Bohol celebrates 2013 Sandugo Festival

Welcome to Bohol and welcome to Sandugo Festival!

Photo grabbed from Soc Garcia

Sandugo (Blood Compact) Festival is a commemoration of the friendship between chieftain Sikatuna of Bohol and conquistador Miguel Lopes de Legazpi of Spain. Both agreed to shed blood on a cup of wine and drank them to forge that friendship. This historic event made Tagbilaran City the City of Friendship.

To commemorate that event, the province celebrated Sandugo Festival, a month-long festivities of culture, heritage and arts. Sandugo started on July 1, also the Charter Day of Tagbilaran City. Main events, however, are celebrated after the Charter Day celebrations of the province of Bohol on the 22nd of July.

If you are interested to come and join in the celebrations, here are the program of activities for the 2013 Sandugo Festival.

July 1

47th Tagbilaran City Charter Day. Expect parades and musical events on this day.

July 1-31

Nightly activities at the City port with different nightly sponsors. Usually bands and cultural presentations.

July 13

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Swimsuit Competition

July 17

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Talent Competition

July 20

Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant and Coronation Night

July 22

Bohol Day Celebrations (159th Charter Day of the province)

July 24-28

Sandugo Trade Expo 2013 at ICM's The Block. This year's them is Go Green, Buy Local. The Sandugo Trade Expo will feature locally made products focusing on heritage, culture and environment protection by using eco-friendly and indigenous materials. Surely, you will love to go shopping for furnishings, fashion accessories as well as fresh and processed food. 

July 26

Sandugo 2013 Street Party at Tagbilaran's main street CPG Avenue. This is going to be the fun part of the Sandugo Festival. The Bohol Sounddugo Street Party boasts of the biggest, baddest and loudest sound system, perhaps, a first in Bohol party scenes. I am sure you won't want to be left out.

July 28

Sandugo 2013 Streetdancing Competition. I hope there's going to be a big bunch of competitors this year. Last year was quite a disappointment among photo enthusiasts who came in to join the street dancing photo competition.

Don't forget to wear a smile. Boholanos are known to be hospitable and may welcome you to their homes. But be careful and be wary of scammers and other bad elements. Tagbilaran is recently experiencing major crimes done even in broad daylight and the police seems not able to solve them.

Bohol's trikes is an example of false religiosity

Do unto others what you want others to do unto you. / Love your enemies. / The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? / Faith can move mountainous hearts. / Jesus still the answer.

Tricycle pic grabbed from ajpoliquit.wordpress.om

These are only examples of what you can read from Bohol's famous tricycles. The religious tones have been praised by some sectors and being replicated by other towns and municipalities.

But despite the deep religiosity, Bohol's drivers were not actually practicing what they "preached," and I believe, this is a good case of false religiosity among Filipinos.

BLATANT EXAMPLE

By the time you arrived at Tagbilaran's port or airport, tricycle drivers shamelessly milk you to the bone. The regular fare of tricycles around the city limits is actually 8 pesos (as of this writing) but drivers will not accept your 8 pesos even if you just wanted to be dropped at the Agora, the city's center. Drivers would ask from you ranging from 10 to 15 pesos, even more if you are a tourist. A lot more if you are foreigner-looking. One time I offered 30 pesos so the driver will bring me home to Mansasa (regular fare 10 pesos) but instead the driver asked for 5 pesos more. I walked to Pook Pantalan (the gate of Tagbilaran Port) and paid the next driver 35 for home. It is a fact, upon arriving at the port or airport, locals are usually turned down in preference for the more touristy looking visitors. Drivers on that part of the Philippines will only call on you if all the other visitors have snubbed them for hired vans or taxis.

Tagbilaran is just a small city, so that calling a tricycle is a standard practice. The tricycle is actually the only means of transport since taxis are always on call and you can rarely see them around town. So their prevalence cannot be left unnoticed.

NEVER MIND THE TARIFF

I happened to talk to a tricycle driver who was once a president of the tricycle drivers union who claimed he was one of those who formulated the tariff of tricycles around the city of Tagbilaran. They made the tariff into law since many locals have been nagging them on the unrestrained fares asked by tricycle drivers.

Surely, like any other law, the tariff posted on every public utility vehicles have been regarded obsolete by drivers especially in the port and airport of Tagbilaran.

