Standing up for the gift of life
Suroy-Suroy Sugbo:
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Northern Escapade
FREE
Sinulog sa Carmen
sugbonews Usa ka Panaw, Usa ka Panlantaw
vol. 5, no. 3 | FEBRUARY 13, 2011
www.cebu.gov.ph
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PROVINCE OF CEBU
the Governor’s Cup
fourth edition
The grand annual horse show and competition lives up to its billing in Mandaue City
First person
about the cover
Remembering Cebu
by Delora L. Sales-Simbajon
M
y earliest memory of Cebu was of blue sea waves and the sight and sound of people milling around the pier area at early dawn. This was in the late ’70s and my late mother and I had just arrived from an overnight trip from the city of my birth in Bohol. The sun was yet to fully rise and invade the cold morning air surrounding us; I was shivering a bit as we disembarked from the boat. I was getting to know this island called Cebu as much as a six-year-old possibly could. We stayed in one of our relatives’ house along Jakosalem Street, with the Ramos market a short morning walk away. It was in that old house in Jakosalem where a cousin of mine led me to discover the delicious delight of eating a boiled bird’s egg. It was my first time and certainly not the last. In this trip, mother took me to see a doctor who I understood then to be an asthma or lung specialist. My asthma attacks back home had led to lengthy hospital stays and stacks of medication with labels way beyond my reading ability. Mother then took me to shopping places downtown. I remember seeing tartanillas traversing the streets side by side with cars and jeepneys. I found it interesting then that Cebu could accommodate something of the past along with the new in one setting, or should I say, in one given road. It was during my high school years when my geographical knowledge of Cebu progressed somewhat. Two regional writing contests that I was sent to join were particularly helpful. One was held in Danao city where I remember clean parks, the city’s progressive pace, the hospitality of the people. I appreciated the forward vision of the city’s leader that time (late ’80s). My trip to Badian (early ’90s), on the other hand, was an experience with heavy rains and mud. But this threeday trip ended with a trek to Badian’s waterfalls which was a literally breathtaking reward. So what if mud was stuck to my sandals and my handkerchief was soaking wet with sweat? I was just so ready for a dip into those falls. I packed up my bags and my life when I finished high school in Tagbilaran city and moved to Cebu. Life away from
home has a way of stretching a person; one’s resourcefulness is somehow heightened. When the fast food companies in Cebu city (downtown, uptown, as well as in the Talamban area) and in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities began sprouting up in the mid-’90s, I was among the throng of college students eager to take a part-time job. It was, however, a working arrangement with a then pioneering computer company that worked for me. When I finally had my diploma at the University of San Carlos, I stayed on for about seven more years. Ah, how sweet and challenging, living the independent life: earning one’s own keep and pursuing dreams. While calling Cebu home for about 12 years, I also stumbled upon two greater treasures under the sun: a deeper faith in God and gold mines of friendships. That deeper faith eventually led me to more active service for other people, even to mission work beyond Philippine shores. As for that wealth of friendships, it has remained within reach despite the distance. Some of my friends are still based in Cebu but some of them have also gone outside the “Premier Province of the Philippines” living their dreams and calling in other parts of the country and even beyond. But we have marked Cebu as the intersection of our lives. Since I started writing a new home address in 2002 (Bangkok, Thailand for three years, then Davao city, and now Butuan city in beautiful Mindanao), I have had close to a decade of stories of living beyond Cebu shores. My world has expanded beyond its sights and sounds. And yet a full treasure chest of Cebu memories, which, while dusty with time, is still right here with me.
The governor graces the opening day of the Guv Cup: Horse show and Competition held at Mandaue City.
staff box Editor Rogelio R. Murcia, Jr. Editorial Consultant Elizabeth C. Francia Associate Editors Jude A. Bacalso Roger P. Serna News Editor Louela R. Pegarido Assistant Editor Jaclyn Cecille Velasco Writers Albe Victoria Alimurung Xerxes Alkuino Ramon Gallardo Manita Sanoria-Ramos Graphic Artists Aren Nayve Jun Velez Editorial Assistant Carla O. Capa Photographers Donald Moga Roland Canaya Circulation Supervisors Rey Steve Norwin Resma Rodolfo Alibo Publisher Cebu Provincial Government
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contents 4
main story
Standing up for the gift of life Governor Garcia, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, and Congressman Pablo John Garcia support the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in its stand against the RH bill.
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Korean traders eye power investments in Cebu KOREAN businessmen from the power and construction industry met recently with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to discuss the possibility of building power plants in Cebu.
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Hitting full stride The fourth edition of the Guv Cup: Horse show and Competition was successfully staged in Mandaue City.
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Suroy-Suroy Sugbo The annual provincial tourism caravan kicked off last January with the Northern Escapade, with a fitting finale at Lilo-an.
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Sinulog sa Carmen In the spirit of the grandest festival in Cebu, the “Sinulog sa Carmen” honored the Christ Child in pious dance and townwide merrymaking.
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Main story
Standing up for the gift of life Cebu’s leaders support CBCP’s stand against the RH bill by Manita Ramos and Albe Alimurung
W
ith the recent turn of events regarding the controversial Reproductive Health Bill or RH Bill, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) once more reiterated their stand against its passage.
Last January, a vote was made by the House of Representatives Committee on Population and Family Relations to consolidate all the versions of the RH Bill into an act providing for a comprehensive policy on responsible parenthood, reproductive health, and population and development. Committee chairman and Biliran Representative Rogelio Espina however said the Palace’s recommendations with inputs from the Church were not carried in the consolidated measure.
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In a pastoral letter read by Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in his homily during his birthday Mass last February 6, the CBCP reaffirms that the Catholic Church is against the RH Bill “in all its forms.” This sentiment is also shared by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. “We believe that there should be no curtailment or any attempt to regulate what really is a miracle of life. We should not make as a scapegoat our inability to cope with our responsibilities
what they call the so-called population problem,” Garcia said. She added that public servants, chosen by the people to lead, should embrace that responsibility to provide basic services to all constituents, “from the elderly, to the young, to the children and to the infant.” The Provincial government has projects that back the governor’s stand, appropriating in the 2011 budget enough funds to construct at least one birthing center in all local government
units. Its target of completing is the end of 2011. “That’s a very clear statement of our stand against the RH Bill,” Garcia said. Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia and Congressman Pablo John Garcia are also anti-RH. Before its approval, the measure was opposed by pro-life lawmaker Pablo Garcia. He said the bill does not recognize the responsibility of the State to protect the sanctity of life. “The Constitution, in its declaration of principles and
policy, provides that the State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution,” he argued. Governor Gwen Garcia said, had her parents practiced family planning, we might not have had Pablo John, who is the youngest in their brood of eight, a congressman and a bar topnotcher. Gwen Garcia is the eldest. Last February 11, the “Cebuanos Unite for Life” prayer rally converged at the Fuente Osmeña Circle. Catholic schools, youth organizations, parishes, the Knights of Columbus, Couples for Christ, senior citizens’ groups, Council of the Laity, and Marian organizations bringing rosaries and banners and pro-life placards joined hands to stop the passage of a bill they think is deceptive, anti-Filipino, antifamily, and anti-Church. The Church believes the bill does not promote reproductive health. The Church also does not
believe that the bill will reduce the abortion rate, but instead increases it. It also claims that it does not prevent HIV/AIDS nor empowers women with ownership of their own bodies. The Church also believes the bill will not stop overpopulation. In addition, the Church also objects against the use of public funds for contraceptives and sterilization. Moreover, the bishops are also against compulsory sex education that would, in effect, let parents abdicate their primary role of educating their own children in the area of sexuality, which the bishops believe is a sacred gift from God. The objections of the bishops stem from their deep concern for the plight of the poor, and their belief in the responsible and natural regulation of birth through natural family planning. The latter requires character-building, involving sacrifice, self-discipline, and respect for the dignity of the spouse.
