SINULOG FESTIVAL 2011: The sights, the sounds, the dance

It is called as "The mother of all Festivals" and one of the foundations of Filipino tradition. Sinulog has been a celebration for devotees of Sr. Santo Niño for the past 31 years. Started on 1980, Sinulog became a tradition of Cebuanos every third Sunday of January in honor to blessed Sr. Santo Niño (child Jesus). 

• The sights

Before the New Year comes, colorful sights will flourish the busy streets of Cebu in preparation of the festivities. Tarpaulin signages, multicolored buntings, and Santo Niño shrines that are especially built for the occasions, are visible in different parts of the city.

• The sounds

• The dance

The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which is "like water current movement," which describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums.

Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan 2011 Winners

Elementary Division:

• Grand Champion: San Roque Elementary School of Talisay City
• 2nd Place Winner: Pajo Elementary School of Lapu-Lapu City
• 3rd Place Winner: Karansang Danawanon (Cambanay Elementary School) of Danao City
• 4th Place Winner: DepEd Cordova District of Cordova
• 5th Place Winner: Basak Elementary School of Mandaue City

Secondary Division:

• Grand Champion: DepEd Carcar City Division of Carcar City
• 2nd Place Winner: Division of Danao City, Sabang National High School of Danao City
• 3rd Place Winner: Pooc National High School, Talisay City Division of Talisay City
• 4th Place Winner: Tipolo National High School of Mandaue City (“Mandawehanong Kaliwat”)
• 5th Place Winner: Toledo National Vocational School of Toledo City

Special Prizes

• Best in Costume: Division of Danao City, Sabang National High School of Danao City
• Best in Musicality: “Mandawehanong Kaliwat” (Tipolo National High School) of Mandaue City

Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan 2011 Winners

Elementary Division:

• Grand Champion, Best in Musicality and Best in Costume: Talamban Elementary School
• 2nd Place Winner: Tribo Mabolokon – Mabolo Elementary School
• 3rd Place Winner: Tejero Elementary School
• 4th Place Winner: Pardo Elementary School
• 5th Place Winner: City Central Elementary School

Secondary Division:

• Grand Champion, Best in Musicality and Best in Costume : Abellana National School
• 2nd Place Winner: Don Sergio Osmena Memorial National High School
• 3rd Place Winner: Apas National High School
• 4th Place Winner: Tisa Night High School
• 5th Place Winner: Balangay Basak Pardo – Pardo National High School   

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NEW YEAR 2011: The Countdown is over...

New Year is the day that people bond as one. Where high hopes converge for one aim, and that is Unity, Peace, Triumph, Love and best of all more blessings. We wish for good luck for every year that comes and a farewell to those years that passed. Amazingly, life has it's own way of dealing hardships and trials over the years that we have existed.

I find my life to be so colorful as what people would say. Why? Because I have been too different as what others don't feel the same way. Whenever the year ends, it always remind me of the same reminder that was set off last year; and that is making your own New Years Resolution.

This is the only thing that I don't make every year but instead I instill it in my mind every now and then. Now, there has been no resolution for me because the solution has never realized since I started to think of it. And the best way to do is just forgetting everything and just do my own thing to achieve it. Instead of making my own resolution for this year 2011, I will make a different way and that is the resolution of others for me.

• LOOSE WEIGHT - people tend to judge me for over-eating, no exercise, and future candidate of heart attack, stroke, cancer and many others. They usually say that they were just so concerned of my lifestyle for having this big gorgeous BOWDAY!!! Yah, all of you deserves a thank you, but the dilemma that seeks answers by controlling myself from eating and tons of exercise will soon a big frustration on the next six months. The more stress and the more pressure means more chances of getting to the graveyard due to fatigue.

• SAVE MONEY - hahaha... I'm a compulsive buyer, what I see is what I'll buy and sometimes, what I need is what's being compromised. I want to save but again don't pressure myself to save and save because, the more that I think I still have money, the more I crave to spend. It's not that I spend it with expensive stuff as what rich people do, but I spend my money wisely as I could. Of course, I don't want to compromise food because that will ruin the first resolution.

• SMOKING - this was not a habit not until I started in getting used to its taste. A habit that is so hard to stop for others but for me would be easy until I reach the age of 30. I promised myself to stop from using it; but for now, I want to enjoy every moment I puff a stick of cigarette. I am very keen to the number of sticks I consume in a day, and I'm glad that a pack of ten sticks would last for two days. Let's say that I consume for five sticks in a day. The problem is when I go to parties and drinking sessions, where i consume double as what I target in a day.

