Cebu Rhythms

Sinulog festival features a street parade with participants in bright coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the patron saint of Cebu Santo Niño.

On January 15, 2012 (Sunday) SINULOG GRAND PARADE , here are the activities you should not miss:

4:00 AM – Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM – Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM – Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM – Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM – Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña

For those who cannot make it to the venue this coming Sunday January 15, 2012, you can watch Sinulog 2012 Live Streaming here.

Sinulog 2012 Live Streaming 1

Sinulog 2012 Live Streaming 2

Alternative Sinulog 2012 Live Streaming Channel

VIVA PIT SENYOR STO. NIÑO!

Festival Queen 2012 Winners

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:21:25 +0000

Here is the complete list of the 2012 Sinulog Festival Queen Winners

SINULOG FESTIVAL QUEEN 2012 – #13 Lumad Basakanon
1st Runner-Up: #8 Pasaka Festival, Tanauan, Leyte
2nd Runner-Up: #7 Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte
3rd Runner-Up: #4 Sandurot Festival
4th Runner-Up: #10 Lanao del Norte

Pre-Pageant

Best in Runway – #4 Sandurot Festival
SM City Cebu Glamour Girl – #4 Sandurot Festival

Corporate Awards

Miss Photogenic – #5 Bulacao Community School
Miss PLDT – #13 Lumad Basakanon
2012 Shopwise by Rustan’s Queen – epitomizes the good life – #4 Sandurot Festival
Miss Teletech – #4 Sandurot Festival
Miss Globe – #4 Sandurot Festival

Special Awards

Best in Festival Costume (solo) – #13 Lumad Basakanon
Best Festival Costume (group) – #13 Lumad Basakanon (Danny Booc)
Best Instrumentalists – #7 Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte
Best Solo Performer – #13 Lumad Basakanon
Best in Group Performance – #7 Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte
Best in Opening Production Number – #4 Sandurot Festival

Sinulog Festival Queen 2012

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:40:37 +0000

Who would be the next Sinulog Festival Queen? The search for the Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center on January 13, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Furthermore, all Sinulog Festival Queen contestants will be having a photo shoot on January 12, at 10:00AM then followed by Best in Runway Competition later in the evening (6:00 p.m.) at SM City Cebu.

The 2012 Sinulog Festival Queen and runner ups will receive the following prize:

Festival Queen: Php 50,000.00
1st runner up: Php 30,000.00
2nd runner up: Php 20, 000.00
3rd runner up: Php 5, 000.00
4th runner up: Php 5, 000.00

For full details, please see the Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 official poster below.

Winners of this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen has been posted here.

Sinulog sa Kabataan (Dakbayan and Lalawigan) 2012 Winners

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:22:51 +0000

Here is a complete list of the 2012 Sinulog sa Kabataan in both Dakbayan and Lalawigan Winners. The Sinulog sa Kabataan happened last January 7 and 8, 2012.

Sinulog Sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan 2012 Winners

Elementary Category

1st Place – Bulacao Community School
2nd Place – Punta Princessa Elementary School
3rd Place – Zapatera Elementary School
4th Place – Cebu City Central School
5th Place – Mambaling Elementary School
Best in Musicality – Labangon Elementary School
Best in Costume – Zapatera Elementary School

Secondary Category

1st Place – Abellana National High School
2nd Place – Apas National High School
3rd Place – Barrio Luz National High School
4th Place – Don Sergio Osmena Memorial Night High School
5th Place – Ramon Duterte Memorial High School
Best in costume – Abellana National School
Best in musicality – Apas National High School

(Photo by Sinjin of Libotero.com)

Sinulog sa Kabataan-Lalawigan 2012 Winners

Elementary Category:

1st: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
2nd: Tuyan Central Elementary School, Naga City, Cebu (first time to join)
3rd: San Roque Elementary School, Talisay City (last year’s champion)
4th: Bogo City Division
5th: Santa Filomena Elementary School, Alegria (last year’s 2nd placer)
Best in Costume: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
Best in Musicality: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School

