New day. New beginning.

Our boatman to another barangay.

Today's catch.

Typhoons Ondoy. Sendong. Pablo. Yolanda. Glenda. 

These are the names of the most destructive typhoons out of the regular 19 tropical cyclones/ storms that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility annually. 

And every year, we lament on the impact of disasters saying we are ill-prepared. And worse? We will be hearing stories of rotting rice in the warehouses  and corruption in the construction of new homes. Time and again, we know that fraud and corruption are high in an emergency phase as the urgency and rapid inflows of aid can weaken the institution (and more so if it is already weak).  Also, this will challenge coordination work between agencies to ensure all affected areas are covered- not too many relief in one area while those outside of the center are forgotten.  

Take Typhoon Yolanda. For its magnitude of destruction last year, we received a lot of foreign aid (in cash and pledges). The government made a website  of FAiTh, or the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub where foreign countries, multilateral organizations, NGOs, private individuals and anonymous donors are posted. Great initiative I think but here's the catch: You can't download the reports per aid. You can download the full report but you can't open it! 

Remember the scandal hounding Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region XI through its Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of
Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) report of forging of signatures and other anomalies on 

construction of houses for Typhoon Pablo survivors? Do we need another disaster before we 

get our acts together? Or how many more disasters do we need to be able to strengthen our 

coordination work?  

Creation of shelters is the first priority of families. because shelter is anchored on rootedness and sense of normalcy. Building new homes then should be durable (can withstand Signal #3 typhoon), comfortable and provide privacy for the family. It is not just about distributing money  like P5,000 or GI sheets. It will entail a different community reorganizing wherein skilled labor and distribution of materials and other logistics have to be considered. We have a lot of indigenous materials like amakan and bamboo for rebuilding homes. In fact George Bankoff on his book, Cultures of Disaster in the Philippines, argued that  our construction of nipa houses are a part of our adaptation for the disasters that we face annually. 

My dear friend Mel was assigned to undertake the supervision of the Shelter Project in Capiz  in partnership with HEKS (Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz, the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland). Task Force Mapalad, the local NGO conduit made an assessment and found out that Capiz Province specifically coastal towns in Capiz Province have not received any aid nor much media attention. Focus was in Tacloban, Leyte and Samar. So they started the work and after five months, they have now built 1, 817 houses in Panay (Brgy. Butacal, and Brgy. Bantigue), President Roxas (Brgy.Dulungan, Brgy. Binaobawan and Brgy. Rosario), Dao (Brgy. Manhoy, Brgy. Quinayoya, Doyuc and Matagnop), and Pontevedra (Brgy. Manapao). 

Old and new braces. Rebuilding homes.

The shelter project made use of amakan (woven bamboo walls) and GI sheets but with additional braces (diagonal braces) for the roof and strengthened the posts by putting cement and iron braces. Workers are from the community and labor is a counterpart from each family. And the house including labor only costs P25,000 each. A far cry with the P550,00 bunkhouse made in Cateel by DSWD. Though Sec. Soliman said it was due to bigger floor area and more materials needed. Let's suspend judgement then until COA report will be released (when? We do not know exactly!). All I can say is, it's very appalling when the government agency and institutions you expect to help in bringing back the communities better will even victimize twice the victims.

For the turn-over ceremony, we went to Brgy. Binaobawan and stayed there for the night. We were greeted by laughing kids and smiling mothers. The program the next day started with a boat ride going to another barangay and sharing of food among different sitios and neighboring barangays, dancing and games. And boy, I never wanted to leave. The crabs, shrimps, sasing (seaworm) and tikhan (seashells) will always leave you wanting for more. 

The people here know they will never be truly safe from more disasters coming. Relocation is not just about leaving and going to another place. Livelihood, memories and a familiar place are part of living. And in their case, they have started in-site relocation and rebuilt their homes to locations that are still near their livelihood, ready to face whatever the next day's challenge will be. 

