DiscoverUbay
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Ubay.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Ubay
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Ubay
- Holidays to Ubay is a broad-based municipality of northern Bohol the terrain of which is covered with unending rice fields, corn rows and coconut groves that stretch to the horizon and a system of rivers and interior waterways flow through the rural landscape like silver fences.
- The tranquil seashores of the town and its white beaches (not a single commercial resort), characterised by a peaceful, sun-kissing atmosphere, are left to fishing boats slowly drifting at their ease and locals busying themselves with their nets.
- Due to this low profile life style, Ubay is still a secret to the travellers who want to experience the true rural life of Boholano culture where communities are close knit and each sunrise over the fields is a promise of new things.
- In case you are intending to have a time in the country without hurrying, you might want to book with World Pinoy Flights in order to make your experience in this peaceful part of the Philippines worth remembering.
- Capital (of the province): Tagbilaran City
- International airport: No international airport in Ubay
- Nearest commonly used: Bohol-Panglao International Airport
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Cebuano (Boholano), Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The initial impression of holidays to Ubay is formed due to its large agricultural heart where golden rice fields and flourishing corn farms colour the landscape in the colours of plenty, and the smell of recently ploughed ground is mixed with the salty air of the sea.
- The terrain was crossed by rivers like the Ubay River, which provided calm and clear waters that attract the desire to take pictures and enjoy the streams of the river along the way.
- The beaches in the low-key barangays of the coast offer a vacation without any commotion or any loud noise as the waves of the sea and the fishing boats of the natives make a pleasant background of relaxation.
- The Ubay Public Market within the town proper is vibrant with day to day business, which is in keeping with the bustling pace of life in town and the generosity of the farmers who bring their finest produce to the stalls.
- In its relatively low-profile but densely frequented design, the St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church is the cultural anchor of the religious beliefs and those who want to have a look at the local religious practises.
- Lastly, the soft hills that envelop Ubay provide rugged trails and forest areas that challenge the hiker to venture on the less travelled ecosystem, off the main tourist path.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- The best season to visit the farms, take a walk down the river, and have an adventure should be during the dry season which is between December and May since the weather is clear with the fields at their greenest point and this makes it ideal to enjoy a farm tour, a walk down the river and to have an adventure.
- The winter seasons in January and February offer pleasant weather that is ideal to explore the villages, tour farms, and take a relaxing stroll at the seashores.
- The fiesta season in April-May will light up the town with colourful feastings, music and communal feasting, providing first hand experience of the festive spirit of Ubay, but the crowds are still small by the standards of more popular destinations.
- The two factors of dry weather and cultural celebrations make these months especially appealing to the people who want to see the beauty of nature and the cheerful culture of Ubay at the same time.
- The town is also at its picturesque best even during the shoulder months of March and June when the tourist numbers are lower and the town is peaceful allowing the visitors to immerse themselves in the local vibe.
- Tourists need to be sensitive of the typhoon that occurs occasionally in the rainy season because this may impact on the travel plan and the river levels.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Ubay Public Market and Town Proper
- The crowded marketplace with the stalls of fresh mangoes, pineapples, and the spices which are grown locally develop a sensory tapestry that shows how much the community takes pride in agricultural plenty welcoming visitors to sample the delights of the area.
- The open plan of the market also promotes the experience of interaction between the buyers and sellers of the goods as the travellers can see the very practise of the daily barter culture that has supported Ubay all through the years, as well as get to know what kinds of products are grown here.
- There are surrounding restaurants which offer simple but delicious meals like sinigang prepared using fresh fish off the shore, which can be viewed as a food journal of how the local food affects my day to day meals.
- The central location in the town makes the market the centre of events where people showcase their crafts, music and dance giving the tourists the front row view of the local parties.
- The shaded arcades of the market are shielding the shoppers against the tropical sun which is a practical design being comfortable yet maintaining the necessity to preserve fresh produce on hot afternoons.
- The informal source of information in the town, the market is the most effective place to enquire locals about the unresearched routes, river paths or the most appropriate time to visit the local farms so that the travellers can shape their plan of activities to suit their interests.
Ubay River
- Billed as a cool clear Ubay River flows over rice fields bringing a welcome relief to the tropical heat and providing a cool experience to kayaking and much needed strolls along the river.
- Bridges of small wooden bridges over line the banks of the river and each has a different view point where photography can be done to show the interaction between any man-made structure and the surrounding foliage.
- Seasonal migrations of fishes along the river lead to a large number of freshwater species that make it a favourite place among the angling and nature enthusiasts who want to view the aquatic life in its natural habitat.
- The banks of the river are lined with banana and coconuts, the floating fronds of which form an inbuilt canopy, and provide shady picnic areas and places to lie down in the midst of a calm environment.
- A local community on the river ensures the practise of traditional fishing, where handmade nets and bamboo poles are used as the tools of trade to provide visitors with a unique insight into how Ubay has existed throughout the years.
- In the evening, visits to the river make it clear that the lanterns are gently lit by the river and the families are sitting together to tell storeys or to eat barbecue, which is an indication that the community is highly connected to this natural resource.
