A packet of peace, I felt today, from Cebu to the world.

Chivalry is not dead.  Not in Cebu and even to non Cebuano women.

The 20A jeep Mandaue-Ayala I rode into this morning for Saturday duty was surprisingly full.

I always choose to sit right at the back of the driver's passenger seat so that I don’t get to move a lot and it gave me the space to tinker with my phone.

The Philippine jeepney, a common transport vehicle in almost all provinces.

The spot also gives me a chance to "people watch", a favorite hobby.

Suddenly I saw a Muslim woman with a little girl and some bags, slowly ushering her way...looking for a seat.

The women were already sitted like queens but from the looks of their eyes were also concerns as to where the Muslim woman will be seated.

       Just when I expect that no one would move, the men’s reactions surprised me.

        Most of them, if not all, and in a split second, pronounced giving up their seats for the woman. While some were holding the little girl and their bags since the jeep was already moving.

Editorial cartoon of The Freeman - Muslims pray with Catholics

In fact, the Muslim woman was already puzzled where to sit down. Eventually, she chooses to sit in front of me and so I took a picture. 

And so did my heart.

The Muslim woman with the little girl and the man in pink was the one who gave up his seat.

"Tuslob Buwa" - Cebu's rising exotic food fever

Here is the stuff that has been hitting the social media sites of our # Cebuano netizens recently, something that we can say is, truly from Cebu, the "

Yep I am very sure one of your more than 10 or a thousand friends had posted something about "Tuslob buwa  ", or even already made ​​a # tuslobbuwaexperience, And so what really is this stuff?

The first time I heard about this was when i was still a reporter of the oldest newspaper in Cebu,  The Freeman . I was actually able to pass thru the site in barangay Pasil, where the actual prolapsed uterus being flocked tuslob thingy was like there was a celebration!

Knowing Barangay Pasil, are priority is famous for its exotic dishes other "linarang" and etcetera, you see different kinds of people, mostly shirtless, others trisikad, jeepney drivers, students and also those executives looking hunks, gather around one mighty big couldron/pan or in the dialect, kaha, kawa, kalaha.

You see them opening up a puso (hanging rice) and then just dip a portion of it into the cauldron. The boiling mixture in the kawa include beef or pig's brains, internal organs and other's insides and dunno .. whatsoever the cook can think off  I guess, .. but it was so yummy!

And so here I am years later and then suddenly very near my  Infocen Cebu Philippine Information Agency office in Gorordo, a quite busy and vibrant sight always catches my attention, daytime and early evening.

I just thought these were just hanging out with young people who are tattoo enthusiasts, as the place is beside the  Inkin Ian Tattoos of Ian Cabrido .. but then I saw small couldrons ... and so it was really tuslob Adv.

I went there for snacks 4:30 pm, since after 6pm I know its gonna be very busy and crowded there.

I just asked how much and they said one whole set is P99. 

The P99 Includes this 

The Set (lr) minced onions, pork bits, hipon (salty shrimp), a bowl of pig's brain mixture and the 12 pieces of puso/ hanging rice .. and since I like spicy, some chili powder.

Then we were ushered to the table with a small butane run burner with the small pan / couldron or kawa.

You just have to mix one after the other in exact order and then wait until it boils and dip yourself away!

How does it tastes? It is very delicious! Indeed you can consume almost all the 12 pieces puso! It takes like marinated bone marrow or something ....

Here are some of the pics of the other tables ... In just five minutes the place was really packed! You can see some of them with beers and juices ...

Here you can see mostly students from different schools and then workers, office personnel, policemen ....  

But unlike Pasil, this one here is cleaner since you are given Separate couldrons.  

But the bigger BUT is of course, health, having .. Often this MIGHT lead to a sudden eruption gall bladder hehehe specially for those with gall stones ... so beware!

And one reminder, please do not take the kawas with you ... the tattooed bouncers are very hospitable.

So that's the latest exotic sizzle here in # Cebu. 

* tuslob Means to dip and buwa   means bubble 

Amazed in Chinatown

It was quite an unexpected plan-to go to #Chinatown during the #ChineseNewYear.

Firstly it was also the first time that the #Cebuanos that we are did not heed the instructions to go ride this jeep and this in going to #Binondo after arriving at the #Recto Station. Yep folks..we just walked all the away!

We took a short cut to Ongpin St. and just walked straight.. we knew we were in the right direction since barely five minutes after, there were already #Chinese stores.