• ALCOHOL - the same with smoking, both of these vices started at the same time. When I drink, I smoke. It's like water and air, you can't live without it. Well, everything for me has its own time, and soon I will quit with it. Though our body needs alcohol, it's not a reason for me to be drunk all the time. The same as food and smoke, I take moderately. Too much is too bad, and know your limitations.

• OTHERS - comments on my first impression that I'm so snobbish. I think all you have to do is just to accept it.

Maybe these are the things that most people would want me to have it on my New Year's resolution. We have our own prerogative to do or not to do these on our lists. It's all about discipline and self control for us  to avoid the following.

Lastly, learn to accept for who we are. If you need to change something or if you want to improve something that would result positively, then go ahead! Bottom-line is, we are all human in this world that needs to improve and to learn more of it's nature. Each has it's time; a time to change, a time to grow even from this world full of pride and prejudice.

Major, major and another major... help us!!!

I am very overwhelmed of this week's events that I am almost fed-up of the recent Hostage taking in Manila and the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. Most of the news whether in television, radio, newspaper and even in the office are these two "Major-Major" happenings this August, 2010. Right now for 2011, another major crisis had just woke us in reality.

I. MAJOR 1: Manila Hostage Crisis

It was a cloudy Monday morning when a tourist bus was being hostage by an ex-policeman Rolando Mendoza. There were 21 Hong Kong nationals, a bus driver, a Filipino tour-guide, and a Tse (a Hong Kong tour-guide), on the Hong-Thai bus that time. Negotiators had came to ask for what the hostage-taker wanted, and the ex-policeman wanted to have his case be filed for reconsideration on the office of the Ombudsman, since Mendoza was accused of Extortion as a result of dismissal from the service on 2009.

The negotiations was in a smooth sail during the day when Mendoza was still considerate to have the hostage victims had their lunch and even some of the victims were freed especially children and the old ones. Afternoon came and the Mendoza was impatient enough with the slow-paced negotiations with the authorities. On the other hand, the media was on a live coverage with what was happening on the Quirino Grandstand, with its never-ending flash reports on TV that somehow made the crisis worse.

Evening came when the warrant-less arrest of Rolando's younger brother SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza was seen on TV that triggered Rolando's anger by killing the tourists inside the bus. Since that the bus had a television, this was the eye of Rolando to see on what was happening outside. After the first shot was fired, the police came to the rescue with their mallet, tear gas, and machine guns. Rolando was shot dead and also their were 8 tourists killed after the assault. Lastly, who are to be blamed with this tragic end?

                                                Rolando Mendoza was shot that caused his death

• Media

There are lots of "what if's" on my head when I saw what happened on TV and these are, what if the media had limited their scope of authority. Considering that the bus has a television and this could be the best spy of the hostage-taker during the assault. I know that media is all about freedom, but sometimes, too much freedom can be abusive that can result in this kind of tragedy.

• Police

What I saw in TV was not a real rescue but a drill. It was like practicing for an upcoming drill exercise. It was embarrassing to watch how our police acted that time, as if they don't know what they are doing and were afraid of what was inside the bus. Have they forgotten their pledge as protector and security?

• What Now???

Our country just started a new administration and now we faced another embarrassing image throughout the globe. No one of us wanted to happen this and no one deserves to be blamed. We are now judged by the affected country which is Hong Kong, and there were even reports that our fellow OFWs were being fired by their employers due to the hostage crisis. Recent reports says that Philippines was block listed by Hong Kong to be traveled which is not a good sign for our tourism industry.

@ Yahoo! Video

II: MAJOR 2: Miss Universe 2010

III. Major 3: Makati Bus Bombings

January 25, 2011 (Tuesday) when a bomb exploded inside a public utility bus (PUB) along Buendia Avenue and EDSA at around 2:00 in the afternoon. On the initial report, there were 2 people killed and 17 people wounded. On the next day, there were all 4 casualties ( 3 males and a female). Different angles were being investigated on what caused the bombings. Some say that it was a destabilization plot against the Aquino administration since the bombings was dated to his late mother's birthday Cory C. Aquino.

President Benigno Aquino III (PNOY) immediately denied the allege theory for the purpose of the bombings was just a terrorist attack and quoted “Let’s look at the evidence first before passing judgment. I don’t want to libel anybody. I have my suspicions but I could not engage in speculations.” As of this date, investigations are still ongoing and following some leads for future prospects.

The Goldwyn bus liner after the Makati Bus Bombings.