Cebu Extreme Adventure

It was the stuff of dreams, or in my case nightmares. The Cebu itinerary my niece had chosen was for extreme adventure. It meant canyoneering - jumping over waterfalls and high places as you land on water. I just turned 40 this year and I was up for the challenge, YOLO (as millennials call it) or so I thought.

Ayla chose Wonders Car Rental Services which took care of van, driver, itinerary, fees and tour guide. They did a wonderful job (I couldn’t resist!) and provided the best customer service for us.

1^st Day – Badian Canyoneering

Our service van met us at 4am at the Mactan airport for a 2-hour travel to Moalboal. Along the way, Ayla took some sunrise shots over the mountain. We had a quick breakfast and off to our first adventure – Pescador island hopping, snorkeling and sardine run. The waves were pretty high but we had fun seeing corals and sardines swimming in circles. The tour service had a driver and a tour guide. Mike, our guide was also our resident photographer and bodyguard.

We then set off to Badian. Lunch was served in the house of Ms. Bless – one of the tour coordinators and we had home-cooked meals of fried chicken, sotanghon soup and adobong pusit.

After a hearty meal, we put on our canyoneering gear consisting of helmet, life jacket with bottled water and aqua shoes. Based on some research, we wore rashguard and leggings aside from board shorts to protect us from scrapes and cuts.  For the briefing, it was short and direct. Upon jumping, put one foot forward and don’t look down, always listen to the guide. We took a habal habal ride (motorcycle) to the canyoneering area.

We had another briefing which pretty much also mentioned the same thing earlier. It was a noonday 30-minute walk to the canyons. Kuya Arnel, our guide was the best. He made us feel at ease by teaching us some Bisayan words and also took so many amazing photos and videos. To compare with other guides, he took his time getting the best shots and being the weakest link among the 3 of us in the group, I was his favorite. I counted the jumps I made because I only took the mandatory ones – 5 including the slides while Ayla and Teret which had the optional ones had about 7. The first jump was at 7 feet. My mind went blank, my knees buckled and I tried to smile for the sake of the photo but I was freaking out inside. I did it! Although it was a dangerous jump, near a rock, I didn’t have enough space to execute it well. But yeah I did it!

The views were breathtaking. I had fun water gliding, instead of walking we just swam and formed circles for picture taking. The canyons had cave-like formations and the water was pristine. I wished the tour groups can maintain the cleanliness of the place because Filipinos are litterbugs. Most of the tourists were foreigners – Caucasians, Koreans and Chinese and some locals. The most unusual thing was what Kuya Arnel called “7 Eleven” or the eatery located in the middle of the mountain. There was ihaw-ihaw (grilled) pork barbecue, hotdogs, innards and soft drinks available. It was the place to rest and it meant we were halfway done.

The next jumps consisted of a backflip, a head-first slide and a short one but I still bungled that. I’m just glad I got no injuries except for a sore kneecap. For the final slide, I was in near tears for being so tired but it was amazing to finish it at last. It took us about 5 hours to complete the trek. Normally it was supposed to be done in 3 hours. But the sun was still up and Kawasan Falls was a sight to behold. It was the perfect reward for such an exhausting tour.

Badian Canyoneering

We had dinner at the same house and prepared to go to Oslob for a 2-hour ride and rest for the night. It was a helluva first day! Bring it on haha!

2^nd day – Swimming with Whalesharks in Oslob

We had an early call time of 6am since the whale shark tour is strictly from 7am to 10am only. This is to prevent the overfeeding of whale sharks and proper scheduling of tourists’ arrival. We stayed in a hostel just near the Oslob beachfront. There was a registration and briefing about swimming with the sharks. Absolutely no touching, no harmful sunscreen on the body that might affect them, follow the boatman/guide at all times. We were given 30 minutes for the interaction. Some had the option to dive if you got the proper training and of course budget. 

We took our snorkeling gear and life vest and got on a banca which can accommodate less than 10 people. I thought the whale shark site was still far from the shore but it was just close like a few metres away. A boat carrying krill (tiny shrimps) is at the center and the boatman will put the food for whale sharks to come near. Probably around 20 boats surround this area and in a short time, about 3 sharks can be seen approaching us. I wasn’t afraid of them since I read beforehand that they are gentle giants of the sea. But their sheer size was breathtaking. You only get to see them on television or online but here it was for real. My niece who jumped on 20 feet waterfalls the day before was nervous at first but got the hang of seeing these beautiful sea creatures in the flesh. I’m equally proud of my son who was fearless and even wanted to see it better, struggling with his goggles.

