To celebrate summer and the beauty of the countryside, Lifestyle does a fashion shoot in Bohol with Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. She cuts a sharp silhouette in the Punta Cruz Watchtower (Bantayan ng Punta Cruz), a Spanish colonial era watchtower in Maribojoc. It was built by the Augustinian order in 1796.

UPON the invitation of the Amorita Resort which has just opened the second phase of its development—a wing designed by Budji + Royal Design Firm—a lean Lifestyle team flew to Bohol to shoot Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach not only in the resort but all around Bohol.

IN A KAREN Millen dress, Pia sits in the gazebo at Amorita, beyond her the beach. — IN A KAREN Millen dress and Schutz shoes from Covet in Shangri La Edsa Mall, Pia sits in the gazebo at Amorita, beyond her the beach.

Now how to do it in two days?

Simple. Photographer PJ Enriquez knew Bohol like the back of his hand, and so had a short list of the place’s attractions, from the common to the rare. He showed the images to us, and as soon as we landed, we ticked off the venues we wanted, and had an itinerary in an instant.

PIA WURTZBACH in Rustan’s yellow dress, Uno de 50 ring, shot in Maribojoc. — PIA WURTZBACH in Rustan’s Catherine Maladrino yellow dress, Uno de 50 ring, shot in Maribojoc.

We knew what we wanted to show—the many faces of Bohol, from the natural and the rustic to the modern and the chic—without being trite.

We knew that almost every publication in town would be shooting in the beaches, with bikini-ed models. So to be different, we put Pia on the ledge at Amorita—that ran like a line between the resort’s infinity edge pool and the Alona beach beyond. That shot was to capture the natural wealth that Bohol’s beaches are, and the modern man-made amenities that are mushrooming as Bohol becomes a hot destination.

We know that the destruction that Bohol churches suffered during the 2013 earthquake is still on people’s minds. We didn’t want to rub in the sight of desolation, for, in fact, Bohol is moving on. Therefore, our shot is that of Baclayon church that is being restored, with Pia standing before the rubble arranged neatly in the churchyard as the construction of the tower proceeded.

IN THE churchyard of Immaculate Conception Church in Baclayon, she wears an Eric de los Santos jumpsuit.

The moment we saw it, we loved the stark silhouette of the Punta Cruz ruins in Maribojoc, a survivor through time.

IN A RHETT Eala hand-painted gown, Uno de 50 cocktail ring at Punta Cruz ruins in Maribojoc.

Pia’s svelte silhouette in a handpainted Rhett Eala is like an apparition beneath its arch. Bright red in a dark brown forest—that’s Pia in the Bilar manmade forest, its trees forming a vertical frame for our model.