THE SLEEPING GIANT OF BOHOL'S ECO-CULTURAL TOURISM INDUSTRY

Loon is blessed with a wealth of natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. It is named after water, specifically "Tubig-Loon" or "Tubig nga nag-loon", a crystal-clear spring that gushes from a crevice underneath boulders found north of the coastal village of Napo, Loon's nucleus community. The water from this spring blends together with the blue water of the town's rich marine paradise and beyond, a fitting depiction of the Loonanon's proclivity to explore limitless boundaries and venture into business, education and other professions. In the Bisayan dialect, 'lo-on' means to merge, coexist or live together. The town also prides itself of the only natural lake in Bohol, a river that reveals a secret paradise, waterfalls that soothe weary souls, mangrove gardens that invite gleaners and rowers alike, caverns that evoke mystery and excitement, sylvan surroundings where

The Our Lady of Light church has one of the most ornate facades in the country.

The pristine beauty and bounty of the town's terrestrial, estuarine and marine resources are complimented by imposing centuries-old structures, rich cultural traditions and warm-hearted people.

For being blessed with all these whose potential for tourism has not been tapped to the fullest, Loon has been aptly called the sleeping giant of Bohol's eco-tourism industry. Some of these attractions are listed below.

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HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE STRUCTURES AND OTHER SITES

Our Lady of Light Church. This biggest stone church in the Visayas and Mindanao is considered the crowning glory of the Recollect Mission in Bohol (know why in a separate article). Its facade is also the most ornate in the province.

Inang-angan. A four-flight stone stairway of 174 steps plus another flight of 38 steps that connects the church to the old town site of Napo. The promenade concludes in the old wharf popularly called Tulay where a visitor gets a majestic view of the sea, the mangrove areas and the mountains of Loon and Cebu across the Cebu Strait.

The Kiosk. This hexagonal two-storey stone structure across the Our Lady of Light Church was a funeral building during the Spanish times. Originally tile-roofed, it is now used as an office and occasional showroom for special events.

Spanish Cemetery. An stone-walled memorial park that has been used as a municipal tree nursery. Inside the round enclosure is a well-preserved chapel also made of coral stone.

Other Spanish-period structures. These include a bridge in Sitio Sombria, Cogon Norte and ruins of a chapel in Napo where the town's patroness, the Our Lady of Light, was first enthroned. Both are also made of coral stone.

The Ferandos House. Owned by the family of the late Pio Ferandos, former Loon mayor and Cebu RTC judge, this American-era house served as secret meeting place of the guerrilla leaders during the Second World War. Behind it is a vertical cave that has potential for development into an environmental showcase.

Caryatids adorn the column supporting the Tubig-Loon fountain at the public plaza

Loon Public Plaza. Completed in 1929, it features an imposing monument dedicated to the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and a big fountain that depicts the legend of the town. Of particular interest is a miniature Statue of Liberty atop the Rizal monument attesting to the American era at which period it was constructed. Another structure at the plaza is a fountain that features four caryatids forming a column that supports a round structure the side of which is adorned by four gargoyles that serve as water spouts. Atop the circular platform are two figures of women, one carrying an urn and the other drinking water with her hand.

Christ the King Monument. This imposing structure on the church plaza features a figure of the Risen Christ atop an obelisk-like column at the center of an ornate and multi-layered circular base. It was recently renovated by the family of its designer, the late artist Zosimo "Iyo Zosing" P. Relampagos. The Grotto. This other masterpiece of "Iyo Zosing" depicts the scene in Lourdes, France where Mary appeared to a girl named Bernadette. It is a favorite backdrop for the annual reenactment of the Last Supper and many other photo opportunities. Hugosan. This four-post platform across the Kiosk serves as main gate of the fortress-like church. It is the venue of the annual Easter Sunday rites observed by the local Catholic population. The Big Cross. This pilgrimage site marked by a Big Cross on the slopes of Barangay Cabug offers a majestic view of the Cebu Strait. A road leading to the place features replicas of the 14 Stations of the Cross.		Cristo Rey (Christ the King) monument beside the Kasilak Church.

Moalong Cliff and River. The river and the bluff overlooking the wide expanse of mangrove are mute witnesses to the most successful ambush staged by the Boholano guerillas against the Japanese aggressors during the Second World War.

Tubig-Loon Spring. An abundant source of spring water north of the nucleus barangay of Napo after which the town's name was taken. The spring and the nearby fish ponds and mangrove areas are frequented by quite a large number of birds.

Barangay Cantaongon. A major supply camp of the Boholano guerrillas during the Second World War.

Sister Milvida's House of Prayer. This favorite retreat facility in the middle of a coconut grove in Barangay Moto Sur sits on a promontory overlooking the Lintuan Beach and the Cebu Strait. Also called the House of Peace by its owners, it has a main building, open-air conference room for small groups, duplex house, kitchen, dining area, chapel, gazebo and garden. It has hosted local and international retreats.

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OUTSTANDING SCENERY AND OTHER NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

Cabilao Island. This island prides itself of having one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Philippines where about 200 sightseers, mostly divers, arrive everyday during peak days of the summer months. Tourists avail of the amenities of at least three beach resorts and two dive shops. The hammerhead, its main attraction along with the coral gardens that form a wall below the tidal flat, has been replaced by the pygmy seahorse, a species endemic to Indonesia but first sighted in the Philippines in Cabilao. In Barangay Pantudlan, wave motion created by strong winds gradually transfers a sand bar on one side of Baluarte Point to the other.

Island Lake in Padtudlan, Cabilao: attracting both tourists and migratory birds.

