Travel

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Photos by Ryan Lee

CEBU, Philippines - July 19 was a very special day for me, so, I decided to take a run for it and cancelled all other invitations, including the Hari ng Negros testimonial dinner in Dumaguete City. It was time for me to be selfish and treat myself to a day of solitude and total relaxation. So, three days ahead, I called up Ruben.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, is one of the best places to be in if you are looking for relaxation. And should you want solitude, well, you definitely could not have it in the busy beach front or the main pool fronting Allegro Restaurant, where kids and families enjoy a lot of themselves that you could not help but envy them and be engulfed with the desire to take a dip in the pool and just wash your cares away.

This, however, does not mean that you can’t enjoy a quite Sunday afternoon in Maribago Bluewater. On the contrary, the resort is teeming with coves and spots where you can lounge, have a good read, or take a refreshing nap as you bathe in the warmth of the golden Mactan Sun.

The quieter Watsu Pool by the Yoga Pavilion is such a place, but for me, I decided to spend my lazy afternoon at the pool by the Garden Pavilion, where I was able to enjoy the book I bought from OMF Literature (Tel. No. 032-253-1525), Faithfully Fit by Claire Cloninger and Laura Barr.

Your room can also be a place of quiet isolation. To be confined the whole day is a relaxing experience at Maribago Bluewater. The cottage given to me was by the beach wing and it was the newer one, I was told. There were two queen sized beds and they were installed in such a manner that it would give an illusion that they were floating on air. The bed was comfortably huge with all the works. The light under it completes the oneiric experience that can only be described as heavenly. Indeed, everything that I’ve experienced in Maribago Bluewater was but a dream.

The resort does not settle for anything less when it comes to pampering their guests. From world-class furnishings (mind you, even the beach loungers are Dedon, an international brand of exclusive outdoor and indoor furniture) to uber-pompous service, you would feel like a celebrity or some very important person, never mind the clothes that you came in. I just want to point this out because when I arrived I was wearing simple clothes, which made me think that I needed to prepare my rebuttal should I be stopped at the gate. But the guard courteously pointed me to the front desk when I told him I was checking in. It is not a wonder why guests keep on returning to this somewhat homey and humble resort.

Now, back to my room. Well, one of the first things that I would check in a hotel or resort room is the bathroom. In the little cottage that was provided to me, the restroom cum closet has the air of an outdoor shower – very spacious (which is a total under-statement) and complete with stones and pebbles. During the day, sunlight completely fills the room, completing the whole effect. The tub is placed generously in the center, making it virtually the very first inviting object you’d see the moment you open the wide bathroom door. It did not take long for me to oblige the invitation of the tub and immersed myself in warm steamy water. A prelude, I should say, to the invigorating hilot that I was privileged to try later that day.

As I had the whole day ahead of me, I decided to explore the resort – from the white sand beach that is always calm regardless of the weather (but check on the tide levels, lest you be stuck with an ankle deep water) to the intriguing Alegrado Island which is a great venue for exclusive parties and for sun bathing.

Aside from swimming and lounging, Maribago Bluewater has tons of activities for their guests to take advantage of and enjoy. The resort has a dive shop where you can rent or sign up for aqua sport adventures like diving, jet skiing or snorkeling. You can play ball games, Frisbee, or a game of chess with the resort’s giant chess set. Should you wish, you can arrange for a private viewing in the resort’s gallery which houses an expensive collection of works by Cebu’s great artists.

But I would say, that the best experience that I was able to enjoy at Maribago Bluewater was theAmuma hilot at Amuma Spa. A 90-minute treatment, the hilot takes after the traditional massage enjoyed by Filipinos for centuries. It’s a wet massage, so expect to be generously bathed in virgin coconut oil. The feel could never be more authentic.

As with other massage service at the spa, the hilot would start with the traditional foot bath by the terrace. This will then be followed by a ritual where the masseuse would light incense and walk around you as she chants a humble prayer to the spirits. This, according to my masseuse Lovely Quinawayan, would drive away the evil spirits.

Amuma Spa’s hilot comes with a unique layering of heated banana leaves over the treated area. This is then covered by a thick towel, ensuring that the heat would circulate and penetrate your tired muscles. A hot pot of green tea after the treatment ensures over all detoxification.

The interiors of Amuma Spa exude an atmosphere of relaxation. It combines the conservatism of Japanese Zen and the intricacy and exoticness of Southeast Asia. Wood is the main element that would surround you inside the spa, giving a feeling of being one with nature.

As for my chow, well, let’s just say that the resort whips up quite a list of options. During dinner, I was privileged to meet the resort’s food and beverage manager, Mr. Ver Tayao, as well as the charming Weng Eser Jose. It so happened that I was there on a weekend and at a time when they were serving the Chef’s Special for dinner, a four-course kebab meal.

