The trail was muddy and slippery. It rained the previous night and walking through the leafy trail, looking for the elusive tarsiers, proved more challenging than was expected. Various unidentifiable bugs buzz by, a proof of how pristine the environment was. We plodded on. Finally, our guide stopped, silently pointed to a branch of the tree and camera shutters click-clacked. We found a tarsier.

Founded in the mid-nineties, the Philippine Tarsier & Wildlife Sanctuary was our second stop for Philtoa’s What’s Up Bohol tour. From Astoria Bohol, our massive bus navigated the narrow roads of the island en route to Corella—a small town southwest of the Bohol mainland. A quick walk later and we were at the receiving hall of the sanctuary.