Oslob Whale Sharks

From a marine conservationist standpoint (I have read about this as well since I worked for a marine attraction facility), they do not like this tour at all since the whale sharks depend on these feedings instead of foraging for food the normal way around the ocean. But of course, this is a cause for debate. Once a sleepy town, Oslob became a tourist landmark and provided better income to its people. For me as long as they have restrictions and implement proper guidelines to make the whale sharks safe, then it’s good.

We had breakfast after and then time for Tumalog Falls, just 10 minutes away from Oslob beach. It was another exciting short habal habal ride for us to get there at P50 roundtrip fare per head. Tumalog Falls is truly a sight to behold. Not a lot of facts online but from my viewpoint, it’s about 40 feet or so with clear aquamarine waters. It’s so cold that I didn’t swim on it but I just admired the falls from the hill across it and tourists having their photos taken. It’s picture perfect on its own and as a great backdrop for selfies and profile shots. The entrance fee is P20.

Tumalog Falls

Sumilon Island was our next destination but it was closed due to post Holy Week upkeep. Our tour guide replaced it with a trip to Cangcuay beach resort, another short 10 minute trip from Tumalog Falls. This is a private beach with an entrance fee and pretty cottages available for overnight stays. The waves were huge but still can’t resist taking a dip. This place has European feels all over it and it would’ve been amazing to stay far longer than a few hours.

Cangcuay Beach

My heritage conservation heart was full when we went to the Oslob Cuartel and nearby Oslob Church. The Cuartel is an unfinished military barracks for Spanish soldiers but the project was abandoned after a siege with the Americans. The interesting fact was that the structure was built from leftover coral materials from the church. The Oslob Church is majestic on the outside although we weren’t able to go inside since we were pressed for time.

Oslob Church

Cuartel

Our day is not over yet, we were about to conquer Osmena Peak, Cebu’s highest point at approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. This was a truly memorable time, a Make your Mama proud moment for my son Rye, his first to climb a mountain. Each group is recommended to have a tour guide due to some slippery points going up and it’s more fun to have one, contribute to the local economy, make a friend and learn more about the area. We were blessed to have Ate Nanette, a farmer who’s a guide and a photographer on the side. She was the one who assisted my son and took awesome group photos. It was just sad that I wasn’t able to get a photo of her. She was funny too with a calm voice. The tour guides we had on this trip were the best. It took us an hour to climb Osmena Peak, named after the famous Cebu statesman. The views were fantastic! One vista resembled Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, another looked like Ireland’s cliffs and seascapes. Its peak has an IG worthy pose. Totally a must include in your To Go list.

Osmena's Peak View

We headed back to Cebu City and stayed at Pacific Pensionne for the night. It’s a budget inn, small but clean and near the city’s landmarks.

3^rd Day – Cebu City Tour

It’s the city tour and totally scorching! First stop was the Sirao Flower Farm located on top of a hill. It has various backdrops such as Holland feels, cheesy hearts and wedding proposal areas, you get the drill. It’s a couple swoon paradise. 

Sirao Flower Farm

Temple of Leah was under renovation so we went to the Taoist Temple instead. Here it has fantastic top city views and you can offer incense. Just practice silence.

Taoist Temple

Fort San Pedro

Santo Nino Church

Magellan’s Cross was our next stop where an old lady who sells candles prayed over us and gave us goosebumps in a good way. We proceeded to the Church of the Santo Nino. Lunch was at CnT Cebu Lechon of course. Fort San Pedro was a mini Intramuros and had various displays of Spanish war memorabilia and photos of old Cebu. We then went to Mactan for 10,000 Roses attraction which is actually a restaurant and much better to be seen at night for the light display of the faux roses.

Magellan's Cross

Lapu Lapu Monument

Mactan Shrine for Lapu Lapu monument, where Ferdinand Magellan died at the hands of our valiant hero. Also worth mentioning is that Mactan sells the best guitars and ukeleles. So I just had to make a ukelele purchase.

Budget:

Airfare - P2,600 per head round trip 

Tour package – P4,500 per head inclusive of:

2 Nights Accommodation

Inclusive car transfer 

Boat rental to Pescador Island

Daily breakfast

Entrance fees

Canyoneering (Lunch&Dinner)

It was worth the cost and very dependable staff (hello Michael!)

For inquiries and reservations pls call/text Wonders Car Rental 0917.632.2695/032.318.3394.