The bishops believe in the freedom of religion and the right to object in matters that are contrary to one’s faith. The government has called for a dialogue with the bishops to enable them to convey and express these views. However, the bishops believe the dialogue “revealed how far apart” their respective positions are. And while the dialogue is ongoing, the Congressional Committee on Family Life already approved and endorsed to the Lower House a consolidated version of the various bills. The CBCP, in response, decided to issue the pastoral letter rejecting the RH agenda and “choose life.” The Bishops also appealed for the government to address effectively the real issues of poverty, such as corruption, lack of social and economic services, social inequities, and lack of access to education and the benefits of development.
They asked for more hospitals and clinics in the rural areas, the deployment of more health personnel to provide more access to health services, the building of more schools, the provision of more aid to the poor for their education, and the building of more and better infrastructures for development. The bishops thus echoed the challenge uttered 25 years ago at EDSA I calling upon “all people of goodwill to pray together, reason together, decide together, act together always to the end that truth prevail” over the many threats to human life. Governor Gwen Garcia expressed her full support, and Congressmen Pabling’s and Pablo John’s to the official CBCP stand on the Reproductive Health issue. It can be recalled that the three leaders received last year the Humanae Vitae Award, the recognition given by the Archdiocese of Cebu to pro-life government leaders.
PRO-LIFE PUSH. (Left page) Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) celebrate the gift of life during Cardinal Vidal’s 80th birthday. (Top left to right) Scenes at last year’s Humanae Vitae Awards honoring national pro-lifers in government service. (Bottom left to right) The Garcias support the stand of the CBCP against the Reproductive Health bill.
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News province
Korean traders eye power investments in Cebu KOREAN businessmen from the power and construction industry met recently with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to discuss the possibility of building power plants in Cebu. “This is something positive. It shows the climate for investment is very ideal,” Garcia said. The governor has scheduled a meeting with Philippine agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and National Power Corporation (Napocor) to discuss a slash in the power budget that has caused hours of outages in Cebu islands. Business Development Department of Korea Southern Power Corp. Ltd. (Kospo) senior manager Byeong Jin
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Choi told Garcia that they have the technology for producing renewable energy. Kospo is a subsidiary company of Korean Electric Power Company (Kepco), which is operating power plants in Cebu. “We have so many wind farms in South Korea and we intend to bring them to Cebu,” Choi added. Garcia said Cebu needs more plants especially with the 14% increase in power demand. “We must sustain this growth and we must continue to encourage investors in the power industry,” said Gov. Garcia. The province also faces a power problem in the islands, after the Napocor budget was cut down from P18.2 billion to only P7.575 billion.
The amount now set aside for the purchasing of diesel fuel for Small Power Utilities Group (Spug) is only P3.33 million when it used to be P7.6 million. Spug handles electricity generation and transmission in the islands which are not connected to the main power grids. As a result, Napocor resorted to implementing 4-hour outages in these areas. Napocor president Froilan Tampico sent a letter to Governor Garcia asking her help in finding a solution to the power shortages in the islands. “The provincial government is stepping in. The important thing is we’ll be able to sit down and discuss point by point and be able to assess how each party can help one another,” said Garcia.
Capitol loans Camotes 9.2M to end brownouts Camotes Island will enjoy uninterrupted power supply soon, says National Power Corp. (Napocor) president Froilan Tampinco. Tampinco recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Province of Cebu and Camotes Electric Cooperative (Celco) after the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) authorized Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to lend P9.2 million to the electric cooperative. The loan will be used as advance payment to the Napocor for power supply reserve in the next three months. The amount was taken from funds under Capitol’s economic enterprise program. Napocor has a 2.6-megawatt power plant in mainland Camotes. This year’s Napocor budget was reduced from P18.296 billion last year to P7.575 billion in 2011, resulting in a cut in diesel fuel allocation to P3.33 billion from P7.687 billion. The reduced amount affected the fuel expenditure for the island resulting in power shortages in the towns of Poro, Tudela, and San Francisco. Garcia, to promote general welfare, offered the loan to Celco so it could pay the advance payment requested by Napocor. The
governor believes it is not good for Camotes, a popular tourist destination, to suffer from power outages. The island has been experiencing power shortages from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. since January 15. Poro Mayor Luciano Rama said he is extremely dismayed by the situation in his town where electricity is present for only nine hours in a day. Rama said it has caused the cancellation of the overseas employment interview in his town. Rama, along with Tudela and San Francisco Mayors Erwin Yu and Ally Arquillano, was present during the meeting with Tampinco at the governor’s office. Camotes needs 3,000 liters of diesel fuel to supply power 24 hours a day. To achieve this, Camotes needs P3.1 million a month at the current diesel price of P34 per liter. Celco will pay the loan within a year with an annual interest rate of 5.2 percent. Rolando Camaso, general manager of Celco, said they won’t pass on the stipulated interest rate to consumers.
Cebu is ripe for tourism investment: guv GOVERNOR Gwendolyn Garcia urged local chief executives in Cebu Province during the Provincial Development Council meeting last February 5 to invest in tourism. Cebu tourism is thriving as evidenced by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) report on 2010 flights and arrivals. Garcia said based also on the success of last January’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Northern Escapade, the province is “now ripe for tourism investment.” The governor, however, lamented the lack of accommodations in beach resorts in Bantayan Island during the recent Suroy-Suroy. “This is not even seasonal. It happens all year long - a stark contrast to the previous years when resort owners would complain of lack of guests.” Garcia encouraged local government units (LGUs) to invest in rooms, restaurants, or adventure tourism, and offer tour packages sans intervention of travel agencies.
Garcia promised to give a brand new coaster to each LGU to be used in ferrying guests to scenic spots. The meeting was attended by Congressmen Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas (1st District), Pablo “Pabling” Garcia (2nd District), Benhur Salimbangon (4th district), and Luigi Quisumbing (6th district). In the same MCIAA report, a total of 4,001 international flights were recorded in 2010 against the 3,500 flights in 2009 and 19,697 domestic flights in 2010 compared to 18,629 flights in 2009. Local and international arrivals also increased by 14 percent from 2009 to 2010. There were only 4,757,173 local and international arrivals in 2009 compared to 5,411,687 in 2010. At present, there are 473 domestic flights and 91 international flights per week at the Mactan airport. “We have the geographic advantage and people find it convenient to fly from Cebu to go to other destinations in the country,” Garcia said.
Capitol gives P.5M aid to S. Leyte town GOVERNOR Gwen Garcia handed out P500,000 financial assistance to the landslide victims of Southern Leyte, particularly those in Barangay Bolod-Bolod, St. Bernard. Persistent rains brought floods and landslides, killing five people and displacing thousands of families in 25 of the municipality’s 30 barangays. Around 1,500 families composed of 5,000 individuals were affected.