Secondary Category:

1st: Carcar City Division (defending champion)
2nd: Toledo National Vocational School (last year’s 5th placer)
3rd: Lawaan National High School, Talisay City
4th: Medellin National High School (first time to join)
5th: Maslog National High School, Danao City
Best in Costume: Carcar City Division
Best in Musicality: Carcar City Division

Congratulation to all the Winners and participants of the Sinulog sa Kabataan Dakbayan and Sinulog sa Kabataan Lalawigan 2012

Sinulog 2012 Free WIFI Along Routes

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:53:33 +0000

Yes you read it right! There would be a Free Wifi service this coming Sinulog 2012 along its route brought to us by PLDT DSL. The initiative was made possible also by their District Manager Bong Lintag and Cebu City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias. Further, this is PLDT’s prototype project and the result of this might just lead to having FREE WIFI in the entire CEBU CITY!

PLDT DSL user’s name and password be provided for FREE to control the user so that the bandwidth be maintained at its highest level.

How to get a free Internet access this Sinulog?

Just simply go to the PLDT booth to register. The access points are located on top of the VECO and PLDT Posts along the Sinulog 2012 Route. The distance between access points are located in such away the the maximum signal of the internet can be enjoyed by the respective users.

For the Sinulog 2012 FREE WIFI Hot spots, please see list below.

Gen Maximlom Ave (Mango Ave) from Gorordo Ave to Fuente Osmena Circle – permanent
Fuente Osmena Circle – permanent
Osmena Blvd. from Fuente Osmena Circle to P. del Rosario St. – permanent
N. Bacalso Ave from Cebu Provincial South Bus Terminal to P. del Rosario St. – permanent
P. del Rosario St (covering USC) from Osmena Blvd to Sikatuna St – permanent
Cebu Sports Complex – temporary installation until Jan. 16 only
Cebu City Hall covering Magellans Cross and Sto. Nino, Basilica – permanent
Ceby Provincial Capitol – permanent
Plaza Independancia – permanent

Relevant article canbe found here.

Sinulog 2012 Route Maps

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 11:40:54 +0000

For the upcoming Sinulog 2012 celebration in Cebu City, Philippines, here is your guide to the 2012 Sinulog Festival Celebration. Below is the Sinulog 2012 route map which includes the following:

Sinulog 2012 Festival Route Map (click image to enlarge)

The Solemn Procession 2012 Route Map

(click image to enlarge)

Sinulog 2012: Sector Command Post

(click image to enlarge)

Sinulog 2012: Location of Bleachers

(click image to enlarge)

Sinulog 2012: Location of Medical Stations

(click image to enlarge)

Sinulog 2012: Location of Water Stations

(click image to enlarge)

Sinulog 2012 Photo Contest

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 11:18:33 +0000

Join this year’s Sinulog Photo Contest aka “Sinulog 2012 Photo Contest”

1. Modes of Picture Take being considered.

• Film Category – Any analog camera film size/format can be used, as long as the final entry must be a printed (5”x7”)

• Digital Category – Digital Cameras that are capable of taking Raw Format Files, APS format cameras are eligible.

2. Photo Contest Categories – All activities involving Sinulog 2012.

a. Contingent – competing or guest participants of Sinulog 2012 grand parade on January 15, 2012. Picture must be group dancing the Sinulog and not of a solo dancer.

b. Fluvial and Solemn Processions – January 14, 2012, the miraculous image is sea borne along the coasts of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities while the solemn procession passes through the principal streets of Cebu City.

c. Float/Higante and Puppeteers – January 15, 2012, pictures of float, higante and puppeteers must include the whole structure and not the personalities on board the float. Float, puppeteers and higante shots should include the carrier inside the contraption.

d. Décor/Arch and sidelights – These pictures may be taken anytime (day or night) of arches and décor set up for Sinulog 2012. Sidelights are human interest pictures taken in the parade route on Sinulog day, or in any other activity taken during the Sinulog week starting on January 2, 2012.

e. Festival Queen – Photo to be taken while subject is dancing during the Search for Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 on January 13, 2012 at the Cebu City Sports Center and during the grand parade on January 15, 2012.

