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Bohol (), officially the Province of Bohol (; ), is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. It is home to Boholano people. Its capital is Tagbilaran, the province's largest city. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. The Island-Province of Bohol http://www.bohol.gov.ph Retrieved November 15, 2006.
The province of Bohol is a first-class province divided into 3 congressional districts, comprising 1 component city and 47 municipalities. It has 1,109 .
The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of brown-colored limestone formations, are the most popular attraction. The formations can be seen by land (climbing the highest point) or by air via ultralight air tours. Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran, is famous for its diving locations and is routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts and dive centers dot the southern beaches. The Philippine tarsier, among the world's smallest , is indigenous to the island.
It was the home province of Carlos P. Garcia, the eighth president of the Republic of the Philippines (1957–1961) who was born in Talibon, Bohol. Bountiful Bohol http://www.aenet.org Retrieved November 15, 2006.
On October 15, 2013, Bohol was devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was south of Sagbayan. The earthquake, which also hit southern Cebu, claimed 222 lives altogether and injured 374 people. It also destroyed or damaged a number of Bohol's heritage churches. Philippines quake hits Cebu and Bohol BBC News. Retrieved on October 15, 2013 Powerful quake kills 74 people, destroys heritage churches in Bohol, Cebu GMA News Online. Retrieved on October 15, 2013
In 2023, Bohol Island was designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the first in the Philippines.
Bohol is also the province with the most towns in the Philippines, totalling 47 towns, and 1 component city, Tagbilaran City.
Unfortunately, theft and extraction of sacred burial sites of human remains by U.S. universities occurred during the American colonial area, particularly conducted by the University of Michigan and Bucknell University in the 1920s. The University of Michigan has up to 22 human remains taken from Carmen and Mabini, Bohol.
Relations between the Sultanate of Ternate and Bo-ol soured when the Ternatan sultan learned the sad fate of his emissary and his men who were executed by the two ruling chieftains of Bo-ol as punishment for abusing one of the concubines. Thus, in 1563, the Ternatans attacked Bohol. Twenty joangas deceitfully posing as traders were sent by the sultan of Ternate to attack Bohol. Caught unaware, the inhabitants of Bohol could not defend themselves against the Ternatan raiders who were also equipped with sophisticated firearms like muskets and arquebuses provided by the Portuguese, still unknown to Boholanos. Thousands of Boholanos lost their lives in this conflict, including Pagbuaya's brother Datu Dailisan. After the raid, Datu Pagbuaya, who was left as the sole reigning chief of the island, decided to abandon Bohol together with the rest of the freemen as they considered Bohol island unfortunate and accursed. They settled in the northern coast of the island of Mindanao, where they established the Dapitan settlement.
Bohol is derived from the word Bo-ho or Bo-ol. The island was the seat of the first international treaty of peace and unity between the native king Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi on 16 March 1565, through a blood compact alliance known today by many Filipinos as the Sandugo.
Two significant revolts occurred in Bohol during the Spanish Era. One was the Tamblot Uprising in 1621, led by Tamblot, a babaylan. This revolt met with reprisals from the Spanish forces in Cebu, who on 6 January 1635; under orders by Juan de Alcarazo the Alcalde-Mayor of Cebu, a force of 50 Spanish and 1,000 Visayan troops, battled the rebels and settled in Bohol. "Jesuits In The Philippines (1581-1768)" Page 325 "The alcalde mayor of Cebu, Juan de Alcarazo, hurried to the island with a force of 50 Spanish and 1,000 Visayan troops. On 6 January 1622 a pitched battle took place between part of this force and 1,500 of the rebels. As the Spanish muskets turned out to be as effective as ever, the rebels withdrew to the fortified enclosure which they had built, and which contained 1 ,000 houses around the temple of the diuata. Alcarazo invested and took it in two weeks, thus breaking the back of the rebellion. He returned to Cebu, but was compelled to come back six months later to complete the pacification of the island."
The other was the famous Dagohoy Rebellion, considered the longest in Philippine history. This rebellion was led by Francisco Dagohoy, also known as Francisco Sendrijas, from 1744 to 1829.
