Travel Notes: Philippines

Sinulog 2012, The Big Day Plan

2012-01-15T23:47:00.000+08:00

“Have breakfast wherever you are at 7AM, then immediately hit the streets and walk to your designated / chosen areas”! That was my most important “pretending to be authority” instruction to visiting friends over dinner last night! Some opted for the sports center grand stand (for which I bought tickets a week ago), some stayed with their Crowne Regency buffet, some at the fuente and Mango Ave.

Sinulog 2012 Behind the Scenes: More Stories

2012-01-14T23:30:00.000+08:00

Moving on from the Dulag props, I saw horses! One was a real live horse with a cart (kalesa) and another was a gigantic real-looking white horse still undergoing finishing touches inside a tent. I immediately knew they were also part of the Sinulog groups for everything in this place was as of the moment Sinulog-related. Hmm, they reminded me of Alma Moreno’s Paranaque delegation of many years

Sinulog 2012 Behind the Scenes: Props & Stories

2012-01-14T23:15:00.000+08:00

This story is supposed to unfold after the second paragraph of previous article. So let’s move on! First, I got a closer look at Argao’s main props – the replication of their municipal hall. Am not sure if its called a riser but my goodness it is so vast and big! While all are on wheels, the back areas of those panels can actually house people. Need I say they are heavy?! Golly, look at that

Sinulog 2012: Final Rehearsals

2012-01-14T23:00:00.000+08:00

This is what you become when you have previously watched many a Sinulog Grand Parade… You just yearn to see or hear or learn more of the things behind, beyond or between the usual scenes. And that’s what I just did on this night before the much awaited Sinulog 2012 grand parade. I went to the sports center. Purpose: just to see how folks are preparing it for the big day, probably catch a glimpse

Sinulog 2012: Tent on the Streets?

2012-01-14T21:00:00.000+08:00

I didn’t know this was possible. Just the same I saw it, so it is and can be done! Not that I despise the sight, for with the thousands of vendor stalls and tables scattered all over, this tent was even a better spectacle! Surely not many a visitor would dare do this anyway instead of finding a hotel or inn, right?! Kuyawa ba! So I went near to ask around who maybe bravely in such a tent in the

Another Cebu Musician

2012-01-14T20:17:00.000+08:00

You probably have read my stories and watched my videos on those Cebu harpists. Now here is another one I encountered during my walk on the evening before Sinulog 2012. Yep, I went walking to see how might the Cebu Sports Center be, that eve before the grand parade. That as I gave time for friends to arrive and gather at our designated dinner place. I already know some Visayan songs, yet I did

Sinulog 2012: Of Festival and Faith

2012-01-14T20:08:00.000+08:00

What a day! I was like a mother hen… stayed and roamed around uptown city center but left my visitors roaming on their own. That aside from other friends who were also in town for the Sinulog. This “Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño” was one such activity I did not even think would merit attention from any of my friends. But it did! While some went for the usual “Cebu” things

Sinulog Sa Kabataan 2012 Dakbayan

2012-01-08T23:38:00.000+08:00

If yesterday was Lalawigan (province), today was Dakbayan (city) and still a good show. Ah well the cuteness continued. I mean those little kids as part of a choreographed performance is really something to me – and am sure for most people too because I could see the smiles in many of the spectators. I observed though that the Dakbayan parade has a bit more of the “kaartehan” of performers and

Sinulog Sa Kabataan 2012 Lalawigan

2012-01-07T23:58:00.000+08:00

You already know of course… this is a Sinulog competition amongst children from the various towns and cities of the province of Cebu. While these contests are a week ahead (probably to avoid the main festival getting too long), there are always troops here that shine and move on to become winners in that big day. The parade from capitol to the sports center was a parade of cuteness (see pictures

Sinulog 2012 Opening and Launching Parade

2012-01-06T23:55:00.000+08:00

Okay folksie folks, in ‘compliance’ with coercively dictatorial texts, calls and emails from those of you who live far and can’t come, and those of you who are coming still on the 14th or 15th, here is a snippet of how that opening parade went. Surprisingly dry day. Yeah, not even a drizzle! I don’t have ‘a lot’ of things to say… just ‘many’ hehe: The parade theme was “Cebu: ASEAN City of

Dipolog Dinner: Big Joe’s

2012-01-04T20:45:00.000+08:00

I’ve read about this place somewhere. Someone I asked while walking around also suggested this place for dinner. I actually wanted to be at some ‘manokan country’ or ‘larsian’–style place but it looked like either there is none in Dipolog or Big Joe’s is really a must visit. So it won! My first impression? “Who says all the nice dainty little restaurants are in the metropolis?” Here’s another

Elsewhere Dipolog and the Boulevard

2012-01-04T20:28:00.000+08:00

I walked to it from the city hall area! Not near but not too far either, thus, a good chance for me to witness more of the city. And the more I wondered why trikes had to have days off when there were not so many as I walked. Hmm, maybe because it was a Saturday. Not far from the city hall, there is a “pasalubong store” that has almost all delicacies you can find in the city and beyond. Sardines