Registration starts on December 15, 2011.
Deadline: January 10, 2012
Registration fee: P1,000 (inclusive of Sinulog ID and photographer’s vest)

PRIZES:
Over-all grand prize – P100,000 + trophy
2nd Best Picture – P50,000 + trophy
3rd Best Picture – P30,000 + trophy

Short Film Festival and Photo Contest Awards Night
Special screeing of finalists: January 28, 2012, 1-5 p.m.
SM Cinema 2, SM City Cebu
Attire: Smart Casual

Cebu Pacific Air Promo: P888 promo seats to all major coastal cities in China

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:02:57 +0000

CEB launches Xiamen, to fly to all major coastal cities in China

MANILA TO XIAMEN (CHINA) – 888 PESOS
Travel period: March 23 to May 31, 2012
Booking period: December 23, 2011 or until seats last

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) is set to fly to all major coastal cities in China when it commences Manila-Xiamen-Manila flights on March 23, 2012. It will be a thrice weekly service, utilizing one of CEB’s brand-new Airbus jet aircraft.

CEB introduces its 18th international destination with an P888 (CNY 138) Manila-Xiamen or Xiamen-Manila seat sale until December 23, 2011 or until seats last. This is for travel from March 23 to May 31, 2012. After the sale, lowest year-round fares from Manila to Xiamen start at P2,499 (CNY 388).

Xiamen is a highly industrialized city in the Fujian Province, on the Southeastern coast of mainland China. It was ranked China’s 2nd most suitable city for living by a Beijing-based polling agency, with highly developed banking services and open policy towards foreign investment and trade.

Flights for this route are scheduled to depart Manila at 11:20pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving in Xiamen at 01:35am. Return flights will leave Xiamen at 2:25am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrive in Manila at 04:40am.

“CEB looks forward to expanding its network in China, especially with Xiamen and Fujian Province being the well-known hometown of about 85% Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines, including the Gokongweis. We hope CEB’s thrice weekly flights to Xiamen will boost trade tremendously between China and the Philippines,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“We flew 30% more passengers to mainland China in the 3rd quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year. CEB will continue to grow its China market with its trademark low fares and destination offerings, such as the island paradise of Boracay, Coron and Cebu,” Iyog added.

The airline currently flies thrice weekly to Beijing and Guangzhou, and daily to Shanghai. It earlier announced plans to increase flights to Beijing, after its 1st year of operations last September 5. Manila-Beijing-Manila flights will be a four times weekly service starting January 7, 2012 to cope with demand.

CEB’s Greater China operations extend to daily flights from Manila to Taipei, up to 6 daily flights to Hong Kong from Manila, Clark and Cebu, and 11 weekly flights to Macau from Manila and Clark.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales and promos can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Weekend at Costa de Leticia Resort and Spa – Alegria Cebu

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:47:02 +0000

December 3, 2011 – We (Albee and Jorj) have been waiting for this weekend to come. We planned this about two weeks for my pre birthday celebration. And yes, nothing can stop us! We made it to Costa de Leticia, Alegria, Cebu.

Imagine my excitement, 3 days before December 3, 2011, I already prepared my stuffs for the outing and so, December 3 came, from work, we headed straight to my house to eat breakfast and we rested for a while. About 11 in the morning, we went to South Bus Terminal, since we are going to ride a bus to Alegria. To my disappointment there was no air con bus available

*Cebu to Alegria fare Ceres Bus Liners non aircon Php 170 (I’m sorry guys, I forgot ). For all air con buses of Ceres Bus Liners, just add 5.00 pesos.