It was heavenly. The appetizer was a trio of Maki Kebab (dragon roll, dynamite roll and California Maki) with sesame soy dip. This was then followed by grilled chicken skewers on salad greens with honey mustard dressing. For the main course, I chose seafood kebab. Other choices were pork and chicken kebabs. Dessert was also skewered, but these were fruits with a rich chocolate dip. Yummy! Complements to the chef! I would suggest for the chef to also indulge the patrons in fairly traded ingredients (www.cebuspftc.com) to make their dining experience extra special.

All in all, my brief stay at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort was a dream of an experience that I do not want to wake up from. Sadly, reality beckons and I have to answer its call.

(Published in The FREEMAN, August 12, 2009)

Art

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Violin, Cesar Castillo

CEBU, Philippines – Come October of this year, 12 Cebuano artists will mount an exhibit in Malaysia with works reflecting the best that Cebu has to offer. The exhibit will anchor on the theme “Cebu: People, Places and Faces” and intends, not just to give local artists international flair but also to entice Malaysian art aficionados to consider visiting and investing in the province.

But, as they say, before stepping on foreign land it would be wise to discover your home turf first, because admittedly, who could claim that they know every inch of their place. This is exactly the driving force that inspired the artists, under the auspices of ArtistscebueX, to open a series of exhibits in Banilad Town Center before displaying their masterpieces in neighboring Malaysia.

 
Where Simplicity Is, Celso Duazo Pepito

Their plan is to first come up with a group exhibit followed by a series of two-man shows until every artists are given the opportunity to showcase their works to the Cebuano audience.

Last July 3, 10 artists of different persuasions and style, amassed their works, both old and new, to showcase the best that Cebu has to offer. All artists are active in Cebu’s art scene, helping elevate the Cebuanos’ sense of culture and identity.

Journey, Gabriel Abellana

Artists featured are Celso Pepito, Cesar Castillo, Kimsoy Yap, Billy Pomida, Audie Estrellada, Benji Goyha, Jobril Villaver, Fe Madrid-Pepito, Maxcell Migallos and Gabriel Abellana.

In the exhibit you would see some of the best works of each of these artists. I particularly took a liking to Yap’s surrealistic rendition of Christ. It showed his mastery of his medium of choice, watercolor. The strokes may seem to be done haphazardly but it elicited the effect that the artist would have wanted, resulting in a masterpiece that a novice art enthusiast such as me would only view as total genius. Soothing, reflective, empathic.

Essence of Strength, Benji Goyha

Pepito, who is known to inject his philosophy in his art, also showed a different face in this exhibit. For the first time, I was able to truly appreciate the genius of Pepito, his mastery with different media, his versatility in style. One of his works on display, “Where Simplicity Is” was crafted in a style that is not the trademark Pepito. Gone where the sharp corners and the octagon that he said symbolizes hope. Here we have a fairly common barrio scene with kids coaxing a cow to move. The landscape is so familiar to us who spent most of their childhood in the countrysides. Although the octagon was nowhere to be seen, hope is everywhere in the scene – the lush greenery, the children playing, and even the vast fertile land that screams “Use me! Use me!”

 
Fisherman's son, Cesar Castillo

Castillo, on the other hand, showcased his works done in watercolor and some in oil and acrylic. The one common theme of his works was the subject, which almost always involved water or if not, a vast space that seems to elicit a meditative experience. You would also see his flair for the dramatic, invoking a sense of serenity and familiarity. Take the “Violin” for example. A simple subject, yet, the way the musical instrument was depicted and the way the sharp color of the instrument was contrasted by the dullness of the wall, would give it a musical spirit that would make you swear that you heard someone play a Paganini.

Facade, Billy Pomida

Another excellent artist, whose work I came to appreciate and like, was Billy Pomida. Who would have thought that a window or a wall would be so beautiful and capture so much emotion? The detail and the excitement over a piece of concrete, is beyond me. Only an artist can make something ordinary extraordinary. In “Façade” you will find a window with a half opened curtain, which suggests a person peeking through the shadows. Sounds like a scene from a horror movie, but “Façade” is beyond that. What one would see is only the beauty of the structure and the intricacy of the details.

Indeed, Cebu is world class, and it is privileged to have extraordinary artists with an exceptional mission. Cebu: People, Places and Faces is but a step towards integrating art, tourism and commerce. What better way indeed to show to the world, and even to the locals, the beauty and the richness of the province than through the brush of artists who sees beyond the ordinary. (Contributed photos)

(Published in The FREEMAN on July 19, 2009)

Travel

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CEBU, Philippines – Northeast of mainland Cebu is a group of small islands safely tucked together, uninfluenced by the clutter of the modern world. Well, ok, not literally as they have a well-appointed wharf, a smooth road system and in the center of the towns, buildings and houses of modern architecture. Mind you, with the advent of satellite television, it won’t be hard for you to get CNN or HBO here. There are also cell sites all over the island, so you need not worry about losing touch with your colleagues. Better dismiss the thought of total seclusion. ATMs and credit cards, however, are not yet available, so better be ready with your cash.

