Maria Luisa Estate Park

It's Been Quite Awhile...

It's been quite a while...

I missed tinkering, surfing other pages, reading reactions... but sadly I don't have the luxury of time anymore. Many other concerns are vying for my attention and most especially...you got it right - my time.

My internet connection was also another cause of my misery. I could rant like someone crazy till the end of time, but (sigh!) what's the use? Globelines will never care! So I just have to grit my teeth and suffer when the connection goes bad, and patiently wait for years before their technicians will arrive to look into our problem...

We're also tight on the budget right now and perhaps like the rest of the nation are feeling the pinch of the rising prices of commodities. I began thinking of getting additional projects, unfortunately have not found success yet. My brother who had just returned from a job in Taiwan, has began searching and applying for some jobs in the Middle East. I think that he may have some better chances of bagging a job. And although he is trying hard to pretend to be nonchalant about it, I guess that he is secretly looking forward to a call and perhaps some fat contract. Fat contract? Fat chance! Oh well, only time can tell...There are multitudes of Pinoys running to the Middle East for better job prospects. Some became successful, but some... well only time can tell. I'll just wish my brother good luck and will give him my prayers...

Poor Clare Monastery (Cebu)

Have you ever visited the Poor Clare Monastery at one point in your life? It is tucked in a hilly lot but overlooking the sea...

This is their driveway. That Sunday of our visit a group of 3 people mindlessly practiced driving a motor scooter disturbing the otherwise serene and peaceful silence of the monastery. That some people could be so thoughtless is beyond me. But the thought that the security guard allowed it to happen... I mean hey! it is not a practice area - are we forgetting here that it's supposed to be a monastery?

To the left of the driveway (if one is coming from the outside) is the building where the nuns would entertain guests and other people seeking counsel perhaps... If we may not have a chance to speak with a nun, there is a box there for prayer petitions. We dropped ours in the hope that the nuns will include them in their prayers. Sometimes some problems need a battery of prayer warriors...

This is their chapel on the hill...

This is how it looks inside... On the right side is an enclosed space where the nuns do their prayers. There were nuns praying on that day and I wanted to have their picture taken. But I decided to refrain from doing so... I guess they deserve to have some private moments...

Part of their garden is a grotto of our Lady...

VECO

VECO or Visayan Electric Company, used to have older men as tellers or cashiers as long as I can remember. But lately, I think they are trying to reinvent their image and even the look of their office. They have moved out of their D. Jakosalem office and settled some of their departments at the third floor of SM City Cebu. This is now how they look:

In fairness, paying time has vastly improved. Not much waiting time anymore with more cashiers ready to receive your payments. They now also have a call center and customer service staff to attend to your calls... I still think though the bills are still horrendously high!

Puto Maya And Sikwate

Usually piping hot puto maya and sikwate are sold on early mornings. But my sister discovered somebody selling them at night-time when people are rushing home from work. This woman-seller positioned herself at the corner of a busy junction (between the highway and the baranggay road), and quite unbelievably managed to have them all sold out.

Because her puto and sikwate are yummy, they're quite a hit among her loyal customers. For those living abroad, here is wishing you were here to share this treat... (kuwang na lang mangga!)

For those not familiar what puto is - it is pilit (glutinous rice, which is either all white or tapul like the one above), cooked like rice in coconut milk, sugar, ginger, and a little salt. While sikwate is our local chocolate made from cacao.

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!