Visiting Boggart

Last weekend, I was able to return to the Cebu City Zoo with my family. We were so excited because of two reasons: 1) it was our first visit since the zoo’s management overhaul some months ago, and 2) because it was EA’s first zoo visit! EA, as you may already know, is my cousin’s young kid. Anyways, during the visit, I discovered something really  interesting. The new zoo manager, Giovanni Stephen Romarate, was, in fact, my second-degree cousin! Haha. So, instead of a short walk-through, we ended up with a guided tour with some insider/expert information about the zoo and the animals. Very nice! Hehehehe. Also, we were able to touch the resident superstar Boggart the Bengal Tiger. It was a great great visit!

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Cebu City Zoo’s resident superstar – Boggart the Bengal Tiger

Ziplining In Cebu City

We visited the Doce Pares Ziplining facility in Baranggay Busay last Sunday. The place is (according to the tarp at the gate) the First Zip Line Ride in Cebu. If you can remember, I already featured a zipline facility in this blog a few months ago (the one in Hidden Paradise Mountain Resort in San Fernando.) But technically, San Fernando is not in Cebu City. So I guess the one in San Fernando is the first zipline facility in the province while this one is the first in the city. Correct me if I’m wrong. Hehe.

Anyways, the place is only around thirty minutes from JY Square in Lahug. You can get there via habal2x or taxi. Entrance fee is twenty Pesos per head. I’m not sure how much they collect for young kids, though. Anyways, if you want to zipline, you only have to pay a hundred (up/down).

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We saw this guy ziplining when we arrived. He looks like he’s having a swell time!

Colon Street

Colon Street was built by the conquering kastilas lead by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Considered the oldest street in the entire country, Colon Street was built in 1565 – more than 40 years after Magellan’s defeat in Mactan.

Colon Street is a very important part of Cebuano life, culture, and history. It is also an important force which pushed our small but thriving country towards progress and the modern age. The street has witnessed not only Cebu’s victories and defeats but also the country’s struggles in its quest for freedom, recognition, and acceptance.

At present, people have succeeded in trivializing the value of Colon Street by associating it with fear and annoyance. When people talk of Colon, the words ’pickpocket,’ ‘criminal,’ and ‘beware’ almost always come up. In fact, some people even believe that Colon has become synonymous to its dirty sidestreets and dilapidated buildings.

Luckily, the city government has great big plans for downtown Cebu, specifically Colon Street. A massive rehabilitation program will soon be commenced (hopefully very very soon) to reestablish and revitalize the priceless treasure that only the island of Cebu can ever claim.

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An age-old sketch of Colon Street

Cansaga Bay Bridge

First of all, let me say hi to Mam Inday Myrna (who is currently in Cebu) for the gifts and to Irien for giving them to me. Salamat kaayo guys! Hehehe. I’m sorry you weren’t able to watch the live performance of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center inmates. I’m not sure why their performance was canceled. But I have a feeling that they still performed live for ASEAN leaders who are in the city for a mini ASEAN meet.

Anyways, we were also set to watch the live performance today. However, the guards informed us that the show was canceled. So, we went instead to Mandaue City to check out the newly-completed Cansaga Bay Bridge. The bridge is an integral part of the very ambitious North Coastal Road Project. The project aims to decongest the North National Road as well as attract more investors to the northern part of the island. The bridge was recently opened by the president herself Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

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The Cansaga Bay Bridge

This Is It! (Updated)

This is it, guys! If the Thriller routine didn’t turn enough heads, then this routine, choreographed by no less than Michael Jackson’s longtime choreographer Travis Payne, will make them stop, look, listen, and be in complete awe!

This routine will be included in the official This Is It DVD and will be aired exclusively on CNN.

Anyways, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You guys are awesome! Keep doing what you’re doing!

We are so so so proud of you!

EXTRA:

Behind the scenes photos of THIS IS IT Michael Jackson Drill Dance.

 

Sinulog 2010 Grand Parade

After watching the pyrotechnique contest last Saturday night (January 16, 2009) at SM City Cebu, me and my SSC friends went to Mango Avenue and stayed up until around one in the morning. When I got home at around 1:30 am, my mom and my cousins were all packed for the Mañanita Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. They’ve been waiting for me since 1:00 am, actually because they knew that the Basilica would be packed as early as 12:00 midnight for the 4:00 am mass. So, I was only able to change my shirt and we were on our way. The mass ended at around 6 am and we were able to leave the Basilica at around 7. That was, after four tranformers exploded scaring the gazillion devotees in the pilgrim area. And of course, there was the compulsory near-death experience at the exit point due to the number of people leaving (and trying to get in) the Basilica. After a quick breakfast, we reached home at around 8:30 am. I went to bed for thirty minutes and by nine, I was up again for the annual Sinulog Grand Parade. Hahaha.

Line and I met up at Fuente and we walked all the way to the grand stand taking pictures along the way. I didn’t have to worry about the crowd, thank goodness, because I had a photographer’s ID. All right, I didn’t exactly take a lot of pictures because it felt uncomfortable. Hahaha. I just sort of acted like Line’s assistant. Hahaha.

Anyways, enough of the backstory. Here are the photos I took during the annual parade. I hope they’re worth the wait. Hahaha. Sorry for the quality. I promise to give you better pictures next year puhon. I swear I’m going to get that DSLR even before the drums start beating next year. Hahahaha.

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Walking all the way to the Cebu City Sports Center.

Solemn Foot Procession 2010

Although it didn’t stop raining last Saturday, January 16, 2010, millions of people still showed up for the annual Solemn Foot Procession. According to police estimates, more than 2.3 million people joined the procession. This is about 65 percent of the Cebuano population.

