BACLAYON.- Eco-tourism another buzzword to attract tourists is fast gaining currency in this historic municipality. And as an income-generating enterprise, Baclayon's eco-tourism program is also aimed to enhance the people's livelihood. Bullish to the hilt in developing the town's version of eco-tourism, Mayor Alvin Uy said the helping hand of Ayala Foundation made the difference in placing Baclayon in the world tourism map. It used to be that Baclayon is only known because of its old stone church and the famous Baclayon museum. With the help of the Ayala Foundation through Bea Zobel de Ayala, Jr., the town has metamorphosed into an amalgam of tourist attractions, notwithstanding the imposing presence of the old church and museum. Who would imagine that Baclayon has its own version of a nature trail, spelunking adventure ,the now familiar whale watching and lately the construction of a high-end resort and a middle class hotel. German philanthropist Hans Schoof placed Baclayon in the world map with his Peacock Luxury Garden Resort & Spa. Another resort the Bohol Coconut Palm is also another Baclayon pride.

WHALE WATCHING ADVENTURE

The kind of eco-tourism that the foundation made its mark IN Baclayon is the whale watching adventure. Initiated by the Bezo Recreational & Aquatic Activities in Bohol, Inc. (BRAABO, Inc.), this one of a kind of eco-adventure, converted manta ray fishermen in Pamilacan into whale spotters making it another productive endeavor that gives islanders a cottage industry they can call their own. Under the baton of businessman Joel Uichico, he partnered with the Ayala heiress to give livelihood to islanders through the whale watching project. Another dramatic impact of the project is the conversion of pump boats used in hunting manta rays into tourist boats. Manta rays were considered endangered species and therefore banned from being caught for its meat. On a given day at the Baclayon docking port, one can see boats outfitted with contraptions for tourists who are lured to savor the beauty of whale watching along the seas that separate the mainland and Pamilacan island. With the financial muscle of Ayala Foundation, the heiress allocated P6 million to build the Baclayon Tourism Center. As the patroness and strong force of Baclayon tourism growth, Zobel de Ayala dedicated the tourism center to its livelihood project to improve the lives of Pamilacan inhabitants. With the island people taken cared of, the Zobel de Ayala-Uichico tandem, trained their sights to the growth of tourism in the mainland. Now, Baclayon is not only proud of its old church, whale watching adventures and nature trek.

NATURE TREK

The nature trek package is a rural sight-seeing of Baclayon's natural wonders like the Loyola Lake in La Libertad and the Payahan Cave. Using buggy rides which the Ayala Group has provided, tourists can arrange countryside tours that culminate at the La Libertad Lake passing through a cave in barangay Payahan. The lake used to be a huge rice land until water settled in permanently making it a sanctuary of fresh water fish. According to the tourism development blueprint of the town, water sports like kayaking will be introduced in the lake adventure to add glamour to the nature trek package.

Dive sites are also developed in Baclayon.

Aside from making Pamilacan another diving paradise after Balicasag, the coral reefs from Guiwanon to Taguihon were declared as marine protected areas to enhance its sustainability as potential dive sites. An ordinance was enacted by the Sangguniang Bayan to declare the site as marine protected area. The San-Roque-Montana sea corridor is also being eyed as another potential diving site.

Baclayon is also famous for its old Spanish houses.

Dubbed as the Poblacion Walk, this tourist attraction features the old houses located along the town's national highway. Known as heritage houses, some of these homes are offering bed and breakfast services for tourists. The town is also home to favorite delicacies like broas or lady finger, baked polvoron, nut bars, cookies and pastel which are of export quality.