Cebu-Sugbo kini!
The image of the Sto. Nino, Cebu's icon, is painted on a bilao as part of a prop during a Sinulog performance
Speak of Cebu and images of the Sto. Nino, Cebu’s patron, comes to mind. And so does the valiant Lapu-Lapu, sweet mangoes, guitars and beaches. But it is more than that. Cebu is my home.
I’ve been thinking about doing this series for quite a time and so, with the end of the Cuyo Loop and as a fitting segue from my short sojourn in Masbate, I might as well feature my home province as seen from the perspective of a native son. Ahem. That might be a tall order but I’ll try. “I will stir clear of clichés… and trite writeups that has plagued us all these years.”
I promise, no dried fish market in Taboan. No guitars. No mangoes. No Malapascua and other known beaches that have been hogging other blogs and websites. And most of all, not another Taoist Temple done to death. I will stir clear of clichés, hackneyed features and trite writeups that has plagued us all these years. This will be the other Cebu beyond the tourist traps.
Detail of a minibus that is more like a hybrid between a bus and a colorful jeepney that is found only in Cebu.
The name Cebu is the hispanized version of the original Sugbo that some historians say has its etymology to the vernacular meaning shallow water. During the Spanish colonial period, it has been identified in maps as Zebu.
It’s history goes back to pre Spanish times but archaeologists have only started to appreciate it better now with several excavations undertaken like those in Boljoon and quite recently, at the Plaza Independencia where the discovery of a gold death mask marks the second site it’s been found in the country.
The island province is rich in history and culture and friendly people that some say are hard to please. It is the regional center in the Visayas and second only to Metro Manila as a commercial hub. It has a lot more to offer with many not too known aspects that I will try to feature.
This is Cebu. Sugbo kini!
Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph will be published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine. To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.
no taoist temple? :O darn!
that minibus looks fascinating…
kouji, no!
ill definitely enjoy this series. something new about cebu. not the usual. i hope you’ll be able to feature the “puso” and my ever favorite lumpia that you buy in cheavers. i forget the name.
not even one mango??
not even one mango. or even the g-string of a guitar. so with the salty piles of dried fish, it won’t seduce me to include it
dong, puso will be part of it. you’re also referring to the ngohiong. hmmm, that gives me an idea.
by the way, if you have other suggestions, i would look at it.
adto sa area sa University of San Jose Recoletos/Freedom park kung Domingo kay daghan mamaligyaay og ukay-ukay. Interesting na.
astig estan! ngohiong nga yon. paborito ko yon. meron pa akong gusto dyan sa cebu, yung olango island. nakapunta ako dun nag island hopping kami. marami pang hindi nakaka alam dun. pero ang ganda ng tubig doon. sana ma feature mo rin yon.
isa din sa mga plano kong gawin pagbalik ko sa cebu ay akyatin ang osmena peak. ganda pala ng mga bundok dun.
salamat estan.
Ummm..
Will you feature the “goat’s eye” being sold in downtown?
Hehe..
dong, olango is quite far and the photos that i have are not complete.
arnold, bai, hehehe, i’ll check colon out for this one and other “implements”
will check out your Cebu series. want to see the other side of cebu.
i will definitely follow this series estan ‘coz i am planning to go back to cebu early next year.
i have visited cebu only once and yes, got trapped into your more popular destinations. (may post nga ako about taoist temple eh hehehe). but, i do hope to see cebu beyond the usual so i will have a deeper perspective of things when i go back there.
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I enjoy the freedom that going to places entails, both the trip itself and the destination, revelling in the many things that the act of travel offers: the sounds, the sights, the people and the flavors.
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