The mothers think I am crazy. :)

Orange is the new black.  Bounty from Brgy. Bantigue.

Women taking charge.

Contrary to popular belief, Ricky Martin lives and now serves as Board Member in Capiz. O_0

Fried sasing (seaworm)

Lukon.

Tikhan (seashell), another seashell you can eat.

Dance and movement is a therapy for young and old alike.

Sexual allusions. Eggplant and box of matchsticks (egg is impractical) race.

It took me some time to write about our adventure in Bohol. Got all tangled up in the busy world of work and I lost my notebook. When I travel I always have a small notebook for doodles, thoughts and what-nots. And this is the first time I lost one for a long time. Darn!

So what can I say with Bohol?

As the whole world knows, Bohol suffered the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. I and Liezl, my perennial travel buddy and together with the new recruit Boni went there during the Holy Week. Liezl's elder sister, Ate Leah worked in Tagbiliran City (Bohol's capital) for Save the Children. After the earthquake disaster, there were a lot of international organizations that came in for reconstruction work.

There were volunteer works for rebuilding the houses and several strategic public infrastructure. What is most heartbreaking? The lives and livelihoods lost. And the community's soul in century-old churches. Churches split in half and turned into rubble. The Baclayon Church, known to many for the place where the Baclayon Childrens Choir made its debut and home of several historical activities split in half. Based on the final report, 7 churches totally destroyed and 21 were damaged. Ten churches of the island's churches have been declared as national cultural heritage, now reduced into rubble: 
1. San Pedro Church, Loboc (built in 17th C. by the Jesuits; paintings added in 20th c; Bohol's 2nd oldest Church.)

Baclayon Church

2. Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria, Baclayon (oldest church in the island, built in coral stnes and cemented by egg whites. It houses a museum with large collection of historic artifacts)
3. Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Loon, Bohol (locally known as BIrhen ng Kasilak Church; the biggest in the island, built by the Augustinian- Recollects in Corinthian style) 
4. Loay, Bohol (established in the 19th century, built from coral stones)
5. Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Dauis, Bohol (built by the Jesuits in various style; believed to have a well inside used by the residents during the war; water is viewed as miraculous). 
6. Parroquia de la Santa Cruz, Maribojoc, Bohol (another church built by the Jesuits in 19th century)

Right after the quake, there was an abuzz of disbelief that these churches were damaged, with nothing left to restore as all of it was pulverized As the National Historical Commission chief Maria Serena Diokno said churches form "part of the soul of the community."  There were a lot also who lamented that churches are structures, what is important are the lives of the people.  

There is an ongoing Help Rebuild Bohol Churches by the Diocese of Tagbilaran and the National Historical Institute (NHI). You can donate or be a volunteer, just click the link. 



When we were there, we're advised not to drink the water from local sources. Boil it first before drinking as water has been found out of e-coli. Water table moved. The shoreline of the beach in the municipality of Clarin for instance moved back with a width comparable to a football field. Reports also said that there was yellowish water that sprouted after immediately after the quake in October 15, 2013.

The waves used to be reach the rocks here

We stayed in Bohol for 5 days- quite a long time to relax, discern and also rekindle our faith. The procession during Good Friday was the longest and biggest I have ever seen in my entire life! People from all walks, including chidlren holding the rosary and singing the hymns. And after the procession, as we went back to the Church, there was a beeline to see the body of the dead Christ. What was nerve wracking was when the line broke out in haste to go to the carriage and get the flowers surrounding the body of Christ during the procession. There was crying, shouting, pushing and shoving. It was a frenzy..a show of devotion I never saw in real life. I only saw this kind in TV during the Black Nazarene. Was it desperation? Fanaticism? 