Politically, Bohol was administered as part of Cebu Province. It was separated from Cebu on 22 July 1854, together with Siquijor. A census in 1879 found Bohol with a population of 253,103 distributed among 34 municipalities. History of Bohol http://www.bohol.gov.ph Retrieved November 15, 2006.
The culture of the Boholanos was influenced by Spain and Mexico during colonization. Many traditional dances, music, dishes and other aspects of the culture have considerable Hispanic influence.
During the resulting Philippine–American War, American troops peacefully took over the island in March 1899. However, in September 1900, Colonel Pedro Samson led 2,000 in rebellion, due to the harsh treatment imparted by these troops and the destruction they caused. In response to the Samson uprising, the U.S. forces pursued a "Scorched-Earth" policy and burned down 20 out of the 35 towns of Bohol, especially Southeastern area of towns such as Duero, Jagna and Candijay where whole barangay villages were burned down in search of freedom fighters resisting U.S. invasion to the newly independent Philippines. In Jagna, Philippine guerrillas led by Captain Gregorio "Guyo" Casenas planned to overtake an American garrison, unfortunately the local mayor had disclosed their plans to U.S. troops and this resulted in the Lonoy Massacre or Battle of Lonoy which U.S. troops ambushed and killed 406 Filipino soldiers while 3 Americans were killed. General Hughes led a campaign of repression in October 1901, destroying a number of towns, and threatening in December 1901 to burn Tagbilaran if the rebels did not surrender. Pantaleon E. del Rosario then negotiated the rebel to surrender. At about the same period, on 20 October 1901, Bohol was organized as a province under the provisions of of the Philippine Commission. Two years later, some of its towns were consolidated reducing its 35 municipalities to 32.
A plaque placed on the port of Tagbilaran commemorating the liberation reads:
The convoy taking the Filipino and American liberation forces to Bohol consisted of a flotilla of six Landing Ships, (Medium)-(LSM), six Landing Craft (Infantry)-(LCI), two Landing Craft,(Medium)-(LCM), and one Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket)-LSM(R). Upon arrival, the reinforced battalion combat team advanced rapidly to the east and northeast with the mission of destroying all hostile forces in Bohol. Motor patrols were immediately dispatched by Col. Considine, Task Force Commander, and combed the area to the north and east, approximately halfway across the island, but no enemies were found during the reconnaissance. Finally, an enemy group of undetermined strength was located to the north of Ginopolan in Valencia, near the Sierra-Bullones boundary.
By April 17 the Task Force was poised to strike in Ginopolan. The bulk of the Japanese force was destroyed and beaten in the ten days of action. Bohol was officially declared liberated on 25 May 1945, by Major General William H. Arnold, Commander of the Americal Division. About this time, most officers and men of the Bohol Area Command had been processed by units of the Eighth United States Army.
On 31 May 1945, the Bohol Area Command was officially deactivated upon orders of Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger, Commanding General of the Eighth United States Army, together with the regular and constable troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary, and the Boholano guerrillas.
During the from March to August 1945, Filipino troops of the 3rd, 8th, 83rd, 85th and 86th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 8th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary captured and liberated the island province of Bohol and helped the Boholano guerrilla fighters and U.S. liberation forces defeat the Japanese Imperial forces under General Sōsaku Suzuki.
In 1965 after a number of attempts to convert Tagbilaran into a City, the three Congressmen of Bohol sponsored the Bill to which would become Republic ACt 4660, creating the City Charter of Tagbilaran on 18 June 1966.
In Bohol, which had been marked by agricultural self-sufficiencyClausen, Anne (2006). Disparities of poverty and wealth in the Philippines. An analysis of policy effect(iveness). PhD thesis, University of Cologne. and "unusually egalitarian" set of social norms for landholding patternsUrich, P. (2003). Land Tenure History, Insurgency, and Social Forestry in Bohol. Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society, 31(3), 156–181. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29792524 until then, these economic shocks were worsened by rapid population growth and declining rice yields. The introduction of intensive rice agriculture in the uplands led to large-scale deforestation, which then led to the loss of water for rice fields in the lowlands. Cases of land usurpation began rising, which then degraded the relationships between landowners and tenants.