Photo Credits: @aimstravels on IG 

Sibling Love

I’ve always been drawn to sisterhood stories, the deep bond of blood and soul. They say you can’t choose your family and are stuck with them for life but I’m one of those #blessed to have a sister whom I share an unbreakable soul connection that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. At 12 years old, my heart was shattered to pieces (undoubtedly my first heartbreak) when my older sister went to Texas to work as a registered nurse. It was a tough time for me and I remembered writing long snail mails, voice recording and singing on mix cassette tapes and talking on the phone just to alleviate the pain of being away from each other. My sister is my source of kindness, generosity and goodness, someone who inspires me during difficult adulting times and become a better person. Although we are far apart, thanks to technology, we now have time to catch up on normal everyday stuff. She is still my heroine, raising amazing children and balancing her work and home life.  

Sisterhood took a whole new level for Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins and talented circus performers during prewar times, led a hard life growing up, found love and experienced the highs and lows of life together. Their story is a testament of real sibling love and resilience against all odds.

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group brings to Manila - Sideshow, a critically acclaimed musical based on the life of the Hilton twins from August 31 to September 23, 2018 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium 4th Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., cor. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City. A must watch show starring Gabe Pangilinan and Kayla Rivera as the Hilton twins, Wency Cornejo, Markki Stroem and a powerhouse cast. Directed by Steven Conde. 

Tickets are now available at www.ticketworld.com.ph Ticket prices at P2,000, P3,000 and P4,000.

Sponsorship and show buying opportunities for SIDE SHOW are now available by calling Atlantis at (632) 650-5144 or email at shows@atlantistheatrical.com.

Save San Sebastian Basilica Tour

The Basilica of San Sebastian is located along Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, Manila – one of the most affluent locations during the Spanish period. Heritage houses (some dilapidated, some restored) are still seen in the area today. When I went to Bahay Nakpil Bautista which is located on the same street, the tour guide mentioned that during that time, San Sebastian churchgoers were the rich with their horse-drawn carriages. The church is a Gothic style architecture popular in Europe during the 1800s. It is the home of the 400 year old Our Lady of Mount Carmel image and it became a National Historical Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011.

It is the first and only steel church in the country and possibly in Asia, the second all-steel structure in the world, next to Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It is the Philippines’ first basilica, one of the last churches with intact original interiors including the paintings and stained glass windows.

“The metal that makes the church withstand earthquakes for over 100 years is the same one which makes it weak from rust and corrosion”, says Ysabel De Dios the Tour Head for the Save San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation Inc. This organization organized a 10 year effort to sustainably save the basilica and is aided by local and international team of expert volunteers. But of course they need a lot of help in order to achieve the restoration for a 127 year old structure, built in 1891.

This tour is different from other heritage places or visita iglesia (since it was scheduled on Maundy Thursday) because it’s a fundraising campaign to save the church from damage. Five years of research, documentation and data analysis have shown over 300 leaks, large holes inside walls and columns, pools of water in the columns, windows and interior paintings needed repair from corrosion.

Ysabel met us at the church entrance and she explained the history of San Sebastian within Quiapo area, its historical and spiritual importance among its residents. It had an interesting history how it was built since the original wood structure was destroyed by a fire and through the years, destroyed by both fire and earthquakes. Genaro Palacios, a Spanish architect was commissioned by the parish priest Esteban Martinez for an all steel church to prevent it from being devastated by earthquakes. The prefabricated steel sections came from Belgium and shipped to the Philippines. The paintings inside the church were hand painted by students of the country’s premier art school in Quiapo, the Academia de Dibujo, Pintura y Arte. The basilica’s 50 stained glass windows were made by Henri Oidtmann, founder of the oldest glass studio company in Germany.

With such historical weight now on our shoulders, we proceeded to the choir loft for a detailed information on the restoration plan. Ysabel mentioned the various pro bono volunteers all over the world and other experts in the field of architecture, engineering, metallurgy etc. but still they need all the help they can get from the public. Hence, the tour campaign for a fee of P150 to regular guests and P120 for students, PWDs and seniors. At the choir loft, Ysabel pointed out the paintings, stained glass window details of the Joyful and Sorrowful mystery images and the leaks of the columns. She also said that they only have 5 years left in the 10 year restoration master plan. It’s a race against time and elements and the rusts are visible inside and out.

Now the most exciting part of the tour was going up the bell tower through a century old set of spiral staircases. I felt like Quasimodo of Notre Dame. The tower is equivalent to the height of a 10 storey building and overlooking Quiapo, it had spectacular views.

I fell in love with San Sebastian Basilica even before I saw it for the first time back in 2010. My love intensified after the tour and I hope the restoration happens soon. High respect goes to Ysabel and her companions who are passionate about the campaign. My son and goddaughters who also came with me learned so much that a class lecture pales in comparison to the real thing.

So, I beg you for the sake of faith and culture, come for the tour (cheaper than going to a movie) and experience how glorious it is to be part of history!

For tour details, go to their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/savessbasilica/

Sources:

Wikipedia

Save San Sebastian Basilica brochure