St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church
- The plain appearance of the church, with plain stonework and a wooden bell tower, reflects the simplicity and religious nature of the inhabitants of the town who leave to collectively pray and have meetings.
- Within, the altar is a silent retreat in which the scent of incense is mixed with the hymns, and where travelling persons can find a calm spot to look back at their way.
- The murals of the church show the pictures of pastoral life; it is the blending of faith and daily work, which is the characteristic of the cultural identity of Ubay.
- The church is turned into a vivid centre on this day of festival when colourful processions fill the streets, and locals are eager to show their traditional clothes which highlight the rich history of the town.
- The immediate neighbours have a small garden where up to now the residents cultivate herbs and medicine plants and here is an example of how faith, nature, and community come together in the daily activities of Ubay.
- The long history of the church, which traces its origins to the beginning of the 20th century, has become a living witness to the stability and persistence of the spiritual life of Ubay over the years.
Coastal Barangays
- The unperturbed sands of the low-key beaches of the coastal barangays, without commercial resorts, is the perfect source of sands where the more than blue waters blend with the sky, providing the uninterrupted pleasure of swimmers and sun-bathers.
- The local boats used in traditional fishing are called locally kunkun, and they move slowly along the shore, as the fishermen prepare fresh catches which then serve as the main course at the local dinner tables.
- Villagers of these barangays are upholding rituals of old age, including nightly prayers to a successful harvest and the community meals of fish, which makes them feel that they are one and that is what a visitor can experience personally.
- The pathways there are rustic wooden tracks, which take the visitor out of the beach and into the inland coconut farms, so he/she can walk through a landscape that has agriculture and marine life living together in harmony.
- The very silent mood interrupted only by the rhythmic crash of waves and the voices of seabirds in the distance provides a perfect place to meditate or just have a relaxing time after a day of exploration.
- The hand turned souvenirs (woven baskets, shell necklaces) which are produced by local artisans in the barangays offer a unique chance not only to enrich the communities through livelihoods, but to bring home a part of the Ubay culture.
Reason 05
Discover More
Rice and Corn Fields
- The large rice terraces cover the hills and the shinning water surfaces show the sky and form an imprint pattern that alternates colour between deep emerald and golden in various seasons.
- Along the banks of the river stands the corn fields, with their long, shimmering stems waving in the wind, and the odour of new-cut stems filling the air and giving one a feel of rustic plenty.
- Visitors are taken through the rows where local farmers explain how the traditional irrigation practises have maintained the fields over the centuries, giving more information to sustainable agriculture.
- The open spaces of the fields are a good location to carry out photography particularly during the sunrise and the sunset when the produce takes in warm and nostalgic colours.
- Rice-pestle contests and corn-planting ceremonies also characterise seasonal festivals, where the tourists can take part in the farming festivals of the people, and understand why these crops are so important to the people.
- The fields are also home to several species of birds therefore making them the best place that a birdwatchers can get a good chance to see locally occurring avifauna in a natural habitat.
Local Farms and Plantations
- There are small coconut plantations, scattered over the hills, whose oils are fragrant, and whose fruit is wholesome, and which visitors may taste the water of the coconuts, fresh out of the tree, and know the freshness which can only be imparted by a product grown on a farm.
- Farms of corn and rice provide interactive tours, allowing a visitor to learn about the process of planting, harvesting, and processing rice, getting a better understanding of how much work goes into making staple goods.
- Native vegetable plantations, including eggplant, okra, and squash, demonstrate the abundance of the local harvest that grows on fertile soil in Ubay and local farmers are eager to offer fresh harvests to tourists.
- These farms show sustainability of farming where organic composting and natural pest control are practised to educate eco-conscious travellers about environmental friendly farming.
- Farmers markets are a weekly event (Saturdays and Sundays), which offers many plantation goods where people can buy fresh juicy seasonal goods right at the ones who cultivated it at reasonable prices.
- Family-run workshops conducted on the farms are usually part of the tour, as children of the local village are then able to learn about the old cooking methods, making the journey very informative and unforgettable.
Barangay Hills and Rural Trails
- Holidays to Ubay is surrounded by low hills, which have a system of unmarked, rough paths, which go through woods and past fields, allowing one to explore the rural area at a slow pace.
- Trails pass to the secluded waterfalls and natural ponds where the visitors may have a refreshing swim amidst the aroma of pine trees and the songs of the native birds.
- The panorama view of the hill tops on clear days causes a panorama mosaic view of the fields, rivers, and the distant sea, which are most attracting to the photographers and mere spectators.
- Walking these trails presents tourists with local plants, such as orchids, the fig-stranger trees, and various medicinal herbs, each having its own legend in the local legend.
- Seasonal mist usually lies on top of the hills base creating an enchanted scenery where one can only imagine that they are walking in a living picture.
- Coached by local guides who are well acquainted with the area they are going through, the storytelling takes place as they hike through the area, telling myths and legends associated with the hills, which adds a further dimension to the activity than just hiking.
