Scenes From A Flores De Mayo

Every year during the month of May, we pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary by offering flowers every afternoon for the entire month. The rosary is recited and hymnals are sung during the ritual. Participants are mostly young girls and young ladies. Little girls are often dressed like angels while the young ladies wear white... It is called Flores De Mayo...

Young girls look forward to this event, and mothers are only too willing to let them participate. Here the little angels patiently wait for their cue to walk down the aisle towards the altar.

They are now preparing to walk to the altar...

At the altar they sing songs and say prayers for the Holy Mother Mary...

The offering of flowers...

Capturing the sweet innocence of young children...

Time to go home with Mother in tow...

Scenes From A Rainy Day...

Summer is definitely over! The weather forecast for the coming days is - more rainy days to come for the whole archipelago due to a low pressure area. True enough, we did not see the sun today. And indeed it rained...

There was a mad dash as kids were caught in the rain...

But some just took it slowly. No mad dash, unmindful of the rain two girls continue with their walk, and still were able to manage some smiles...

And the plants were (I think) the most happy. After the summer heat - refreshing coolness of the rain! They can now drink to their fill...

Some of Cebu's Old Houses

These are some of Cebu's old houses reflecting the designs of the times they were built. Most of these have been turned into museums...

Yap-Sandiego House Circa 1800 (will be turned into a museum)

Casa Gorordo Circa 1800 (museum)
Balay Na Tisa Circa 1800 (Museum)
Cebu Cathedral Convento (Museum)
School Circa 1900
House in Carcar 1930's (Museum)

Don Gil Garcia's House 1930's (still being used but not as a house)

Archbishop's Palace 1950's (still being actively used)

References: Heritage of Cebu
Heritage Conservation Society

Cebu's Old Buildings (Part2)

Here is the second part of our series on Cebu's old buildings... In the first part, we looked at historical buildings which are still being used and thankfully well-preserved. In this part we would lament over those old buildings which were not fortunate enough to survive...

I do not know which fate is much worse - being in ruins or end up looking like these below! This is a circa 1920 building. I just wish the signages were less blatant.

This is one sight which really breaks my heart. If I could, I would strip off all the signages, take off the facade and transfer it in some other place where it can better be appreciated. I think there is no other facade like this in existence in Cebu and it deserves a better respect.

Credits: Cebu Heritage

Some of Cebu's Old Buildings

I have this fascination for old buildings... Mute witnesses to long gone era. Some of the times and events they may have witnessed were good, while some are best forgotten (like war)... I have often wished our local government would exert super-extra efforts to preserve historical and even non-historical old buildings and encourage our youth to cherish them, otherwise they may just fade into oblivion... Which is sad because they don't make these kind of buildings anymore. Just look at the intricate facade and columns...Most of our buildings right now are made of steel and glass. Also beautiful but just in a different way.

Here are some of the old buildings which are still in existence, still being used, and thankfully preserved!

Cebu Provincial Capitol

Cebu Normal University

Rizal Memorial Library & Museum

University of San Carlos

Prudential Bank

Bank of The Philippine Islands

Note: Thanks to Heritage of Cebu and Heritage Conservation Society for promoting awareness and information about our treasures. Hopefully there will be more support for your efforts!

Fiesta Sa Compostela Cebu

It is May and we are going to Compostela in Cebu to attend a town fiesta!

We are here now. Do not be mislead by the absence of the people on the roads...

Chances are most of them are busy with their food preparations. A fiesta is not complete without the honored presence of the “inasal” (called lechon in Manila and Luzon). The poor pig probably never knew his fate (as he was being fattened up) that he would end up on the dining table. At least he was not alone in dying for the glory of the fiesta, because the poor chickens suffered the same fate too…

But first we have to attend the mass…The “banda” and the “carosa” were patiently waiting outside for the procession that will follow after the mass. Take note that “banderitas”are always present during fiestas or any town activities.

The procession…

If only the pig and the chickens could see the faces of the guests, they would probably sigh and say “at least we have not died in vain…our lives for your happiness”.

And this is everybody’s favorite part (including mine of course!) – eating time! Yeheey!

Olango Island

Olango Island, for those who are not familiar is an island situated off Mactan Island or Lapulapu City in Cebu. It is a wildlife sanctuary, a haven for migratory birds from Siberia, Northern China, and Japan. The sanctuary supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the Philippines. It is one of the seven best-known flyways in the world for migrating birds. These birds flock to the island seeking refuge from the winter climate of other countries.

From Cebu Hilton, we took one of these boats (or motorized bancas) to ferry us to the island...

Here is a view of the city we just left behind (Lapulapu City)...

And this is the island we shall be visiting. It was high tide and it started to rain that is why the view is dark and lonely.

No birds in sight!

Kawasan Falls

A friend of my sister who is now based in Michigan decided to come home for vacation. Went on a journey retracing life while still here in Cebu. This will chronicle some of the places visited...

Mission Destination: Kawasan Falls

Okay okay, I know everybody has been there at some point in their youth. But let's just take another trek down memory lane... Remember this path?

At this point, the breeze is now a bit cooler and one could already hear lots of chirping birds singing their songs!

Wow! The water here runs cool and soothing on somebody's hot and dusty feet...

This part here one could hear already the sounds of the falls... but could not see it yet... anyway the river looks picture perfect.

Lo and behold! The prize at the end of the trek - the falls...

Unfortunately, look - human invasion ruins the scene for me. Forgive me but I believe that some places should be left raw and pristine, and natural as possible so that the next generations will be able to enjoy them like we do now...