Aside from these touches of modernity, the people, the culture, the atmosphere, I would say, is stuck roughly three decades behind from the rest of Metropolitan Cebu.

Last May 23 and 24, the Provincial Government of Cebu, headed by the province’s first lady governor, Ms. Gwendolyn Garcia, and her team at the Provincial Tourism Office (thanks to the amiable Titta Zosa and her reliable assistant McRonald Llerin), treated balikbayans, locals, and some members of Cebu’s media to a weekend in enchanting Camotes.

Admittedly, I expected faith healers to greet us when we disembarked from the craft that brought us to the island. I wanted to see a somewhat crude port befitting a place tagged with the adjective “enchanting.”

Instead, we were greeted with jovial and welcoming people, with no resemblance whatsoever to any of the characters I had in mind; bearing umbrellas (and not brooms) freely given to every passenger to shield them from the blazing heat of the summer sun. What I saw is a group of progressive towns that, for centuries, has advanced more than what visitors would expect.

The islands have more than a dozen reasons to be visited and be loved, aside from its rich history and culture as evidenced by the century-old structures that has been preserved, thanks to the Governor’s effort to map the province’s cultural heritage.

Camotes is a micro-archipelago composed of four small islands: Pacijan, home to the town of San Francisco; Poro, divided between the towns of Poro and Tudela; Ponson, occupied by the town of Pilar; and Tulang, which is a part of San Francisco.

In the maps, however, the islands of Pacijan and Poro are merged owing to the 1.4 kilometer causeway that was built in the 16th century to facilitate trade and commerce. The manicured causeway no longer bears any trace of having been part of the treacherous Camotes Sea. Lined with San Franciscos, the causeway has been totally reclaimed and the road leading to Pacijan from Poro is well maintained, revealing the residents’ effort to keep their place clean and green. Mind you, the town of San Francisco has been recognized as one of Cebu’s greenest municipalities and is actually a Lakbay Aral destination for towns and cities wanting to learn effective community waste management and segregation.

When it comes to heritage, Camotes do not only hold a treasure trove of century-old structures but also of well-kept traditions and beliefs that date back to the pre-Spanish era.

In Poro, you would see the oldest church, the Sto. Niño Church built in 1849. In the town of Pilar there are a few ancestral homes preserved even to this day. Serious restoration, however, is needed if these houses are to remain standing a decade from now.

When it comes to traditions, in the islands you would find medicine men who had mastered the art of communing with the spirits. In fact, the town of Tudela was originally called Tag-anito, owing to the spirit worship practiced by its original residents. The town also holds plenty of folk stories and legends of fairies and anitos (spirits) playing like children in its many trees and caves.

A very interesting cave in Tudela is the Bukilat Cave. Before entering the cave, it would be wise to have a local medicine man conjure the spirits and get a favorable response manifested by the standing of a raw egg.

Once you enter the cave, you could not help but marvel at the beautiful pool “illuminated by natural skylights” and seemingly inviting you to swim in its clear shallow waters. They say that on high tide, the experience can become extra special as the water moves out to sea.

One other aspect that has made the island of Camotes enchantingly beautiful is its beaches that are geographically varied: from the pristine white sand shoreline like that of the public beach in San Francisco or of Cawit in Pilar, to rocky enclaves like that of Buho Rock in Poro. And then there is the enchanting blue Naukban Lagoon of Pilar, said to be a “symbol of love fulfilled between two enkantos (spirits).”

Your swimming escapade won’t end there. In San Francisco, there is Lake Danao, the largest and only natural lake in Cebu at 700 hectares. At its middle is a small island that tourists love to visit. Sadly, the crocodiles that used to swim in its waters have gone extinct because they were misunderstood by their human caretakers. Today, activities abound in Lake Danao. You can swim in its waters (no need to fear the crocs), go fishing, do some water sports like kayaking, or just have a picnic under the shade of the trees. Mind you, they have excellent facilities, including clean and spacious toilet and bathrooms.

If you think these humble islands are devoid of comfortable accommodations, well, think again. During our stay in Camotes, we stayed in the My Little Island Hotel in Poro which boasts of five-star amenities. Our room was spacious and elegantly furnished with extra comfortable beds. Outside our little balcony one could see the beautiful Camotes Sea and the rest of the island blanketed in green. Indeed, Camotes is a paradise that has not yet been enveloped by the greed of development. Total bliss, I would say.

