Celebrating the Holidays in Cebu City

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to,” so goes a quote attributed to American journalist and author John Ed Pearce. I bet you’d agree this couldn’t be more important during the Christmas season. For many of us Pinoys, it’s a time-honored tradition to be always home for the holidays—an occasion to be with family and friends, a time for bonding, binges, booze sessions, the works.

Aerial view of Fuente Osmeña Circle

More often than not, people who couldn’t make it home for the Christmas season would be filled with sadness and desolation. But not this vagabond. Why? Because I choose not to! Besides, the most wonderful times of the year (Christmas and New Year’s Day) are the most opportune moments for staging my escapades to other places!

For this desk jockey, the long holidays also offer the best time to indulge in “unli-sleeping” to compensate for the many sleepless nights spent eking out a living. Mind you, celebrating the holidays on my own—away from my comfort zone—has   been a ritual of sorts for me these past ten years or so. But it wasn’t something that came so quick and easy. Breaking away from tradition can be difficult even for someone who has a progressive and devil-may-care approach to life.

Cebu sizzles at night

The getting away part was quite tough, emotionally, that is. Making the case for those first few absences to the people I love definitely had its fair share of emotionally-charged discussions, complete with histrionics and all.

Most Pinoy families rarely and openly discuss when it’s time to let go of traditions, but those talks we had in ours surely paved the way for that. Whew, it was a relief that we went through it all!

I guess I’m just lucky that my loved ones understood my reasons—selfish as they may be. In time, they’ve gotten used to celebrating the holidays without me—and just as important, I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own time, pace and whim. So far, I’m enjoying the freedom I have as I make the most out of the holidays away from home.

Cebu's ever-changing cityscape

This year, I opted to get away from it all and spend my Christmas vacay in the loveliest city in the Visayas—where else but Cebu! The city has long been regarded as one of the  best destinations for spending the long holidays in the country. 

(By the way, feel free to go over my older posts about Cebu at http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2006/02/contemplating-in-child-jesus-country.html,  http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2006/02/caught-up-with-cebus-colonial-past.htm; and http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2012/02/moon-gazing-and-more-in-cebu.html). 

Here then are the five happiest moments I had while exploring the Queen City of the South during the most wonderful times of the year:

The gigantic Christmas tree at Fuente Osmeña Circle 

Gazing at the giant Christmas Tree at Fuente Osmeña Circle. Through the years, the lighting of the biggest Christmas tree in the city signals the start of the month-long celebration for Christmas. Standing over a hundred feet right smack in the heart of downtown Cebu, the spectacular tree, replete with colorful lights and decors, never fails to dazzle both locals and visitors alike.

Fuente Osmeña Circle at night

Strolling at the popular landmark, I felt like a kid once again while gazing at the glittering tree. Geez, whatta a vision! I also noticed a huge icon of one of Cebu’s popular symbols, the Santo Niño (Holy Child) near the tree’s foundation. It sort of reminded me that Sinulog, Cebu’s most spectacular festival, was just a few days away.

A glimpse of the rotunda at night

At the start of the holiday season all the way to celebration of Sinulog, the tree is lighted at night, beckoning people to explore Fuente Osmeña Circle to watch and take part in the nightly activities held there.

Icon of Santo Niño de Cebu at Fuente

Paying a visit to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It’s almost like second-nature for me to drop by this historical shrine. I guess it’s a mortal sin for any first-time visitor to miss out on this all-important landmark in Cebu, even if he’s an unbeliever. The basilica is undoubtedly a must-see—it’s one of the country’s oldest houses of worship. 

Rehabilitation work of the Basilica has been going on for the past two years

Interior of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño

If  I’m in town, I often go there to pray and bask in the beauty of its amazing architecture. History hounds and art aficionados will be amazed to see the plethora of artworks found at the basilica—paintings, murals, sculptures, icons and what-have-you. At present, it is undergoing rehabilitation following the destruction caused by the strong quake that hit Cebu, Bohol and other nearby islands in 2013.

As the queue wasn’t that long when I came, I joined the crowd who lined up to see the centuries-old statue of the Holy Child. As always, I left the basilica feeling blessed twice over than the previous visit. To make the most out of my sojourn, I lit a candle and said a little prayer.