PALATINO'S BILL

Mong Palatino's House Bill 6330 or An Act Empowering Heads of Offices and Departments to Strictly Implement the Constitutional Provisions on Religious Freedom in Government Offices could have been a good start to make people be aware that being religious is not just found in symbols and signages but deeply rooted in every person. The use of religious/biblical quotes to add a flowery touch to make the city "livable" is actually a pain in the ass of commuters in Tagbilaran. Like a beautiful wall to hide garbage within its confines.

TOURISM AFFECTED?

I have yet to see a positive move by concerned agencies on this rampant stealing of commuters by drivers of Tagbilaran. Many years ago, the drivers were required to undergo a seminar-training on basic courtesies by the provincial tourism office of Bohol. I believe drivers were made aware of rightful and duly approved rates during that seminar. I never heard any updating ever since.

I heard many tourists coming in to Tagbilaran making fuss about this but being on vacation and not knowing where to address their concerns, they just mumble and go on to their destinations.

COMPARING CEBU DRIVERS

Although comparing Tagbilaran and Cebu is not necessary, but Cebu drivers who were often considered by biased Boholanos as dishonest and mostly con artists, are actually the most honest between the two provinces. When the LTO declared that the jeepney fare would cost 7.50, most Cebu drivers would return your change of 50 centavos and would nicely tell commuters if they were not able to give 50 centavos back. And you cannot see  biblical quotes in taxis and jeepneys around the city.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

I may be dreaming but I am hoping this practice by Tagbilaran drivers should be corrected and be given priority by concerned agencies (LTO, Police, Tourism Agencies) since Bohol has been claiming as the top tourist destination in the Philippines. The service sector, including these tricycle drivers, should be given priority revamp, revision, restructuring, whatever the sectors call them but this should be corrected fast. This has been a long time sore but has never been solved.

It is high time for Tagbilaran to live by the quotes posted in their tricycles and not just require them as adornments.

More readings:

Trouble Tricycle Drivers in Tagbilaran City by Melgrace Abandula

Ocho-ocho fares starts today by Bohol Republic

Statement of Kabataan Partylist on Rep. Mong Palatino's HB 6330

Are Those Tricycle Drivers Holy? by myLot.com

Bohol is not ready for tourism after all, my blog also about Tagbilaran tricycles in August 2010

Back at Garden Cafe in Tagbilaran

When I was in my college days and later when I worked at the provincial government of Bohol, my favorite hangout in Tagbilaran was the Garden Cafe, a restaurant owned by the Bohol Deaf and Disable Foundation (IDEA).

When you go there, you are doing a two-pronged activity- enjoy their food and help the deaf of Bohol. In fact, the waiters and waitresses at Garden Cafe are all deaf. 

From a simple hut-inspired building, the Garden Cafe is now a showcase of American dining. The place has changed into a sort of cowboy-inspired diner, with all the boots and other Americana. Even the waitstaff are donning cowboy regalia sans whips. Interesting.

And the food too has become interestingly varied to suit the Montana theme. My friend brought me there to have a late iftar celebration. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and avocado shake. The quesadilla was quite exceptional specially with lots of salsa on it. I finished my meal with a slice of blueberry cheesecake which was so-so. I could have ordered coffee but my friend planned to do it somewhere.

If I will be in Tagbilaran, I will visit once again Garden Cafe.

Chicken quesadilla is the best (you can order beef, too)

Their blueberry cheesecake has more gelatin than cheesecake

The avocado shake I ordered is creamy and nice

Garden Cafe opens daily from 8 in the morning until 10 in the evening with exceptions on Sundays. The restaurant opens 1PM til 10 on Sundays. Garden Cafe has a themed room upstairs called Montana Room with several displays of Americana- stuffed animals, boots, skates, pictures, and the like. They also have a small function room and a music room. You can call for reservations at telephones (038) 4113701, 4112028.

I am proud

I am proud that my works are all over Tagbilaran City for the Sandugo Festival happening this week. My promo designs were chosen for the Sandugo Trade Expo which will open this Wednesday, July 20 at 4pm at the Island City Mall.

I deserve a brag. ;)

Ang binangkal ni Emie: A great and filling snack of the day

I do not know how other people call them, but here in the Visayas area, we call them Binangkal. Those fried mildly sweet balls of flour coated with sesame seeds we love to have as a snack or in my case, breakfast.

