The tarsiers we visited were still in Loboc. I know (based on my map) of a tarsier sanctuary farther away but I think we will eat up a lot of time if we go back and forth. Also, it started to rain already. So Manon
g brought us to this place that took care of tarsiers just along the road. It was small and there was no entrance fees. Tables filled with souvenir items greeted us as we went in. We walked in a bit more and there were these tall potted plants. The caretaker pointed to something brown on one of the stems and wouldn't you know, it was a teeny little tarsier!! He was so cute and very cuddly. I forwarned Ruther not to take photos with the flash on because their eyes are very sensitive. The little thing was getting sooo sleepy, 
his eyes were opening and closing. He was funny! Then the caretaker told us that we could take photos of the tarsiers up close and we were ecstatic!! We took turns of course! Nikki was really enthralled! Ethan called it a "mouse"! Ruther was afraid of putting the monkey close to his face but I told him it won't do anything to him, silly man! =D Nikki loved the tarsier so much he wanted us to bring one home!! Haha!! Silly boy! I told him, if we did that, he would most probably die because tarsiers live in the mountains and I'm sure he didn't want that. He was sad but I bought him a tarsier keychain and ref magnet to remember his friend. We also gave some money as a donation for the food and care of the tarsiers. They were really really cute!Shortly after that, we were on our way to our next stop. The rain became stronger and I got worried about that. We made our way to this hilly area just off the main road of Alburquerque. A guard was there and we paid P10 for the entrance fee. Getting to our destination was a bumpy ride. When we got there, it was raining really hard but a girl with a huge umbrella met us and we let her umbrella us to the entrance. We paid a fee but I forget now how much it was. When we got there we found out that we were going to see a python! Yikes! This python is
said to be the biggest and the longest python in captivity. It was caught last 1996 and it was 5 feet long and 5 kilos heavy then. In 2005 it was 23 feet long and weighed 200 kilos!! My goodness! Anyway, Ruther and Ethan did not want to enter the cage so Nikki and I braved the snake and Ruther quickly took photos of us. A caretaker was with us of course otherwise I would not even dare get inside that scary cage. When we got back to the car, we were still escorted by the umbrella girl so I gave her P20 as a thank you.Our next stop was the Baclayon Church. From http://www.bohol.ph/ site:
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is one of the best presevered Jesuit build churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.
Next to the church is the old convent, which also houses a small museum with centuries-old religious relics, artifacts and other antiquities, dating back to the 16th century. Included in the collection are an ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, old gold embroidered ecclesiastical vestments, books with carabao skin covers, and librettos of church music written in Latin on sheep skins. Here you can also find the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859.
Since it was raining very very hard at this time, we just looked at the church from the car and we did not go inside the cathedral anymore. The boys were getting really sleepy and cranky and I did not want
them to be cranky and noisy inside. So, regretfully, we had to be on our way.We stopped by a souvenir store a distance away from Baclayon Church and I bought a shell bracelet, some more keychains and Nikki got a small guitar. We also bought some delicacies as pasalubong for my sis and bro and Ruther's family. After this, we headed for the Blood Compact Site which was just nearby. The rain slowed and I was glad. Some facts about this tourist spot from Wikipedia:
The Bohol Sandugo Celebration or Sandugo Festival, also known as Blood Compact Commemoration, is an annual historical event that takes place every year in the island province of Bohol, Philippines. This festival commemorates the treaty of friendship between two people of different races, culture, religion and civilization: between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain. This treaty of friendship occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact. This blood compact is the first international treaty of friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards and is known today as "Sandugo", meaning "one blood".
The "sandugo" or blood compact began with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in the shores of Bohol in 1565 and the swearing of allegiance of Datu Sikatuna to the Spanish crown. The two people were believed to have made a cut on their left arms with a dagger and sprinkled their blood into a cup filled with wine, which both drank in honor of their friendship and brotherhood. This was 44 years after Magellan was killed attacking a Philippine village in Mactan Island, about 50 miles north of Bohol. The blood compact was a traditional way to formalize treaties of friendship in the Philippines. Magellan himself took part in several of these ceremonies before attacking Mactan Island.
It was really rooted in history and I was glad to step on that place and to be there. I hope that when the boys are bigger, they will learn to appreciate such things and to be interested in Philippine history. Shortly after that, we headed back to Panglao Island and despite all that happened earlier in the day, our Saturday was not over yet...
last part coming soon...
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