“I have talked to Governor Mercado. We gave them the free hand to budget the money,” Garcia said in a press conference at the Capitol. She added that the P500,000 is just the initial aid, and the province will give additional assistance after she makes an ocular inspection of affected areas. The Cebu governor tried to visit St. Bernard last January 26 but her helicopter was unable to land due to zero visibility. Earlier, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III instructed the Departments of National Defense, Environment and Natural Resources, and Public Works and Highways to take care of the affected communities. In 2006, more than a thousand residents of Barangay Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte were buried in landslides The governor, with St. Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza caused by continuous rains.
eGWEN search for best highways, thoroughfares launched IN LINE with its thrust to improve the province, the expanded Greening with the Environment Now or eGWEN project is embarking on a quest for the best highways and major thoroughfares in Cebu. Now on its third year, the eGWEN project embarks on a Search for the Best Highways and Major Thoroughfares that aims to improve the physical set-up of towns and cities. eGWEN is a five-year development program between the Provincial Government and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. This year’s sub-project under eGWEN is intended to improve Cebu’s physical landscape and encourage constituents to participate in local governance. Joining in the quest for best highways and thoroughfares as well as for the Top 10 Private Residences, Top 10 Heritage Sites, Top 10 Commercial Buildings/ Structures, and The Best Municipal Building or Barangay Hall along the highway are a total of 375 barangays and all of the 52 municipalities and cities of Cebu Province. Criteria laid out for the search are based on the eGWEN standards of cleanliness and sanitation, concern for the environment, promotion of culture and heritage, and aesthetic impact and artistry. A thorough assessment would be made of the top five nominees from each local government unit for every category. Private residences should be visible from the highway and not hidden behind high walls and should exude that unique Cebuano character. The heritage sights should be within the poblacion area and must be wellmaintained. The commercial structures should have proper and creative signage and their design must be in harmony with their surroundings. The top 10 winners of each category will receive P100,000 each. An additional P300,000 will be given to the top-ranking entry. On the other hand, there should be no advertisements on trees, no obstructions along the road, and trees and shrubs well maintained for the eGWEN highway. A prize of P1 million goes to the LGU adjudged as having the best highway. The government structure chosen for its cleanliness and sanitation, design, and service orientation will receive P500,000. Assessment of competing entries will be conducted three times a year except for 2011 when only two will be done. The Province has sought the cooperation of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways in the implementation and monitoring of contest entries. The agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Provincial Government during the launch of the contest. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia represented the Province of Cebu, Fr. Ernesto Javier, S.J., a member of the Board of Trustees, signed for RAFI, and Regional Directors Rowena Montecillo and Pedro Herrera for DOT and DPWH, respectively. The ratings for the weekly monitoring and the thrice-yearly assessment will be collated to get the final average.The winners will be announced and awarded in August, along with the other eGWEN awardees, in time for the celebration of the Province’s anniversary. (Manita SanoriaRamos) SUGBO 7
Gallery
T
he first leg of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo 2011 – Northern Escapade – opened auspiciously; rain had poured heavily since the year started, but on the very first day of the event, the sun re-emerged and pierced through the clouds. Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is a program of the Cebu Provincial Government that started in 2005; it brings guests to the different towns of the Province of Cebu, giving them a generous sampling of Cebuano hospitality, heritage, and history. Always scheduled after the Sinulog Festival to showcase the towns of Cebu, the tour this year went north. The ‘Northern Escapade’ went around Consolacion, Compostela, Danao City, Carmen, Sogod, and Medellin on the first day. The second day started in San Remegio, then proceeded to the island towns of Sta. Fe, Madridejos, and Bantayan. Participants enjoyed their last day going around Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Catmon, and Liloan – the last stop – which capped the tour with a grand fireworks display. Some 246 participants composed mostly of balikbayans from the United States and Canada, and other foreigners and local tourists participated in the tour. Aside from enjoying Cebu’s northern sceneries, they also got to taste the northern town’s native delicacies, and got to bring home with them souvenirs and memories.
compostela
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NORTHERN ESCAPADE consolacion
danao city
carmen
sogod
medellin
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Gallery san remegio
santa fe
madridejos
bantayan
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bogo
tabogon
borbon
catmon
liloan SUGBO 11
Editorial
Our patch of earth, our piece of sky
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he general condition of the environment is no longer just a cause for alarm; it has become a call for action. Whereas before, environmental degradation served as a reality check, now, it has become the writing on the wall. The decline of the environment has been steady and is now global: last year, heat went off the charts in the United States, wildfires by the hundreds ravaged Russia, while glaciers melted at record speeds in Greenland. And these were just the tip of the iceberg. This year, closer to home, a study revealed rising water temperatures, coral bleaching, and coastal erosion in several of 28 project sites along the Philippine coastline. Very recently, heavy flooding hit Cebu and Mandaue hard enough for these cities to be placed under a state of calamity. The climes, they are a-changin’. The environmental documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore shows the extent of the havoc already wreaked by global warming, and the projected destruction it could further inflict unless moves are made. However, towards the end of the 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Gore finishes on a reassuring note, saying that if appropriate actions are taken in time, the effects of global warming would be successfully reversed; this would entail releasing less carbon dioxide into the air and planting more vegetation to consume existing CO2. The Province of Cebu places a high premium on the environment, which is one of the thrusts in Governor Garcia’s 12-Point Agenda. Seeking to locally address the needs of an ecologically-challenged world, the Cebu Provincial Government and the Department of Education (DepEd) undertook in 2006 a tree-planting initiative that has yielded, to date, more than four million growing trees, inspiring a spinoff project in San Francisco, Camotes last year of planting two million trees in five years. The governor’s approach towards environmental stewardship is collaborative and holistic. The Province, for instance, has teamed up with the
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private sector, working with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. in the fiveyear Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGWEN) Program which seeks to raise the standard not only of green living but also of good governance throughout the province. With as much hindsight as foresight, the Capitol joined forces with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in January this year for the disaster risk reduction campaign, with a record signing by 29 mayors. Also, to further reduce the Province’s carbon footprint, the Capitol is carefully weighing the use of nuclear energy – which is environmentally-friendly while being costeffective –, as well as wind energy, with the wind farm of Ilocos Norte as model. Add to all this the projects and programs of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cebu and one gets a sense of this administration’s commitment to our patch of earth and our piece of sky. That the Governor has been invited twice at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in California speaks volumes on her advocacy for the environment. In last year’s edition of the summit, Gov. Schwarzenegger invited her not only as guest speaker but also as founding member of R20, a subnational public-private alliance “that will implement concrete actions to solve climate change and build the global green economy.” Last February 3 and 4, the Province of Cebu, with the Governor and Provincial Board member Thadeo Ouano, convened local environmental and natural resources officers and gathered the best speakers on the environment for a seminar-cum-workshop. This was done in preparation for the drafting of an environment code for the Province of Cebu, yet another collaborative effort whose final output would safeguard the province’s environmental and natural treasures. Protecting the environment is everybody’s sacred duty. Marshall McLuhan said it best: “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” And we need to work together, before Father Time catches up with Mother Earth.
