I love CEBU

“EVERYBODY settle your bags and luggages. The Ferry Boat is about to duck in the nearby port of Birhen sa Regla.” the captain of the ferry boat announced to his passengers that signaled me and my family have finally arrived Lapu-Lapu City. It was already 8:00 in the morning when we got there. A 20 minute road trip followed from the Lapu-Lapu Sports Complex to Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, after a solemn and short visit in the famous church of the place which was situated just across the port.

Passengers await for the ducking of the ferry boat

Excitement filled the air while we were riding the van. The vehicle was full of woes and wows from our speechless mouths because of the awesome views we have passed by. On our way to the beach not quite far from the sea, you can already feel the sour breeze of the air. You can see flocks of  flying birds beautifying the mid air, making the sky look stupendous as it is not the usual view I see in our place. The presence of a herd of cows, a pump of ducks and a string of horse graced the green soothing grassland. It was like a taste of heaven in a wide field.

It was pouring that time. A few minutes after the long ride, we walked ourselves to Anemone Resort from Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort. We made a few preparations and check-ups of our things. Later on, we went to the nearby bay where our reserved boat was found. Three friendly men were present in the boat. One of them is the owner who led the directions while the other two were assistants in maneuvering the water transportation vehicle.

Moments later, the sky cleared up which was in very good in timing. We didn’t wasted any time. My companions Uncle Tony with his wife Aunt Rose, Aunt Carol with his fiancé Uncle Svein and my young sibling Michelle hurriedly climbed up on the boat with the help of the three men and then we head off to our first destination: Hilutungan Island.

HILUTUNGAN Island is one of the islands in the Olango Reef which is protected by the government as fish sanctuary. This beautiful island is 20 to 30 minutes away from Mactan Island. This island is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving due to abundant corals and tropical fishes. Within 3 to 7 meters you can have fun in feeding the fish, these tropical fishes are friendly that you can feed them with bread and swim together with you. During lowtide the opposite side of the island is bare at low between Olango Reef at knee below you can walk between 5 islands along the reef.

We didn’t had the chance to set our foot on the soil of Hilutungan Island but from afar, you can already say that is one awesome place to see. Its entrance was lined-up by tourists that even looked even more made interesting and persuasive to visit. The operators of our boat told us that it takes around 20 mintues to travel from one island to another and to be able to visit the planned islands of our trips, we should be going. Next stop was Sulpa Island.

Sulpa Island

It was already 11:30 in the morning and we have reached the island but before we enjoyed ourselves with the view, we took our lunch.  For the very first time, I was able to take my lunch in the middle of the sea. Several times I made my morning and evening meals in cases of traveling but never did I experience having the noon meal while on a boat floating in the sea. That was a fine meal. It was all specially prepared by Aunt Rose. Below are pictures of some of the delicious food we ate.

While our aunts aunts and uncles prepared the meal, Michelle and I hooked up with our cameras and began taking pictures for the nth time. A small boat drew near to ours with around four men rode it. According to the owner of the boat we rented, Sulpa island is known as a good diving site. Many rough coral sands and shell vendors are found there. Speaking of corals and shells, the unknown men  jumped into our boat one of them clasped a small basket with wonderful  natural sea ornaments!

The men introduced themselves to us. They elaborated that they are sellers of shells, corals and other sea ornatments. Their products are all natural and are sold at a very high price. My relatives had second thoughts in buying but I strongly told them that we need no souvenir for that trip or ours. The men gladly welcomed us to the island, slowly walked down themselves back to their boat and headed on to the next tourist and / or people they could deal with to buy their products.

After all the dealing and chit-chat about some facts about shells and corals with the sellers,  we took our lunch. We shared some to the owner of the boat and to his assistants as well. We were all satisfied with the meal. It was really terrific! The vegetable salad was awesome! Moments  after we finished cleaning the table, it rained. It was 1:30 and we have to move on even though the rain is getting harder and harder and so we did. The fun fact about that our boat has to go strainght against the hard rain and wind. It was totally fun! It seemed like we didn’t have any roof for the whole day because before we arrived in Olango Island, all of us were very wet as if we danced in the rain. We headed ourselves to the next island: Olango Island.

To be continued….

For complete copies of photos click here

For my photoflicks, click here

Check out the official websites of the three Islands I have visited by clicking the name of the island of your choice below.

HILUTUNGAN ISLAND | SULPA ISLAND |OLANGO ISLAND

SKIMMING SOME of the pages of a certain news papaer, an article title caught my attention. It was ‘Writing Workshop’. Interested, I didn’t had any second thoughts on reading the entire write-up.

The Cornelio Faigao Memorial Writers Workshop will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a homecoming of all workshop fellows from up 2 pm ti 10 pm on December 19 at the University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus Retreat House.

The Workshop, orgranized since 1984 by the USC Cebuano Studies Center, aims to help improve the quality of creative outputs of writers who are Cebuanos of writing in the Cebuano language through discussions of their writings’s strengths and weaknesses.

The workshop, thus, supports and promotes Bisayan literature.

