A million people show up for Sinulog solemn procession

By Cebu Network
Published January 22nd, 2008

Thousands of devotees carrying Sto. Niño images in various shapes and sizes attended the solemn procession that preceded the grand parade during Cebu’s celebration of the Sinulog Festival last January 19 and 20.

The two events are among the three highlights of the month-long Sinulog celebration in Cebu City in January. One other is the fluvial procession, also held on Saturday but at dawn.

The rains did not stop people from attending the procession that started at 1 p.m. At the start of the line were altar boys and priests, Knights of Columbus members, and a group of physically handicapped individuals.

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Unique, skillful performances win top spots

By Cebu Network
Published January 14th, 2008

Going into the specifics of the Sto. Niño’s role in the everyday Cebuano life earned for Barangay Labangon the top prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan secondary division.

Lively dance steps and an engaging and skillful performance did the same for Barangay Mabolo in the elementary level of the same competition.

Labangon’s presentation featured a wedding with the newlyweds releasing doves in keeping with tradition and accompanied by their retinue of relatives that included a crying grandmother.

The couple opened a gift box that contained an image of the Sto. Niño whom they worshipped and paid tribute to from then on. The Sto. Niño blessed the couple and it continues to play a central role in the couple’s lives including in the baptism of their first child.

Labangon, whose dancers wore Filipinia costumes and did the traditional Sinulog steps, was also picked Best in Costume. The women in the dance alternately carried hoops of red flowers and bunches of yellow ones while the men held Spanish lamplights on pillars.

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Sinulog street stalls sell native bags, accessories

By Cebu Network
Published January 13th, 2008

ONE interesting fixture every Sinulog celebration in Cebu City is the appearance of stalls fronting the Abellana National School on Osmeña Boulevard.

Native and knitted bags and clothes and shell and wooden accessories from as far as Baguio, Zamboanga, and Davao are sold in the makeshift display tents.

A few stalls also carry shoes, sandals, and slippers–some from the well-known shoe-making city of Carcar south of Cebu City.

One stall has toys and other trinkets–all at 10 pesos each–from Manila while another displays paper products–envelopes, folders, cards, bags, even a lampshade–made from recycled materials by a firm in Mandaue City.

Native accessories made from shell and wood like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are priced at 10 pesos to a few hundreds for really elaborate ones.

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Cebu City among top Asian cities of the future

By Cebu Network
Published January 11th, 2008

Cebu City ranked eighth in an Asia-wide survey for the Asian Cities of the Future by the Finance Direct Investment (fDi) magazine of the Financial Times Group.

Cebu City also placed 2nd in development and promotion, next to Singapore; 4th in the list of 10 most cost-effective cities, and 7th in the best quality of life category.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, according to this Sun.Star Cebu report, welcomed the survey result but said the whole Philippines should improve so that other cities can fare better in the ranking. He said that if other areas of the country are left out in development, Cebu will be burdened by the influx of people.

Osmeña said Cebu “cannot be number one if the whole Philippines doesn’t improve.”

The survey on “Asian Cities of the Future,” according to the Sun.Star Cebu report, was conducted by Foreign Direct Investment magazine published by the Financial Times (FT) group in the United Kingdom.

The report said 60 criteria—from cost effectiveness to human resources and infrastructure—were used by the magazine in evaluating more than 200 big and small cities all over Asia. The judges of the survey include independent location consultants, corporate professionals and other inward investment experts.

Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) Managing Director Joel Mari Yu told Sun.Star Cebu that the city’s ranking is a recognition of what the private sector and the government have done to improve the city.

Yu, however, said the city would have fared better if basic infrastructure such as roads, water and power supply were improved.

“Infrastructure is our weakest point. It should be the focus of our programs in improving business environment. Water and power supply should be the main focus and it should be privatized to ensure stability of supply. The roads should be improved to address congestion in the streets,” Yu said.

Company planning to open upscale resort in Malapascua Island

By Cebu Network
Published January 10th, 2008

A company is studying the possibility of opening a high-end resort in Malapascua Island, a white-sand beach destination in northern Cebu.

Martin Yeung, MSY Holdings Corp. (MSYHC) chief operating officer, said their company is considering opening a resort with villas built on the seas, “just like in the Maldives,” Sun.Star Cebu reported.

Yeung told reporters they are planning to build bungalow villas at a seaside property in Malapascua Island.

He said the bungalows’ floors will be made of glass so that occupants will be able to view the sea from inside the villas. He said that for the project, the company wants to “focus on relaxation” and incorporate scuba diving in the experience.

Yeung said they are planning to build about 30 villas in the property. He said he hopes to start the first phase of the project by the second quarter of this year.

Yeung, however, said this plan is only second priority for the company. It is busy finishing Kandaya, MSYHC’s first resort project, also in northern Cebu. It is being built on a 12-hectare property owned by the Yeungs. The boutique hotel, Yeung said, will have five- or even six-star amenities.

Kandaya began construction more than a year ago and is estimated to cost P500 million. It is now 70 percent to 80 percent complete, Yeung told reporters.

Yeung said they are talking with local government officials on the possibility of building an air strip near the place to fly in tourists.

Yeung said the booming tourism industry in Cebu spurred his family into entering the resort business. He said there is huge growth potential in tourism in northern Cebu.

How to make the most of the Sinulog revelry

By Cebu Network
Published January 10th, 2008

On the third week of January, Cebu City will again celebrate the Sinulog–one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. Festivities officially open today with a religious procession before dawn.As city streets erupt into a rainbow of colors in festive anticipation of the solemn procession on January 19 and Cebu Grand Parade on January 20–among the highlights of the month-long festivity, organizers have come out with the following guidelines to make your Sinulog celebration the most memorable ever:

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