Opinion
Love in the time of RH
L Promdi-wise Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo
The balitaw is an entertainment form that delights with its playful tone ... We learn from it the pulse of the folk ...
ove as theme is never-ending, and since Valentine’s Day is just a day or so old, we can talk about the entries to the balitaw contest which deal with love and specifically, with reproductive health. Between a fun-filled exchange on methods of birth control and a debate on the reproductive health bill, which would you rather have? The former, yes. After all, the balitaw is an entertainment form that delights with its playful tone and earthy images. We learn from it the pulse of the folk, how they feel about the issues, rather than what the Church allows and does not allow, or what the Bill would have us be responsible for. While the issues of women’s rights and morality are there, these are not hotly debated on. So if one attends a performance of these entries wanting to learn about the controversial bill and perhaps be persuaded to take one side, he or she is in for disappointment. As one gigolo says to his lady, Magpaabut lang kita kon unsa gyoy mahimo and another ends with Kay way usa nato nga makabuot sa suwerte. You guessed right, such endings are penned by the more conservative older poets. But the entries from the younger writers do not seriously debate the matter either. They have too much fun making fun of themselves. One eager lover threatens to jump from the Mactan Bridge if spurned and denied his pillow. Another suggests, Ambak lang sa ikatulong ang-ang sa hagdan/ Ug dili gyud masudlan ang imong gingharian (as if that works). Still another echoes the traditional male debater with his enigmatic phrases: Tugti lang ko, Ling, nga akong tamnan/ Og mga liso sa monggos ang imong tugkaran and with his argument:
Inday, ang sunoy nga tarionon/ Angay nga perming patukaon.
The girl too can be as enigmatic, as when one Maria says: Wala na intawon ko’y panahon/ Sa pagpatubo anang mga dahon, and laments lack and loss of what was taken for granted before: Dili
na igo ang atong gatas/ Ang dagat, wa nay mga isda nga lab-as. Today’s Maria in the balitaw still demands proof of Juan’s love, as in: Kung tinuod kanang imong gugma/ Ihatag mo kanako ang akong tinguha/ Ang naghaguros nga mga lusok sa ulan/ Ug ang pusod sa buhi nga bulkan. But the poet of Dekalendaryong Gugma, obviously a girl obsessed with counting the fertile days, asks instead of demands: Doy, kon mahimo magsul-ob ka og gwantes/ Kon duawon nimo ang akong mga brillantes/ Atol sa adlaw nga gimarkahan og ekis/ Sa Dominggo hangtud sa Biyernes.
Such “irreverent voices” (mostly of the WILA and BATHALAD poets) that subvert the moral code by naturalizing permissiveness among the unmarried are a far cry from many characters in Cebuano stories of the prewar period (also the peak of the balitaw form) who sought their parents’ approval before marriage. Of course, girls before needed parents’ vigilance because they tended to get married very very early and were expected to be guided by their parents. Our girls today, still unmarried at 35, seem not to care about changing their status. (That may be either good or bad, we’re not judging anything except the entries.) We can say that the balitaw repertoire is another illustration of the proverbial Cebuano bugalbugal, always his defense mechanism against the odds and perhaps, this time, against a deadlock on an important issue that redefines what personal freedom is.
The Cardinal at 80
I Kabilin
Jojo Bersales
I saw my work of designing the gallery and helping install the memorabilia as my labor of love for the Cardinal.
t was a happy occasion to once again see His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal and be part of the 350 nuns, priests, and laity in the celebrations to mark the eve of his 80th birthday. I must confess that even though he is just four corners away from where we live in a subdivision in Banilad, I have never had the time to drop by and see how he has been since his formal turnover of the See of Cebu to Archbishop Jose Palma. The occasion finally came last Saturday, 5 February, the eve of the Cardinal’s birthday, as we unveiled The Founder’s Gallery showcasing his precious memorabilia at the Cathedral Museum of Cebu. With a timeline and storyline based on the book we wrote about his life and ministry entitled, “Via Veritatis”, the exhibit was blessed by Archbishop Palma. I saw my work of designing the gallery and helping install the memorabilia as my labor of love for the Cardinal. My connection with him, after all, is more personal in that we share the same birthday. More importantly, I cannot help but see deep humility and a sense of propriety in the Cardinal that he
has left everything he received in his 29 years as shepherd of Cebu’s Catholics to the care of the Archdiocese, be they real property donated to him in Cebu or objects collected and gained along the way. The latter are now part of the assets of the museum, including expensive gold pectoral rings and crosses that are kept in a safety deposit vault of a local bank. Even the heavens felt happy if one can read this from the rare double rainbow that suddenly appeared in the sky as the ceremony was about to start. During the response after the sumptuous dinner wholeheartedly sponsored by the family of the philanthropists Leo and Norma Lim Liu, the Cardinal was still as humorous as ever, showing no signs of slowing down even though he told me a few minutes earlier that he had no more load to carry now that he had passed the mantle of authority to Archbishop Palma. Happy birthday to you, Your Eminence and allow me to repeat Archbishop Palma’s closing message to you on that occasion: Stay in Cebu with us, ad multos annos (for many more years).
SUGBO 13
Opinion Ring in the new T Diyandi-Bahandi
Marlinda Angbetic-Tan
Many Filipinos trace their roots to a Chinese ancestor, albeit generations removed. Even the brownskinned ones carrying truly Malay-sounding surnames, would be pikot upon further scrutiny. It has long been admitted nga ang katibuk-ang Sugbo usa ka Chinatown ...
Inbox
he Lunar Year started last February 3, in the Gregorian calendar 2011. It is now the Year of the Metal Rabbit. Chinese communities all over the world celebrated this major event in many traditional ways. So did the ChineseFilipinos among us. Many Filipinos trace their roots to a Chinese ancestor, albeit generations removed. Even the brownskinned ones carrying truly Malay-sounding surnames, would be pikot upon further scrutiny. It has long been admitted nga ang katibuk-ang Sugbo usa ka Chinatown, unlike say Manila with a designated place like the Binondo district. The Chinese here are quite integrated into the Cebuano community. Long before the conquistadores came to our shores seeking spices and gold for the Spanish crown, Chinese traders had established vibrant commerce with the natives of the archipelago now known as the Philippines. And so did they disperse, as well, in peaceful commercial pursuits throughout Asia. They came here in their sturdy junks that could withstand squalls and maelstroms, laden with barter goods. Over time, as in places all over Asia, these Chinese traders intermarried and settled comfortably in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Ang pagsunop sa diyandi sa Tsina ngadto
sa atong diyandi nakahatag kanato og di kasaranggang bahandi.
Lunar New Year traditional practices still observed by Chinese all over the globe vary according to class, country, cross-culture, and integration. Yet certain practices prevail, like the following: 1. Clean the house thoroughly on New Year’s Eve. This is also practiced by Filipinos, as we make sure that we sweep away the bad luck before the New Year. 2. On New Year’s Day, wear new clothes and slippers, preferably in red – to ward off bad luck. We Filipinos also
observe this as we wear our new clothes – with dots for prosperity – to church on New Year’s Day. 3. A table should be set on New Year’s Eve, laden with fruits (in auspicious colors of red and gold – oranges, apples, macopa, santol, etc.) and certain kinds of auspicious food like tikoy (sweet and sticky, traits to bring about family solidarity). Fish and noodles symbolize longevity. The table full of food will be left there overnight. The food will be eaten by the family on New Year’s Day. We have a similar practice of usa ka
bakid nga bugas ilalom sa hagdanan panahon sa Bag-ong Tuig aron dili mahutdan ang kaldero sa umaabot nga tuig.
