Showing posts with label Cebu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cebu. Show all posts
Dancing Inmates (Cebu)
Sometimes, in your travel, you will experience different feelings happening all at the same time. You will feel amazed, lucky, happy, sad, confused, wary, and just plain dumbed by what you are witnessing.
More than a thousand prisoners - killers, thieves, rapists, robbers and all other accusations you can think of, are assembled right in front of you. They stand in attention, say a short prayer...... then...... dance!
You see some of the faces as gaunt and serious, some with shifting eyes, and others trying to keep up to the dance steps. And you see the whole ocean of faces many of which are actually smiling.
A thousand orange shirts with a capital "P" moving in perfect coordination.
You knew what you will see before you entered the prison walls - the dancing inmates of Cebu. But as your eyes actually see them, you can't help but blurt out, "what the f*@$ is happening?!"
When all the songs have ended, you get near them, a bit hesitant because of the realities of why they were there in the first place, but comforted by their friendly faces. You take pictures of them and yourself with them. You all smile for the photo op.
You shake hands with some of them. Dusts of happiness seem to have been showered in the compound. You leave the compound smiling, still shaking your head that you just witnessed and experienced an almost unbelievable event.
Me.... I was wondering what was in the heads of the prisoners while they were dancing and seeing us smiling at them.....
iPhone App for Shangri-la Mactan
We just published an iPhone App for Shangri-la Mactan Resort! Its one of the most luxurious resorts in the Philippines. Anybody with an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad can easily download this free application in Apple's App Store. Just search for the keywords: Shangri-la Mactan or go to this iTunes page - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shangrila-mactan-cebu-resort/id427128566?mt=8&ls=1
Something Refreshing
Nope, this is not about watermelon shake, halo-halo or ice-cold beer. Its a simple note posted in the municipal hall of Tudela in Camotes Islands in Cebu. It made me believe that there should be many good things in store for the Philippines, tourism or otherwise. :D
Camotes Islands - Simply Poetic
In my more than 20 years of traveling in every destination I can lay my hands on in the Philippines, I sometimes cannot help but think that maybe I've seen it all and nothing can excite me anymore. Its becoming really hard keeping that air of wonderment and excitement visiting a new destination. There were times that I would wonder whether I'm doing the right thing leaving my home for a few days to discover a new place, new experience, new culture.
But I am so glad to be proven wrong so many times. The thought that beyond the next bend could be a better place has always been my comfort phrase.
Take the case of Camotes Islands in the province of Cebu. For so many years, this group of islands located in the middle of the Philippine archipelago had been regarded as a backward place with almost zero visitor facilities, rough roads, high seas, and simply a difficult place to reach. Even for many Cebuanos, the Camotes Islands is a far, far-away place.
But lucky are those with enough travel and discovery spunk in them and are able to visit the place. And I belong to that lucky tribe. I can't help but declare to myself and the whole world that Camotes Islands is a poetic destination (and I have never declared that in any other place I've explored in the country). It may sound so in-your-face thing, but I simply could not help thinking of it that way.
While riding on a habal-habal (a motorcycle that can sit one or two passengers, and is the usual form of transport in the islands), one would smile at the rustic scenes flanking the smooth roads that cut through communities that look like an unending set of carefully-laid out movie background. Tall trees line the streets, school children walking along the roads, beams of sunlight between trees and canopies... man, any poet would call this place a vacation heaven!
There can be a lot of ultimate places within the Camotes Islands that include perhaps white sand beaches, craggy coastlines, coral reefs that are protected by communities, even caves. But perhaps the bestest sight is Danao Lake. This is a 400+ hectare body of water that has been protected by the communities and the local government units. As of now, not much can actually be done by the visitors except visit the site for five minutes for the usual picture-taking. But if you stay long enough, perhaps get on the only boat that brings tourists around the lake on to an islet, then you would discover that serenity, added by scenic views and the calm waters of the lake could make you compose those little, romantic notes that you bring with you for the rest of your life.
I cannot help but rave about Camotes Islands, but I have to remind everybody that its tourism infrastructure and facilities are not developed yet. Although there are now resorts lining some parts of the coastline (even the crags!), it still lacks quite a lot of requirements that can accommodate many visitors. For now, the destination is for the poets, the adventurers, the snorkelers and divers, and for itinerant travelers like me who are willing to be humbled by a place like Camotes Islands.Camotes Islands can be reached by fast ferry from Cebu City or RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) ships and ferries from Danao City.
Rock Wall Farming in Alcoy, Cebu
Sometimes, when you travel, the rewards come not in the form of beauty, or ambience, or even adventure. It could be about gaining knowledge and realizations on the struggles of our humanity. You witness something you thought would be improbable, then you go home thinking, that - "yeah, there's a solution to every situation!"
Got to see the so-called Rock Wall Farming in the town of Alcoy in Cebu Province. Actually, I was there to see the elusive Cebu Flowerpecker (which I did!). We had to pass through this patch of farmland near the forest area.
This area of Alcoy has a very thin topsoil and largely dominated by limestone substrate. Using their own hands and simple tools, the locals slowly engineered the area to save the remaining soil from erosion and convert whatever tiny patch of soil for farming. Seeing this, I'm remininded how nature survives in poor environments like a limestone area, such as the one in Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park in Palawan. There, plants can grow on tiny pockets of soil, some no more than a cup-full.
The rock wall farming may not be a grand tourist attraction, but it can add to the quality of your experience when you see one.
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