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.

When in Cebu: Basic Etiquette for Jeepney Passengers

Whether you like it or not, the most common transport is still the old reliable jeepney here in Cebu. They are inexpensive, readily available and exciting means to move around the city.

If you are the squeamish type and would always ask for personal space, go hail a cab.

But when you are in a jeepney (jeep, for short), there are still basic etiquette to follow. Especially in Cebu! I believe that if you follow these rules you would not encounter some problems with Cebuanos.

1. Waving to a passing jeep to signal the driver that you want to board is okay. Shouting for it to stop is basically rude but not when you are running to catch up.

Ary's first jeepney ride in Cebu

2. Sit properly. Be seated properly means you are perpendicular to the seat and not awkwardly facing the driver’s seat. Sitting this way will guarantee just enough space when the barkers will call for more passengers. This will also eliminate embarrassment when the barkers/conductors will bang your backseat and tell you to move closer to others. Sitting perpendicular to the seat will also give others the chance to sit properly.

3. Always pay your fare 5-10 minutes after boarding and NEVER when you are about to disembark. Cebuanos (or worst, criminals) would know you are not familiar with the city if you are paying when you are already disembarking. Some would refer you as coming from the province (probinsyano). But actually, this will ensure smooth transactions especially if your payment needs change.

4. Say PALIHOG (Please) or BAYAD PALIHOG (My fare please) when you pay. And always with a SALAMAT (Thank you) when someone receives and pass your fare to the driver.

5. If you happen to board last and you are near the driver, it is understood that you will be acting as the jeepney conductor. Unless there is a designated conductor in the jeep, which is rare, you accept that fact without fanfare. That means you should have the patience to receive and pass all fares to the driver and give their change to the passengers. Some would even pass their fares without saying a word. Don’t get mad.

6. Almost always, jeepney drivers will move their jeep even if you are not yet seated properly. That’s normal in a city that moves fast. Don’t be angry at the driver. Just maintain your composure and hold on tight. That's what grab bars are for.

7. If you are with your lover/wife/husband/partner/querida it is almost always frowned at when you show public displays of affection. Wait until you are in a private place before smooching with your partner.

8. If you do not want people staring at you, dress decently. But if you really feel that miniskirts and short shorts are the in thing, don’t pull them down every second to cover your legs. Being modest will not invite bad elements.

9. Keep your valuables at home when you are planning to go around the city and ride a jeepney. If it is necessary to wear your tiara, go ride a taxi. But keeping your wallets and cellphones in your front pockets and your bags safely on your lap will not catch the attention of snatchers and swindlers. Be wary.

10. Jeepney drivers are law abiding citizens especially when a traffic enforcer (CITOM) is present. So disembark on designated jeepney stops. If you are not certain which one is, just say LUGAR LANG NYA 'NOY (Pullover please), or PWEDE MANAUG? (Can I disembark here?), or PARA (Stop please). Whatever you say, say it in a nice way. Banging the grab bar with a piso or make whistling/kissing sounds are also acceptable.

Don't be the crazy passenger that you are

11. So the driver will know you are about to disembark, say nicely, MO-NAUG KO 'NONG HA (I will disembark now Sir Driver), or if you have children or baggage, say, NAAY BATA HA/ NAA KOY BITBIT HA. This will ensure that the driver will move his jeepney only after you have fully landed on the sidewalk with your feet and not with your face.

12. It is overacting to say goodbye to the driver or fellow passengers.

Otherwise, the following instructional video applies even in Cebu.

Bothered and Bewildered: Sex Tourism in the Philippines?

WARNING: I HAVE UPLOADED HERE A PICTURE CIRCULATING AT FACEBOOK THAT MAY OFFEND SOME SECTORS.

I have no problem with people luring tourists to this country, the Philippines. I am even glad we have been recognized by entities like National Geographic for our diverse culture and unique tourist spots.

What I don't like is the way some people "promote" this country as a sex-tourism destination. One proof is the circulation of this picture in Facebook and I am offended by it. (I actually saw two, this one is tamer and the other more XXX.)

I wonder what the Filipinos and other concerned groups like Gabriela were doing on this matter. (Gabriela is a group promoting the rights of women and children and has been recognized by the Philippine government as a partylist, so they now have a seat in Philippine Congress.)  In this time when you can access the internet from the remotest islands, I don't believe they have not seen this pic and some others, I assume. Unless of course, if they have remained blind and deaf on matters like these.

I visited the website printed on the picture GO2PHIL.COM A GENTLEMEN'S GUIDE TO THE PHILIPPINES and was shocked that the site is supported (or owned?) by the Angeles Clarkfield Tourist Association or ACTA. (As of this writing, those links are still accessible.) They claimed the group is registered with SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission?) and recognized by City Hall officials (wherever this city hall is. Pampanga?).

ACTA's vision for Angeles Clarkfield is "a mini-Las Vegas scenario." Whatever that means. Furthermore, their website claims a very noble deed, mostly beautification of that place. Indeed. But visit their website and all you see are butts and boobs and a nearly nude Filipinas holding a pole but not for a healthier pole-dance.

The [ACTA's] objectives... will lay the groundwork but the development of the entertainment belt will take years, not months. We are looking at beautification, cleaning up, upgrading the image, lifting the level of entertainment, upscale gaming, more restaurants, and a crime free environment. There will be increased prosperity for the City Government, investors and all business owners in the entertainment belt. We will develop individual pride in all participants, from the flower ladies, tricycle drivers, vendors to each and every business owner. It will take hard work, it will take money, it will need 100% membership in ACTA and it will take 100% support from the City and barrio administrations.

But still, enticing foreigners (I believe they cater foreign clients mostly) with nearly naked women posing in rivers is truly disgusting and questionable. Even if you are promoting a river. 


I once approached a politician on this matter but he said it's way beyond his means because of territorial local government units (LGUs). Now the question is in the hands of our social welfare and concerned groups of national stature. 


What have happened to women's rights? What have happened to gender equality? What have become of the Family Code of the Philippines? What have been done by the DSWD? 


What have we done?

AY BAHALA NA ANG PURI NG MGA FILIPINA BASTA MAY PERA TAYO PARA SA IKAGAGANDA NG ANGELES AT CLARK! Very noble indeed.

Am I a hypocrite?



It's more fun in the Philippines?

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On the other hand, Researchers have discovered that women who bare 40% of their body are the most effective at attracting males. 

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