Here are some photos of the event. Hope you like ‘em!

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Sea of umbrellas. Wow!

Fluvial Procession 2010

Again, sorry for this late post. I was supposed to post this before the Sinulog Grand Parade last week but I got really busy. I hope you understand (that is, if someone is actually waiting for these photos. Hahahaha.)

Anyways, here are the photos of the Fluvial Procession held last January 16. It was a very cold and rainy morning but the crowd was just fantastic. More people actually joined the procession this year despite the weather.

Viva Senyor Santo Niño. Pit Senyor, everyone!

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Pit Senyor, kang tatay kini!

Sinulog Festival Queen 2010

The Search for the Sinulog Festival Queen 2010 was held last Friday, January 15, 2010 at the Cebu City Sports Center. The event was supposed to start at seven in the evening right after the grand finals of the Search for Sinulog Idol. However, it rained the whole day and the organizers almost decided to hold the event somewhere else. Luckily, the rain became bearable around 9 in the evening, so the organizers gave it a go.

Last year, 23 contestant joined the contest. This year, only 15 contestants signed up. And the actual number changed on the day of the contest. In the end, only 11 candidates joined the pageant.

Anyways, it was still very fun and the event was very well-attended. So, yeah, here are some photos that I took of the event. I’m very sorry if most of them aren’t completely crisp and clear. I took those shots on the second floor of the stadium and apparently, my camera couldn’t handle night shots that well. But don’t worry. I still have one year to save up for a dslr next Sinulog. Hahaha. Enjoy!

Major Awards

4th Place: Candidate 1 – Banilad Night High School
3rd Place: Candidate 7 – Lanao del Norte
2nd Place: Candidate 10 – Placer, Masbate
1st Place: Candidate 9 – Abellana National School
Sinulog Festival Queen 2010: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros OCcidental

Special / Corporate Awards

Best in Runway: Candidate 4 – Pardo Elementary School
Casino Femme Alcohol: Candidate 4 – Pardo Elementary School
Ever Bilena: Candidate 11 – Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School
Samsung: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
PLDT: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
Miss Photogenic: Candidate 4 – Pardo Elementary School
Best in Costume: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
Best in Musicality: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
Best Solo Performer: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
Best Production Presentation: Candidate 6 – San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

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The 11 contestants of the Search for Sinulog Festival Queen 2010!

Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan 2010

I went early to the Cebu City Sports Center last january 10 to get a good seat. More people usually watch the Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan not only because the event is held on a Sunday, but also because the contestants come from different public elementary and high schools in the city of Cebu. Parents love to support their kids who participate in this said event. And usually, a group of five people would come to support a single dancer. So, imagine how many parents and supporters were actually there. LOL.

Anyways, although I already had a Photographer’s ID, the idea of standing beside the real photographers with my digital camera made me uncomfortable. LOL. So, I stayed near the VIP section in the grand stand and opted to take wide shots and just use the auto-zoom to focus on things that might be interesting.

By the way, here are the winners of the Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan 2010:

Elementary Category
5th Labangon
4th Guadalupe
3rd Cebu City Central School
2nd Lahug
1st Mabolo
Best in Costume: Mabolo

High School Category
5th Banilad Night
4th Don Vicente Rama
3rd Inayawan Night
2nd Camp Lapulapu Night
1st Abellana
Best in Costume: Abellana

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Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan (City) 2010! Pit Senyor!

Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Lalawigan 2010

The Sinulog Sa Kabataan is a yearly street-dancing competition held at the Cebu City Sports Center eight days before the Sinulog Grand Parade. The contingents that take part in the Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Lalawigan come from different elementary and high schools all over the Province of Cebu.

Here are this year’s winners:

Elementary Category
5th Bogo
4th Cambanay
3rd Toledo
2nd Santa Felomina
1st Pajo
Best in Costume: Pajo

High School
5th Naga
4th Toledo
3rd Talisay
2nd Carcar
1st Tayud
Best in Costume: Tayud

By the way, I’m very sorry for this late post. Hehehe. Pit Senyor!

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Sinulog Sa Kabataan 2010

2010 Novena At The Basilica

I’m sorry for this very late post. I’ve been very busy these past few days and my Flickr account is now filled with tons of photos to post. In fact, I still have four events to blog about and as you all know, tomorrow is the big Sinulog Grand Parade. So that means, I will have to take more photos and add them to my ‘to post’ list. By the way, in a few minutes, I’ll be leaving for SM to cover the 1st Pyrolympics. I don’t think I’ll be taking pictures, though, because the battery is busted and if it isn’t fully charged, it just ‘dies’ whenever it pleases.

Anyways, here are some photos of the regular novena mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. You can see many people in the photos but the number is not even ‘huge’ yet.

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Bato Balani Sa Gugma

Sinulog Na!

I’m still uploading the photos I took during the Sinulog sa Kabataan Sa Lalawigan competition last Saturday and the Sinulog sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan competition last Sunday.

Meanwhile, here’s a video of the winning performance of Mabolo Elementary School. The group took home the grand prize last Sunday for the Elementary Level.

Enjoy the video uploaded by tashawally.

Reena Is Miss Cebu 2010

Before the supporters and fans flood my last post about the Ms. Cebu 2010 candidates, let me post the result of Ms. Cebu 2010 Coronation Night held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug. The results are quite unexpected and the early favorites didn’t quite make it to the top. Did you bets win?

Reena Elena Malinao is Miss Cebu 2010!

Miss Cebu 2010 Finalists

POLL

Here are this year’s official Miss Cebu finalists. Who’s your bet?

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