DiscoverSan Miguel
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of San Miguel.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit San Miguel
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into San Miguel
- Holidays to San Miguel is in the northeast of Bohol in a secluded location not near the active resorts and dive spots of the island.
- There are no steep hills, and only lots of plains, the type of open territory, which makes you feel as though you can feel the heartbeat of the land.
- Agriculture dominates it; rice paddies are as far as the eye can see and the fields are ripe with root crops such as cassava and taro in mottled green and amber.
- The small slow rhythm of the town is well aligned with consumers that do not want to experience a rush, but rather a slow tourist trap.
- It is a crucial food -security centre in Bohol and provides fresh food to the entire province.
- To the people planning to use world Pinoy flights to go on a holiday in San Miguel, this is the beginning of a hassle free adventure.
- Capital (of the province): Tagbilaran City
- International airport: None in San Miguel
- Nearest commonly used airports:
- Bohol-Panglao International Airport (Panglao Island, Bohol) – main domestic and international airport for the province
- Mactan–Cebu International Airport (Cebu City, Cebu) – major international gateway nearby
- 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
- San Miguel is considered the Rice Granary of Bohol and has one of the most productive rice fields in the province.
- On any elevation, the level agricultural country presents a panoramic scene of green paddies and desert-coloured land.
- The countryside nature of the town gives a rare, virgin look at the daily life of Boholano farmers.
- The fact that it is close to Ubay makes it accessible to visitors to the commercial transport routes and also to have a glimpse of the bustling trade in the port.
- The loss of the provincial river system in the area contributes to the natural and calming background music in the daily life.
- Even the most basic things such as the blade of a farmer ploughing through wet soil are filled with a certain cultural subtext.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- Dry season, December to May, brings about a constant climate, which keeps the roads good and the skies bright making field walks pleasant.
- The fertile plains are very nearly lush in the warm tropical air, and the perfect background to your trip.
- The fields are even greener in colour during the wet rainy months (June - October), but gravel roads may be greasy.
- Wet months also bring on a flock of local harvest, which will provide you with an opportunity to sample freshly picked rice and root vegetables.
- You can predict weather patterns and plan the farm tours or visit the market at the most favourable moments.
- Holidays to San Miguel timing also has the benefit of having fewer people at the tourist sites as you will experience an even more personal journey.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Vast Rice Fields
- Go out early, when the sun gives a gold light over the paddies--just the sort of picture which makes your holidays to San Miguel a living post card.
- It is more or less centuries old wisdom of traditional farming as watch rice seedlings sprout during the planting season.
- Follow the irrigation systems, the lifelines of the field, that direct the river water into a field, which keeps the crop in good health and the soil fertile.
- You find the town farmers with their straw hats, and their hands steady in working at the lawns which are swept with grass.
- Stop to take pictures of the green areas, which are dancing like the sea of emeralds in the wind.
- Have the gentle murmur of the harvest, paddles, carts and the far-off cock, be your music as you consider the way the circle of nature runs.
San Miguel Town Proper
- Go to the town at its main square, at the municipal hall, which is a monument of the self-government of the town.
- Take a slow walk around the small lanes and pause as you look at the mixture of the Spanish old bricks and the Filipino modernity.
- You can see families crowded, talking in Cebuano terms that have been told since time immemorial.
- Get a glimpse of the bell tolling in the local church say it was time to all be in church to pray or take a brief rest.
- Mark the pleasant nods and smiles that welcome you--some substance of the genial nature of the people of San Miguel.
- Take this serene environment as a break as well, considering your path, and the pure happiness of living in the middle of a normal life.
San Miguel Parish Church
- Go into the wooden archway and experience the coolness of the stone walls in contrast to the tropical temperature.
- Look at the plain, yet graceful altar with a picture of St. Michael, the Archangel, the patron saint of the town.
- Hear the beat of the church bell beckoning the faithful to service, the distant sound in the silent streets.
- Note the use of church as a hub of community meetings, birthdays and town councils.
- Consider the place of religion in the formation of values and strength of people of San Miguel.
- Go home knowing better the value of one structure in unifying a community through its history.
Local Fairs (Seasonal)
- Come at the time of harvest festival, the air smells of new rice, and people can hear laughter on the streets.
- Shop at stands filled with woven baskets, pottery hand-made, and colourful fabrics which display the local artistry.
- Savour the new cooked hamba, pork dish which is rich in sweet and savoury flavours, and which is best consumed with warm rice.
- See the examples of old farming equipment that have been in use over generations in order to plough the land.
- Meet the farmers that market their products, listen to storeys about the journey of each crop to the table.
- Get a souvenir, an embroidered handkerchief, or a jar of the local sweetened rice, to commemorate your stay in the town.
Reason 05
Discover More
Local Market (Public Market)
- Begin your day in the crowded market where carts run along the streets with smelling root crops and steaming stews.
- The warm Cebuano greetings are greeted with greetings of greetings of greetings, as the greeters learn the names of the unknown produce as they flaunt their produce.
- Taste sample fresh puto and kakanin- rice cakes that are melt-in-your-mouth dishes and are the local culinary heritage of the province.
- See the farmers put freshly grown rice into neatly stacked baskets with each grain being a testimony to their efforts.
- Note the warmth of the colour scheme of the layout of the market red, orange, and yellow, which reflect the colour of the fields around the market.
- Have a quick coffee session at a corner stall, whereby you can enjoy the smell of roasted beans fuse with the bustling talk of the market.