The hotel also has a pool, a Jacuzzi, coffee shop and restaurant. The lounge area has a grand piano, of which we were privileged to have Maestro Persi Fernandez play for us as we enjoyed our breakfast and coffee. By day, I was told that Mr. Fernandez serves the town of Pilar, and on his free time offers his talent to events through his Voicebucks Band (09192956463).

There are other excellent accommodations spread all over the islands, each presenting the unique terrains: the beautiful mountain peaks overlooking the whole of the island, pristine white sand beaches (Santiago Bay Garden and Resort), enchanting rock resorts (Mangodlong Rock Resort), or if worse comes to worst, I am positive that the local tourism officers could help you find accommodations with the locals through the home-stay program.

Life in the islands of Camotes may be behind several decades compared to its counterparts in the mainland, but that is exactly its charm. Nipa huts that line the main roads, untouched forests, undeveloped natural wonders, elegant accommodations that complement its natural landscape, stories and legends of old as told by local faith healers — these are the ingredients that make up the spell that will enchant visitors to Camotes Islands.

 
First Published in The Freeman, July 12, 2009.

Photo credit: Aldo Nelbert Banaynal

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Travel

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Photos by Reynan Villena and Aldo Nelbert Banaynal

CEBU, Philippines – None other than IBC’s general manager Kitchie Uy greeted us when we arrived at the wharf. Our plan was to go on a quick cruise to an island, have an equally fast discussion on the team’s plans and goals ‘til year-end, enjoy a quick dip or snorkel in one of the marine sanctuaries of Lapu-Lapu City (we’re into lifestyle, after all), have a hearty lunch and then be back before sundown.

What we experienced was more than that, owing to the amiable decorum of the IBC crew and the extra helpful staff of Talima Beach Villas and Dive Resort (www.talimabeach.com), the company of good people, and yes, the feisty weather that added spice to the trip.

At the time, IBC was offering a special for only P1,950 treating up to ten persons to a trip to Olango Island with free snorkeling and fish feeding at the Talima Marine Sanctuary – a very affordable package for such an exciting adventure.

Since there were more than eight of us, we were given the Butete, which can hold 12 to 20 passengers and is equipped with an iPod dock for great music during the cruise, bean bags that ensured an extra comfortable treat as we enjoyed the warm Mactan breeze, wi-fi for people who can’t resist to take a peek at their mail or a brief visit to their farm in Facebook’s Farm Town while enjoying the company of friends, and complimentary beverages that will keep you hydrated while you bathe under the bright Mactan sun.

The smallest of the IBC fleet is the Bolinao, which can accommodate two to eight persons and would only be loaded with drinks and, yes, complimentary orange towels. This is ideal for quick transfers, especially if you don’t plan to spend time at sea.

The Butanding is the largest boat of IBC and can hold 20 to 35 people. It basically has the same amenities as the Butete.

The IBC is a novel concept stemming from the popularity of outrigger boats rented by friends or companies when they go on excursions to smaller islands around mainland Cebu.

On reaching the Talima Marine Sanctuary off the shores of Olango Island, we could not resist the inviting clear waters teeming with marine life and rich colorful corals. The Butete docked just several meters fronting the resort, so the waters are not so deep, just enough for one to reach the bottom and surface after a few minutes, without panting afterwards. The current was however pretty strong, proving the swimming bit to be a challenge.

According to Talima’s website, the 14-hectare sanctuary is home to groupers, parrot fish, mandarin fish and aquarium fish. The waters of Olango is also a favorite dive site, owing to sightings of thresher sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and various species of starfish.

By mid-morning, we were greeted by an approaching paddle boat which transported us to the captivating Talima Beach Villas and Dive Resort. The resort is the only one in the island and has the perfect view of Mactan Island. The waters are perfect. During low tide, you can climb down and have a leisurely swim in its shallow waters, but on high tide, the water becomes a bit deep, just perfect for fun dives.

Going to the resort, you can either enter through the usual route, which is by motorcycle from Olango wharf, or the way we entered it, from the sea, direct to the welcoming arms of the hosts as they bring you welcome drinks of fresh coconut water in its shell.

Should you dream of a private weekend vacation, then Talima is the place to go. The place is very exclusive, built to accommodate at most 20 guests only. It has two beach front suites, the Sinamay Suite and the Banig Suite, each with king-size beds, a cozy and spacious toilet and bathroom with hot and cold showers, walk-in closets, and your very own terrace.

The beach house, although located at the far end of the resort, is extremely divine. It has a mezzanine floor, two bed rooms each with walk-in closets and spacious toilet and bathroom with hot and cold showers. It has all the amenities of a rest house, including a living area, kitchen and a terrace with a dining area. The rooms in the beach house can also be rented separately.

Should a poolside room be enough for you, well, I would say enough would be an understatement because even the cheapest room available is quite spacious with beautiful interiors and a relaxing view to their beautiful tropical garden.

