Pauline Amelinckx and the Captain’s Peak Resort in Chocolate Hills. Image: Instagram/@paulineamelinckx, Facebook/Ren The Adventurer
Boholana beauty queen Pauline Amelinckx spoke up amid the much-criticized resort constructed within the Chocolate Hills, reminding the public of the need to “balance progress with the protection and preservation of our natural landmarks.”
“The Chocolate Hills are part of every Bol-anon. It’s part of the land we call home, part of the soul of our island,” she said via her Facebook page on Thursday, March 14, showing a photo of herself with the view of the hills in the background.
“Now more than ever, we face the challenge of balancing progress with the protection and preservation of our natural landmarks. We all must play a part, big or small, to regenerate our earth, so it may regenerate us too,” she added.
Concluding her statement, Amelinckx wrote: “May we never forget about the beautiful land given by God. ‘Hatag ni Bathala.'”
Janno Gibbs was also among the celebrities who disapproved of and criticized the resort, sharing his sentiment on the matter via his Instagram page on Wednesday, March 13.
“At binabuy na ang Chocolate Hills,” he said, showing an aerial shot of the resort within Bohol’s protected area.
The actor-singer added an angry face emoji, further expressing his dismay toward the matter.
TV host-beauty queen Aya Fernandez gave her two cents as well, stressing that the Bohol Island has been recognized as the country’s first Unesco Global Geopark and that the government must ensure its conservation.
“Regardless when the resort was built, may our leaders and everyone uphold political will to conserve and preserve our natural heritage. Regardless of the details. No matter what it takes,” she wrote.
The Chocolate Hills was declared the country’s first geopark by the Unesco. Regardless when the resort was built, may our leaders and everyone uphold political will to conserve and preserve our natural heritage. Regardless of the details. No matter what it takes.
— Aya Fernandez (@ayafernandez_) March 13, 2024
Other celebrities who aired their dismay include Gretchen Ho, Gardo Versoza and Winwyn Marquez.
“Hindi pa Biyernes Santo pero kanya-kanya nang hugas ng kamay,” read a tweet re-shared by Ho from hugely popular Twitter account of Professional Heckler, @HecklerForever8.
Some clarity from the DENR on what happens to titled lands (if they were titled before proclamation), within protected areas: They still have to comply with restrictions or regulations on land use and development.
A TRO was issued last year September, but certainly, things need… https://t.co/dlmafziuiA pic.twitter.com/OqhKxDUIKY
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) March 13, 2024
Image: Twitter/@gretchenho, @hecklerforever8
Image: Instagram/@teressitassen
Image: Instagram/@teressitassen
The Chocolate Hills resort named Captain’s Peak Resort, which turned out to have neither accreditation nor an application for one from the Department of Tourism, went viral after a tourist video of the resort circulated on social media.
The Chocolate Hills has been declared a protected area since July 1, 1997, under Proclamation No. 1037. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it had already issued a temporary closure order and a notice of violation against the establishment.