No sleep and I feel like I am floating in mid air, light headed and a little tipsy. I took a nap starting from Minglanilla to Carcar. I woke up when we reached Barili, Cebu. I started my sight seeings and I took pictures. We were talking the whole time we were in the bus. We just don’t run out of stories to tell and the funny thing, we told the “condoktor” to stop the bus when we reach the Central School in Alegria, since he’s not familiar with the resort. (OMG! Why did we ever entrust ourselves to him? HAHAHA) as we expected, we lapse a meter away from the resort, so we hurriedly stopped the bus. Thank God we arrived safe in the place but we totally forgot my wave board Oh well. We arrived 1pm and as we went inside the resort, I was in awe looking at the place, as in O__O awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! The house is like a first class hotel and very SUUUUUUUUUULIIIIIIIIT to the max! We booked a single room plus additional mattress since it is the only available room for that day. And the whole place is a WIFI area.

We arranged our stuffs in our room. Afterwhich, we roamed around the town proper of Alegria, Cebu. What a coincidence! – It was the town fiesta and we got the chance to visit their parish church. It was 3pm and we took our late lunch at Xi Shack RestoBar. We ordered Longsilog and Tosilog plus the bottled water all for 180 pesos.

I found out that Alegria has its own natural spring and waterfalls, and we planned to visit the place. We asked a few and one trisikad driver drove us to their spring, but then I was disappointed because he brought us to the end of the spring which flows to the beach side already. What I wanted to see is the source. T___T So much of it, we headed back to the resort. This time we turned on their cable TV which has 3 channels only (I think?):D Then we took some rest.

About 6 in the evening we woke up took a bath and we ordered dinner at their own restaurant. Prices were quite expensive at first look. But as the food was already served, we didn’t know that the servings were good for 3-4 people. WOW! And I really felt like eating all of them, the food was well presented, cooked fresh and most of all its delicious.

We ordered the following for dinner:

Tuna sandwich with fries
Grilled squid
Pork Sinigang
4 cups rice (We are both rice eaters )
Mango juice for both of us

All of these for 500+ pesos, not bad. And we still have the chance to reserve the squid for breakfast.

We tried night swimming in the pool. That time, the moment was romantic, the night sky and the stars above us, the moon that shines and reflects in the dark ocean and the cold wind. We really had the time of our lives away from the hassle and noise of the city. We grabbed the moment to relax and chill.

Day 2: December 4, 2011

We woke up early in the morning about 5am, and get ready for a swim in the beach. We jumped into the water and I know, for beach lovers, you will surely enjoy the scene. One feature of their place is their beach full of corals and live fishes, clear waters and white sand. I even saw fishes jumping in the air towards us. HAHAHA. And I even saw a bird tried to catch some fishes (I’m not sure if it’s a kingfisher?). Fishes swim around you and be careful in not to step on those sea urchins underneath. For me it’s one of the best places here in Cebu for snorkeling and diving. And the place is accredited by the Department of Tourism.

After, we ate our complimentary breakfast; I chose Ham + egg + rice and juice. While Jorj ate Corned Beef + egg + Rice and coffee. And by the way did I mention, that the staff was very accommodating? The best staff I have encountered, they really attended to our needs and even the owner Capt. Donayre making us feel like we are home, even if we away from our home.

So after, I saw one kid swimming in the Jacuzzi and I got envy. We tried the Jacuzzi and oh boy it was my first time HAHA. We enjoyed taking some pictures of their INFINITY pool and we enjoyed the moment since only few used the pool that time.

Sad to say but we have to go. T__T We packed and said goodbye to everyone. But! It doesn’t end there! There’s more! We decided to have a south tour and we really did it! We rode a bus going south – to the tip of Cebu and back to the City. Tough ride though.

But most of all, the best part of the trip – I got to spend it with the love of my life for my birthday. Thanks Brad!

Here are some of the photos taken during our stay:

(Written by: Albee Charis)