Philippine Travel Notes

These are just my short takes. Here we go… Aside from the performing groups of dancers, these giant whatevers called “Higante” are also quite an attraction. Yep, its also a contest, and they’re getting weirder and funnier by the year. Adds to the fun, I assure you! Some do have dramatic depictions like H-07 that is of a wheelchair-bound woman complete with an IV-Bag and something to the nose (probably an oxygen supply or something). You have to be imaginative to understand them. This one is carrying the Sto Nino – so I think it is trying to portray hope and belief that she’d be healed from that ailment by the help of the child Jesus. Oh, in case you didn’t notice, there is another higante supposed to be pushing her wheelchair! Aliw di ba?! Ah this next picture is a robot with a tank-like body, and yes, carrying the Sto. Nino! My lowly brain gave up trying to make out a meaning hehe, but this thing (H-02) was a hit to many kids! Behind it is another “I don’t know”. Probably a superh...

I don’t know with you, but for me, as usual, it was funtastic! From in front of the Carreta Cemetery, we made our way leftwards (other friends went rightwards) by passing in the middle of the street. Yep, competing groups were already at their respective starting positions along the parade route, and military-training students were already barricading the sides with ropes. But everyone could still enter since the parade was still a long way from starting. It was just about 8:15AM! So everything and everyone of them we passed by were either doing some ’finishing touches’ or just waiting for 9AM. Wait wait… I noticed, even until now, there are still many folks who keep asking “where the Sinulog Grand Parade starts”. My answer, it starts everywhere in the designated route! How is that? Well, its something they call a “carousel parade”. Meaning? Participants stand along the designated route, all of about 4 or 5 kilometers of it. Then at exactly 9AM, everyone starts dancing forward. Fin...

“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. areas while me and 2 resident friends opted for Imus again. Being billeted at various places, we decided not to anymore meet as a group for the day but instead re-group by night time after the parade and presentations. Thanks to cellular communications not being cut off like it was over at the Black Nazarene celebrations in Manila! This meant my visitors and I had so many versions of the grand parade and presentations. And it was fun comparing notes with everyone else during late dinner. Too many points of view, too many debates, too many altercations hehe. But a lot of unanimous decisions too!...

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 ago. They had real big elephants and a real baby elephant as part of the parade and final performances. Anyway, I asked the ‘kalesa driver’ which group they were part of and why were they already around. He told me they’re part of Argao’s La torta Festival contingent about to do their turn onstage for blockings and rehearsals. Exciting! Can’t leave the place without going near the ‘big horse’! There was a manong busy cleaning up and I asked him which group his gigantic horse belonged to. Argao also! I asked permission if I could go near (and touch) that mighty white horse and he said go ahead. ...

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 thing waiting for its cue on the side of the stage and look at the people around it. Mighty big… and I know its not even the biggest or vastest of props that the Sinulog Festival contingents usually deploy. Yes OMG really! I walked onwards and by the ‘steeplechase’ water pit of the oval, I chanced upon more of gigantic props, risers and whatevers. You’d really appreciate more of the labours of these groups when you get to see these humungous props. They are so big you’d think the original Miss Saigon production would be such a tiny thing! I was in front of some ‘giant bamboo trunks’ and risers...

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 or two of the various competing groups from out-of-town, housed at Abellana National School and Cebu Central School. Perhaps also ask a question or two about their “story”. I was not disappointed! I arrived at the place with one group busy doing their final rehearsals onstage. That as familiar folks awaited on the sides. Their shirts said Argao. Ah the fantastic Torta Festival that won raves as street dancing first prize winner over at the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2011. I just thought my goodness, they or any group for that matter should already be resting this time for tomorrow’s grand day of da...

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 middle of the city. This one by the way was pitched under the stairs of that pedestrian overpass along Jones Ave near Robinson’s Mall / Cebu Midtown Hotel (hospital side). Ah, the henna guys! Yup, those artists who can paint your body with just about any design using henna ink instead of real permanent tattoo. When I asked, they even seemed alarmed so I guess, in general, it is never allowed. But when I told the guys, I was no ‘authority’ and just wanted to know, they merrily entertained my questions. I learned that they pitched said tent just to house some of their materials together with the...

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 not much get what this old man was playing. I just knew it was also a Visayan song. I listened in and watched him bang those strips to create his music. The left hand even has two sticks! Hmm, while I did toss a coin into that small box on the left end of his instrument, I think I helped him a bit since my watching (and taking a video clip) attracted other passers by who in turn tossed coins to the box. His wife, equally old was just beside smiling at everyone and greeting them “Pit Senyor” or thanking them for the coins. I have seen a lot of beggars do music for alms, some even singing… but ...