Plaza Rizal was drenched in poetic verses on life and love under the cloudy night sky of February 26 as it served as the venue of this year’s Balut, Beer, ug Balak (BBB).

Organized by Kaliwat ni Karyapa (KaKâ) with the Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD), the fifth edition of the literary endeavor was witnessed by a number of Boholanos as well as some foreign visitors who happened to be at the venue during the open mic poetry reading session.  Throughout the night, members of KaKâ and the audience, including students from Bohol Island State University, Holy Name University, and PMI Colleges Bohol, took center stage to render poetry pieces and songs.

A PMI student who goes by the name of Gerald Anderson gamely shared his balak which made the crowd laugh and smile.

Bohol Local Development Foundation President, Rappler Enterprise Mover Awardee, and Boholano literary luminary Nestor Pestelos graced the night and read beautiful poetry to the public.  Cultural impresario Marianito Luspo, BACH Council President Vida Tirol – de Juan, KasingSining’s Gardy Labad, former LifestyleBohol editor Liza Macalandag, Ludwig Quirog, as well as Paul and John Vistal were also in attendance.

Rappler Enterprise Mover and Boholano literary luminary Nelson Pestelos reads poetry to the audience

Despite the rain (bagyo), the audience and performers remained enthusiastic and were not, in any way, bitter to the gloomy sky despite bitterness a recurring theme in most of the shared pieces.  This could be attributed to the fame of hugot lines, witticisms intended to convey the sentiments of a heart scorned and left.  Juan Miguel Severo, one of the Philippines well-known spoken poetry artists, garnered much attention after his hugot-filled pieces like Ito Na Ang Huling Tulang Isusulat Ko Para Sayo at Mga Basang Unan gained so much attention, especially to millenials.   As John Vistal explains it via Facebook, “with all the poems about jilted or unrequited love that night, bitterness might as well have been a running theme.”

I, as the second act of the night, performed a hugot-filled piece titled Commuter Hugot Lines. I've drawn inspiration from my experience as a commuter and connected it to the pains of falling and being in love.  You can read the piece here.

The second act of the night, your blogger his delivered his (unintentionally) funny and hugot-filled piece Commuter Hugot Lines which he dedicated to all the commutes and loves. Photo by Atty. John Titus Vistal.

A video of my (awkward) performance is available below. :)




Despite the “bagyo” and the bitterness of the pieces, Balut, Beer, ug Balak 5 turned out to be a simple yet wonderful night to celebrate the beauty of words woven to create poetry — both for print or spoken word.  BBB 5 was more than just the usual Bs and those are the ones that added much more beauty to that great night.

Members of KaKâ are all smiles after the successful BBB 5. It was indeed a wonderful night.

For those like me who loves and appreciates the creative expression of the human soul and is free from the clutches of any romantic relationship, the month of February is not one that would unleash bitterness and resentments over lost love or the lack of love, whichever applies.  In fact, February is a month-long celebration of the arts, being declared as National Arts Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 683 signed by the late President Cory Aquino in 1991.

The banner and theme of this year's National Arts Month celebration. Photo from the NCCA Facebook Page

Spearheaded by the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council in partnership with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) of the Provincial Government of Bohol, the BOHOL SANDUGO Foundation, KASING SINING and the Diocese of Tagbilaran, the National Arts Month celebration in the province commenced last February 5 at the Bohol Cultural Center.

Lahoy, in English, means to slip through and being in Bohol Lahoy Dive Resort in Cabantian, Guindulman  means saying goodbye temporary to the stressful demands of our individual lives and slipping through a space of beautiful tranquility amidst chirping birds, lush trees, and the scenic sea.


The resort, owned by German national Michael Herder and managed by the Swiss couple Hanspeter and Daniela Ritter, takes you to enjoy the laid back life of the Bohol's east side.  Guests have all expressed their pledges to come back, saying that they feel in love with the peaceful silence of the place as they get to relax in their comfy villas.

This bungalow houses three rooms.