The resort also has a dive center called Polaris and they offer different diving tours to the many dive sites in and around Olango Island.

They also have an airy open-space restaurant and a beach bar with the perfect view of the strait. Around the resort are beach cabanas where you can relax and just take in the calming sea breeze as you while away in tropical bliss.

The sun deck offers a great view of the sunset, or just for you to relax and enjoy as time passes lazily. Should the sea be too much for you, you can swim in the infinity pool, which is just as enchanting.

Everything in Talima is about the view, but should I go back, I’d say it will be for the privacy and the sense of exclusivity that one experiences when in Talima.

So how did our adventure ended?

The winds suddenly picked up, overturning a small sailboat and prompting a fluvial parade to turn back. We, however, had to return to the mainland, so when the winds started to calm down a bit, we decided to brave the waters, the IBC stewards all wet as they pushed the small banca that we were ridding to bring us back to the Butete.

One great destination, two exemplary hosts. A day to remember, indeed!

(Published in The Freeman, 9 July 2009)

Singapore Day 1
The Gallery Experience

 I arrived at Changi Airport at around 7 p.m. and I was so excited, not because now I'm in Singapore, but more so because I'll be meeting one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world - Che Ann...

I then proceeded to the Gallery Hotel down at Robertson Quay where I was being belitted during the entire 4 days and 3 nights that I will be in Singapore...

After a brief tour of the hotel by Alicia Kwek, the senior sales specialist, we had what would be like the best dinner ever. The greens were super and the chicken was superb...

The room is beautiful. I was given a deluxe room, Room 620, just across the elevator... Tomorrow I will try the pool... Oh I just can't wait!!! But wait I didn't bring any swimwear... Waaaahhhh!!!! Well, If I have enough funds I'd buy one tomorrow... hehehehe

The room where I stayed... Or something like this... hehehe

 CheAn and I went to Clarke Quay, but the rain got the better of our short walk, so we had to go back to the hotel... The good thing is we get to go around Robertson Quay and its many hip clubs... Wow... I was told that the clubs limit the number of guests who enter the reason why the line outside was soooooooooooo long... hmmm Vudu should do that hehehe...

 

 

Waking up at Club Fort Med so early in the morning, was, well not really my cup of tea. I was so comfortable sleeping in at Fort Med, I thought nothing could pull me out of my bed. But then again, being left on the second day of the Suroy Suroy would be too much stress for me to handle.

 

After our breakfast, which was not as filling for me as they only served either greasy pork or corned beef, none of which my stomach could handle these days, we had to leave for the first stop of the excursion which was none other than Oslob. We stopped at the pick up point of Sumilon Bluewaters Resort, which is really a teaser as to what lies ahead in the island paradise of Sumilon.

 

So beautiful the place was. And I as far as I can remember, Sumilon Island is a marine sanctuary that was handled by Silliman University before. Now it has been turned into a great resort by the Bluewaters Properties, which also handles the pristine Maribago Bluewaters Resort.

 

 Santander and its Tostados Festival then followed, being next in our itinerary. I thought I was familiar with the place, having been there countless of times on my way to Dumaguete, but then I have to admit that the only place that I stayed in Santander for more than 30 minutes is the Liloan Wharf and the Tampi Wharf. Aside from that I am really clueless of the place.

 

It turns out they have excellent resorts as well, and is a diver’s paradise too. Aside from that, it is here that you can find the best tostados that you would ever taste in your entire life. That is the reason why they have claimed the product to be the rallying point for their festival.

 

Samboan’s beautifully landscaped plaza overlooks the lush shoreline bordered by gigantic trees. On the side is St’ Jacob’s Ladder which was built to make it easier for parishoners from low-lying areas to go to church. The entrance is so imposing, yet with a church courtyard filled with blooming flowers and beautiful butterflies all around, the tiredness that would come from climbing would definitely disappear.

 

When we reached Ginatilan, well, although the small town is literally that, small, its beautiful church is declared to have the most beautiful belfry, as according to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, looks like a belfry in Italy. The church itself is magnificent, built in the old baroque style and construcltion was completed in 1829. It has this huge beautifully crafted stained glass windows of portraits of famous biblical and Catholic saints.

 

Although we did not go there, I was told that Ginatilan also has a secret water falls which is so secret and virgin that going there still poses a health risk especially for those who is several kilos uhmmm…

 

In Alegria we dropped by a newly-built resort just across the St. Francis Xavier Parish. Its called X something and it has an excellent view. I thinks its more of a restaurant. I was privileged to talk to the owner, Lelani, and she told me they are also developing a Mountain Resort. Beautiful I would say. Anyway, the restaurant is made all of bamboos, in support, according to Lelani, to the newly formed Kawayan or Bamboo Festival.