I am quite intrigue at how they are made and what are its ingredients since they are really my favorite. I found out lately, after being invited to observe, that making binangkal is quite easy. I am planning to make mine when I have the time.

All you need are these ingredients: a high grade flour for best results, about 5 cups; baking powder, about 5 teaspoonful; brown sugar, 2 cups or more if you want them super sweet; some eggs, about two or three; a cup of evaporated milk and some vanilla drops.

Mix the eggs and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Pour in the vanilla (why not try lemon drops?) for some flavoring. Add flour and fold them well. If the flour hardens, add some milk until well mixed. Form into small balls, about the size of ping pong balls, and roll them over the sesame seeds.

Heat a pan of vegetable oil and put in the balled flour. Wait for them to turn golden brown and then shake off excess oil. Better put them in paper towels so that the excess oil are absorbed by the towels.

Your binangkal should be ready to eat. A good cup of coffee or a cold fruit juice goes well with the binangkal.

Enjoy.

My bad: drinking in public despite the liquor ban

I admit I have been bad without me noticing how bad I was.

Last October 25 at past one in the morning, I went to Doy's (Borja Street, Tagbilaran City, a few meters from Brewpoint; telephone 038.501.8724), and had my first bottle of Below Zero Red Horse in Bohol. I drunk all four bottles straight all in the honor of below zero beers in Tagbilaran. They were free, courtesy of Doy's owner.

Doy's is the best place to have videoke with friends in the comfort of their private rooms. I was so comfortable that I publicly challenged the law. Honest, this is not for the free beers I got from there.

On the eve of the Barangay Elections last Monday, I also raised a bottle of San Mig Light right infront of police officers at the Acacia de Bubu, the new place to have barbecue in Tagbilaran. They did not noticed and seemed not to care. Maybe because I am surrounded by beautiful ladies?

I only noticed my transgression with law when I finished all the beers.

Kampai!

 Kampai! Me raising a beer right infront of the police.

See those officers at the back? The girl infront is our picture-taker Chin-chin.

Another bottle for the elections!

Indulging in Bohol: Sparadise

Judy and I headed to Body and Sole to have a much needed massage, a treat to ourselves because we've been working even on weekends. But to our dismay, Body and Sole was full and it was already past 9 in the evening so they would be closing in an hour. Yes, the people of Tagbilaran is nowhere to be seen way past nine in the evening during ordinary days. Ordinary means no festival or fiesta. Tagbilaran is a dead city after 10 o'clock.

But beside Body and Sole was Sparadise, another addition to the mushrooming clean massage centers in Tagbilaran, thanks to the reinforced tourism industry that was started by Cong. Rene Relampagos and Gov. Edgar Chatto. I would like to emphasize the CLEAN word because so many massage parlors in Manila and Cebu were used as prostitution dens. Believe me, I have experience.

Anyway, Sparadise (Door 1, Sun Avenue Building, Gallares Street; telephones 038.501.9756; 0929.884.9217) was a good find actually. They offer facials, foot spa, body massage and detox (whatever was that I did not ask). They specialized in traditional hilot (you will undergo steaming first called toob in Bohol) but we could not avail of it because we were told they have to prepare for at least an hour before the therapy.

My masseur was a small guy (I forgot his name, I'm sorry) with powerful hands. He used reflexology in his treatment. It was good, although for those not used to reflexogy, you might find it painful and uncomfortable. Full body massage would cost you 250 pesos an hour.

With wellness now in the dictionary of Tagbilaranons, I hope they would maintain it that way- clean and healthy. Of course, this Sparadise was nice and clean and the masseurs/masseuses very professional. I highly recommend it.

Meanwhile, if you want to try something extraordinary- try this: Acupuncture.

Pic grabbed from mynewsletterbuilder.com

Service in Bohol: Needs Improvement

I think it takes an outsider to see how the service and facilities fare in Bohol considering they claimed now that the island is a well-known tourist destination in the country. I basically consider myself an outsider now since I am living outside of Bohol and rarely gets home.

I have one word for Boholanos- IMPROVE!

Ambiance for example

From the tacky carenderia in some cockroach-infested street to the "high-end" restaurant in Tagbilaran, they share only one type of music. That is from a local FM station. I don't know if this is an ordinance or a sense of pride or a lack in the province. Music I mean.