This is their family bungalow

An hour away from Tagbilaran City, the calming silence at Bohol Lahoy Dive Resort is waiting for you to experience.  One of it's main attraction is that miniature version of a cliff dive that you'll do at Batong Galain, a separated rock formation from the rocky cliffs along the Cabantian shore lines. (galain in Visayan means doing something distinct or in contrary to something. It can also mean opting to be separated from the group).

A view of the rocky but breathtakingly beautiful sea of Cabantian, Guindulman

My paternal grandmother leaves in Cabantian and during one visit (I was college already at that time), I had the chance to set foot at the iconic Batong Galain. And one thing I could describe it is treacherous. At the side nearer to the shoreline, it would seem that it won't be a scary jump on the other side but once you see the other edge, you'll realize how deep the water is already.  You'll be jumping on a deep space surrounded by corals.  If you ask me if I did jump, no because I was too scared.  But the brave souls will surely enjoy the jump and would surely repeat it.

That's Batong Galain!

You may simply stay in and forget about the world for a moment, or experience a miniature version of a cliff dive at Batong Galain, or go diving in their different dive spots.  Whatever your concept is of a peaceful serene vacation, Lahoy is ready to take charge.

You may spend some quiet moments here in their dining area

For reservations and more info, visit www.bohol-lahoy.com or contact 09294541635 or 09202798228

A few meters away from Anda’s Quinale Public Beach is this small newly-opened restaurant called Coco Loco.  From the get go, you’ll know what is the star is in the restaurant. Coconut, of course. If the name and the hanged paintings do not make it more obvious, I don’t know what will.

The quirky paintings have one thing in common

Coco Loco is the recent initiative spearheaded by TAFIAS, the same local livelihood group that brought to our taste buds homemade taro ice cream and the popular tilapia chips.  This time around, it is not taro or tilapia but coconut which will serve as staple ingredient in their menu offerings that is of foreign backgrounds but done with locally-grown Filipino ingredients.

Robin Gurney, one of the pivotal individuals behind the different entrepreneurial undertakings of TAFIAS, said that apart from the usage of local ingredients to recreate many of their menu’s foreign offerings, all local ingredients are organic while sauces and other food and drinks are homemade.  There’s always something special and scrumptious about a food with a touch of home.  Much more, rice meals also come with either the white rice variant we all know and love or the more fiber-enriched brown alternative.  That’s happy tummies and healthier options in one place.


When your feet brings you to Anda, don’t forget to make a stopover at Coco Loco and feast on their savory rich flavors.  There is their flavorful half-rack BBQ ribs (Php349) made of locally-produced beef slow cooked for maximum juiciness and covered in our secret homemade sauce.  Their BBQ ribs are available only during weekends unless you press your order in advance and is best paired with the refreshing Coco Loco Iced Tea (Php49).  For instant refreshments, you won’t regret trying their Banana Shake with Honey and Coco Water (Php99) with TAFIAS’ Homemade Taro Ice Cream (Php79).

Refreshments for a hot midday: Banana Shake with Honey and Coco Water and Homemade Taro Ice Cream in Ube Flavor. When in Anda, chill at the quaint #CocoLoco, just near Quinale Beach. This is another project of Tafias, the same group that brought to us Tilapia Chips. #BeholdBohol #foodporn #iblogforph #iblogforBohol

A photo posted by Dandreb James Arro (@deejaywrites) on Nov 3, 2015 at 7:34pm PST

Enjoy a single BBQ Beef Ribs (made of locally-produced meat and original homemade sauce) for Php99 or an entire half-rack at Php379 only at #CocoLoco, the dainty place ready to fill anyone's appetite. Comes with rice and iced tea #foodporn #BeholdBohol #iblogforph #iblogforBohol #AndaleAnda

A photo posted by Dandreb James Arro (@deejaywrites) on Nov 3, 2015 at 8:05pm PST

Healthier alternatives, great food, friendly staff, and supporting local communities, Coco Loco is simple a one-stop shop from the fine white sands of the Quinale Beach that will allow you to unwind, feast, and give back all in one shot.  Now who wouldn’t go Loco for Cocos for that if that’s the case.

Robin Gurney (far right) with his staff and another foreign national friend who was enjoying the sumptuousness of Coco Loco.

For reservations and advance orders, contact 0908 508 5847 or visit cocoloco.ph