 

The Badian trip was very tiring. We had to climb up to Kawasan Falls. The wide smoothened dirt road was a relief. The first time I was in the place was, well, full of memories which included the collapse of a balcony at a time when I was there doing something.

 

The dinner by the sea was gorgeous and although there were no sufficient lights, we had an early dinner so it was ok. Had it been late I’m sure I would be hearing people choking.

 

The best part of the trip however was the accommodation. Right now I am writing this in my large, gigantic super clean and sanitized room at Kasai Resort. It is so beautiful and the lawn so green with trimmed grass. They are a bit expensive, but nonetheless, I would say it is all worth it. They have a beautiful bar with sand flooring and overlooking the beautiful Moalboal sea, a well-appointed restaurant with an excellent menu, and a games room with two billiards table. They also have a pool whose deepest part is around 10.5 meters. Not a surprise as they also cater to diving. It is basically a diving resort.

 

Terrific indeed…

 

Travel

Quilting is an art that may not be common among us Filipinos, but in an island off the coast of Lapulapu City, this is the source of livelihood for its women.

Costing around P7,000 to P15,000 per piece,depending on its size, one can’t help but appreciate the hardwork spent and theintricacy of the stitches worked into the quilt. Indeed each quilt is amasterpiece and the time devoted for finishing each art-piece (approximatelythree months) and the creativity that goes with every work is worth everycentavo being asked for.

Caohagan Island, up until 14 years ago, was a quitevillage whose main source of livelihood was fishing. And although the men stillthrive on the bounty of the sea, the women now contributes widely to thefamily’s income, thanks to their productive pastime.

The transformation happened when JapaneseKatsuhiko Sakiyama decided to adopt the island putting up the Kaohagan IslandClub, Inc. His wife, Jongko, taught the women the art of quilting. Most of thefinished products are imported to Japan where it is sold twice thelocal selling price.

“We benefit a lot from this project because asidefrom getting a share of the earnings, part of the proceed would go to a fundthat will be used to sponsor deserving high school graduates to pursue theiruniversity studies and also for the hospitalization of any resident who fallsill,” said Helen Samson in Cebuano, a quilter of 14 years.

The materials are provided for free by theisland’s benefactor, including the cloth, needles, and thread. “We don’t spendanything, just our time,” said Samson in Cebuano. “And we are not forced towork everyday. Everything goes according to our pace.”

At present there are 80 women involved inthe project and more than 200 families who benefited.

Aside from quilting, Caohagan is alsoblessed with a rich supply of seafood, although the prices are not as blissfulfor a local tourist.

Soft-shelled lobsters, locally known as mantaha, would cost around P300 perpiece, while local abalones would cost P3000 per container, each containerhaving close to a dozen pieces of abalone. Baby octopuses (known as tabugok), clams, and other shellfish areavailable by vats at P300. Of course cooking these fares is part of what you’llbe paying, and they will cook it broiled, grilled, boiled, or sautéed invinegar and soy sauce. Whatever your fancy you can always give instructions tothe cook.

However, I would not advice coming to thisisland paradise if seafood is the only reason for coming. The 45-minute travel issimply not worth it, besides the prices of live seafood in Caohagan are comparableto that of local suppliers in mainland Cebu.However, the peaceful atmosphere and the feeling of seclusion and exclusivitymay sound attractive to the solitude seeker.

An overnight stay would also prove to betaxing. Aside from the P70 entrance fee collected upon stepping on the pristineshores of the island, each cottage would cost a lofty sum of P1,900 for oneperson or if there are two of you P1,700 each. And don’t even ask about thecost if you want your meals to be included in the package (spoiler: P2,300 perperson for three meals).

The island has no electricity but at nightthey would turn on a communal generator which would light up several commonstructures. The generator is available from 5PM to 11PM, so it would be anearly night’s rest for you.

Should you choose to stay for a brief period,cottages are available at P100. And if you feel like you want to be serenaded,there are groups who might render a few classic hits for a fee.

Caohagan Islandcan be reached by boat from Marigondon port (fare: P30) or at Dapdap port (nearVista Mar). Should you wish to rent one, youcan arrange it with the boat-operator at the dock of Punta Engaño for P2,500 (20-seaterboat) or P3,500 (60-seater boat).

Published in The Freeman. Photos courtesy of iNeed Magazine.

Travel

Puerto Princesa is known by a dozen monikers. Its reputation goes beyond the desire of the locals to make their city the most livable place in the country; a desire instilled in their hearts by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, a full-fledged environmentalist.

The city is a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award for their constancy in being the cleanest and greenest city in the country; and the Peace Award as the country’s most peaceful city.

Rarely (if not at all) would you see a vagrant roaming the streets and definitely no trash, waste or garbage along the sidewalk, as according to our guide, littering is rewarded with a 2-month free lodging in jail.