4. Typical Chinese: prepare an even number of dishes for happy celebrations like New Year, birthdays, graduations, etc. Odd number is used for funerals and offerings for dead ancestors. 5. Lunar New Year is observed for three days – New Year’s Eve, when the family would gather for a reunion dinner at the patriarch/matriarch’s house when the red lucky money envelope or ang pao will be distributed to the (unmarried) children and all grandchildren; (the red envelopes can also be given on New Year’s Day, when the children will go visit and greet older relatives.) New Year’s Day, when the siblings visit each other and troop to the parents’ house for a reunion; and the day after, for offerings to be done at the temples, then go to visit close friends. 6. Pay off debts before the New Year. And get a hair cut or cut your nails (for the bald guys or for ladies who don’t want a haircut) to change your luck for the coming year, as hair is considered auspicious. 7. Be sure to take a bath on New Year’s Eve, as one should not wash away one’s luck by bathing on New Year’s Day. May the Metal Rabbit bring in a hopping economic revival after the punches we received in the Tiger Year just passed.
February 7, 2011 Dear Editor:
Readers who would like to comment on the articles and features published in Sugbo News may write us at sugbo_news@yahoo. com 14 Sugbo
I would like to congratulate the Governor for publishing Sugbo News. It is very informative and entertaining. Of particular interest are the articles about Cebuanos who have made their mark and Cebu’s cities and towns that Sugbo News is bringing to the fore. Sugbo News is the first of its kind in the Province, and City of Cebu for that matter. In some way the articles therein inform us about the activities of the Governor and her administration, as well as the doings and goings of the different towns in the province. I would specially mention the beautiful pictures printed in relation to the articles written. More power to the Governor and the staff of Sugbo News for a job well done. Daghang Salamat! Rolando P. Cabiluna Barangay Sta. Cruz, Cebu City
Provincial legislation Ouano initiates creation of environment code RECENT flooding in Metro Cebu emphasizes the need for people to lessen the adverse effects of climate change. As chair of the committee on environment, Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Thaddeo Ouano led a capability-building seminar for Local Environment and Natural Resources Officers (ENROs) in preparation for the drafting of an environment code. Ouano said Atty. Victor Maambong, during his term, had proposed a similar code, but this was only passed on first reading. May Elizabeth Ybañez, regional manager of the Philippine Environment Governance Project, said natural resource officers should understand choices and options. They should help government officials decide on environmental concerns by providing them full details about the natural resources in their areas. This way, they already have the necessary information before crafting ordinances. Environmental planner Nathaniel Von Einseidel confirmed the importance of an ecosystem profiling for communities to protect their natural wealth via laws. But laws should be dynamic, said Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) head Nestor Canda. Laws should cater to the area’s need, he pointed out. Local and global environmental issues and how the LGUs should respond to these were also discussed.
Amid growing concerns related to flooding, environmental lawyer Atty. Antonio Oposa advised LGUs to have boats ready for rescue purposes while preparing for year-long solutions. Dr. Eli Ouano, Presidential Secretary on Climate Bebet Gonzun, and Efren Carreon of the National Economic Development Authority 7 were also at hand to give inputs.
Out of the 52 municipalities and component cities, only nine have clear designated ENROs. ENROs are offices created by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for each province, city, and municipality. Anyone who has a stake in the environment can easily bring concerns to these offices.
PB commends balikbayans for promoting Cebu in Vegas FOR helping promote Cebu Province’s “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” program in Las Vegas, USA, a group of Cebuano balikbayans received commendation from the Provincial Board (PB). PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy said in his resolution approved last January 24 that the Philippine Bisayan Society of Nevada led by Marian Kimseng Pearson promoted Cebu in Las Vegas by encouraging Filipinos there to visit the province and join a trip to several Cebu towns and cities. PB Member Magpale, who presided over the session, informed her colleagues that 25 tourists from Las Vegas joined the SuroySuroy Northern Escapade from January 19-
21. Tourists were taken on a tour of northern towns starting from Consolacion all the way down to Bantayan Island. Sitoy had wanted to withdraw the resolution to reflect on its relevance but changed his mind when Magpale informed him about the number of people from Las Vegas that joined Cebu’s Suroy-Suroy. Paying participants in January’s SuroySuroy reached 225. The figure is among the highest records in terms of paying guests since Gov. Gwen Garcia came up with the program in 2005. Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, who was absent during the session, co-sponsored the resolution.
Provincial Board member Cesar Ian Geronimo R. Zambo
Zambo shows SK is not wasted on youth by Roger Serna CEBU Provincial Board (PB) Member Cesar Ian Geronimo R. Zambo is classic proof that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is not wasted on the young. Ian to those close to him, (Middle) PB member Zambo Zambo had his baptism of fire in public service while still in college as the youth sector’s representative to the Toledo City Council in 1992. He held the post for five years. The youngest son of Engr. Avelino and Maria Zambo, he was born in Mandaue City where his father is from but was raised in Toledo City, his mom’s place and where his dad worked as chemical engineer of Atlas Fertilizer. PB Member Teddy Z. Ouano and businessman Glen Soco are among Zambo’s high-profile kins. His older brother Avelino Jr., who is the husband of Toledo Vice Mayor Arlene Zambo, is city administrator. His three sisters are all based in the US. Zambo earned a degree in mechanical engineering but was not able to practice his profession since he immediately ran for Toledo City councilor in 1997 after his SK stint. He served for three straight terms. He recalled having crafted the city’s traffic code and legislated environmental projects aside from allocating financial assistance to the barangays. In the course of performing his job as city councilor, he met Aleli Binghay, daughter of then Balamban mayor and now PB Member Alex Binghay. That encounter led to a life-long commitment which was blessed with a daughter that will turn a year old in a month or so. Having been thrust into public service at so young an age, Zambo views it a calling rather than a job. He said it is fulfilling, rewarding, and colorful making friends who will later turn out to be “enemies” and vice versa. He regards the frustrations along the way as part of the game, part of the job description. Zambo unwinds by playing tennis and badminton or engaging in practical shooting. He does the zipline sometimes at the Adventure Café in Gaas, Balamban where he brings guests from Cebu and Manila. He refrains from doing risky stuff now that he has a daughter to return to from work. He says his daughter is his “stress reliever.” He gave financial aid to the barangays in his district and supported projects of the governor during his first term. Now on his second term and as chairman of the committee on cooperatives, he is drafting an ordinance that will create the Provincial Cooperative Council which will oversee, monitor, and supervise cooperatives in Cebu. He is aiming to give his district’s constituents the convenience of a Level III water system. In all his dealings as a public servant, he keeps in mind what his father taught him and it is this: “Whatever you do, do not break the law of God and the law of man.” SUGBO 15
Equestrian event
hitting full stride CEOBSA dominates Gov Cup anew
D
EFENDING champion Cebu Equine Owners, Breeders, and Sportsmen’s Association (CEOBSA) asserted its dominance once again in the fourth Governor’s Cup: A Horse Show and Competition held last January 28-30. Eleven CEOBSA riders, five in the obstacle race, four in the barrel race, and two in show jumping, finished first in their respective divisions. They outscored Malaybalay by six titles to clinch the overall title. Malaybalay only won two each in the barrel and oval races and one in obstacle. The overall rankings were determined by totalling the accumulated points each team gets in the youth, novice, intermediate, and expert division. This year’s national championship attracted riders from Bukidnon (Malaybalay and Impasugong), Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and new entries from Dapitan Horse Club and El Kabayo Clark. In the opening ceremony, Governor Garcia welcomed participants who showed up and competed despite the muddy grounds of the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City caused by heavy rains before the event. Provincial Board (PB) Member Thadeo Ouano, Mayor Jonas Cortes, and other Mandaue officials shook hands for another round of the annual affair that is also aimed at promoting the city. Philippine Horsemen’s Association president Jirky Olaguer also graced the occasion. A parade of tartanillas was also staged during the event, and the municipality of Dalaguete placed first for Best Decorated Tartanilla (P12,000), followed by Consolacion at second place (P8,000) and Carmen at third place (P5,000). The judging was based on the creativity of the decoration and showcasing of products. Sponsored by the Provincial Government, the horse show was conceived primarily to upgrade the horse stocks in Cebu.
