by Jose Antonio Fajardo
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| The Bogo Tree (credits to cityofbogo.com) |
The City of Bogo is named from a tree, Garuga floribunda,
that flower into full bloom in the short summer of October. Bogo trees
abound in the locality and have been part of the trading culture of the
population before the turn of the 19th century. The people were highly
engaged in fishing, agriculture and commerce and trading is done at the
shade of the Bogo trees.
The city is located in the northern part of Cebu Province and is
approximately 100 kilometers away from Cebu City, where one can take a
two-hour bus ride.
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| San Vicente Ferrer Parish |
It is also accessible by sea from Masbate, Daanbantayan, and
Bantayan Island. Its location, thriving agriculture and fishery industry
and the presence of three wharves — Polambato (for ships and shipping
vessels), Poblacion (pumpboats and fishing vessels) and Nailon
(motorized pumpboats and bancas) — strengthen its bid to become the
center for trade and commerce in the area north of Cebu.
Thus, while the city exudes a laid-back charm, locals and tourists enjoy
the convenience of department stores, fast food restaurants, banks with
ATMs and reliable communications and data services from trusted
communication companies. In addition, Bogo has 4 colleges, pension
houses, huge public market, public pier, boats going to Leyte and
Masbate, parks, main plaza, museum with library, San Vicente Parish
Church, Verallo Memorial Hospital, doctors, dentists and more!
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| Bogo Plaza Skating Rink |
The City of Bogo has been adjudged as a National Hall of Fame
Awardee as the Cleanest and Greenest Municipality (then) in 1998. In the
same year, the municipality was accorded the Healthy Market Award by
the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG). It is also recipient
of the Regional Gold Award as Most Outstanding Municipality for 1st to
3rd Class Category in Local Budget Administration in 1999.
The City of Bogo is now a 4th class city in the province of Cebu. It was
voted for cityhood last June 16, 2007 and is now one of the component
cities of Cebu.
City Attractions
A popular delicacy made from ground corn and wrapped in corn husk and known as pintos,
is the star of a new festival in Bogo. The Pintos Festival, which
coincides with the town fiesta during the latter part of May, replaces
the Kuyayang Festival, with its roots in a traditional courtship dance.
The shift in focus from the kuyayang dance to the popular pintos,
reflects a positioning more aligned with the city’s strengths: Most of
Bogo’s flat lands are devoted to agriculture, with corn among the chief
products.
Made from ground corn, milk, and either butter or margarine and wrapped
in corn husk, Bogo’s pintos is among local and foreign tourists.
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While the sweet delicacy is now the center of efforts to promote the
city, through the Pintos Festival, Bogo has other attractions.
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| Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal |
Attractions range from the religious to recreational. A popular spot is the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
in La Paz, Bogo City. Many devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary light a
candle and say a prayer at the foot of the giant image, after climbing
100 steps up the hill.
Another is Our Lady of Remedios Parish Church in Odlot, Bogo
where devotees flock for prayers of healing. This features the images of
Our Lady of the Remedios (Remedies), San Paplo (Saint Paul) and San
Pedro (Saint Peter) that were cought by fishermen with their nets in the
sea near the current parish church. The Parish Church was founded in
1980 and many healings have taken place in this parish church. Mother
Mary is reported to have shed tears. There is a healing mass every
Wednesday and the priest gives credit to God for the healings. The
church is undergoing expansion and the facade will be finished soon.
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The presence of nearby white sand beaches, dive sites and golf courses also offer alternatives to first-time visitors of Bogo.
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| Capitancillo |
Fast becoming a favorite is Capitancillo Island, an isolated six-hectare
coralline islet some 30 minutes away from the city via banca. On the
surface is a solar-powered lighthouse, sitting among the remains of an
old structure. Rebuilt in the 1950s, the lighthouse is one of the oldest
lighthouses in the province. But the true beauty of the island lies in
the seas beneath. Capitancillo has a shallow edge which drops down from
25 to 40 meters, making it ideal for snorkeling. The main attraction,
though, is diving. Just off the island are three dive sites: the
Capitancillo Island’s own southwest wall and the Ormoc and Nunez shoals.
All have shallow reef-tops at 33 feet leading to drop-offs with colorful
soft corals, gorgonian sea fans, caves and black corals. The main
interest of the dives are the walls, with their many caves and
overhangs, small shoals of pelagic fish, all varieties of reef fish,
whitetip and gray reef sharks, and the ever present possibility of
encounters with larger pelagic species.
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| Nailon Beach Resort |
Those looking to just lounge around and swim can choose from nearby beach resorts in Barangay Nailon or the more popular resorts in the neighboring towns of Medellin and San Remigio.
Golf enthusiasts, meanwhile, will be more than pleased with the
presence of two world-class golf courses near Bogo City. In Medellin,
the exclusive Mercedes Plantation Golf Club in Barangay Dayhagon ca be
found. Those with families can also opt to stay at the Casa del Mar Golf
and Dive Site, which features a white sand beach as well as the
Verdemar Golf Club in San Remigio, a town some nine kilometers west of
Bogo.
This
is Bogo, it may not be much to many but it means the world to me. This
is the place that molded me. Definitely a place to go.
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The Guest Author:
i am a person with a joyful and happy heart. i live each day of my life to the fullest so that i may never have regrets.
serious kau sah?! hehe
"be happy, positive and hopeful!".... live life as if there's no tomorrow!
serious kau sah?! hehe
"be happy, positive and hopeful!".... live life as if there's no tomorrow!
