A coralline island, of rugged shorelines, hidden coves and white sand beaches, Bohol sits south of Cebu, north of Camiguin Island and east of Zamboanga del Norte. The roughly oval island is 3865 square kilometers. A central plateau, averaging 500 meters in height, is hemmed by parallel ridges that run east to west. The province itself (also named Bohol) comprises neighboring islands and islets, the biggest are Panglao, Lapinig, Mahanay, Jaguilao, Pangangan, and Cabilao. Balicasag near Panglao is noted as a diving site. With the neighboring islands Bohol province has a total land area of 4117 square kilometers.

Limestone outcrops or karst characterize the main land, evidence that much of the island was once underwater. A curious geological formation in the inland towns of Sevilla, Carmen and Sierra Bullones bolsters this conclusion. Called Chocolate Hills, some 2000 grass covered limestone mounds which turn chocolate brown during summer are the result of the erosion of ancient coral beds, so goes one theory of their origins. Bohol’s limestone substrate makes it inhospitable to large scale agriculture. However, that same limestone is a perfect medium for the hardwood tree, molave (Vitex parviflora) called in the local vernacular, tugas. The karst outcrops yields a workable building stone and lime needed for mortar.

Because of its strategic position, Bohol was a way station to Mindanao for travelers from the north. Traditionally, Boholanos are fishers and traders who market finely crafted products like baskets, mats, and the Spartan Bohol furniture made from hardwood.

Archaeological discoveries near Tagbilaran City and the Anda peninsula indicate a high level of sophistication and an active trade with South Asia even before colonial times. In a cave in Anda were found large quantities of wild boar jaw bones, neatly arranged. The site suggested some arcane religious ritual whose significance can no longer be understood. Other archaeological sites have yielded T’ang, Sung and Ming dynasty porcelain and trade ware. Ancient boat-shaped coffins have been found wedged on cliff sides. These have been dated to a least 500 years. All told the archaeological finds relate Bohol to the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao where similar artifacts have been found.

The first time Bohol appears in the colonial record is in 1521. It is recorded that the survivors of Magellan’s expedition scuttled their damaged ships off the coast of Bohol. Then, they boarded one single ship to make their way back to Spain, thereby successfully circumnavigating the globe. In 1563, Bohol is mentioned again. During this year, Portuguese with their allies from Ternate in the Moluccas went to Bohol in the guise of trade. They came upon a village built over the shallows between Tagbilaran City and Panglao Island, what is called today Dauis Strait. This village on stilts was a thriving community, until that year when the unwary inhabitants were attacked by the Portuguese and Ternateños. Many were killed, many more were captured as slaves. Some survivors fled in the direction of Zamboanga and settled in a town, called Dapitan and never returned. Others managed to flee to other places in Bohol.

By the time Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived with his colonizing band in 1565, the inhabitants had grown wary of the fair skinned foreigners. Legazpi had to negotiate with the local leader Sikatuna (si Katunao) for peace, sealing the negotiations with a blood compact.

The Augustinians were the first missionary group to arrive at Bohol. They came with Legazpi but did not stay long enough to establish mission stations or convents. Evangelization of Bohol is attributed to the Jesuits. In November 1596, Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez arrived to begin their preaching. The Boholanos’ initial reception of the missionaries was cold. The presence of Spanish tax collectors had made them suspicious. The Jesuits had to muster their skills at persuasion, even using dramatic and rhetorical devices to state their intention. Gabriel Sanchez threw a handful of gold dust to the ground and stepped on it while proclaiming to the inhabitants of Talibon, a gold producing town, that he had no intention of parting the Boholanos from their treasure. The Jesuits established many of the pueblos of Bohol by uniting scattered settlements into centralized villages. Loboc was organized from a dozen scattered settlements by Frs. Torres and Sanchez. Talibon was gold producing settlement where a Spanish gold prospector has preceded the Jesuits and had built a small chapel. Dauis, Panglao, Tagbilaran, Baclayon, and Maribojoc were established by the Jesuits. The Recollect who took charge of Bohol after the Jesuits’ expulsion in 1768 established other towns and parishes like Guidulman, Loon, and Jagna. Many of the Jesuit visitas or mission stations were raised to the status of parish under the Recollects.

Only a handful of Jesuits were assigned to Bohol (about three or four) throughout most of the 17^th century. Hence, their influence was limited to coastal areas and to the inland town of Loboc where they established the headquarters or residentia of their missions. Spanish presence was thus tenuous, explaining in part the intense sense of independence of the Boholanos. In 1621, while the Jesuits were in Cebu celebrating the canonization of St. Ignatius, a revolt erupted in Bohol. A native shaman, named Tamblot, claimed that the ancestral spirits were displeased with the defection of the Boholanos but promised a life free from tribute and the exaction of living under colonial masters, a life abundant and prosperous. Called the "Babaylan Revolt" waves of dissent rumbled across the Visayas; islands like Leyte were soon up in arms against the Spain and the missionaries. The revolt was eventually quelled.

In the next century another revolt erupted in Bohol. Because his kin was not allowed Christian burial, Dagohoy led a revolt against the Spaniards to redress this unfair treatment. His followers carried the revolt into the 19^th century, earning for the Dagohoy Revolt the distinction of being the longest in the Philippine history, 1744-1829. Dagohoy had established a seat for his government at Danao, a site between Inabangan and Talibon, on Bohol’s northern coast.

The Jesuits built a number of churches in Bohol but only two remain, Baclayon and Loboc plus possibly the ruins at Panglao. The Jesuit fortified these churches as a protection against slave raiders. The Recollects built most of the churches of Bohol. A characteristic of these 19^th century churches is an arcaded portico built as the façade of the church. Recollects are also credited with building moradas. These are one story structures, usually octagonal or quadrilateral, built separately from the church and convento. The precise function of these structures in uncertain. Oral lore claims that they were used for wakes, others as temporary dwellings for the parishioners who lived far from the town center or población and had some business to transact in the parish church.

By the 19^th century, Bohol experienced an economic upturn. During this time large churches were built, and pipe organs were installed in others. Large hand written cantorales (song books) were acquired for the churches. Church music was fostered resulting in such works as the Misa Baclayana.

Bohol was known for its weaving. In colonial times a type of canvas or twill was hand-woven in Bohol. Called lampot, this cloth was accepted as tribute. The cloth was then sewn into sails for the galleons. Bohol also produced coarse abaca cloth called locally, saguran (sinamay in Tagalog). Saguran was used as backing for embroidery and stiffener for collars. Saguran was also used like wall paper to line ceilings.

Bohol had its share in the fight for independence from Spain and the subsequent Philippine-American war. The martyrs of Jagna, under Capt. Gregorio Caseñas (Capitán Goyo) perished on Easter Sunday 1901 when American soldiers attacked Capitán Goyo and his men, and then proceeded to burn Jagna, sparing only the church complex and a handful of houses.

During World War II, much of Bohol’s historic structures were spared destruction making Bohol one of the best places to appreciate the past.