16 Sugbo
SCENES AT THE GOV CUP HORSE SHOW AND COMPETITION CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011. Creatively adorned tartanillas, well-bred racehorses, and driven riders made for a spectacular equestrian event.
SUGBO 17
Local color
NAGA
Dagitab Festival by Jaclyn Velasco
C
hristmas for the southern town of Naga was even brighter and merrier as they celebrated their Dagitab
Festival last December 23, 2010.
Tribu Hugpong Balironganon of Balirog National High School dazzled the crowd with their green and red costume with oversized flowers and ribbons.
18 Sugbo
This is a grand festival of light that starts simultaneous with the feast of the Immaculate Conception and goes through the Christmas season. Dagitab, which means electricity, is translated into a festival as it is the town’s pride for being the home of one of the leading electric utility provider in the country, KEPCO (Korean Electric Company) which is set to address the looming power shortage in the Visayan Region. The festival expresses six aspects of dagitab’s contribution to Nagahanons: light, progress, industry, tourism enhancement, economic development and employment. Hundreds of spectators flocked in the town’s plaza to witness this year’s festival. A street parade kicked off in the afternoon. Battery-operated twinkling lights adorned the dancer’s costumes and props, sparkling in
different hues as eight contingents from different elementary and high schools in the town battled it out to be the brightest group in the ritual showdown set in the evening. Tribu Hugpong Balironganon of Balirog National High School dazzled the crowd with their green and red costume with oversized flowers and ribbons. They took the first place in the ritual showdown and as well as the the Best in Costume award. Tribu Pundok Masidlakon of Naga National High School and Tribu Pamilyang Dominikano placed second and third. For the street dancing, Gleaming Tribe of Tuyan National High School got the first place followed by Tribu Sidlak Cultural Arts of Professional Academy of the Philippines and Tribu Hugpong Balironganon in the second and third place respectively.
Sinulog sa
CARMEN by Jaclyn Velasco with Dennis Tanoc
S
inulog, the mother all festivals in the Philippines, is the most awaited event as we start the year. Both
religious and cultural,it is a celebration honoring the holy child, Señor Sto. Niño and of Cebu’s rich history. Every third Sunday of January, Cebu City hold a grand festival parade and showdown participated by contingents all over the country. But smaller versions are also held in different places to to celebrate and honor the Sto. Niño. In the northern part of Cebu, the 38th Sinulog sa Carmen is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of January. Aside from celebrating their fiesta honoring St. Augustin every last week of August, the town sets aside this day for the natives of Carmen who are devout believers of the miraculous Sto. Niño. One of the three miraculous Sto. Niño in the country can be found in Brgy. Luyang. It is also believed to be the place where the first Sinulog was done. Last January 23, thirteen contingents participated in the town’s festivities. Six contingents under
local category while seven under the open category. Clustered barangays in Carmen were the participants in the local category while invited contingents who participated in Cebu City’s Sinulog grand parade competed in the open category. All contingents were given P50,000 as financial assistance from the local government of Carmen. For the local category, Tribu San Roque of Dawis Norte took the grand prize. Their colorful farming motif costume of pink and purple bagged them the Best in Costume award and was also ajudged Best in Musicality. vFirst place went to Tribu Panaghiusa of Carmen National High School. They also took the Best in Street Dancing and Best in Choreography awards.
List of Winners: LOCAL CATEGORY Grand Champion - Tribu San Roque ( Barangay Dawis Norte) First Place - Tribu Panaghiusa (Carmen National High School - Day) Second Place - Pundok Kabataang Carmenanon (Carmen National High School - Cantomog Ext.) Best in Street Dancing - Tribu Panaghiusa (Carmen National High School - Day) Best in Costume - Tribu San Roque ( Barangay Dawis Norte) Best in Musicality - Tribu San Roque ( Barangay Dawis Norte) Best in Choreography - Tribu Panaghiusa (Carmen National High School - Day) Mayor’s Choice Award - Tribu Dawisurian (Barangay Dawis Sur)
OPEN CATEGORY Grand Champion First Place Second Place Best in Street Dancing Best in Costume Best in Musicality Best in Choreography Mayor’s Choice Award Congressman’s Choice Award
- Talamban National High School - San Roque Elementary School - Lumad Basakanon - Lumad Basakanon - Talamban National High School - Lumad Basakanon - Lumad Basakanon - Sabang National High School - Cambanay Elementary School - Lumad Basakanon
THE COLORS OF CARMEN. Dancers in colorful costumes performed their best for the Christ Child.
Fifth placer of the Sinulog Free Interpretation category, Talamban National High School, dominated in the open category. Savvn Roque took the first place followed by Lumad Basakanon.
SUGBO 19
History and heritage HILARIO ABELLANA
historical personage
(1896-1945) Governor
Governor of Cebu in a tumultuous time, Hilario Abellana suffered the fate of a true patriot. Will his remains, for which an award was offered, ever be found?
