Water around the island is shallow so big boats like yachts can only anchor a few meters away from the shore, but snorkeling is possible at this deeper part since this is where fishes congregate.

Small outrigger boats can dock at certain areas of the island, for those who wish to explore it or sunbathe at its white sand beach.

View from Pangan-an Island in Lapu-Lapu City. The island is three nautical miles from the main island of Mactan.

You can also dive to a depth of 50 members at the eastern part of Pangan-an. KI Marine Sports Center offers diving services in the area.

Pangan-an is three nautical miles from Mactan island and is south of the smaller island of Olango. It is an hour and 30 minutes from Barangay Maribago in Mactan. Locals say that when it is low tide, a sand bar connecting Pangan-an to Olango appears and it becomes possible to walk between the islands.

Pangan-an’s shallows stretch 1-2 kilometers from its shores. Big boats like yachts can only stop at the deeper part but smaller outrigger boats can dock at the island.

Pangan-an island has a household population of 302 as of the 2000 census. Most of the people living on the island are fishermen.

The island has electricity courtesy of the Pangan-an Island Solar Electrification Project. Its photovoltaic mini-grid system gets electricity from around 500 solar panels that trap light energy and turn it into 90 kilowatts of power available daily.

Electricity in Pangan-an island is provided by around 500 solar panels connected to a mini-grid system.

How to get there

Those who wish to go island hopping may rent outrigger boats at a wharf beside the Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Barangay Marigondon beach, Karancho beach resort in Maribago, or through Islands Banca Cruises.

Rhian, born Rhian Denise Ramos Howell, was in Cebu City for the PLDT MyDSL hotwires SM City event. The actress is an endorser of PLDT’s MyDSL.

The actress first started out as a commercial model, in particular of McDonald’s McJelly Trio. She’s now one of the big stars of GMA Network, appearing in such shows as Captain Barbell (2006), Lupin (2207), My Only Love (2007-2008), Bubble Gang (2008), Pinoy Idol Extra (2008), Codename: Asero (2008), local version of LaLola (2008-2009), and zorro (2009).

Rhian, 18, was born on October 3, 1990 in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Saturday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan will start at 1 p.m. with a parade of participants from the different schools in Cebu Province. The parade will mass at Capitol and head for the Cebu City Sports Center where the Sinulog dance competition will be held at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, Cebu City contingents will take their turn, their parade starting from Plaza Independencia at 1 p.m. The contest proper will start at 2 p.m.

Awarding of winners for both Saturday’s and Sunday’s contests will be at 4:30 p.m. Winners will receive cash, trophies, and will get the chance to compete in the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 18.

The less difficult or more enjoyable way of getting to Bugasok Falls would be to trek through the riverside starting from the bridge built over the river in the mainland.

But since we were pressed for time, we chose to ride the infamous or dangerous “habal-habal,” which is what they call a motorcycle for hire (popular in mountain areas not reached by other means of transport) that can seat as many as five people in a single ride.

In our case, though, we paid two habal-habal drivers to bring the three of us to the farming village of Cansuje, from where it was only a 15-minute walk through a winding, oftentimes uphill footpath to the river that feeds the falls.

However, reaching the river is only one part of the effort. Since we were on the upper side of the river, the waterfall was a little farther off and hidden from our view by a cliff on one side and the mountain on the other.

We, therefore, had to cross the river, taking time to choose an area where the current was its tamest. We then went up some part of the mountain and came down on the other side to get to the falls.

Crossing the river and going over some part of the mountain were by no means easy tasks. But the breathtaking view of Bugasok Falls was reward enough for our difficult and tedious excursion.

How to get there

To get the most of your trip to Argao, I recommend devoting some time to following the trail upriver to get to the falls. This way, I’m told, is an enchanted walk along “forested cliffs and solid rock boulders” where you get to see unique plants and birds.

I don’t know if this is still existing today but there is supposedly a regular tour to Bugasok Falls organized by the Argao local government through its tourism council. Check details of that tour at the official website of the Argao tourism council.

If you want the faster way, then hire a motorcycle for hire. In our case, we paid the drivers of two motorcycles-for-hire 800 pesos each to take us around Argao for the whole day.

The things you should include in your whole day itinerary: Bugasok Falls, view deck in the mountain (if you don’t mind some rough uphill ride) where you are afforded a view of the surrounding countryside, tablea factory (a local industry that involves roasting, grinding, and forming cacao beans into dark, bitter chocolate), weaving industry, torta making, old houses (some over 50 years old), and the walled pueblo (Spanish settlement with some of the original structures existing up to this day). Articles on these attractions coming soon here.