Cornelio Faigao was a respected journalist-editor, poet, educator and lawyer and nationalist who was born in Romblom but lived in Cebu.

The reunion calls together fellows as well as panelists involved in the 25 years of Cebu’s very own creative writing workshop.

The homecoming will include readings of works of past fellows as well as readings and performances dedicated to fellows and panelists who have passed away. A brief lecture and open forum on Intellectual Property Rights is also set.

Fellows attending the homecoming are to pay a registration fee on P500 for the snack and meal and a copy of the e-book, “Brown Child: The Best of Faigao.”

Also to be launched in the homecoming are books of poetry by Faigao panelist Vicente “Butch” Bandillo and Faigao fellow Adonis Durado’s Tsinelas nga Nalubong sa Danaw and Minugbo, alang sa mugbo og kalipay, respectively.

For more inmformation, one may contact the Dr. Linda Alburo of the USC Cebuano Studies Center at (032) 253-1000 local 183 or chec www.faigaoworkshop.com  for updates.

-Sun Star Neighborhood

12.16.09

Sounds fun. I’m inviting you all to join the Workshop. As you’ve known above, payment is reasonable and it’s an affair so rare in taking place. It’s really good to work for others in a good way. Let’s help preserving and promoting Bisaya Literature together by participating in the said workshop.

Listed below are the activities and their corresponding schedules for the most sought-after event of Cebuanos every January:

• Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2010 Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
• January 3-31, 2010 Sinulog Photo Exhibits featuring 2008 Sinulog Photo Winners , 2nd level of the Northwing SM City Cebu
• January 3-31, 2010 Sto. Niño Exhibits, SM City Cebu Art Center
• January 9-19, 2010 Dancing Pilgrims: Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Exhibit of Tangub City dancers from past to present SM City Cebu
• January 07, 2010 (Thursday) Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus

- 4:00 AM Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
- 4:30 AM Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
- 5:30 AM Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2010

• January 08, 2010 (Friday) Sinulog 2010 Kick Off

- 2:00 PM Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
- 3:00 PM Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
- 7:00 PM Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
- 7:30 PM Ms. Cebu 2010 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña

• January 9, 2010 (Saturday) Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan

- 1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
- 2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
- 4:30 PM Awarding of Winners
- 7:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province

• January 10, 2010 (Sunday) Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan

- 1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
- 2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
- 4:30 PM Awarding of Winners
- 7:00 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña), Southwestern University, Asian College of Technology, Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands
- January 11, 2010 (Monday) Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
- 7:30 PM Univ. of Southern Philippines Foundation, University of Cebu
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

• January 12, 3009 (Tuesday)

- 7:30 PM Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña), University of San Carlos
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
- January 13, 2010 (Wednesday)
- 9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
- 7:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Abellana National School, Cebu Doctor’s University,
Cebu State College of Science and Technology, USJ-R COE Talents Guild
- 8:00 PM Ms. Cebu 2010 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

• January 14, 2010 (Thursday)

- 9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
- 10 AM – 9:00 PM Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
- 7:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)University San Jose Recoletos,
Cebu Institute of Technology, Velez College
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

• January 15, 2010 (Friday) Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)

- 4:00:00 Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
- 7:00 AM Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
- 7:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu City
- 7:30 PM Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
- 7:30 PM Sinulog Festival Queen 2010, Cebu City Sports Center
- 8:00 PM Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
- 9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

• January 16, 2010 (Saturday)

- 6:00:00 Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
- 9:00 AM Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica
- 2:00 PM Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
- 6:30 PM Cultural Shows
- 7:00 PM Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
- 8:00 PM 1st Sinulog Fireworks Competition , fronting SM North Wing
- 8:00 PM Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
- 8:00 PM Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts
- January 17, 2010 (Sunday) SINULOG GRAND PARADE
- 4:00 AM Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
- 6:00 AM Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
- 9:00 AM Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
- 7:00 PM Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
- 7:30 PM Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña
- January 18, 2010 (Monday)
- 1:00 PM Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center
- January 22, 2010 (Friday) “HUBO”
- 4:00 AM “HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño

• January 29, 2010 (Friday)

- 6:00 – 8:00 PM Showing of Sinulog Short Film Festival, SM Cinema 4
- January 30, 2010 (Saturday)
- 1:00 P.M Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest/Sinulog Short Film Festival
- February 1 – Feb. 10, 2010 Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu

WAVES, surfers, hula dancers, sharks. What else can go wrong this Christmas? Come experience Hawaii in Cebu, in a production that reminds us of the greatest story ever told.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Matinee (3 PM): P50 / P75 / P100
Gala (7 PM): P75 / P100 / P200

For ticket inquiries and reservations, call or text 0922-7076032 or call 412-7515. Tickets are available at the COOK Center, 2nd Flr, Mango Square Mall (beside Monster Radio).

BEGINNING December 12 until  20, 2009, the Cebu International Convention Center opens its gates to everyone for a showcase of world class products.

Check it out with your friends and family at 10 am to 8pm. It’s a must-see display for everyone! Visit and be proud of Cebuano-made crafts and art. By the way, I apologize for posting a low quality photo of the event poster. Enjoy!