Procession from Dauis Church

Procession at Tagbilaran Cathedral

Bohol is an island with lots of things to offer- not just the white sand beaches in Panglao, the Chocolate Hills, or the tarsiers. More so, it houses a lot historical memories, of deep-seated religion as well as revolution. I am interested with how revolutions started and how it ended. An uprising,led by Francisco Sendrijas alias Dagohoy was considered as the longest revolt, taking around 85 years (1744-1829) for the Spaniards to quell. Revolt was due to the forced labor (polo y sevicios). But it was triggered when the Jesuit priest Fr. Gaspar Morales, the Jesuit curate of Inabanga refused to give burial to Dagohoys brother (a constable who was ordered to capture one parishioner who left the church, and was killed in the process). Even after Dagohoy's death, his followers continued the fight. 

Tamblot on one hand, is one of the babaylans  who refused to follow Catholicism.Fr. Murillo Velarde recounted their attempts to quell the revolt in Historia de Filipinas and translated by Blair and Robertson, Vol. 38 (pp. 87-91). 

Sadly, the name Dagohoy is only relegated to a municipality and Tamblot, a small narrow street. It was never a part of the official, mainstream tours. And it is indeed a challenge for historians and tourism office to go beyond the usual tour sites. For rebuilding is not only structures as well as our memories of the past. 

What lingers with Bohol? The people's resilience and beautiful sunset. I was moved by the lola who dressed up the Crucifix. They continue the masses either in gyms or makeshift churches, rising to the so called "alternative Churches."  On the hindsight, aren't churches before are not big structures but anywhere we worship and commune together to celebrate the Word? 
As one lola said, "Ang among pagtuo dili gyud maguba (Our faith will never be destroyed)." 

For during typhoon or any disaster, our faith will help us survive.

Colorful banca at Loboc River

To have an undying burning passion of hundred Suns. :)

Thank you Ate Leah Bugtay for being a gracious host. Good health for you always to continue your service.

Dauis Church, Bohol (April 19, 2014)

Does sunset sometimes
look like the sun’s coming up?
Do you know what faithful love is like?
You’re crying. You say you’ve burned yourself.

But can you think of anyone who’s not
hazy with smoke?

- Rumi

The Holstee Manifesto

With my Mommy Suzette, the ultimate traveler in the family.

Salimpusa. Ang salimpusa, saling-pusa, salingkit o salingket ay isang katawagan sa isang "bisitang" manlalaro sa anumang uri ng laro. Isa itong manlalarong bata na hindi pa totoong kasali sa laro sapagkat, dahil sa kaniyang murang pag-iisip at pisikal na gulang, hindi pa makasusunod sa mga patakaran at batas ng laro. Kunyari lamang na totoong kasali o tunay na manlalaro ang panauhing bata. Karaniwang isinasali nang ganito ang bata para mapagbigyan ito at maiwasan umiyak.

In this trip, I am a salimpusa in the group of my perennial travel buddy and colleague Ate Liezl. She’ll be meeting her college buddies. I just tag along and be the great salimpusa. Haha! The four women- Ate Emily,Liezl, Rachel and Bingbing became my new friends and travel companions in the Queen City of the South.

It is said that every person should maintain at least 3 kinds of friendships:
1. friends of your own age whom you can talk over your problems, plans and goals with confidence;
2. friends older than you to whom you can confide and be assured of wise counsel;
3. friends younger than you to whom you can share your life’s experiences.

It is not only in being helped but in helping others that you can find true friends.

Cebu, originally called as Sugbo prided itself with so many things. It has a lot of stories to tell. Before the coming to the Spaniards, it was the center of trade and commerce in the south. Trading with Chinese ships arrived with silks and porcelains bartered for honey, gold, wood and spices.

In 1521, the Spanish troops headed by Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu and presented a Santo Niño (image of the Child Jesus) as baptismal gift to Rajah Humabon and his wife, Hara Amihan. Magellan converted most of the locals Catholicism.


But when Magellan reached the narrow strait to Mactan Island, Lapu Lapu, the chief, resisted his entry and fought against the Spanish troops killing Magellan in the famous Battle of Mactan. Cebu’s invasion was delayed until Legazpi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta arrived in 1566.



