(Editor’s Note – Got this message last June 4, 2026 via email using my good friend and boss, the late Ric V. Obedencio’s emailad: Good evening, Mayor. I am Hannah Tessa Obedencio Anire, the youngest daughter of Ric Obedencio. I was scanning though my late father’s laptop and saw his last write-ups for Nuts & Bolts. If you wish to publish his last 2 editorials, we will be honored. He wrote this last May 21, 2026 a day before he died.)
BOHOL, especially Panglao island, is irrefutably the major tourist destination in the country today that being one and only designated as Global Geopark by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in May 2024 contribute to its reputation.
Officials of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) together with municipal and provincial officials led by Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay and Gov. Aris Aumentado, respectively, broke the ground for the Grand Summit Bohol resort’s establishment in Doljo, Panglao town on May 20, 2026. The groundbreaking was attended by other tourism-related honchos to welcome and witness the growing industry.
Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR), the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), finds Bohol the choice of location to erect and establish the resort since Bohol is “deliberate, targeting Panglao’s most sophisticated, untouched stretch of coastline.”
According to Barun Jolly, RLC Senior Vice President and RHR Business Unit General Manager: “A core pillar of our expansion plan is to showcase the incredible landscape diversity of the Philippines. In this regard, Bohol was an undeniable choice—it is a stunning, unique, and highly viable destination that perfectly complements our vision. Doljo Beach in Panglao, where Grand Summit will rise, offers a serene ‘hidden gem’ vibe. It is a quiet, tranquil spot offering a long, wide stretch of powdery white sand and stunning, uninterrupted sunset views. It’s perfectly aligned with the exclusivity of our Grand Summit brand.”
The landmark expansion of the tourism resort is apparently to turn Bohol into “one of the Philippines’ fastest-growing tourism frontiers.”
When it’s finished sometime in 2029, the Grand Summit Bohol is expected to set up world-class, high-capacity infrastructure and holding of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (M.I.C.E.) and other tourism-related activities. “It has an exclusive, premium beachfront leisure experience. It will feature over 200 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, a state-of-the-art grand ballroom, and versatile meeting and event spaces in 7,737 square meter area.”
What is it in store of the resort? “Its premium lifestyle amenities will also include an all-day dining venue and specialty restaurants, a spa, a fully equipped gym, a children’s play area, and a dedicated Muslim prayer room, ensuring inclusive, world-class hospitality for a diverse global clientele.”
Gov. Aumentado welcomed the entry of Grand Summit Bohol into the tourism playing field and thanked Robinsons company for choosing Bohol. He said in his speech that this may be a game changer in providing job opportunity for Boholanos.
Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay assured the establishment of the resort under his turf of support to make Panglao indeed a tourist haven that today it’s dubbed a tourist town that never sleeps.
