Philippine Travel Notes

As said in the previous story , only few steps from the Borbon Museum and Heritage Bldg. , is the Borbon Church or San Sebastian Martyr Parish Church of Borbon Cebu. Call it good timing or whatever else, but when I reached the church grounds, another Sunday Mass was only starting. And I said: "maybe I should hear this whole service" . Shhh, sa Tabogon kasi, I left during sermon! But first I looked behind me, and wow, this was the view from this church's grounds. Yes, as I said earlier this church is perched on a high ground - a hill of some sorts. I had wonderful views of Camotes Sea (look at that ship, plus the residences below). I walked a little further to the other end of the grounds for this better perspective... I found there is actually another entrance/exit path (Sollano St.) down to the hi-way. It's narrow and steep though. Maybe just good for people walking or on motorbikes? Amazing that facing this church with wide grounds, plus residences sur...

Another unassuming, not-too-often-heard little town, though I heard this is a big one in total land area. Ah, like at Tabogon, I liked walking around this peaceful poblacion . Teka trivia muna. I like pronouncing that word or name Borbon in various ways. It is such a mouthfeel ! You can say it in Cebuano, English, Spanish or French (Bourbon)! Trivia pa more: I read somewhere on FB that there are 2 contending "legends" on how this town got its name Borbon. One claim says: "that it was named after Casa de Borbón in Spain". The other claim says: "no no no no no, it was named after a lumad (native) Cebuano word Bonbon meaning pebbly beach , mis-pronounced by the Spaniards into Borbón ". Hmm, interesting! Is/Was Bonbon a lumad (native) Cebuano word ? Was it, really? Did anyone check the etymology of the Cebuano (Binisaya) 'bonbon'? Baka Spanish yan! Adto na nabaligtad na hahaha! Was "bonbon" already a Cebuano word before ...

The return started! This was per plan , remember ? Yup, that after Tabogon, I'd hop to each next southern town, until I reach Lacion or run out of time - whichever came first ! Borbon was next, so taralets! This run is probably less than 20 kilometers, but the bus took around 20 minutes. I enjoyed it just the same, because we passed via their (coastal) old provincial road. Well, it could have been better if I was seated at front seat or a leftside window. But, what I got was a right-side window - bus started filling, while I still roamed Tabogon. That would be a travel tip - if you're like me who loves the coastal and sea views, on a southern run via the eastern corridor of Cebu island, sit on the left side of the bus. Not that the right side views are abhorrable naman. But they're mostly hills, farms or foliage - most often they would be too close to your face , therefore too close to enjoy . Yet as anywhere, the fields beckoned. Sample? Look here, this w...