The forum on Oct. 22 to 25 is expected to gather 400 delegates from 156 countries. Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano told reporters “once again, Cebu will be the center of the world stage. It is an opportunity for Cebu to look forward to and grow, and an effective way for Cebuanos to look inward and present its competitiveness and strength as a people to the rest of the world.”

Durano said tourism spots in Cebu, Bohol as well as destinations in Boracay, Palawan, Manila and Cagayan de Oro will be showcased as part of a post-conference tour of tourism hot spots.

“After the event, they will be around Cebu not as delegates but as tourists,” Durano told reporters.

The three-day conference will be held at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa, which hosted ASEAN heads of states during last year’s 12th ASEAN Summit.

Officials said the conference will not only be attended by parliamentarians from 100 countries but also local officials and heads of committees.

Durano said the conference is being held in Cebu because it is a resort destination, has wide international air service connectivity, and meets a certain standard in international conference facilities.

He said the conference will indirectly promote Cebu and Bohol as the premier tourism destination in the Philippines.

DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. said that with the international media mileage that Cebu and Bohol will be getting, both provinces are “guaranteed to be in the world map as a destination for leisure, and international meetings, conventions, incentives, and exhibitions.”

The two events are among the three highlights of the month-long Sinulog celebration in Cebu City in January. One other is the fluvial procession, also held on Saturday but at dawn.

The rains did not stop people from attending the procession that started at 1 p.m. At the start of the line were altar boys and priests, Knights of Columbus members, and a group of physically handicapped individuals.

A FLOOD OF COLORS. Rains did not stop the hundreds of thousands of Santo Niño devotees from joining the Sinulog solemn procession last January 19. Click on photo to enlarge.

Since it was raining, the procession, viewed from atop, looked like a sea of red, yellow, blue, green, pink, orange, and purple umbrellas.

The head of the procession at 1 p.m. was at Osmeña Boulevard near the Ludo-Luym building. When the procession head arrived back at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño at past 2 p.m., it caught up with those at the end who were still unable to march due to the large number of people that attended.

About a million people showed up to follow or watch by the sideline the replica of the Sto. Niño icon that was brought to Cebu nearly five centuries ago as it was held aloft in a glass cart for a 1.7-kilometer solemn procession.

However, only some 200,000 devotees, including seniors and children, braved the drizzle and wet and muddy streets and endured the 1.7-kilometer walk.

Among those who joined the procession were Cebu City officials, led by Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and college students in their school uniforms.

Sinulog solemn procession from Cebu Network on Vimeo.

Thousands joined the Sinulog solemn procession on January 19. Thousands more were at the sidelines, watching devotees recite prayers as they paraded in downtown Cebu City.

Along the stretch of the procession route were altars displaying replicas of the Sto. Niño.

During the pontifical mass held after the procession ended, the murder of a priest in Tabawan, Tawi-Tawi last Tuesday was highlighted.

Bishop John Du said in his homily that people need to live in truth and honesty like a child amid all lies and trials.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, who estimated that close to a million people showed up for the procession, said no major problem was encountered, although some people who fainted or whose blood pressure levels rose were taken to first aid stations.

Sinulog religious procession from Cebu Network on Vimeo.

More photos of the procession (click on the images to view larger photographs):

Lively dance steps and an engaging and skillful performance did the same for Barangay Mabolo in the elementary level of the same competition.

Labangon’s presentation featured a wedding with the newlyweds releasing doves in keeping with tradition and accompanied by their retinue of relatives that included a crying grandmother.

A celebration of union and family tradition, with the Sto. Niño as guide, earned Labangon the high school division top prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

The couple opened a gift box that contained an image of the Sto. Niño whom they worshipped and paid tribute to from then on. The Sto. Niño blessed the couple and it continues to play a central role in the couple’s lives including in the baptism of their first child.

Labangon, whose dancers wore Filipinia costumes and did the traditional Sinulog steps, was also picked Best in Costume. The women in the dance alternately carried hoops of red flowers and bunches of yellow ones while the men held Spanish lamplights on pillars.

Angelo Manapsal, Labangon choreographer, said he incorporated the old concept of the Sto. Niño with the new themes of family tradition and cultural values. He believes this is what won them the top prize in the competition.

Labangon’s win earned for Manapsal the rare feat of back-to-back triumphs in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and Lalawigan contests. Manapsal was also the choreographer for Carmen town, which topped Saturday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan secondary division.