Dipolog City Hall

2012-01-04T20:14:00.000+08:00

From the Cathedral, I continued my leisurely walk towards the park and the city hall. Nice place too! Jose Rizal is prominently enshrined in the middle of the park. Plus being the holidays, the park was adorned with many things Christmas including a life-size tableaux of the nativity. Giant “candle sticks” adorned with so many lights were in place too! Hmm, I knew these would been nice to view in

Dipolog City Cathedral

2012-01-04T20:04:00.011+08:00

“Over”! That’s what I first thought as I looked at the church upon alighting at the park. It was because I saw military men by the gate and I thought they were there to perennially guard the church. And the lowly brain even went far as to debating why this church would have military dudes with long firearms when even Cotabato’s or Zamboanga’s Cathedrals don’t have them. I continued onwards though

Dashing Through Dipolog: Going City Center

2012-01-03T19:56:00.005+08:00

I was just on an overnight transit in Dipolog going to Dakak. Not even 24 hours, since I arrived at noon and scheduled to leave early morning the following day. But happy I did this transit thing in Dipolog City! I got to see some bits ‘n pieces of the city that, I told myself… “MacArthur”! That means “I shall return”, remember?!After lunch, and after roaming a bit of Hotel Camila 2, I decided to

Hotel Camila 2, Dipolog

2011-12-31T20:17:00.000+08:00

We are on the topic anyway, so let me proceed with describing my overnight accommodations in Dipolog City. And that is at the Hotel Camila 2. Lunch This was to be my first and only lunch in the city since early following day I would head onwards for Dakak - and after two days there and a day in Dapitan, I would zoom through Dipolog again on the way to the airport. So I was all set to taste, see,

Fantastic Hotel Reception at Dipolog

2011-12-31T19:55:00.004+08:00

Funny meet-up at the airport's arrival area… even funnier arrival at the hotel. This was probably my day! As if I was some kind of a politician, the crews obviously went a quandary on my arrival! Yeah literally! I could see their hurried and harried movements as we approached! Once the Ford Expedition stopped at the hotel’s foyer, driver hurriedly got off and ran to my side to open the door for

Dipolog, Here Comes I

2011-12-30T20:14:00.000+08:00

Just a week after I arrived from Cotabato City, I was off to Mindanao again! This time to the twin cities of the south, that is Dipolog and Dapitan, on the way to Dakak! Hmm, I just noticed now, this trip teems with the letter “D”!My flight said ETD: 1045H, but at exactly 1030H, there we were, all passengers seated, doors already closed and the stewardesses already doing their safety

How far and how long?

2011-12-25T20:00:00.000+08:00

When we plan to travel, we always want to have at least an estimate how far our destination is, and how long will it take us going there. Right? Yes for many seasoned roamers! And many a traveler can tell you that point A to point B is these many kilometers, or point B to point C takes ‘about an hour’ and so on. Those are good information to start with, but usually, not good enough. Why? Because

Good Views On A Bus Trip

2011-12-24T20:00:00.000+08:00

Where? Which part? Aber? The truth is it depends on where you are going and what you consider as ‘good views’. In general, asking around may not sometimes suffice. A little bit of research and a little bit of history will get you to decide where you want to sit. That serious?! Well, I am, and I know some who also are. This is one important matter I always consider when traveling by bus. Not

Beware the Freezing, Steamy and/or Musty Buses

2011-12-23T20:00:00.000+08:00

New buses freeze When riding the reputable aircon buses, make sure you bring something to ward off the cold - like a sweater or a jacket. All of them buses, when still working properly, could get very cold for the normal Filipino – fat or thin! Take note: this is even if you were traveling on a sizzling hot summer day. Others prefer to add headgears such as bonnets, bandanas or scarves that can

Bus Reservations

2011-12-22T20:00:00.000+08:00

When going to Ilocos or any of the destinations that require long bus rides like Bicol, it is always better to make a reservation. For most of these bus companies, just a telephone call is enough (if you can get through, that is). But for some, you need to go to their booking station/s (if any) or the bus station itself to pay for your tickets and choose your seats in advance. This becomes a

RORO Touchdown, Calbayog City

2011-12-13T19:21:00.000+08:00

What a lovely morning as we arrived at the Maguino-o Port of Calbayog City! The moon was just about to settle beyond the silhouettes of probably Masbate and Samar's nearby little islands out in the western horizon, while the lush forests of Samar was already highlighted, outlined by an orange-bright morning sun still inching up behind the mountains. With a gentle cool breeze from land, ah a

RORO Roaming: M/V Filipinas Dinagat

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000+08:00

The economy section you would already know from my descriptions in previous stories. Remember, if you are one who must watch the tube before sleeping, there is only one such small thing and it is located at the frontmost left corner (middle of ship) near the door that leads to business and tourist classes. No comfort room. You have to go down a staircase to a lower level for that. But that lower

Roof Deck Dinner, On M/V Filipinas Dinagat

2011-12-11T18:07:00.010+08:00

So, as said in the previous story, I excitedly went up to find the roof deck. Folks, for those who are not used to these boats, careful up or down the stairs. They’re narrower than normal, and in the case of M/V Filipinas Dinagat, its also steeper than usual. A bit tricky to negotiate – especially if you were carrying two Sky Flakes, a Coke in can, and that big paper bowl of very hot instant