Residents would proudly claim that most if not all of the people in the city live an honest life. A tourist said that one time he accidentally left his mobile in a local restaurant and when he realized his loss he returned to the restaurant and was ecstatic to recover his phone unscathed. “Had it been in Manila, it would have been gone in an instant,” he said.

Puerto Princesa is also home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a World Heritage site and a nominee for the worldwide search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. In addition, it is the jump-off point to another World Heritage site and another nominee for the New 7 Wonders of Nature search, the Tubattaha Marine Park (don’t forget to cast your vote at www.new7wonders.com).

The city lies at the center of the island of Palawan occupying a land area of 253,982 hectares and stretches 106 kilometers. The east coast faces the Sulu Sea and the West Coast the South China Sea. Its sundry shoreline is punctuated by mangrove swamps, limestone cliffs, scenic coves and white sand beaches frequented by tourists and locals alike.

Because of Palawan island’s proximity to all three major island groups of the archipelago (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), its people is as diverse as its landscape, that is why it won’t come as a surprise if someone would talk to you in Cebuano. Although, the major dialect used is Tagalog, a number of locals still speak Cuyonin, a dialect spoken by one of the island’s original settlers, the Cuyonons.

The city’s virginity does not only lie on the fact that it is close to nature but also because despite it being declared a highly urbanized city, many areas are still devoid of electricity. And the city center does not look like any of the other highly urbanized cities in the country with its highrise buildings and cemented roads. Here you will find establishments laden with trees, and the tallest that a building can get is three-stories high since the airport is located in the city center itself, forbidding high rise buildings to be built. A curse? I would say: a blessing.

When it comes to food, Puerto Princesa has a lot to brag about. Here you can find the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant and the cheapest at that. No frills and fancy plating found in so-called high class restaurants, just plain honest-to-goodness home-cooked Vietnamese food. This is because a few years back, many Vietnamese found refuge in the island and some decided to stay to help create a progressive Puerto Princessa, thus the many Vietnamese carinderia. Others chose to stay because they married the locals, while most decided to leave seeing a “worse than home” condition in a country they thought they’d adopt.

Exotic is also what you’d find here with the famous tamilok (which I later found out, in Cebuano would refer to the worst kind of phlegm), fresh mangrove worms eaten raw or dipped in vinegar. There is also the lamayo which is fish marinated in vinegar and aged before subjecting it to high temperature oil, aka frying. It’s great for breakfast with fried garlic rice and sunny side-up eggs.

During our brief stay in Puerto Princesa, we visited the famous Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa. A 45-minute boat ride along Honda Bay (a spin off of the Spanish word hondo which means deep) would take you to Arreceffi Island, one of the 16 mystifying islands in the bay.

Arreceffi plays host to this island resort and if you have no plans of staying the night you can enjoy the island’s day-tour package (adult: P2,500, kids: P1,250) which would include activities like kayaking around the island, snorkeling or diving in the exotic Helen’s Coral Garden, swimming in the resort’s immaculate white sand beach or their perfect infinity pool, biking all over the island, and other recreational activities like karaoke, tennis, basketball and billiards. Except for the diving gear, everything is part of the package so you need not worry of paying extra plus you get to enjoy bottomless tea and coffee and a welcome drink that would warm your heart, though the drink itself is refreshingly cold.

The resort’s commitment to its fragile ecosystem is concretized by the presence of the Research Camp which “monitors, safeguards and preserves the ecological balance of the diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystem around the island and Honda Bay.” However, the resort still runs on petrol?? which is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases, thus a prime cause of global warming. Dos Palmas Operations Manager Johann Catill however revealed that they are trying to come up with cost-effective eco-friendly and sustainable source of power to replace their existing inefficient piece of crap.

Catill revealed that the resort will soon be putting up a fishing village in the 35-hectare property to showcase the life of the local fishermen. “We will be asking fishermen to live in the village to act as curators for the visitors,” he added.

A visit to Puerto Princesa won’t be complete without dropping by the much talked Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. From the city proper you would need to take a three hour ride to Barangay Cabayugan (P120 by jeepney, P150 for foreigners) where you would take a 15-minute boat ride (P700 per boat) to the park. The park itself has an entrance fee of P150 and is open from 7AM to 4:45PM.

Despite the heavy downpour, our tour guide promised that it is still a safe ride to the park. The thrill of the prospect of being blown by the strong winds to the rocky shores of the park or to the vast South China Sea was an adrenalin rush in itself. However, the cliffs, lagoons, coves, and caves that border the shoreline coupled with the lush green virgin forest that contrasts the hard landscape was postcard-perfect.

The whole park covers 22,202 hectares and aside from the underground river there are loads of activities that can be had like a trek through the monkey trail or the jungle trail. You can also go on a wildlife watching adventure or a more quite bird watching expedition.

