It was a lazy Saturday afternoon and I wanted a diversion at that time. I thought a visit to the CPDRC to watch the dancing inmates would perk me up.
So I went to the Cebu Provincial Capitol building where the buses were waiting. I signed up and they gave me an ID pass. Note that the CPDRC show is free and anybody can watch their performance every last Saturday of the month. Just make sure you have a reservation with the Cebu Provincial Capitol Office since every CPDRC show gets a lot of viewers.
CPDRC is in a hilly part of Cebu and going up there in a big bus can actually be a bit dangerous since the road is by the cliff. In fact, we got lost briefly since the guide they gave us wasn't familiar with the place.
Anyway, when we got there we were given a video presentation of the history of CPDRC and the local government's efforts to rehabilitate the inmates through music, creative crafts and gardening.
In the hall outside the room, they were selling souvenirs. Business was brisk since a lot of us (foreign and locals alike) bought the items.
We were then led to the viewing decks to watch the inmates dance. New moves were introduced, there were also expected dance numbers that were similar to that posted on YouTube. Overall, the CPDRC show was a success.
To give you an idea of the CPDRC inmates' dancing skills, here's a sleek video produced by SonyPictures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKtdTJP_GUI and of course the viral video, one of Michael Jackson's favorites, Thriller:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o As update, some of the original dancers of these videos have already been released and I heard that they have formed their own dance group with support from former jail warden Byron Garcia. They visit different jails in the Philippines to train inmates on dances that would help them in their rehabilitation.
This wasn't in my original plan but I was seated on the bus beside a friendly Grandma who was on her way to Simala, Sibonga.I have heard a lot of good things about the place and was curious to find out about the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary.So, I decided to tag along with Grandma Tita and her neighbor Sita.
When we arrived at Simala, we had lunch together (chicken tinola) before entering the monastery grounds.
As can be seen in the photographs, the architecture of the church and the monastery is of Portuguese influence. Set amidst a garden setting, the place was relaxing and conducive to prayer.
As I entered the church I saw a lot of crutches and wheelchairs. Grandma Tita said those were given by devotees who were healed.
I paid Php 50.00 for the bus ride up to Babao and Php 20.00 for the tricycle ride.
I'd like to use this blog to thank Grandma Tita for being my impromptu tour guide in Simala and for being gracious enough to allow me to tag along with them. She has a chorizo business at unit 1 in Ermita (carbon) market.
Four places in four days. I originally didn't plan to take a marathon tour of four places in the Philippines during the holy week break. However, the Cebu Promo rates were hard to resist.
So last week, I took a plane to Iloilo on Holy Thursday, rode a pumpboat to Guimaras on Good Friday, hopped on a fast ferry to Bacolod on Black Saturday and finally reached Silay via jeepney on Easter Sunday. That is a short summary of my adventure last week.
It seems like I was breezing through the whole experience.In reality, it wasn't really that simple. The summer heat was oppressive, which made walking the streets uncomfortable. I had to take paracetamol at one point to ease my headache. Still, I had one of the most satisfying and fulfilling travel experience.
Breakdown of my expenses is as follows:
Air fare (Cebu Iloilo) - Php 850
Air fare (Bacolod-Cebu) - Php 1,015
Pumpboat (Iloilo-Guimaras) - Php 15 x 2 = 30
Fast Ferry (Iloilo- Bacolod) - Php 250
Ong Bun Pension House (Iloilo) - Php 350 Small Wings Pension (Guimaras) - Php 300
LD Pension (Bacolod) - Php 550
Land transportation - Php 276
TOTAL Php 3,071 (excluding lunch, dinner and pasalubong)
Finally, I was able to visit the Family Park or D' Family Park in Nasipit, Talamban. It wasn't difficult to locate since the entrance is just a few meters from the left side of the University of San Carlos School. There is this large identification board at the side of the road.