He could have lived in comfort as a public official by cooperating with the Japanese military, but Governor Hilario Abellana chose to suffer the consequences of a crucial decision. In helping the guerilla movement, he lost his life and, quite literally, lost his body. Hilario Abellana was born in Cebu on October 23, 1896 to couple Andres Abellana and Justina Hermosa both of barangay San Nicolas. He studied at the then Seminario-Colegio de San Carlos and finished his Bachillerato en Artes at the Ateneo de Manila. He proceeded to take law and passed the bar in 1921. His career in politics began when he ran under the Partido Democrata in 1922 and won. He became municipal mayor of Cebu City until 1928 and thereafter ran as representative of Cebu’s second district in 1931, but lost by a narrow margin of three votes. In his second attempt at the post in 1934, the margin increased dramatically; Abellana won by a landslide or 5,268 lead votes. He was the governor of Cebu when the Japanese Imperial Army occupied the province in 1942. For six months after the invaders’ occupation, he stayed in the city and DUMANJUG, CEBU
Heritage Site Dubbed as one of the most “handsome” among the 90th century churches in Western Cebu, the St. Francis of Assisi church can be found in barangay Poblacion, Dumanjug, Cebu. The town, located some 74 kms. away from Cebu City, also has a tag of its own: “Town of Friendship”. That’s two reasons right there to go and see—and feel—for yourself the spirit of Dumanjug. St. Francis of Assisi church is one of the three parishes in Dumanjug, including the St. Vincent Ferrer in Barangay Bitoon and Christ the King Parish in Barangay Bulak. The town adopted St. Francis of Assisi as its patron saint and conducts fiesta celebration every October 4 in his honor. To warrant its “handsome” moniker, the 155 years old St. Francis church is made of finely20 Sugbo
became Cebu’s puppet governor, running a skeleton staff and was forced to take orders from the Japanese military administration. When he could no longer bear the atrocities of the Japanese, he fled to the nearby island of Bohol. He eventually returned to Cebu only to be arrested by the enemy who had been hunting Abellana. Suspected of having been siding with the underground movement, he was beaten up mercilessly and was threatened with grave harm to his relatives and friends if he lied to his interrogators. Abellana was forced to divulge details of his aid to the guerilla movement, specifically his role in assisting in the fund raising and intelligence gathering. Tried by the Japanese military court at the UP Cebu College campus in Lahug, he was later killed at the vicinity of the school campus on Jan. 15, 1945. His body was never found. On July 20, 1948, the Philippine government passed Republic Act No. 334, an act granting monetary reward to any person who shall locate or find the remains of the late Gov. Hilario Abellana of Cebu. The reward remains unclaimed to this day.
cut coral: its hews closer to the neoclassical idiom for the sedate and chaste simplicity of its decorative elements. The bell tower to one side of the church has a dodecagonal plan, usual for colonial churches. It has three storeys, with its floors usually high, a general characteristics of the church. The engaged pilasters only add to the general sense of height. Tourists usually troop to this church attracted by its aweinspiring structure and the eyecatching façade. The old structure was completed in 1864, as engraved at the main entrance. It is interesting to note that this is one of the few old church structures in Cebu— and probably in the whole Philippines—that was designed, executed, supervised and completed by Filipinos.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH CHURCH
Probably the only church in the country designed and executed by Filipinos, Dumanjug’s St. Francis of Assisi is also dubbed one of Cebu’s “handsomest” churches.
ON THIS DAY February 1 1862 Borbon, Cebu is established as a parish by royal decree. It is put under the patronage of San Sebastian Martir. 1899 In the wake of a revolutionary takeover of Cebu, Bishop Martin Alcocer, fearing imminent arrest, leaves Cebu on board a German ship bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka. He finds his way to Hongkong and Canton before returning to Manila on April 21. Father Pablo Singson administers the Cebu diocese in his absence.
Governor is held. Juan Climaco wins over Julio Llorente, 249 votes to 122. 1906 Sergio Osmeña, Sr., then provincial fiscal, runs for Cebu Governor unopposed. 1949 Death of Felimon M. Dayanan (1889-1949) or “Fimerda”, poet, fictionist, and lexicographer. February 6 1852
Moalboal, Cebu is established as a parish. 1908 Major John S. Parke assumes command of the U.S. garrison in Cebu, succeeding Lt. Col. Ammon A. Augur. February 7 1899 With the outbreak of the FilipinoAmerican War on February 4, Gen. Antonio Luna issues an order addressed to all field
February 2 1933 The Santo Rosario Parish in Cebu City is created and inaugurated, with Jose Maria Cuenco as its first priest. February 3 1863 A royal decree establishes San Francisco, Camotes, a parish. 1897 Governor of Cebu Celestino Fernandez Tejero y Mulet resigns from his post to assume the position of General of the Spanish Division in Northern Luzon. 1899 A group of Cebu women sends a petition to General Emilio Aguinaldo asking that Spanish Bishop Martin Alcocer, who had fled Cebu after the revolutionary takeover, be allowed to remain in his post in Cebu.
Julio Llorente
officers: “Death to the tyrant. War without quarter to the false Americans who wish to enslave us. Independence or death.” February 8 1890 Birth in Dalaguete, Cebu of Cebuano poet Amando N. Osorio (1890-1946). Osorio served as Dalaguete mayor and Cebu Deputy Governor. 1919 The first issue of El Espectador (1919-1922) comes out. This newspaper was published and edited by Manuel C. Briones. 1935 The Philippine Constitution is adopted by the Constitutional Convention. February 9 1657 A royal decree is passed requiring Chinese mestizos to pay double the amount for tribute paid by natives, following the practice in Cebu during those times. 1901 Gen. Arthur MacArthur asks the commanding general of the Visayas Military District (VMD) which promises they are ready for the establishment of civil government under Act No. 83, otherwise known as the Provincial Government Code. VMD does not recommend Cebu as ready for civil government owing to the unstable peace and order situation of the province.
February 4 1899 The ‘San Juan del Monte bridge incident’ in Luzon ignites the Filipino-American war. 1904 Juan Climaco is reelected Governor of Cebu. 1920 Aboitiz & Co. is formally incorporated. Aboitiz is a leading Cebu business firm which had its early beginning in the 1890s.
February 10 Fiesta of Catmon and Dalaguete, Cebu 1888 Birth in Compostela, Cebu of Escolastico Morre (1888-1921), known as “Errone”, editor and writer. 1899 The officials of the Philippine Republic in Cebu meet to discuss preparations for the impending war against the Americans. The meeting is called by Luis Flores. Juan Climaco is placed in charge of the war preparations.
February 5 1895 Birth in Cebu, Cebu of Vicente C. Padriga, “Prince of Cebuano Poets” and winner of the Zobel Prize in 1962. 1902 The first election for Cebu
February 11 1902 Today’s issue of Ang Suga (Vicente Sotto’s paper) continues its campaign against the Spanish friars, lambasting the editor of Ang Camatuoran, a Catholic newspaper, as “sound boxes” and
Juan Climaco
February 5, 1902 The first election for Cebu Governor is held. Juan Climaco wins over Julio Llorente, 249 votes to 122.
“servile servants” of the friars. February 12 1877 A bishop’s decree confirms the erection of Nueva Caceres as a parish. It is separated from Boljoon and placed under the patronage of San Jose. 1890 An ayuntamiento is established for the second time in Cebu (the first was abolished due to lack of personnel). It is composed of an alcalde, two lieutenant alcaldes, one sindico, and nine aldermen. February 13 1846 Birth of Benigna Cui (1846-1926), well-known Cebuano philanthropist and businesswoman 1857 A bishop’s decree confirms the erection of Tuburan, Cebu as a parish. Its patron saint is San Antonio de Padua. February 14 1952 A legal battle continues to be waged over the controversial jackpot machine operators contest. A city ordinance banning the machine is getting an injunction order naming City Mayor Pedro Elizalde and Police Chief Nicolas Gabutina respondents. February 15 1897 Gen. Adolfo Montero arrives in Cebu to assume the position of politico-military governor of Cebu. He succeeded Gen. Celestino Fernandez Tejero y Mulet.
(Entries were culled from the Cebuano Studies Center, of the University of San Carlos.)
SUGBO 21
Cebuano section Balak Tunob sa dila
Unang Tunob
Ernesto Lariosa
Wa seguroy makasupak ug maglagot ning lindog kon ako moingon nga ang Sugbuanon nga pinulongan maoy lingua franca sa Tunga-tungang Sidlakan. Kini tungod kay ang maong dila dinhi nahimugso sa Sugbo.