Since the underground river (which is the longest in the world at 8.2 kilometers) was enlisted in the New 7 Wonders of Nature search the queue of people wanting to view this spectacular natural wonder is terrible, but you can always pass the time counting and identifying the trees surrounding the river.

The tour inside the underground river itself would take around 45 minutes and the farthest that it would take you would be to the cathedral (which by my estimate is only around 2 to 3 km from the mouth of the cave) where you would be bombarded by the beauty of the natural rock formations that seems to depict popular biblical scenes. Those with the most active imagination and the most sensitive senses might feel uncomfortable at the thought of disturbing the sanctity of this natural holy place, so be warned.

Although we missed a few of the places listed in our itinerary because of Frank’s unholy visit to the islands, the trip was worth the time we devoted away from the pressure of deadlines, even for just a moment. And the little delay we experienced on our return trip (also because of Frank) was a blessing as well, giving us the much needed rest we were deprived from enjoying all the sights of this beautiful paradise in such a short time.

And taking a plane whose customer service exceeds expectations, even for its budget passengers, made the brush with Frank less of a tension and more of an experience that complemented a wonderful experience that is Puerto Princesa.

PAL Express, the low-fare brand of Philippine Airlines, flies daily to Palawan from Cebu.
 

since yesterday we've been going around the district, to all the 9 towns and the city of Canlaon. Though it was so fun riding around on a bike, with all the sceneries and stuff, but traveling is just so tiring afterwards.

In general, elections is peaceful with minor incidents of cheating, and my candidate is winning! Yehey!

The sad thing is news has reached me that the progressive block was not able to deliver the votes that they promised to some candidates. This totally ruined their credibility as well as the credibility of the leaders. I guess the problem is with organizing. Hmmm perhaps their ranks is diminishing? I just hope not because if they die who will look after the interest of the less privileged, the politicians? I don't think so. Philippine politics is just too dirty for politicians to focus on serving the people...

Anyway...

Hmmm about me...

Well, I just realized at how selfish I could be at times... Sometimes I secretly want the attention to be only on me and I secretly crave for praise and when other people gets the glory I get so moody... Hay, I know it's bad... My effort is to change this... how? by realizing that I am a soul and i am just playing a part... a part that no one else can play but me...

Why am I such a jealous guy? My attitudes and character is molded by years of interaction with other people, but this does not mean that i can't change...

I can change... and when i change, the world changes...

I went back to Dumaguete City yesterday to get my copy of Baba's loveletters for this week. Sadly I received a sad message from a very close friend, her mom died of breast cancer. An otherwise curable disease had they the money to treat her. They don't.

My friend is an activist, and basically she is the only one who pays for her mom's treatment, and sends her two sibblings to school. I am so sad, but at least her burden is lightened. She is an epitome of a public servant, not the politicians who bask in the money of the people.

Now I am working for a politician who has prejudices against activists, and this makes me more sad. She said, "They are fronts of the communists," and no matter how much i convice her otherwise, she won't listen. "I don't want to talk to them because I don't want people to think that I conspire with rebels." O how sad. If only she knows the sacrifices of these people. This really makes me sad. She just can't believe that there are still people in this cruel world who are willing to give up a life of comfort and are willing to die just so we would wake up to a more prosperous and happy day.

 Politico : They are being paid by my enemy to ruin my political career. To throw all these accusations at me.

Tribo : Why don't you talk to them and give them your side of the story?

Politico : If they want to talk to me then let them come here. There is no way that I will be seen with them! They are a bunch of commies! They do nothing good to this society! They have nothing good to do! They are being used by my enemies. They are bought.

Tribo : I am so sorry that that is how you feel about them.

Assistant : Why don't you go to them. You will serve as an emmisary. You tell them our side of the story. Prove your loyalty to us. Go.

Tribo : So you think I am not loyal? How sad. For all the trouble that I've been through choosing to be here. Do you think it was an easy choice? How sad. This is how you get repaid for all the sacrifice that you give. How sad.

And so I went to meet my activist friend in Dumaguete...

Tribo : My friend they are not responsible for putting our dear friend to jail.

Activist friend : But why did they bring all the military to harrass our leaders? But why did they regroup their armed goons in the hinterlands?

Tribo (silent)

Activist friend : Your coming here is useless. We can't resolve anything because you don't know anything. They won't tell you anything because they know you are still with us.

Tribo : I prefer not to know anything.

Such a sad story, but true...

Me I'm convinced of the good heart of my politico friend, just as I believe that everyone is inherently good... We are all good...

What I can't bear is when people not see the sacrifices that some of us are giving just so our kids would wake up to a better day...

So sad...

So here I am with a bowlful of ice, a bottle of gin, 3 pieces of Cloud 9 and 2 pieces of Big Bang... (Against doctor's advice)

I'm sad, so sad...