GOV. Erico Aumentado flew to South Korea yesterday as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's party that will also visit Lithuania , Moscow and St. Petersburg where she is invited to speak before economic forums. The South Korean leg of the trip until June 2 includes bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak where Aumentado had requested the President to include in her talking points the funding by Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) the P1.4-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (BCRIP 3) and the P800-million Improvement of Malinao Dam in Pilar town. From Seoul , the Presidential party will go to the resort island of Jeju where she will participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)- Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit on June 1-2. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Commemorative Summit will help affirm the two countries' collaboration with the rest of the region and the international community in the face of global economic and security challenges. Bohol would have participated in the “One Philippines” Exposition at the Seoul City Hall Plaza that is supposed to be a highlight of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Philippines ' and South Korea 's bilateral diplomatic relations this year.

However, Korea that is still mourning the passing of its former President Roh Moo-hyun and whose funeral is set around these dates, postponed the exposition to June 27 and 28. The pomp and fanfare scheduled with the exposition will run counter to the seriousness and solemnity of laying President Roh to his final rest, Aumentado said, hence, the postponement. Bohol is all set for the exposition, having reserved a booth to promote culture and tourism, as well as display Bohol products including raffia products from Inabanga. The three sides of the booth will be covered with tarpaulin that features local products on one panel, the province's sights and wonders including the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier on the main panel, and culture and tourism icons on the other panel. All these while, booth visitors will be treated to a DVD show highlighting Bohol's tourism come-ons with voice-over already in Korean, designed to entice the adventurous Koreans to try the eco-adventure tourism in Danao town that includes a 45-second slide down a zip line, kayaking, climbing up a root-covered rock wall and rapelling down a cliff plus spelunking in what used to be the lair of homegrown hero Francisco Sendrijas who led an 85-year revolt against the Spaniards. Sendrijas is said to have acquired the dagon sa hoyohoy or amulet of the breeze that enabled him to outrun anyone chasing him, making him difficult to catch. From the dagon sa hoyohoy, he coined “Dagohoy” that was his nom de guerre.

“Tamer” activities include dolphin and whale watching off Pamilacan Island in Baclayon or Balicasag Islet in Panglao – or watching hammerhead sharks off Cabilao Island in Loon. The pristine seawaters and white sand beaches are also welcoming, along with the underwater world in these islands and at the Danajon Double Barrier Reef off northern Bohol for the scuba fanatics. The 1,268 cone-shaped mounds collectively called the Chocolate Hills take center stage, as well as the tarsier – the oldest and smallest primate whose tail is longer than its body – that have become synonymous with the province. Bohol is also the perfect place to visit old stone churches as practically each town has one. Added attractions are belfries and watchtowers. President Arroyo had declared 2009 as “ Philippines - Republic of Korea Friendship Year ." This year also marks the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations. Diplomatic relations were established on March 3, 1949 , while ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations were established in November 1989. Aumentado's visit to Korea follows the visit to Bohol of Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung who witnessed the turnover to the governor and Regional Irrigation Manager Modesto Membreve of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA 7) of the feasibility study and detailed design on the improvement of the Malinao Dam by resident representative Kim In of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) only a week earlier. From Jeju, the Presidential party will proceed to the Republic of Lithuania in Europe , on to Moscow and thence to St. Petersburg , Russia 's second largest city – an important port city – where she will speak at an international economic forum. The group will return to the Philippines on June 6.