BY GENIVI FACTAO

DANAO, Bohol.—Tourists have new ways to enjoy the province of Bohol with its new offer of adventure activities like the first in the world pendulum ride called the "Plunge".

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Danao Mayor Tom Gonzaga tried the Plunge, the newest and the only adventure activity that is happening in the Danao Adventure Park.

"It’s like your spirit going out of your body for a while when you drop. There is adrenaline rush that for certain you would never forget. And then when you swing there’s a different sensation. Just indulge your self, just like love," Durano said.

Other activities which Durano and the rest of the group, including Gonzaga, undersecretary Eduardo Duque, Rep. Edgardo Chatto, Vice Gov. Julius Herrera tried were, the skyride, suislide, rappelling, trekking, kayaking, caving, tubing, root climbing, wall climbing and bouldering.

Located in Barangay Magtangtang, the challenge is that these activities are done in 500-meter deep cliff.

The next morning, it was time for the group of reporters to do the challenge. Among the group, I was the last one to take the "Plunge".

After mustering enough courage, I walked up to the platform, though with knees shaking.

Trusting in God and in the gears, I took the 500-meter fall. I felt something snap and started shouting.

Then, I started swinging towards the mountain and then to the other side.

The suislide has its own fulfillment also, especially for those aspiring to be like Darna. The suit I wore was fastened to the cable wire which carried me to the other side of the mountain.

Up there you’ll see the terrain, the perfect gorge and the natural bounty as perfectly woven by the Creator.

"Safety and security of our guest is our absolute and paramount priority we have 60 trained local guides who are using multiple superfluous safety systems," the local chief said.

The entrance fee to the park is P25 for adult and free for children three years and below.

Plunge and suislide, costs P700 and P350 per person, respectively. The rate for caving is P350, river tubing, P200, mountain climbing P200; wall climbing P100, camping P25, village tour P200, historical tour P100 and organic farm visitation P10.

The activities are products Filipino ingenuity.

Aside from providing livelihood alternatives, the idea have put Danao in the tourism map of the region and of the country, having established the first ever pendulum ride, the Plunge.

The government has invested P20 million for the Danao Adventure Park.

"I am very confident of the new attraction here which are developed at the right time to continue to make the province popular with the new attractions in places," Durano said adding that all over the world, ecotourism is the fastest segment in the tourism industry.

The adventure park was conceptualized in 2006, with the objective of preserving and enriching the historic and cultural assets of the area.

Construction started in 2007 with the belief that it could open wide possibilities and opportunities for the people.

The local chief said they started the operation of zipline in December last year, just to test the viability of the extreme activities in the park.

"We have projected P3 million revenues for this full year 2009, but luckily we have accomplished the goal for just three months," he said.

Gonzaga said they are generating revenues of P1 million a month and even up to close to P2 million a month.

"We have only local tourist from the neighboring provinces and also from here, yet we have achieved the P1 million in revenues a month," he added.

He said, they are happy with the performance, as they still have to improve their facilities like shades, comfort rooms, water works etc.

The local government of Danao took the courage to venture into ecotourism and started capitalizing on the historical significance of the place being the Home of the Revolutionary Republic of Dagohoy.