In 1972, one year before the expected end of his last constitutionally allowed term as president in 1973, Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law. This allowed Marcos to remain in power for fourteen more years, during which Bohol went through many social and economic ups and downs. The economic difficulties, paired with crony capitalism, and personal expensive lifestyles of the Marcos Family resulted in disillusionment, and when protests were met with warranteless detentions and human rights abuses, many oppositionists who had previously held "moderate" positions (i.e., calling for legislative reforms) became convinced that they had no choice but to call for more radical social change. The activities of the Marcos administration had "mythologized" the CPP's New People Army (NPA), so many of the radicalized protesters reacted by joining the NPA. By 1981, NPA activities had begun to be noted in the upland areas of Sevilla, Bilar, Batuan and Balilihan.
During this time Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran functioned as one of many detention centers during the Marcos dictatorship, under the ambit of Regional Command for Detainees III (RECAD III) at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City. Among those detainees of Camp Dagohoy was the 19-year old brother of Judge Meinrado Paredes, who was beaten with firearms so that he eventually suffered permanent damage to his hearing.
The immediate government response to the NPA presence was an integrated "social, economic, cultural and political" program which also saw the deployment of a "Special Action Force" to the island in 1985, but conflict continued and even intensified through the 1980s and 1990s. The government was only able to declare Bohol "NPA free" in the 2010s, after the success of an effort termed the "Bohol Model", which saw military action play a secondary role while highlighting the civil government's provision of services which addressed local poverty and other root causes of community discontent.Torres, E. C. (2011). A Success Story in Philippine Counterinsurgency: A Study of Bohol. Kansas City: US Army General Staff CollegeBulambot, Jolene. ―Bohol Model Cited for Insurgency Defeat.‖ Inquirer.net, 18 September 2006. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20060918-21555/Bohol_model_cited_for_insurgency_defeat (accessed 2 May 2011)
It was the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines since the 7.8 magnitude 1990 Luzon earthquake. Earlier that same year, Bohol was struck by an earthquake (on February 8, 1990) with an epicentre almost exactly the same as in 2013, causing six fatalities and 200 injured. Several buildings were damaged and it caused a tsunami.
The tourism industry in Bohol was negatively affected by the ASG militants' incursion on the island, though tour operators believe the industry can recover.
Some of the sites highlighted in UNESCO Global Geopark are the following: Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef, Alicia Panoramic Park, Princess Manan-aw Cave, Can-umantad Falls, Loon Coastal Geomorphic Conservation Park, Maribojoc Uplifted Marine Terrace, Baclayon Marine Terraces, Hinagdanan Cave, Canawa Cold Spring, Cave pools of Anda, Lamanok Island and Batungay Cave.
The terrain of Bohol is basically rolling and hilly, and about half the island is covered in limestone. Near the outer areas of the island are low mountain ranges. The interior is a large plateau with irregular landforms.
Near Carmen, the Chocolate Hills are more than 1,200 uniformly cone-shaped hills named for the grass growing on the hills that turns brown in the summer, making the landscape look like chocolate mounds. They are hills made of limestone left over from coral reefs during the Ice Age when the island was submerged. The Chocolate Hills are considered one of Philippine's natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. They appear on the provincial seal of Bohol.
Bohol has 114 springs, 172 creeks, and four main rivers that run through Bohol with a radial drainage pattern. (2025). 9789718140369, National Commission for Culture and the Arts. ISBN 9789718140369 The largest river, the Inabanga River, runs in the northwestern part of the province; the Loboc River drains the center of the island to the mid-southern coast; the Abatan River runs in the southwest, and Ipil River in the north. The only natural lake in the province is Cabilao Island Lake, also called Lake Danao or Lanao, on Cabilao Island.
Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including MagAso Falls in Antequera. MagAso means smoke in the native tongue. The water is cool and often creates a mist in humid mornings which can hide the falls.
The Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape protects Bohol's largest remaining lowland forest and can be found in the island's southern portion near Bilar.
The tarsier is the smallest living primate and exists in several Southeast Asian countries today. The Philippine tarsier, Tarsius syrichta, locally known as "mamag" in Boholano is near to threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Adaptation to their large bulging eyes allows them to catch prey clearly at night, and with elongated limbs and fingers, leaping from tree to tree gives no limitation to the tarsier. Their brain is about the same size as their eyes. The connection between its eyes and brain serves a unique function to these animals which is important for their stability and balance. Tarsiers have incredible hearing abilities. They can hear a frequency of up to 91 kHz (kilohertz) and send sounds of 70 kHz.
