Philippine Travel Notes

I am a fan, I don’t care what others have to say. Are there really harpists in Cebu anyway? Certainly. And there are many of them. But they are not your usual concert artists at such ‘alta sociedad’ venues as CICC or 5-star hotel lobbies and lounges. Some do not even know what those concert venues are or are for. But they certainly have something in common. Music and musicality in their blood. Yes, am referring to those ambulant beggars making the rounds of Cebu’s residential areas lugging their bulky instruments, to play in front of your gates to receive – if lucky enough – a coin or two. The many decades I’ve been living in Metro Manila, I think I may have encountered something similar at least once. And am not even sure of that. Perhaps my memory is just muddled, as usual hehe! But in the Cebu home, for more than two years now, a week would be too long if I don’t hear, see or meet at least one of them. There are many during the Christmas Season. A permanent fixture that I love liste...

I saw this manong shortly before 8AM today, Independence Day - while Cebu's 'Road Revolution' was in progress. He is a/the newspaper vendor selling all those dailies. But his reading that page caught my interest. That's a full-page call center ad seeking Customer Service Representatives. Could he be considering a career shift?! Oh well, the intriguing signs of our times...

What place comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Pink Sisters"? Hmm, yes, Baguio, then Tagaytay - in that order, right?! But did you know there is also such a monastery in Cebu? Ah, well, not really Cebu City since it is already a few steps away from the boundary. It is in Mandaue City. Yep, that is the 'Adoration Convent of Divine Peace' - a monastery for nuns clad in pink habit, reason why its called 'pink-sisters' and I think you know all about that part, right?! Anyway, this convent (and chapel of course - that's my topic in the first place) sits in an urban neighborhood that is by the boundary of two barangays both named Banilad. Yep, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City and Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City! And that is along AS Fortuna Ave., - the famed strip where many notable restaurants and branches of virtually every bank in this country are located with or without ATMs! Oh yes, as of this writing, AS Fortuna has four hotels, two of them new - and am only...

I like this thing I saw while browsing through the website of Thunderbird Resorts before I made my booking... It says 'Coffee and TEAM Making Facilities'! Of course I know its just an 'inadvertent' typographical error caused by a very fast 'righthand forefinger'!. Everyone on earth is on a rush everytime everywhere, right? Well, the careless signs of our times...

Wrong spelling WRONG! No real dude from Pampanga would write that word so, right?! Then a friend tried to "validate" 'Capangpangan' saying they might have been thinking about the word "pangpang" which means a "rocky ridge" in most visayan languages. But I said "ows" and "wheh" since this eatery is at the very center of Calbayog City. So where's the 'pangpang' hehehe! By the way, the 2nd word, isn't it supposed to be "carinderia"? Ah, whatever! I just love names and signs that make me smile in these our times!

Many of you my readers have been asking similar questions about my spoken language when I travel. So, here are a few of things I learned from my own travel experiences and of other travelers. Let this be a partial compilation! More will follow, I promise you that! Most everyone everywhere in this country speak some form of English. Just don't be too quick to assume you can blab your way around that easily though. Unfortunately, like everywhere else in the world, you have to watch out where your "English" comes from. Example? If you are a Brit, Aussie or one who speaks in any "Asian-English" version, you may encounter a stunned Pinoy who cannot immediately answer (if at all they will - because many will just smilingly shy away)! You may also be irked that they may be asking you to repeat what you say. Don't be offended. Smile, say it again, slowly! American English is very commonly heard, spoken or mimicked especially by the younger set, so that's ea...

We all know what this is, right?! While it may not yet be celebrated 100% worldwide, The Philippines, most of its urban centers anyway is a very active participant of this worthwhile cause. I think since 2008, the very year after Sydneysiders have pioneered that once a yearly event to remind us all on keeping this planet worthy a place to live - for us and for the future generations. This year, Earth Hour 2011 caught up with me while I was roaming for some errands and client meet-ups all over Metro Cebu. I did not even plan to watch or see any of those. But it turns out, I ran into various stages of four such Earth Hour celebrations at various locations - which I might claim was even more than many have seen hehe. And I liked it. Why? It reminded me that more and more people are taking part in this cause! Let's hope it spreads more and becomes more often. Yea yeah, I have seen the many computations all over the web at how much energy this planet can save even for doing just a very ...

I call this place DVD Country just because that is what came to mind when I first tried describing this sea of pirated discs for sale. Others call it a DVD hub, mecca, bazaar, bagsakan, central, arcade and whatever else. But that is one and the same place famous (or infamous) for the proliferation of illegal copies of virtually anything that can be put to disc. Yes, most of them are DVD movies and audio CDs, though not to be outshone are the various installer-discs for just about anything you could think of feeding unto a computer. Let’s go! We went there after the San Sebastian Church accidental visit. But, this time, we took a jeep ride instead of continuing our leisurely walk. After having walked about 2.5 kms from Carriedo, to Quiapo Church, Hidalgo, Raon, MLQU and San Sebastian, somewhere in our muscles and bones started complaining hehe. The mind cannot always prevail when the body is tired. Tao lang hehe. Mind you, we still had the energy to roam around DVD country, so once we a...