Imagine yourself eating some organic food in The Buzzz while some gay DJ chattering overhead reading dedications to all the people in Bohol, naming them one by one. Ten minutes and he has not completed reading the names of some people. It is indeed irritating.

And while eating some local merienda fare at Painitang Bol-anon in the new Agora Square, the DJ spins I Know You Want Me by Pitbull. Of course I know I want my food but please not that music when I am eating a native cuisine.

Try riding a tricycle from the Agora Square to Governor's Mansion and you won't miss what the DJ was talking on your way there.

Service

Boholanos still have that Pwede Na attitude. Tables still are wet and not cleaned just like three years ago when I was still staying in Tagbilaran. Waiters are still called so you can have a copy of their menu. And you still call them so you can order. Sadly, while waiting, it turns out your orders are out of stock.

Airconditioned places are like greenhouses. They still adjust their airconditioners to 28 degrees, competing the temperature outside. As if they could save this way.

You have no choice but go to hotels and resorts just to cool down.

Luxury

That is why MetroCentre Hotel is almost always the option, maybe the last. They have a cafe that serves food 24 hours a day. They have Asian resto at the second floor. The beer is not cheap but cold. The waiters are always ready to serve you and remembers your usual order, despite you have been out for a while.

No. I am not promoting the MetroCentre. I am stating facts.

Interestingly, Gerry's Grill at BQ Mall also has an efficient service. That is without doubt because MetroCentre owners also owned the franchise of Gerry's in Tagbilaran.

Here in these places you won't regret tipping them because they serve you well.

Waiters and Crew

Quality service can be seen, felt and observed and you always know if it is right. Even in stores and carenderias. I can even tell if the restaurant has a dirty kitchen just by looking at their waiters. It all sums up to one significant person- your crew.

I think business owners should focus on their staff to impress visitors.

Unsolicited Advice

Bohol has a lot to offer. No one can argue with that fact. But if Boholanos wanted to compete with other destinations, they have a lot of issues to improve on. More than ten years ago, they have started improving things but what happened between those years, I don't know.

Most tourists would say going to Bohol is expensive. Resorts. Restaurants. Hotels. Even unknown pension houses priced their dirty rooms as if they were DOT-accredited establishments. I can stay in Dumaguete for a 300 pesos airconditioned room with a clean towel, soap, shampoo and heavens- hair conditioner. You could not find them in Tagbilaran.

If it is just expensive without the extra care and pampering that goes with the word Expensive, I think customers would not be going back. That is very basic.

The Sea Gypsies have become Sea Beggars

  

  

  

  

While inside Weesam Express I was startled by a knock on the windows. I looked through it. The Badjaos were all extending their hands as if I could open the windows of the fast-raft.

Camera: Sony Ericsson W810i, natural light
Location: Tagbilaran Pier in Bohol

Bohol SME Congress Streamers

While the SME Congress should be an easy thing to do, the problem with it is the availablity of pictures for me to use. I was wondering why Bohol can't seem to provide me their entrepreneurs' pictures when such subjects can be seen in the different areas of this booming province. So for this one, I make use of some pics I searched from the Net. Anyways, this is not the final study yet. This is a prototype for them to see, critique and decide.

Finally, the approved study-

Fiery Sunset 1

Camera: Sony Ericsson W810i, natural light
Location: Gerry's Grill overlooking Tagbilaran Bay

University of Bohol (UB) Students Vent Their Anger Thru Blogging

Students, as I assume from reading their blogs, suddenly find their way of venting their anger towards the administration of the first university in the province of Bohol, the University of Bohol (UB).

From my student days, I always heard accusations hurled against the Tirol family running that university. I could not confirm because I've never been a student there and the Tirols were too sosi a family befriending them would be impossible.

Reading the blog made me laugh. It is like peeking in a world of showbiz, only it's in the academic world.

Despite being amused, I left a message there telling them to raise their issues in a proper forum. I know they are/were afraid of the Tirols as obviously stated in their writeups, but with anonymous comments, it won't go that far. Just like any chismis, as I would like to label them, they too will fade away. You know how short are the memories of the Filipinos.

Anyways, if you are interested, follow this link and enjoy.

http://wehateuniversityofboholforever.blogspot.com/

Photo from UB's website

An Excuse to See a Movie Star

Someone I know, a student from Holy Name University in Tagbilaran, invited me to watch Uyayi (whatever that means) at MetroCentre Hotel. It’s supposed to be a concert with Chinchin Gutierrez for an environmental cause.