I walked all the way from the entrance to the other side and around the park grounds. Its a huge park, around 20 hectares. There's a mini zoo for animals rescued from neglect, a swimming pool, a pond and a football size open field for families.
I was at the park on a Sunday and found what seems to be a considerable part of Cebu's population. The family park has slowly become the unofficial park of Cebu City.
For Cebuanos who are thinking of walking and hiking as a replacement for gym workout, this is a good area to start.
I've read somewhere there are those planning to use the ASEAN Friendship Garden as reception area for a wedding except that the Gazebo was yet unfinished. I'd like to announce that the pavilion structure is done and ready for use. It is indeed an ideal place for a wedding reception and for those who want to save several pesos for more important things. the Gazebo is big enough to also serve as bandstand or rain shelter.
The jeepney fare from USC main to Talamban is Php 9.00. D' Family Park entrance fee is Php 10.00for an adult
It's nearly holy week and people go home to their towns to relax and meditate. Some do a self introspection in quiet and peaceful places.
Out of curiosity, I visited Tabor Hills in Talamban. The site has attracted many religious pilgrims in Cebu since the OAD Mission developed the site for the 16 Stations for prayer and meditation in 1998. The OAD itself is an old Augustinian society going back to 1558.
I learned from my officemates that it is an ideal place to spend Holy Thursday. The well-paved paths and the artful grottos depicting the passion and special shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mother and favorite saints are well sheltered by trees and open air structures.
On April 1, several devotees are expected to make their way to Tabor Hills. Since I don't like crowds, I visited the place early.
You can get to Tabor Hills by riding a Talamban bound jeepney. Get off a corner near a signage of the North General Hospital. Take a motorcycle for hire at the side of the rode. The "habal-habal" will take you to the gate of the seminary. Jeepney fare one-way is Php 10.00. Motorcycle fare one-way is Php 10.00
Our national office wanted to do a video documentation as part of their report during the execom meeting. My boss was tasked to act as one of the reporters. I did the script for her segment.
One of the areas chosen for the video documentation was Carcar, a heritage town which is 40 kilometers south of Cebu City. Carcar has as its "One Town One Product" the shoes and sandals produced by local artisans. Some of these sandals are unique because local raw materials are used such as raffia, jute, abaca twine and inlaid shells.
The Carcar Shoe Expo is a vending area for local shoemakers. It is actually a regular part of the itinerary of tourists who visit Cebu.
We had to use the office van so we can bring along the needed equipment and paraphernalia for the shoot. As expected, the video shoot took longer than the three minutes given for the segment. We finished the shoot after wading through a horde of tourists wanting to buy sandals at bargain prices.
Still, I was able to grab a few "devious" moments of delight. It was amusing to watch my boss while she was practicing her lines at nearly 12 noon under the heat of the sun, while I was standing in the shade sipping chilled water and munching on boiled banana.
After an arduous video shoot, the day ended with a hearty late lunch of tinola and inasal. The videographer and interviewer bought a few sandals as souvenirs.
It felt like being in China ... the Mandarin chatterings of diners, the chinese characters on the bottled drink, the chinese language newspaper on the table, and most especially the tangy and flavorful Lomi soup.
From my photos of the dining area, you wouldn't have guessed that this was just a "hole in the wall" restaurant at Plaridel extension in Cebu City.
Of course the proprietors of Ning Nan Chinese Cuisine can always achieve that authentic ambience since they happen to be migrants from the land of the "dancing dragon."
The Lomi soup is made up of noodles, egg, slices of pork or beef, minced vegetables, and spices. It's not only delicious and filling; it is also cheap at 50.00 pesos.
The restaurant is accessible since it is along the road. It is at the side of Princess Bazaar.
I am an asthmatic who is trying to exercise by walking all over Cebu and, more recently, by ambling in picturesque places within the Philippines and Asia. I blog as a way to track my progress. Along the way I take photographs of anything I find interesting.
I hope to someday sell a few of these photos to pay for site maintenance.
Thank you for visiting.