Island Lake. Bohol's only natural lake is found in the middle of the small island of Cabilao! Frequented by migratory birds, this 29-hectare enclosed body of water is fringed with trees below slopes of solid rock on whose surfaces are embedded several fossils of marine organisms. Viewing decks have been constructed by an association of local fisherfolk. Cabacongan Fish Sanctuary. Also on Cabilao Island, this protected area is a favorite learning site for fisherfolk associations of Bohol and other provinces. Aside from the rich marine fauna, it offers a majestic view of mainland Bohol across the Sawang Pass, an important navigation channel for boats and catamarans plying the Cebu-Tagbilaran route. White Beaches. Strips of white sand abound in Loon. The more frequented beaches are found in Napo (Lintuan Beach), Basdacu, Sandingan (Basdio and Mocpoc) and Cabilao (Pantudlan, Looc and Cambaquiz).

Mangrove Gardens. Sandingan, Loon's other island, can be reached through a man-made causeway that runs through a breathtaking panorama of mangroves on the Tajang Pass which offers an alternative site for boating and swimming as there are at least two picnic huts owned and rented out by nearby Barangay Calayugan Norte. In Barangay Canigaan, also on Sandingan, a leisure islet for picnic groups has been established by the community beside awe-inspiring mangrove gardens. From the seaside corner of Sandingan High School a visitor to the island also gets a very beautiful view of the mangroves and the lofty mountains of Loon. In the other coastal barangays, the mangrove forests also offer livelihood opportunities for the local residents.

Caves. Loon is a spelunker's paradise. Caves of karst origin are found in Moto Norte, Basdacu and many upland barangays. Recently reported is a beautiful cave in Calayugan Norte on Sandingan Island.

Mount Canmanoc. This prominent geological landmark of Loon is a potential tourist destination as it offers a commanding view of the sea, town center and neighboring mountains. On its slopes grow native trees, including the endangered molave, on whose branches birds of different species feed on its fruits and build their nests.

Moalong River and Antaeg Spring and Lagoon; The sylvan banks of this meandering body of water serve as home to myriad birds and monkeys. Upstream, the river reveals some aspects of the Loonanon culture and showcases how the local government unit was able to tap the abundant water resource for household consumption. Visitors can indulge in the soothing coolness of spring water cascading between rocks and boulders or trapped in lagoons. Some private groups have already visited Moalong and were amazed to see such a pristine environment in this secluded part of Bohol. Student organizations, too, have expressed interest in conducting ecology cruises on the turquoise river and have requested the office of the mayor for tour-guiding assistance.

Waterfalls and Springs. Local sightseers enjoy the crystal-clear water of Piong Falls located between the barangays of Nagtuang and Canmaag and Danicop Falls in Barangay Ticugan. The latter has been visited by many local and foreign tourists. In some upland barangays, water flows from springs that have encouraged the local folks to develop their own bathing and washing areas.

Endemic Animals. In addition to the hammerhead shark, pygmy seahorse, monkeys and exotic birds mentioned earlier, other animals like the "mamag" (tarsier), "kagwang" (a lemur-like species), "tinggawong" (bearcat) and "tambaloslos" (previously believed to be legendary) have been sighted in Loon.

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INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND CRAFTS

"The Risen Christ" on the ceiling of the Kasilak Church, a masterpiece of Cebuano painter Rey Francia circa 1930s.

• Processing of "binago", grated and dried cassava steamed over a perforated coconut half-shell fitted onto the mouth of an earthen pot half-filled with water; common in the barangays on Sandingan and Cabilao islands and in Ubayon.   • Production of "tuba" or toddy from coconut in Cantaongon and other upland barangays.   • "Drama" or community theater in Napo, a fervently sustained local tradition that originated during the Spanish period. Local residents get involved as actors, singers, directors, stage managers and playwrights.   • Mat weaving in Cabilao and upland barangays   • Production of corn and cassava on the rocky slopes of Barangay Basdio. The farm is itself a tourist attraction because from below, the crops seem to grow not on soil but on black rocks and boulders.

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OUR LADY OF LIGHT CHURCH: CROWNING GLORY
OF THE RECOLLECT MISSION IN BOHOL

Loon, a Jesuit mission, was raised to the status of a parish under the titular of Our Lady of Light in 1753. In 1768, the Recollects took over the administration of the parish.
The present Loon church was completed around 1855 under the supervision of Don Domingo Escondrillos, then Director of Public Works in Cebu. The church replaced an earlier one built in 1815. Undoubtedly one of the oldest structures in Bohol, it is also the biggest church edifice in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Made of large coral stone blocks or 'tinableya', the church has twin bell towers attached to the facade, and a massive archway supporting a choir loft.

The extremely elegant Baroque facade is the finest in Bohol. Tension subtly underlies the contrast between massive and light ornamentation between vertical elements and horizontal volumes, and between the facade's dynamic mass and the static wall bases of the belfries.

Most prominently inscribed at the right side of the facade are the words "Domus mea domus orationis voca bitur", which means "My house shall be called a house of prayer". Another familiar phrase is "Amor vincit omnia", or "Love conquers all", which had been covered by concrete to accommodate the three cherubs at the foot of the recently added image of the Birhen sa Kasilak above the main door.

Bas relief carving, wooden balusters guarding the bell tower windows and pointed roofs consolidate the Moorish tendencies. These, with the fine details such as the lace-like capitals, make the Loon church a sophisticated example of the Baroque, the Moorish and the Plateresque.

The large stone slabs connecting the four-post "Hugosan" (Easter rites platform) to the main door of the church are remnants of the aisle of the middle nave. It is worth noting that the church is among the few churches with three naves (tres naves). It also follows a big rectangle layout, unlike most churches that follow a cross layout.

The Kasilak church, the "Queen of All Heritage Churches in Bohol", graces the cover spread of the book "Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches" written by Regalado Trota Jose.

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