The conventional styles of farming have been disregarded
- Observe how the community uses the tool of tilling using a wooden hoe, something that has not changed over the decades.
- Watch the farmers being very careful with the rice stalks, as there are very delicate, and do not spoil the grain in any way.
- Find out about padi-padi system of water being pumped manually into the paddy fields so that the fields get equal amount of irrigation.
- Take a walk with an experienced farmer during a harvest, and he will pick rice with his hands that are skillful, and his hand is trained.
- Value the ecological custodianship in every action, such as maintaining soil integrity to the conservation of water.
- Go with a new insight into how these ancient methods keep the land and the people who are dependent on it alive.
Local Eateries
- Have dinner in a family restaurant where the cook will cook you a special dish called calamay in an old copper pot- a sweet dish that melts on the tongue.
- Sample "binignit," a spicy stew made of sweet coconut rice, comes piping hot to quench your desire to have some comforting tastes.
- Sample the local rice that has been cooked and is served with various side dishes which display the local produce.
- Observe how the chef mixes spice in a wooden mortar, and as it is pounded the locals are used to the rhythm.
- Have a relaxed and slow meal as a local musician plays a simple tune on a bamboo instrument.
- You will also get to take home a recipe card to remind yourself of the flavours that have characterised your stay in San Miguel for holidays to San Miguel.
Rolling Hills Viewpoints
- Pull up to a small hill summit where the skyline of the city has been blended with the vast green fields in an unending view.
- Hold up your camera to record how the light changes, and the sun sets and turns the hills to gold and amber.
- Take care of the hills turning like a swell, and leading the viewer to the horizon.
- Sele the smooth stones on the edge and inhale the cool and fresh air, which ascends out of the moist soil.
- Consider the feeling of tranquilly which the open countryside provides, a clear contrast to the busy cityscapes.
- Depart with the feeling of being inspired to go back to this serene view, the best way to complete a day in the interior of Bohol.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- The predominant language in the everyday life is Cebuano, the language that conveys the general memory of the town.
- The whole society is based on agricultural year and the festivals are scheduled according to the seasons of planting and harvesting.
- St. Many invoke the patronage of Michael the Archangel hoping to get a good harvest, and a smooth life.
- The local identity revolves around family connexions and support to each other and the neighbours tend to support each other especially when there is a lot of traffic.
- Agricultural implements, each by countless hands rubbed smooth, are the property of heirs.
- The pre-planting rituals traditional practises include praying, the pag-pasigar, which brings blessings of the earth and heavens.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The hamburger is a special meal that provides a sweet savoury fusion of adobo, and the deliciousness of pork.
- The rice cakes called puto and kakanin are both modest and luxurious, and are made of the best rice available in the area.
- The rice and root crops are fresh harvests and also staple foods, and used frequently during community feasts or in daily meals.
- The love of desserts in the provinces is reflected in the preparation of sticky sweet delicacy, calamay, which is made with coconut milk and sugar.
- Local spices are combined to offer a warm and unique flavour profile.
- Sharing meals, both in a market booth and at a home kitchen table, strengthens ties in the community, as well as shared history.
Fun
- And follow the beats of the rice paddies as they move in the wind--a kind of meditation.
- Participate in practical farming, including planting or harvesting, to get an authentic experience of the rural community.
- Take picturesque rides across the light hills and have the open road match the open heart.
- See the arts and crafts of Bohol, visit pottery or basket weaving by local craftsmen.
- Go to the local market weekly fair and listen to music, laughing and enjoying the smell of fresh products.
- Catch fishermen on their way home with their catch, as a reminder of how in touch the community is with nature.
Fashion
- Breezy trousers and lightweight cotton shirts make you feel cool in the rainy tropical climate.
- The hat is large to keep off the fierce sun, and the sandals are strong enough to keep the feet safe on rough walkways.
- Functional but simple bags such as a canvas tote, would be ideal to carry groceries or souvenirs.
- The surrounding earth tones that are neutral in colour are preferred by the local people who like to blend with the environment to make the feeling of harmony more complete.
- One can use a lightweight scarf as a sun shade or a cultural accessory when visiting churches.
- Bring a rain poncho in time of the rains so you can be foreign to the rain but at the same time venture into the beautiful field.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- Sustainable farming practises can be observed in the fertile plains of San Miguel.
- There are rolling hills that serve both as the source of relaxation and motivation to take a walk.
- The open paddies and reed beds support local wildlife, big and small rodents, as well as migratory birds.
- The river system which flows past the area is a peaceful place in which one can fish or even just observe the movement of the water.
- The landscape is coloured with new colours with the changing of seasons, either with green in the rainy season or with golden fields in the dry months.
- The natural beauty of the area is a testimony to the way the community has taken care of the land and has a symbiotic relationship with it.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- The town fiesta on May 8th celebrates the St. Michael the Archangel, which includes processions, music, and community feasts.
- The end of a season hard work is celebrated with harvest festivals accompanied by parades and traditional dancing.
- In the case of seasonal fairs, they are usually held during the planting or the harvesting season, so they provide a vibrant market which is rich in fresh produce.
- Cultural calendar in the community is characterised by prayer, particularly, on the eve of activities, such as farming.
- Both events are living evocations of the strength, optimism, and mutual victories of the town.
- Tourists are invited to join the occasions so that they can have a better understanding of the cultural and agricultural value in San Miguel for holidays to San Miguel.