I read somewhere that Chinchin is an environmental blah-blah advocate and that she is a movie actress. But I never heard or read about her singing career. Concerts are supposed to have singers and not actors or else that would be theater, correct me if I am wrong. But it did not interest me at all.

I ask him instead, how come an environmental awareness activity such as this concert, is done in a hotel where just by sitting there would already cause harm to the environment? The air-conditioner would be in full blast I’m sure. The seat covers would be washed with detergents and other chemicals to make it spunky new. With hundreds of people attending, the environmental impact surely would be a noticeable chunk in the climate change. Is this a good excuse for seeing a movie star? Or a hands down environmental watch to hmmm… well- watch and see if such cause is really relevant?

He told me he was not talking about environments, it is a cultural and tourism thing since the sponsors are the tourism students of Holy Name University and the provincial government of Bohol. I snapped back at him because I saw the ad and their come-on was a bad promotional strategy telling people about watching this and helping an environmental cause when in fact it has nothing to do with it. Why can’t they just tell the people that the funds will be used for some gallivanting around to a tourist destination? Well- this is creativity in the making on the positive side. They could be our future politicians. He told me he is going back at me. I am afraid he would be bringing the whole batch of tourism students from that university.

Anyways, if their cause is real, they could have done it at Plaza Rizal right under the trees. One carbon footprint less, di ba? And while the guests are paying P400, they can also give the non-paying bystanders (read: public) a chance to watch and listen, misinformation education no matter, giving their cause a justifiable place to go. That would have been a good promotional ploy.

But then again, I am not their marketing specialist.

I hope the proceeds of this “concert” will truly benefit the environment. Which environment if I may ask?

(Yeah, I am such a bitch.)

A Very Good Night at Garden Cafe

I came to visit friends in Tagbilaran this week and they brought me to this nice place called Garden Cafe. The place has improved so much that even if I came to Tagbilaran once in a while, the place looked new to me.

Aside from the fact that it is run by deaf mutes (only the cashiers can talk), the cafe is actually very orderly and better than other restos in Tagbilaran. For one, the place is generally clean. The ambience is very good! The cowboy-themed resto lived up to its name. You can see different items from Montana, USA in their Montana room. The music is country and you could not resist the cowboy fare in their menu. Overall rating for this resto is 100%.

I wonder why the cafe of the Bohol Bee Farm could not imitate this resto. I mean, they have different themes but at The Buzzz (after the bees) at the Island City Mall, the ambience is very different from what they adhere. The Buzzz Cafe brags about organic food and yet the place does not came near to organic. Their music is even worst, playing the local radio station where a gay anchor blabbers the names of Tagbilaran residents. It is irritatingly irritating when you are eating garden salad.

Now in the Enchanting Island-

My expanded network has allowed me to visit places in the country and around the world.

This time... SIQUIJOR.

This is my fourth time actually but Siquijor is always a welcome sight to behold.

From Tagbilaran, I took OceanJet this morning to Dumaguete before going to the island. There is no direct fast craft early in the morning. When I arrived Dumaguete almost 2 hours after, I have to run and catch up with Delta Fast Ferries (about P160) which would be sailing in a matter of minutes.

I don't why Siquijodnons always bring bulky things when traveling. Maybe because they are in an island? I have to share with mountains of bags when I rode the ferry. And right before my eyes, a whore-like woman seems to be magnetized by the foreigner friend she is with. They kept smooching right in the public. I was hoping she was not a Siquijodnon or else my mind would create more unbelievable scenarios Siquijodnons would hate. A big baggage indeed.

Arrived here and wow...

I don't know what magic Siquijor accords to its visitors, but everytime I come here I am always feeling at home and at peace with myself. Maybe it is true after all that this is really a land of enchantment for I am enchanted for sure.

The usual tag for Siquijodnons (as they are called) is mamamarang (I don't know the exact translation of this but it reminds me of voodoo activities). But being here I can always say that they were unfairly mislabeled gentle people.

Siquijor is a clean island and slowly trying to blend in with the outside world.

(Please see my Siquijor shots at this link here.)

Bohol's Mobile Bible Goes Humpity Hump on Tagbilaran's Holey Land

Snapshots at Tagbilaran Pier