Taxi horse. That’s what my father would fondly call this horse-driven carriage, which was once a popular means of transportation back in the old Spanish times. Commonly called the kalesa, in downtown Cebu, it remains an attraction parading its design of antiquity, color, gentle speed, and the engine that breathes life into it.
According to a kutsero (kalesa driver), a minimum fare of only 5 pesos will take you to nearby Carbon Market or even up to the southern barangays of the city like Mambaling and Cogon, Pardo. But they are also open for a pakyaw (full service), especially for tourists who want a ride to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the City Hall, or Fort San Pedro.
Let us paint the town green, yellow, and red -- the tri-color brand sans the ugly indulgence (please!).
I am not practicing the Rastafari lifestyle, but I can see the good out of this often regarded bizarreness. It's just got to be appreciation of its music and fashion if you can.
I chanced upon an uncommon activity in downtown Colon area (the oldest street in the Philippines). Making dreadlocks while street goers were too mindful of their own business? That's rare that I had to stop by, observing, examining, and for the sake of knowing the tedious process, interviewing the dreadlock stylist.
The whole part isn't easy, weaving each section by a crochet needle for some 20 minutes multiplied by the number of sections. That’s a big amount of time. It's just funny to know that dreadlocks don't smell bad.
The cost to get dreadlocks ranges between 2000-2500 pesos, and for repair, around 1500 pesos.
To the two guys, MacJoy and Jay-r, who weren’t hesitant to let me take pictures and video them, thank you. They even prided themselves on becoming so-called instant artistas. : ) MacJoy, an architecture graduate is the owner of a stall along Colon Street (beside Jollibee, 138 Mall) that sells Rasta clothing and accessories, and the sole dreadlock stylist. His cool customer, Jay-r, is a skimboarder from Tanauan, Leyte (the skimboarding capital of the Philippines)
Go check out the video interview in 2 parts by an obvious novice. The clips are in Cebuano (a Philippine dialect), fyi. :)
I have returned. By the grace of the Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil – soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy cordial over your daily lives, and of restoring, upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.
At my side is your President, Sergio Osmeña, worthy successor of that great patriot Manuel Quezon, with members of his cabinet. The seat of your government is now therefore firmly re-established on Philippine soil.
The hour of your redemption is here. Your patriots have demonstrated an unswerving and resolute devotion to the principles of freedom that challenges the best that is written on the pages of human history. I now call upon your supreme effort that the enemy may know from the temper of an aroused and outraged people within that he has a force there to contend with no less violent than is the force committed from without.
Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Corregidor lead on. As the lines of battle roll forward to bring you within the zone of operations, rise and strike. Strike at every favorable opportunity. For your homes and hearths, strike! strike! For future generations of your sons and daughters, strike! In the name of your sacred dead, strike! Let no heart be faint. Let every arm be steeled. The guidance of divine God points the way. Follow in His Name to the Holy Grail of righteous victory!
For how long can we remain faithful to someone who has made a big impact in our life we initially called our teacher? Do we still give the same amount of effort on the founded relationship up to this day? Do we stress our mentor’s importance in our day to day ride we call journey? How can we easily slip into forgetting the part they played in our early life, as we pursue happiness that’s supposed to make us any happier? How come by a single text you realize at once the same amount of affection hasn’t become any less through the years, saying that your teacher missed and loved you?
Two weeks ago, I was in a company of high school classmates for a prayer vigil over the body of our Biology teacher who passed away from cancer. I remember her as soft-spoken, someone who rarely got mad at unruly, naughty students, and with eyes carrying a shade of blue. I don’t know if she ever wore contacts, though, but that’s exactly imprinted in my memory. She’s one of the teachers whom I admittedly have become a fan of.
When we went out of the funeral parlor, while talking and waiting for someone, the very moment the door went open after us, a big black butterfly rushed its way out and man, did I feel its wings flapping against my head. I’m not superstitious, but it’s hard to ignore something that’s all too powerful at that moment.
After a complete standstill in the middle of our way to our destination because of a leaking fuel tank, opting for brief diving and snorkeling activities in the area while waiting for the second motorized banca (the rescue!), Pandanon Island was after all close to getting us all sunburnt.
Pandanon Island is part of Getafe (or Jetafe), Bohol. It is a very small island inhabited by probably only a few hundred people (that is based on what I saw, just a fair estimate). What attracts tourists to the island is its long stretch of white sandbar that is more like a long extension of mainland Pandanon.
When we got there, it was almost noon, and the sun was peaking turning the area into a desert of white sand. It was a very hot day, a reminder that summer isn’t over yet.
I had fun! I enjoyed snorkeling and swimming hastily back to shore because of a disturbed sea snake! :)
I would like to thank the May and June birthday people! What a treat! And to the life of the party, thanks, it was fun with less effort. We could hardly contain the jokes and the mere thought that you were a little less sober. Ha ha! :)