22 Sugbo
(Tunob 3)
Wa seguroy makasupak ug maglagot ning lindog kon ako moingon nga ang Sugbuanon (Cebuano) nga pinulongan maoy lingua franca sa Tunga-tungang Sidlakan (Central Visayas). Kini tungod kay ang maong dila dinhi nahimugso sa Sugbo. Ang kasaysayan namulong nga ang Sugbo maoy gitawag nga naglanay nga kulon (melting pot) sa Kabisayaan panahon sa mga Katsila. Nahitabo kini tungod kay ang dapit mao may Puerto (port) nga yab-ananan sa mga produkto gikan sa Tsina. Malambuon ang Sugbo nga nakabihag sa daghang mga magpapatigayon sa bisan asang dapit sa kapupud-an. Masabot kaayo nga usa kini sa kusganon nga hinungdan nga nikaylap ang atong pinulongan. Gani, nahingangha si Magallanes sa katigson ug kauswagan sa Puerto kansang mga tumitindog (citizens) nga gimanduan ni Raja Humabon aduna nay kaugalingong pinulongan. Mao nang ang Bol-anon, Siquijudnon, Negrense ug ang nagpuyo sa ubang dapit sa Mindanao nagsultig Cebuano nga usahay lahi ang tuno, linitukan, ug panagsang bokabularyo. Dihay higayon nga may lalis kon unsay hustong termino ang angayng sagupon – pinulongang Sugbuanon o Bisaya. Daghan ang ningpili sa nauwahi. Ubay-ubay sad ang diha sa nahauna. Apan ako nipabor sa terminong pinulongang Sugbuanon. Ang akong katarungan mao nga ang husto ipasikad sa dapit diin nahimugso ang pinulongan. Sama sa England – English, Spain – Spanish, France – French, ug uban pa. Busa kay hatawo sa Sugbo, mao nga Sugbuanon o Cebuano ang ngalan sa atong dila. Gani, di pudyot ang nanagtuo nga ang Sugbuanon maoy inahan sa tanang pinulongan sa Kabisayaan. Kay ang kamatuoran naghikyad nga ang atong pinulongan maoy unang gikahinagbo dinhi sa mga langyawng magpapatigayon ug mga konkistador sama sa mga Insek, Arabo, Siamese, Champan, Portuguese, Katsila, ug uban pa.
Pagbiya sa Pier Tres ni Neile Genica Mijares Ingon aning orasa bitayon ang adlaw ug lumsan sa dagat.
6:30 A.M.
Gisamaran sa fastcraft ang dagat samtang hinayhinay nangahagbong ang mga pinong dagom sa taligsik – nanusok sa mga lantsa, barko ug sa bukobuko kong way pandong.
Gitulod sa mga bawd palayo ang imong pulong sa pagbalik. Samtang ikaw, uban sa imong maleta, gihatod sa akong panan-aw ngadto sa panganod.
Ingon aning orasa, aning dapita natilawan sad nako ang dagat nga mitulo sa akong ngabil.
Si Gen usa ka membro sa grupo nga Gabriela ug ganahan mosuwat og mga balak nga nahilambigit sa kawsa sa mga kababainhan. Usa siya ka ‘ fellow’ sa Faigao Writers Workshop ug sa UPVCC Creative Writing Workshop. Ang iyang mga balak nga Iningles nahipatik sa Sun.Star Weekend, ug ang iyang ‘short fiction’ napili ug na-apil sa librong ‘Hinugpong’.
Ceb101 Hagit alang sa tanan
Basic words, phrases and questions Time day- adlaw night- gabii noon- udto afternoon-hapon midnight- tungang gabii dawn- kaadlawon week- semana Monday- Lunes Tuesday- Martes Wednesday- Miyerkules Thursday- Huwebes Friday- Biyernes Saturday- Sabado Sunday- Dominggo today- karon yesterday- gahapon tomorrow- ugma tomorrow morning- ugma sa buntag minute- minuto hour- oras
Word for the Week gugma, n.
Aninaw
ni Sam Costanilla
Nila pa, makalingaw kaayo ang Suroy-Suroy Sugbo kay nakahatag kini nilag higayon pagtan-aw o pagsudong sa tahom nga mga talanawon sa mga dakbayan ug mga lungsod sa atong lalawigan.
ANIAY lain na usab nga dako ug mahinungdanong proyekto ni Gobernador Gwen Garcia – ang pagkaplag sa labing maayo nga eGwen Highway. Ang Kapitolyo giabagan sa Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Department of Public Works and Highways, ug Department of Tourism aron kini sugdan na pagpatuman. n ALANG nako, kining maong proyekto usa ka dakong hagit alang sa tanan – nga ang atong pagtinabangay isip mga lumolupyo sa mga dakbayan ug kalungsoran sa Sugbo atong ipakita ug ipatunhay kanunay. Pinaagi sa pagkaplag sa labing maayong eGwen Highway, atong ipakita ang atong panaghiusa aron makab-ot ang usa ka bililhong tuyo nga mao ang pagpatahom ug paglinis sa atong kadalanan ingon man kabalayan ug mga establisamyento nga anaa sa kadaplinan niini. n KAY tiaw mo bay ang mahukman nga Best Highway and Major Thoroughfare gantihan man og P1 million samtang ang magunang 10 ka pribadong pinuy-anan gantihan man og P100,000 matag usa. Bisan ang mga municipal buildings, mga barangay halls, mga commercial structures diha sa mga dakbayan ug kalungsoran gantihan usab. Apan dili na lang tungod sa ganti nga kita manglihok. Motabang kita aron ang atong palibot molambo ug ang mga talanawon niini, labi na gayod ang kadalanan, atong ikapasigarbo. n ANG nakapasamot kaanindot niining proyektoha mao ang tugon nga ang karaan nga mga balay ug uban pang istruktura kinahanglan gipatahom gayod ug magpakita sa kaadunahan sa Sugboanong kultura. Nakapahinumdom kini nako sa subo nga talan-awon sa ubang kalungsoran diin ang ubang karaan na kaayong kabalayan gipintalan aron lang mabulokon sud-ongon. Alang nako, dako kining sayop. Maanindot gayod nga ang kabilin sa atong kagahapon dili yamayamaan aron usab ang ilang kulturanhong bili magpabilin. n PAGKAPLAG sa labing maayong eGwen Highway – usa ka hagit alang sa tanan. Matuman kaha kini? Nganong dili. Ang mga mayor, mga bise mayor, mga konsehal, mga barangay kapitan ug bisan ang labing ubos ug yano nga lumolupyo angay maghugpong. Usa lamang ang tumong ug kon dili magkatuiris ug magkabaksiwa ang padulngan, ang hagit - bisan unsa kalisod - sayon da nga mabuntog sa tanan.
English: love
Used in context: Ug karon magapabilin kining totulo: ang pagtoo, ang paglaum, ug ang gugma, apan ang labing daku niini mao ang gugma.
(Ang maglilindog mao ang Consultant on Media Affairs sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo. Mahimo siyang padad-an ug e-mail sa samcost@yahoo. com o texan sa cellphone number 09327296756.)
But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
SUGBO 23
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Final frame
ballad by the bridge PHOTOGRAPHY Dennis Tanoc LOCATION Mactan, Cebu
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