Boholano people, a distinct ethnic subgroup of Cebuano people, comprise the majority of Bohol with many residents in Southern Leyte and northern parts of Mindanao. Eskaya people, a distinct ethnic group also native in Bohol, are residents of the forest hinterland interior of the southeastern municipalities of Duero, Guindulman, Pilar and Sierra Bullones. Residing sizeably in the province are the non-natives that include Cebuanos (from the northeast), Butuanon people, Surigaonon (both from the Caraga in Mindanao) Hiligaynons, Ilocano people (from Panay, Negros Occidental and Ilocos Region respectively, either directly or via Mindanao where they also both significantly reside), and Waray people (from Eastern Visayas).
| { class=wikitable style="text-align:right;border-collapse:collapse;background-color:white;padding:0;margin:0;border:0;" ! style="text-align:center;font-size:20%;font-variant:small-caps;border:solid thin;" colspan=3 | 1st Congressional District |
| Guillermo Kirk Patrict | March 3, 1854 – 1857 | First Governor |
| Bohol was reverted as part of Cebu. Lieutenant Governor was in-charge | ||
| He came to wind up the papers of Bohol | ||
| Officially no longer a Governor but empowered to act for matters he started as Governor | ||
| Bohol was part of Cebu | ||
| Bohol was again separated from Cebu | ||
| Died shortly after assuming office | ||
| Last Spanish Governor of Bohol |
| Bernabe Fortich Reyes | 1898 – 1900 | First Governor |
| Anecito Velez Clarin | March 15, 1901 – February 20, 1904 | He was appointed because he was not a revolutionary |
| First governor elected under the American Regime |
| Macario F. Sarmiento | March 1, 1907 – December 31, 1909 | |
| Re-elected | ||
| Re-elected | ||
| Re-elected | ||
| Carlos Polistico Garcia | January 2, 1938 – January 1, 1941 | Re-elected |
| Appointed / Governor under the Japanese | ||
| Appointed / Governor of the Free Local Government approved by President Manuel Quezon |
| Perfecto Balili | June 1, 1946 – December 31, 1947 | Appointed |
| Elected | ||
| Elected | ||
| Re-elected | ||
| Appointed | ||
| Elected | ||
| Re-elected / Resigned - appointed as PHHC manager | ||
| Appointed | ||
| Elected | ||
| Re-elected | ||
| Appointed | ||
| OIC | ||
| OIC | ||
| Elected | ||
| Elected | ||
Scuba Diving and Free Diving are among Bohol's tourism industry driving forces. Panglao is the leader with more than 70 Panglao scuba diving centers and free-diving operators due to its numerous dive sites, including Pamilacan. The municipality of Dauis is a second runner in the province with many diving facilities directed to Pamilacan and Napaling. Anda and Cabilao also show some prominence in growing the diving industry in Bohol. Due to rapid growth, private and public regulatory organizations are protecting the marine environment from manmade damages.
Other than its growing tourism industry, Bohol has also been an emerging business process outsourcing (BPO) hub, and has fostered over four BPO firms in the province, with worldwide BPO companies such as Sagility, Genpact, TaskUs, and Ibex Global, most of which are sited in Tagbilaran, the province's capital and largest city. In 2023, industries such as agriculture, forestry, and fishery surged with a 7.1 percent growth rate. Other industries such as services, accommodation and food services, and transportation and storage also grew substantially.
The port of Ubay is the province's gateway to Eastern Visayas which offers round trips to Bato, Hilongos, and Maasin City. It also offers daily round trips to Cebu City. The second port of Ubay, the Tapal Wharf, located in barangay Tapal, caters for the daily President Carlos P. Garcia-Bohol mainland routes.
The ports of Buenavista, Clarin, Getafe, and Talibon also offer daily round trips to Cebu. Other known commercial passenger seaports are located in Baclayon, Buen Unido, and Pres. Carlos P. Garcia.
Institutions of Higher Learning are:
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