Cebu embraced Catholicism with great fervor. It’s no wonder old churches abound here. Ate Emily, our host, the Sec. of Tourism (hehe!) prepared our iterinaries. For the first day, we are the pilgrims. We visited Marian Hills in Simala, Municipality of Sibonga (located between Argao and Carcar City). It is around 2 hours travel from the Cebu City center.

Called as the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, this is the church for the Marian devotees. It is very popular among believers for the miraculous Virgin. devotees are not just women but also men! :) I was astounded by the place. Just after a decade, the place improved tremendously. The ‘Mga Monghe ni Maria’[Monks of Mary] supervises the Monastery.



Personal letters addressed to the Virgin Mary are also displayed. Try to read them and you’ll be inspired. You can also write your petition letter or thanksgiving letter. People from different places flock to the church everyday!


From Simala, we passed by Carcar town public market and tried the famous lechon and puso (rice wrapped in coconut leaves) and softdrinks! One kilo of tasty lechon is only P300! Ate Liezl’s father cooks lechon too and as a lechon 'expert' taster , she swears it is one of the best lechon! The lechon’s tasty, you no longer need any condiments.


Aside from lechon, Carcar also is home to chicharon (not made of intestine but of pork skin), ampao, banana chips and coconut jam.


Carcar also houses the biggest shoe! Guinness World record holder which stands 3.6 meters, length of 7.6 meters and width of 2.9 meters!

Time to shop for shoes, but not for me, but for my inaanaks! (heard that Baby Kelon and Shan-shan loved those cute espadrilles!)

Then stop-overs to the old churches from the cities and municpalities we passed going to Simala. Churches in Minglanilla, San Fernaado and Carcar is just a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I always love old churches. I can get lost in the depths of its history, the power welded in the name of religion and people's manifestation of faith.


Santo Tomas de Villanueva or Pardo church


Minglanilla Church looks like a cake. It's already renovated.


San Fernando Church



Carcar Church (also known as Santa Catalina Church)

The next day is for the beach!! I love love loooooooove the beach. And it’s the reunion of Ate Liezl’s college barkada. Everyone was smitten by Clarke Isaac, ate Bingbing’s lovable son. While they keep abreast with their lives I and Clarke just milled around.


Sino ang tunay na ina?




The beach is the best place for modeling and jumpshot lessons! Hehe

By night, we visited Mactan shrine and shop for little trinkets as pasalubong. This is where guitars are made. For P1,500 , you’ll have your own guitar. I really wanted to but one for myself but I don’t know how to choose and I still don’t get the time to have guitar lessons. In time. 








But they kill starfishes to be used as ornaments! This made me cringe! :(




The island is also known for its danggit and sutokil (sugba, tola, kilaw). Fresh seafoods at Mactan Shrine is a must for seafoodies like us!



One could not leave Cebu without visiting it's historical landmark: Magellan's Cross and Basilica of Sto. Nino.

I just realized that Cebu people are really good with handicrafts. But with its fast development, nature is compromised. Water is one big problem here. The taxi driver told us their government made a dam for drinking water (is that possible?) but people from Leyte said, Cebu gets water from them. Bohol also is one supplier of potable water for Cebu as the latter continues its "development". Not just water, but also their fishes and trees! Hhhhmmmm….And as the city is fast developing and the land is now becoming limited, the solution? Reclaim large parts of the seas and make it an industrial zone!

Cebu has a lot of potentials. It is fast developing and becoming like Manila- in terms of skyscrapers and traffic! I hope Davao will not suffer the same fate in losing its potable water.

Enough with the negativity. Better dwell with positivity. This trip is finding new friends. Friends and ates who showed me that despite the societal pressures, one should be firm, enjoy and live life as it is.

Thank you mga ates for this wonderful South Cebu trip! :)