Mabolo performers show the "intensity and high level of performance" that earned for them the grand prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan elementary division.

In the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan elementary division, Mabolo performers were garbed in traditional farming costumes in grey, maroon, and gold colors with large shallow rice winnowing baskets on their backs.

Their dance portrayed worship and veneration of the Sto. Niño over a good harvest. Mabolo performers bested nine other contingents in the elementary division with their “intensity and skillful performance.”

Placing second in the elementary division was Tribu Guardo of Barangay Sambag 1, which was also picked Best in Costume. At third place was Lahug Elementary School followed by Zapatera at fourth and Pasil Elementary School at fifth.

Other winners in the secondary level of the competition are: Tribu Kamayo of the Abellana National High School at second place; Tribu Mag-uuma of Barangay T. Padilla at third place; Barangay Apas SK, represented by Camp Lapulapu National High School,at fourth place; Barangay Basak Pardo in fifth place.

Other photos (click on thumbnails to enlarge):

Native and knitted bags and clothes and shell and wooden accessories from as far as Baguio, Zamboanga, and Davao are sold in the makeshift display tents.

A few stalls also carry shoes, sandals, and slippers–some from the well-known shoe-making city of Carcar south of Cebu City.

STALLS. A month before the Sinulog, stalls start selling native products on Osmeña Blvd., in front of the Abellana National School. Click on photo to enlarge.

One stall has toys and other trinkets–all at 10 pesos each–from Manila while another displays paper products–envelopes, folders, cards, bags, even a lampshade–made from recycled materials by a firm in Mandaue City.

Native accessories made from shell and wood like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are priced at 10 pesos to a few hundreds for really elaborate ones.

Among the products sold by a trader from Davao City are umbrellas with hand-sewn sequins and other decorations for around 2,000 pesos.

Colorful batik sarongs, pashmina scarves, and silk bathrobes from Zamboanga City can also be found in some of the stores. They sell for 90 to 500 pesos.

Other photos (click on thumbnails to enlarge):

Cebu City also placed 2nd in development and promotion, next to Singapore; 4th in the list of 10 most cost-effective cities, and 7th in the best quality of life category.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, according to this Sun.Star Cebu report, welcomed the survey result but said the whole Philippines should improve so that other cities can fare better in the ranking. He said that if other areas of the country are left out in development, Cebu will be burdened by the influx of people.

Osmeña said Cebu “cannot be number one if the whole Philippines doesn’t improve.”

The survey on “Asian Cities of the Future,” according to the Sun.Star Cebu report, was conducted by Foreign Direct Investment magazine published by the Financial Times (FT) group in the United Kingdom.

The report said 60 criteria—from cost effectiveness to human resources and infrastructure—were used by the magazine in evaluating more than 200 big and small cities all over Asia. The judges of the survey include independent location consultants, corporate professionals and other inward investment experts.

Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) Managing Director Joel Mari Yu told Sun.Star Cebu that the city’s ranking is a recognition of what the private sector and the government have done to improve the city.

Yu, however, said the city would have fared better if basic infrastructure such as roads, water and power supply were improved.

“Infrastructure is our weakest point. It should be the focus of our programs in improving business environment. Water and power supply should be the main focus and it should be privatized to ensure stability of supply. The roads should be improved to address congestion in the streets,” Yu said.

Martin Yeung, MSY Holdings Corp. (MSYHC) chief operating officer, said their company is considering opening a resort with villas built on the seas, “just like in the Maldives,” Sun.Star Cebu reported.

Yeung told reporters they are planning to build bungalow villas at a seaside property in Malapascua Island.

He said the bungalows’ floors will be made of glass so that occupants will be able to view the sea from inside the villas. He said that for the project, the company wants to “focus on relaxation” and incorporate scuba diving in the experience.

Yeung said they are planning to build about 30 villas in the property. He said he hopes to start the first phase of the project by the second quarter of this year.

Yeung, however, said this plan is only second priority for the company. It is busy finishing Kandaya, MSYHC’s first resort project, also in northern Cebu. It is being built on a 12-hectare property owned by the Yeungs. The boutique hotel, Yeung said, will have five- or even six-star amenities.

Kandaya began construction more than a year ago and is estimated to cost P500 million. It is now 70 percent to 80 percent complete, Yeung told reporters.

Yeung said they are talking with local government officials on the possibility of building an air strip near the place to fly in tourists.

Yeung said the booming tourism industry in Cebu spurred his family into entering the resort business. He said there is huge growth potential in tourism in northern Cebu.