Anda

IJsselstein, Wednesday, 26 January 2011 (updated: Wednesday, 5 March 2014)

Anda is located on a small peninsula at the eastern tip of Bohol, 99 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. Due to distances from Tagbilaran, Anda is still not really a touristic destination although Anda has numerous nice places to be explore like beautiful diving spots, a peaceful and beautiful long stretch of white beaches, caves where some of them were used as a burial place of the ancient Andahanons.

History

Cabognaw Cave

Originally, the municipality was a barangay of Guindulman called Quinali after to the characteristic land formations of sand, gravel and corals that filed layer after layer amassed by waves since time immemorial. The town was made into a separate municipality on March 12, 1875 and was renamed "Anda" which is said to mean walking and moving (to posterity). Others claim this name was chosen in honor of Simon de Anda y Salazar, who was the Spanish governor of the Philippines in 1769.

Highlights

Lamanoc Island

As already mentioned, Anda has some very nice long beaches. One can walk along this beach for some four kilometers, almost all the way from the boundary with Guindulman to the town center, which is facing the beach.

Anda

Behind the beaches, the coast is formed from lime-stone rocks and cliffs, often overhanging the beach and heavily eroded. When climbing those rocks, you need to observe utmost care, as they are very irregularly shaped and can be very sharp. Behind some of the cliffs, one can find caves, some of which have served as burial places for the local people in pre-hispanic times. (Unfortunately, some of these burial places have been pilfered by unscrupulous antique dealers, with the wooden coffins being offered for sale in Tagbilaran.)

Anda Church

Further inland, one can find numerous impressive caves, some underwater. Be careful to only enter caves with an experienced guide who knows the local conditions!

Ceiling Murals in Anda Church

In the town itself, you can find the parish church, dedicated to Santo Niño, which was completed in 1926. Although this church looks plain from the outside, it boasts some excellent ceiling paintings, by the well-known Cebuano artist Ray Francia, who decorated many of Bohol churches. Those in Anda are probably the best preserved, and well worth the trip to this remote place.

Lamanoc Island

Lamanoc Island

What to do and see in Carmen: La manok tour, Cabognaw cave and white beaches.

Anda Municipal Office: +63 38 528 2009

Anda Police Station: +63 38 528 2009

Website: www.andabohol.gov.ph

(Based on figures from the census of 2000, 2010, and 2015 from PSA)

Links

Wikipedia article on Anda.

Jeroen Hellingman

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