WOMAN OF substance and stature, la simpatica Bea Susana Zobel ?Junior? and her constant companion, brilliant businessman Joel Uichico, invited the media and some pals to Bohol for a weekend of extreme sports, fantastic culture tours and the ribbon-snipping of the first Municipal Tourism Center in Baclayon, no less.

Bea has been the patroness and strong force of Baclayon?s tourism growth. She tags Ino Manalo, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila as ?the culprit who got me involved with Bohol.? It all started, dahlings, when he invited her over to help save the leaking roof of the old Our Lady of the Assumption Shrine and some ancestral houses from being knocked down.

Being nationalistic like her mom and dad, Bea fell in love with the place. While our group was having dinner at the elegant dining room of the Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa, Joel suggested to develop a dive site in Pamilacan island, off Baclayon. After a meeting with the local officials of Baclayon, they worked on several projects and brainstormed on how to start several super tourist programs so the locals can make a living while preserving the beauty of its marine life.

After a year, the Municipal Tourist Center, gateway to Baclayon, has become a reality. The building was funded by Bea, with the help of Ayala Foundation and the kindness of the genius in the retail world, Ben Chan, chairman of Suyen Corp. and a gentleman who cares, dahlings. The tourist center was designed like a modern Filipino house by talented architect Noel Saratan and Niño Guidaben, while artistic Al Caronan dressed up this much-needed center.

The blessing and turnover rites attracted tons of town folk from Baclayon and other nearby towns. Attendees included popular Mayor Alvin Lim; Bill Luz of Ayala Foundation; and Ben Chan, together with his entourage of dazzling stars like Richard and Lucy Gomez, good-looking John Pratts, vivacious architect Miguel Pastor and super articulate Jojo Liamzon.

In the evening, it was like a town fiesta, headed by Vice Mayor Marilyn Uy and other government hotshots. We watched a fun cultural program at Baluarte?s basketball court, palanggas, with an all-star cast in attendance. It was a screaming affair, more so when they saw their favorite Boholano star and gentleman of all seasons, handsome Cesar Montano, and his gorgeously adorable wife Sunshine Cruz; Representative Edgar Chatto and even First Daughter Luli Arroyo, who came with her husband, witty Luigi Bernas. They are both dedicated divers who have been supporting Joel?s efforts in saving the environment in Baclayon. Luli stayed behind for Joel?s dive guide training program and talk about environmental awareness. The Bernases also went to Bien Unido in northern Bohol to check out a new dive site, palanggas.

We were also taken to a fantastic cultural tour of the gorgeous church, where the old pipe organ and roof had been renovated, thanks to Bea who had gone all out in restoring the town of Dauis and the famous Dauis Church complex, now a National Historical Landmark. Our palangga Ino Manalo also took us to a tour of top resorts in the town.

It was a fantastic feeling seeing the dedication of brilliant cultural lovers Bea and Joel conserve the many awesome ancestral homes, sights in the towns of Baclayon, Dauis and Pamilacan island. The latter Joel hopes would become a haven for diving tourism and underwater photography.

Special thanks to our hotel hosts and owners, Hans Schoof, his wife, stylish Lani, and their adorable daughter, Katrina Schoof, who is Peacock Garden?s resort and spa assistant general manager. They all made our stay unforgettable. Yes, palanggas, a different world awaits you in this hotel in Bohol.