Riverbank Communities
- The rivers of Ubay have many small villages, and the regular beating of water has developed a culture of endurance and mutual interdependence, which has placed these communities as a living demonstration of the ability of humanity to adapt.
- The architecture of the villages combined simple wooden houses with bamboo thatch, and there are traditional ways of construction which are practical as well as in harmony with the environment.
- Visitors are frequently invited to participate in the day to day activities of folks, like washing clothes at the riverside, or looking after the fish ponds, giving visitors a first-hand experience of the life of a community reliant on the river.
- Folk dances and music Cultural events are also commonly celebrated at communal gathering places along the river where the travelling visitors can be immersed into local culture within a real environment.
- Riverbanks are also favourable sites on which farmers can carry out small-scale farming activities in which they produce root crops and leafy greens that are used by locals and visitors on the day tours.
- Nighttime, the river reflects the stars, and under the open sky, the experience is rather quiet and allows one to take time and talk, which will appeal to those who need to rest.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- The cultural life of Ubay is based on the strong catholic backgrounds, as every fiesta, both the town and in every barangay, is centred on the procession of the patron saint, elaborate altar, and general feasts that unite the whole community.
- The ethos of bayanihan or group collaboration is part of the everyday experiences of planting rice, fishing, and the care of common facilities, which demonstrates a sense of group well-being.
- The music and dance is practised in traditional music and dances that are often used during festivals and even in informal events, where the storytelling is incorporated in rhythm and oral histories are transmitted between the parent and the child.
- Ubay is rich with local craftsmanship in the form of weaving, pottery and the production of simple but useful tools all which are indicative of the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the people of Ubay.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The cuisine of Ubay is a feast of fresh and local food materials with seafoods caught on a daily basis off the coast being served in their minimal preparation methods which accentuate their natural tastes.
- Farm-to-table culture is rich with rice, corn, and various root vegetables are grown in the fields nearby and turned into food like sinigang and laing and offers a flavour of the abundance of the land.
- The market stalls are full of street food, such as grilled fish in banana leaves or sweet coconut rice cakes that are quick and satisfying to both the locals and the curious visitor.
- There are few formal restaurants, however, the small carinderias lining the streets offer hearty food that is cheap as well as firmly entrenched in the taste profiles of the Boholano people, with the traveller encouraged to enjoy the cuisine of the people of Bohol.
Fun
- Ubay has inexhaustible subjects, whether it is the waving rivers and the vast rice paddies or the quaint wooden bridges that dot the countryside that the photography enthusiasts will have an unending subject matter.
- The modest ascents along the mellow hills and the rural paths beckon the tourists to observe the peaceful exquisiteness of nature and the low-key barangays of the coastline provide them with a chance to have casual strolls along the beach and have peaceful contemplations.
- The interaction with local farmers and fishermen gives a close-up perspective of daily life, and one can see the cycles that support the community and how they feel proud of what they do.
- Attending fiestas in the town or barangays will get them to experience the music, games and dancing that make Ubay lively and leave them with memories they will always remember, even upon leaving the fiesta.
Fashion
- You are going to Ubay, so light breathable clothing that is adequate to accommodate the tropical weather- cotton shirts, shorts, wide brimmed hat just to keep off the sun, etc.
- This is because comfortable walking shoes are important particularly during the use of irregular country lanes or sandy beaches because they offer the necessary strength during lengthy journeys.
- During church going and other local events, one should wear modest clothing since simple, respectful clothes are acceptable in the community.
- Sun protection like sunscreen and reusable water bottle can make long days of outdoor activities refreshing and safe, whereas insect repellent will help to avoid bites on evening walks along the riverbanks.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The holidays to Ubay natural landscape in Ubay is a stretch of vast agricultural land, clear rivers, low hills and smooth coastal strips, which all together create a habitat of domestic and wildlife species.
- There are birds, too--colourful kingfishers, green pigeons, and storks every now and then--and it is very easy to see little mammals like squirrels and porcupines going about the patches of forest.
- The farm animals, ranging between chicken and pig, are free to roam the fields making the countryside appear very pastoral.
- Due to the negligible levels of development, these ecosystems are largely untouched, providing a serene environment to capture images, relax, and have an extremely strong feeling of engagement in the natural rhythms of rural Bohol.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- The flagship fiesta is celebrated in May in honour of the patron saint of the town which involves a procession traversing the stalls throughout the streets, local music, and a community feast to feature the culinary best that holidays to Ubay has to offer.
- The community has close ties with its neighbours which is manifested by barangay fiestas, which are smaller in scale but equally spirited as they bring the neighbours together to enjoy live music, games and dancing.
- It is a time of solemn processions and contemplative prayers which is a Holy Week and which shows the great religious fervour that runs through every-day life.
- It is during harvest that small groups of informal celebrations held by locals are marked with thanksgiving ceremonies over the plenty of their harvests, and in some cases, simple feasts and songs.
- Through each of the events, the travellers get a glimpse into the cultural core of Ubay and get to experience the traditions that have survived through the years.