Merrymaking in Bohol

The usually sedate Peacock Garden Luxury Resort & Spa in Baclayon, a sleepy Bohol town that’s a 15-minute drive from the capital of Tagbilaran City, rocked wild and loud when it held its annual Oktoberfest celebration recently.

Practically the entire expat community in nearby Panglao turned up to “drink and be merry” in the spirit of the world-wide “homage to ale” festival that started in Germany’s Bavarian region.

Now on its second year, Peacock Garden’s Oktoberfest is on the way to becoming the province’s top pre-holiday social event. Credit goes to resort owners Hans and Lani Schoof’s bright and dynamic son Chris and long-time girlfriend Amanda Iliscupides, who have always been very hands-on in planning and managing the event.

Last year, Chris brought the famous Gunter Friedman Band from Germany for some authentic Bavarian yodel. This time around, he  got the multi-awarded dance band Spirit of ’67 to perform. The 2010 Bb. Pilipinas International Krista Kleiner was a game and charming program host, mixing and mingling and dancing with the guests. At one point, she and visiting lounge singer Yvette Garcia jammed with the band and they brought the house down!

In between the carousing and the drinking, fun games were conducted.  In the grand raffle, lucky Priscilla Enriquez went home home with a brand-new Honda Scoopy Scooter. Capping the celebration was a dazzling firework show that lit up the already star-studded Bohol skies.

The sell-out event was graced by Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Neri Lim, environmentalist Joel Uichico, businessman Norris Oculam, Bee Farm’s Dominic Butalid and some friends of Peacock Garden from Manila like PAL’s Fe Dixon, fashion show director Raymond Villanueva, BDO Alabang branch manager Susie Chavez and mediamen Ryan Calmante, Joy Fong, and Glenn Gale.

With the success of Oktoberfest 2011, Chris and Amanda are already planning next year’s bash.  Expect it to be bigger, better and louder (read: wilder and rowdier). Prost!