There were already red lanterns and chimes and remains from the New Year's eve firecrackers.

Further and before the main Chinatown, we saw people gathering outside a store.. Lingnam Noodle Factory--they said, makes the best noodles in town.






We passed huge frying pans with seeds that look like nuts.. grilled. We found out it was #Mandarin fruit and sold at P240 kilo.

We bought 1/4 ..and my partner had all the fun peeling and munching these as we moved around. (Good coz I was stopping and asking from any interesting stuff we pass by and he just followed)

Here's a pic of him barely smiling while holding the fried Mandarins.




Finally, we arrived in the decorative which says "Welcome to Chinatown!"









More amazed .. we saw a lot of things-lucky charms, chimes, etc. mostly low priced since its New Year.

We saw these cute little baby chicks of some bird..perhaps quail chicks ..these are smaller than those of chickens. Its feathers were painted -pink, red, yellow, green.






Ah yes, I finally saw in my two eyes, the very famous Eng Bee Tin store. It was not hard to locate since again there was a very long line.






Further ahead, we saw a worship and candle lighting area for the #Filchinese.





Walking the streets in Chinatown during New Year is like tracing the streets of #Cebu City during #Sinulog season. Although, in here there are dragon dancers and also a group of dancers who just dressed up colorfully but are actually not Chinese.

I noticed even that some of these dancers are just from the #perya or #Carnivals. And they will force the red envelopes on your hands for #angpaos. Duuh I fell prey of one gay who ate fire infront for a show.

Finally we arrived in the famour Our Lady of Lourdes Binondo Church. It was also filled with people. I guess some were also devotees. And since it was a Friday, it is #Filipino to lit candles to augment our prayers.

The #Chinese also had their candles lit. Small candles there are colored for separate intentions: Blue for intentions; White for peace; Green for prosperity; Pink for Education; Red for love etc.




Our self pics in Binondo







Infront of the church were different shows, dragon dances..It was certainly a heyday for photo enthusiasts.

We ate at 168 Mall, me wanting to eat Chinese food but my love / travel buddy wanted to eat #LydiasLechon cz he oftentimes heard it over #EatBulaga. And so the lechon.

We roamed a little while and took a turn and returned to Recto station.

And to end the day, was a fireworks display right outside the windowsof good Pastor Bheng Baldomaros house in Escopa 1.









It was quite an experience. I am sure we have stories to tell to our #kids when we return to #Cebu.

Telling them stories of our #Travel inspires them to do better to reach places. And of course having #parents who travel together I sensed, indeed makes them feel good.

Yes travel is a new hobby for my hubby and me. I planned to write all of them..Ah yah, I'll find time.

And before I end this blog lemme just post pics of my hubby with our respective Animal birth years..

#Yearofsnake





#yearofrat





Inspite and Despite of, #KungHeiFatChoi!

posted from Bloggeroid

#BangonBino

09328151975

Balbino Guerero, popularly known as Ka Bino (https://www.facebook.com/kabino?fref=ts) is so noisy.  Everyday, I mean every minute, every millisecond he always has this update as to where he has been, where he will go or what’s it gonna be in this event and that…

Ah yes, I had been his friend for five years now, ever since that day when Gilbert Bargayo got himself nailed at Mantalongon, Dalaguete ( http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/48655/bargayo-crucifixion-mantalongon-park).

I found him so noisy.  But that noisy fellow with a wacky smile had sustained an on/off friendship with me since we do have something in common--- We love fighting.

Ka Bino or I fondly called as “Maylab” (no offense my real love, my chief ), is so noisy because he always got himself tied to an action or a cause. Those and on top of all his journeys and trips as a “liburon” / tour guide.

Ka Bino is always on line for typhoon routes, traffic scenes, highly political circuses and even brawls (himself) involve with law authorities some years ago,

We have the same passion for just causes and still keeps on fighting with or without pay, even if we know it means losing some of his friends and connections.

He was with me in Sugbo Pagpanginlabot over El Nuevo Bantay Radyo.  He focused on the value of history and the essence of preserving the Filipino culture.

He loves history, he loves culture…

A popular former Senator and now City Mayor (itago ta lang sa pangalan nga John Henry Osmena) always calls him up every time he needs a history status check.

Remember that controversial EQ Diaper thingy?

