauty of the islands, its white sand beaches, nature’s eco-tourism, adventure sites like scuba diving, mountain climbing, trekking and have the opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of the Filipino people, to promote to travellers and tourists that the Philippines is a safe place to travel and to encourage Filipino-Canadians and foreign tourists to invest in the Philippines particularly in tourism projects, real estate and other tourism related industries. (SOURCE: Tourism Promotions Board)

2ND WINTER ESCAPADE DELEGATES IN BOHOL!

On February 1, 2015, the Province of Bohol warmly welcomed the Philippine Ambassador to Canada H.E. Petronila P. Garcia together with the consul generals and the 200 Filipino-Canadian delegates of the 2nd Winter Escapade.

The tour was organized by the Philippine Embassy and Consulates to Canada together with the Tourism Promotions Board and Department of Tourism (DOT) Offices North America and DOT Region VII. Rajah Tours is the official ground handler and Travel Village as Bohol Leg's ground handler.

(The Department of Tourism Bohol Team with their welcome banner)

(Photo courtesy of the DOT Bohol Satellite Office)

(The consuls and delegates)

(Photo courtesy of the DOT Bohol Satellite Office)

The delegates were welcomed with a warm reception upon their arrival at the Tagbilaran City Pier from Dumaguete by a Chartered Oceanjet ferry. The Department of Tourism together with some of the Provincial and City Government Officials were there to meet and greet them.

(The Provincial Government Office Staffs and Bohol Tourism Office Team)

(Photo courtesy of the DOT Bohol Satellite Office)

(Philippine Ambassador to Canada H.E. Petronila P. Garcia)

A big group of dancers also danced the It's More Fun in the Philippines Theme Song upon the arrival of the delegates. The Centre for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD-PGBH) organized and facilitated the dancers from different Universities/Colleges together with a dance troupe as one big group of dancers consisting 100 members for the said activity:

1. University Of Bohol High School dancers
2. Bohol Island State University dancers
3. STI Colleges dancers
4. Van Guardians Dance Company

Maajong Pag-abot sa Bohol!

(5 Buses getting ready for the delegates' countryside tour)

(Get ready DOT-OJT tour coordinators)

THE DELEGATES' BOHOL COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

February 1, 2015 (Sunday)

Full day tour of the scenic countryside of Bohol - a beautiful showcase of history, culture and nature in one destination. This tour brings you to the Blood Compact Shrine, a historical landmark commemorating the first treaty of friendship between the east and the west, before visiting the old Baclayon Church & Museum and the beautiful painted ceiling Sta. Monica Church in Albur. En route to the Chocolate Hills, you drive through the lush Mahogany Man-Made Forest and the green farmlands in Bilar and Batuan. In Bilar visit a Butterfly Farm. View the awesome cone shaped hills known as the Chocolate Hills from a promenade on one these hills. Drive back to Loboc for a 50-minute river cruise along nipa-lined river on board a native catamaran. A sumptuous barbecue lunch is served on board. The Loboc river cruise will surely relax both your body and mind as you view nature’s beauty of rolling hills, graceful coconut trees and green nipa-palms lining the riverbanks. After the cruise, we head back to Tagbilaran. En route, visit the tarsiers in their natural habitat in the Phil Tarsier Research Center & Sanctuary.

The entire tour was organized by the Raja Tours (ground handler) and in Bohol the Travel Village. The delegates were assisted by DOT tour coordinators and Bohol tour guides.

They were escorted by the City PNP sweepers and plain clothes security assistance from Camp Dagohoy during the tour.

(www.winterescapadeph.com)

(At Bool Blood Compact, Bool Tagbilaran City as I took a photo of this two lovely couple)

(At Baclayon Church- My photos of the delegates)

(Sta. Monica Church)

(Bilar Man-made Forest)

(Photo courtesy by: http://travel-philippines.com/)

(Bohol Habitat- Butterfly Conservatory)

(Carmen Children Rondalla- Welcoming the delegates with their beautiful music)

(The Panoramic Chocolate Hills- I'm still in Awe of it)

(The delegates at Chocolate Hills---about to take the 214 steps going to the view deck)

At Loboc Tourism Complex where they were welcomed by the locals with Barrio Fiesta reception .

The Loboc river cruise will surely relax both your body and mind as you view nature’s beauty of rolling hills, graceful coconut trees and green nipa-palms lining the riverbanks.