http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090124-185362/Bea-Zobel-Jr-leaves-lifestyle-for-BoholBea Zobel Jr leaves lifestyle for Bohol
By Marge C. Enriquez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:01:00 01/24/2009
Close this BEATRIZ Susana Zobel de Ayala, aka Bea Jr., is pouring not only her own money but also her mind and soul into the cultural preservation of Bohol.
In Dauis, a quaint town in Pangalo island, she’s helping develop a first in the country— world-class tourism center with complementary sustainable livelihood programs revolving around a church complex and heritage site.
“It’s been my dream of saving our heritage by [making it benefit] the community,†Zobel tells Inquirer Lifestyle in an interview at Mandarin Oriental.
“I don’t feel communities have gained enough from tourism. There are many investors, but the people from the grassroots are not directly involved. My heart bleeds for them. I have a mission in life, and I usually work through my gut feel.â€
With businessman and diver Joel Floro Uichico, and the Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), Zobel aims to build a self-supporting local economy while preserving the environment and culture of the historic towns of Baclayon and Dauis.
Zobel forged an agreement with the Diocese of Tagbilaran through Bishop Leonardo Medroso to support the redevelopment of the Dauis Rectory Courtyard and Center which includes the pilgrimage shrine, the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady.
She then formed the Dauis Renaissance Company Inc., with her as chair, CEO and president. It aims to restore the colonial church and to turn the complex into a viable tourist attraction, with its venue for functions, museum on local culture, café and souvenir shop featuring the best of Bohol.
Having tourism facilities in sacred sites is common abroad. Culture worker Ino Manalo says Bohol’s landmarks, such as the Baclayon Church, attract 200 tourists daily, and the Loboc Church has an art gallery.
“It’s not a new thing that heritage structures are used for tourism or making people more aware of the story of the church and the meanings of the church,†says Manalo.
“We are not reinventing the wheel. Dauis is the first example in Bohol where the church heritage structure can be set up to provide tourism facilities that, in turn, provide livelihood by having local people as suppliers.â€
Suspicion and doubt
The plan did not sit well among the conservative sector of Dauis. Some residents complained there was lack of consultation. A manifesto circulated opposing Zobel’s project and expressing suspicion that the support of Ayala companies was to cover up the plunder of church relic.
There was even talk that Zobel was using the restoration project just to acquire the church’s treasures. The paper also alleged that the bishop took out a bank loan using the Dauis church, convent and cemetery as collateral. The bank denied this.
“I’ve learned through my ups and downs,†Zobel said about the criticism. “It’s like mountain climbing on high heels. It has taught me patience and to listen to what the community wants, not what Bea Zobel wants for them but what they need. It’s a process.â€
Her involvement with Dauis began when museum worker Ino Manalo and the local clergy organized a dinner at the Assumption Church to make a presentation. The roof of the 140-year-old church was leaking. On its ceiling was a painting depicting the old complex, done by Rey Francio Canuto Avila in 1920. The water was destroying the painting.
By coincidence, the relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus was also set to be brought to the shrine. However, Dauis didn’t have the facilities to host 5,000 pilgrims for the February 2008 visit.
Behind the complex is a sacred ground where, legend has it, two date palms grew after the image of the Virgin Mary image arrived in Dauis. The area had suffered from neglect. Zobel spent P2 million to build a deck to accommodate the pilgrims and also funded the lighting of the entire complex. This scenic deck is now a tourist spot and a venue for functions.
Movement 8 designers
Zobel, with another volunteer, Medi Singh, helped restore the deteriorating facilities of the adjacent convent. She flew in Movement 8 designers Milo Naval, Tes Pasola and Tony Gonzales to act as consultants in renovating the museum, the souvenir shop and heritage-theme café which are housed in the adjacent convent.
The convent bodega was restored and turned into an audio-visual and function room. She also sent cooks to train with chef Heny Sison, and staffers to train at the Ayala-owned Hotel Intercontinental and Marriott Cebu.
Although the pilgrimage was well-managed, Zobel got the flak from some church council members. She admits to having started on the wrong foot.
“You don’t come in with people from Manila and take over a whole site.â€
Development plan
Learning from this, Zobel and the local clergy formulated a development plan and formalized it into a memorandum of agreement. The plan includes upgrading the restrooms, completion of the museum, construction of the kitchen and bakery, and acquisition of implements for dining and banquet services.
With a 10-year projection, the project is divided into three phases and will cost more than the estimated P18 million.
“Since we’ll have a hard time getting funding, let me put my own resources into this. Let’s build a template, and people will see that it works, I hope. That’s when funding will come in afterwards,†says Zobel.
A third of that amount (at least P6 million) is Zobel’s personal donation while the two-thirds (at least P12 million) is her capital outlay. She is heading this project for the first five years, and envisions that the complex will be able to run by itself.
Manalo says the plan is to provide employment and livelihood opportunities.
“We are launching a tour guide program, training locals such as the out-of-school youths,†he says. “We are consulting with the people to get the story of the town and the church. They will make the story themselves and will be put together. We will train the young people to tell the story.â€
Zobel’s bigger job is that she’s organizing people to get involved, like planting organic crops that will supply the café and forming crafts groups like jewelry makers and weavers so they can make products that can be sold in the shop.
Zobel has collaborated with women who have been producing Boholano jewelry for several generations. Urnas, little shrines in old homes, were made into tourist souvenirs. These are selling well in Dauis’ museum shop.
Hospitality training
Zobel plans to provide training of waiters so that more functions can be held in the complex.
“That is to make Dauis self-sufficient and that the convent will be the engine in which they would feel they have to preserve this church,†she says.
“Spirituality is the center of all these towns,†Zobel explains. “If people could only see that it could also put food on their table. They are not just feeding their souls. They are feeding their human needs. It could be a win-win situation. We have to pass down to the community what is going on. It’s the first time ever that they’ve seen like this.â€
On Feb. 1, Zobel’s group will meet with church organizations to come up with an information campaign. She also tapped a local nongovernment organization to do a survey on the living standards of each household.
“Joel and I have pledged that we will not leave until we see a sustainable structure on hand,†Zobel says. “Ino, Joel or I are not there to make money out of this. We are doing it because we love our country. We can do much more by standing back and helping them that way than if we had businesses there. We refuse to buy any property here. It hurts when there are these loud people who say I’m there for my own interest. I wish they could see what I’ve sacrificed.â€
Widowed 14 years ago, Zobel has three children who are studying abroad. She travels just to attend to parental duties in school. She’s based in Bohol and comes to Manila only for important matters. Jaime Urquijo, 21, and Paloma, 18, are based in the United States. Still in London, Monica, 13, will also study in Rhode Island.
“My children are my priority,†Zobel says. “They lost their father [Juan Urquijo] when they were very young. They need me. I’m the only person they ever have. But there were many times I could not be with my kids because something was calling me in Bohol. I juggle to balance my life in doing the things that I’m passionate about. I gave up so many things. I left my lifestyle behind for
Bohol.â€
“I try to be strong. I’ve put in so much already. For me to be suspected of stealing santos or digging for gold, it’s like whoa! Guys wake up! I don’t see myself so superficial. We’re here to work for our country and not for ourselves. I believe in you [referring to Bohol] and I believe in my country.â€
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