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fph%2Fmga-petisyon%2Fstop-the-airing-of-eq-diaper-comercial-featuring-lapu-lapu-and-magellan%23&h=0AQFuEW_X  Ka Bino started it all.  Because he knew that it was not ohkaay to make fun of history.

And then very recently, he was the spokesperson of the century old trees in the south (http://cebudailynews.ph/nation/story/20832/online-petition-to-save-naga-carcar-century-trees)

Immediately after the earthquake hit us, Ka Bino was very fast in coordinating with agencies, his group of bloggers for information power in Bohol…

Yes he is so noisy, but this time, I could not just ignore the status update that he made yesterday, the only sad but positive post on my wall: ““Just as my sister is trying to pick up the pieces of what has remained of her house in Inabanga Bohol after that 7.2 quake, a fire consumed our house in Bais”

Yes my dears, this noisy friend of mine (ours), lost his home.  And all these happened when he was in Bohol, trying his best to support and live #bagonsugbohol #mybeautifulbohol , unknowing that a fire gutted down his residence.

It is in this line that I called for assistance, my gosh, let us not close our eyes in this sorry state of our offline and online friend.  He is seldom in this house because he had his time and energy focused here in Cebu and with lots of noble causes!

My friends, lets reach out to him, he is one helper who needs help.  Be it in kind or in cash.  If you have a hardware, give housing materials, or food or blanket.

This is the time that his noise, cannot and should not be ignored.

To you maylab, I pray and I say… #BangonBino!

For help, please get in touch with him in his facebook account as his phone he said is acting crazy.

For those who want to Pay it forward his details are : BALBINO PADA GUERRERO GG Village, Kalasangan Bais City
09328151975

To be happily empowered : Kerygma Conference 2013

Who would not want to be powerful?

Ask anyone we know and despite the modesty, there is this longing at the back of our mind that we want to attain even just a teeny-weeny bit of power---power over our work, family and other stuffs.

And since there is a negative connotation on the word power, we might as well embrace another word which means to ignite one's potentials to perform more --- empower.

Man in itself is already created powerful.  Which is why we prosper, which is why we fail and we fell when we are not guided properly.  We soar immediately to heights and dominate.  But all these become meaningless when in our pursuit, there are persons hurt, dreams shattered, families broken.

Precisely why we need a direction.  We already have what it takes to be a powerful  by admitting that though powerful, we have a GOD, who loves --- loves to see us prosper, loves to see us become powerful blessings to others. 

We need GOD to empower us.... and HIS means are everywhere.

The Kerygma Conference Cebu 2013 is one of the ways that God works his hands through.  It is a very happy feast of songs, dances and thoughts sharing from people, blessed and empowered to let us experience the wonderful HIS wonderful love.

This December 7 and 8, people from all walks of life are expected to gather at the University of San Jose Recoletos (Basak) Campus to listen and digest life changing stories that will enable them to become empowered writers, bankers, drivers, sales ladies, farmers .... as empowered tatays, nanays, apos, anaks, ates and kuyas.

Leading the battery of speakers is no less than Brother Bo Sanchez, himself quite a package of testimonies on how he struggled from the dark and become an advocate of God's love.Brother Bo Sanchez has written numerous inspiring, simple and action-oriented books (www.preacherinbluejeans.com) 

On Day 1, Brother Carl Fontanilla will share how one can achieve the greatest foundation of all, a POWERFUL FAMILY.  

On how can excel even in the simplest of jobs, Brother Arun Gogna can relay how one can have a POWERFUL CAREER.

Brother Alvin Barcelona, a successful businessman and folk singer will share how one can be into a POWERFUL BUSINESS.

And Cebu's feast builder Brother Buddy Tan is an authority to speak about POWERFUL LEADERSHIP.  

On the 2nd Day, #kerygmaconferenceceb13 offers something very unique, a Youth Conference with Brothers Obet Cabrillas, Stephen Nellas and Migs Ramirez--- all dynamic and influential.

The two day event is in itself, a must for all families.  

After all, we all deserve not just a bit, but a ton of good news, much more if that good news can maximize our potentials and bless the world as well.

Additional information on the empowering event, log on to www.kconcebu.com, follow the Facebook page: Kerygma Conference Cebu, Twitter Account : @kerygmaconCEBU 

Day 1 tickets range from P300 - P1500 and Day 2 tickets are from P200 to P500.

Interested? Leave a comment.