Christmas lights illuminate the gardens at The Terraces

Enjoying the nightlife at Ayala Center’s The Terraces.  Just a few blocks away from my hotel stands one of the country’s swankiest shopping malls—Ayala Center Cebu—where you can find of one of my favorite hideaways, The Terraces. Opened to the public about eight years ago, the hotspot used to be an ordinary lagoon that was later transformed into a food and beverage strip. 

Bearing the trademark Ayala landscaping and lighting that never fails to draw ohs and ahs from shoppers, The Terraces is surrounded with numerous shops and establishments where people gravitate to savor local or foreign cuisines, sip their favorite booze, strike up a conversation with a friend, snap a selfie, stop for a break after a shopping spree, or simply stare at the amazing Christmas lights.

One of the things I like about The Terraces are its well-manicured gardens and refreshing fountains that conspire to provide visitors a chic yet calming ambiance after a hard day’s grind. Anyone can go there to seek solace from the cares and uncertainties of the world even for just a few minutes.

 A morning stroll at The Terraces can be calming

Roaming around the Philippines’ third largest shopping mall. Later this year, the Sys inaugurated one of their largest malls in the country—SM Seaside City. The humungous shopping complex has an eclectic mix of restaurants, designer shops,  cinemas, entertainment/amusement centers, department store, supermarket and much, much more!

Cebu's picturesque seascape as seen from SM Seaside

What grabbed my attention are the Seaside Tower, a sprawling 148-meter structure with a viewing deck that offers a 360-degree view of Cebu, and the Cube, a huge sculpture made of steel that stands as a symbol of the Cebuano’s strength and stability.  If SM Mall of Asia has the Globe as its iconic landmark, SM Seaside has the Cube to match it.

The Cube

Some of SM Seaside’s other awesome features that caught my fancy include the Sky Park, Children’s Playground, Bowling and Amusement Center, IMAX Theater and the Ice Skating Rink. Believe me, they’ll surely amaze you!  

Picturesque seascape facing SM Seaside

Cebu's Waterfront at Lahug shimmers at night

Spending New Year’s Eve at the Waterfront Hotel. Staying at this posh hotel in the city proved to be the icing on the cake of my recent holiday vacay. Geez, the prestigious hotel and casino that’s one of Cebu’s enduring landmarks was definitely at its finest during that time! I have no regrets spending more than the usual because I enjoyed every minute of my stay there. 

As soon as I stepped inside the hotel, I instantly felt the spirit of Christmas as I laid eyes on the giant Christmas Tree found at the spacious lobby. Standing about ten feet tall, the huge tree was bedecked with different pieces of white crystals, along with glittering silver decors that added pizzazz to it. Of course, I didn’t miss the chance to snap several selfies with the tree!

Waterfront's Crystal Christmas Tree

Mural of Santo Niño de Cebu at the ceiling of Waterfront Hotel

It was, however, the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve that really made my stay there truly a memorable experience. Coming from a place where fireworks and firecrackers have long been banned, it was something that added zest to my holiday celebration.

Anticipation was almost killing me as I waited for the clock to strike 12. And then midnight finally came. I watched with excitement Cebu’s black skyline burst into a dazzling kaleidoscope of blinding lights and thundering explosions as Cebuanos enthusiastically welcomed the New Year with a big bang! Whew, it was undoubtedly one of my best moments during the holiday season.

A view of Cebu's cityscape from my hotel room

More crystal trees at the Waterfront's Gourmet Walk

For us Filipinos, the long holidays can be such difficult times to be away from family and friends. But as I’ve experienced, it need not be so if you know how—and where. And for the best Christmas or New Year moments, choose wisely your next destination during this most wonderful of seasons. So, if you’re to leave home for the holidays, what’s the wiser choice for a vacay to remember? Definitely, Cebu! :-D

Discovering a Haven for the Differently Abled

Discover the unique and unusual—this has always been my mantra whenever I travel. I go to great lengths to explore lesser known destinations to satisfy my desire for new experiences. The thrill and excitement I get from exploring the not-so-ordinary things in life makes the hassles and hazards of the trip worth it all.

Haven of hope for persons with disabilities


 

Sometimes, however, one doesn’t have to go too far to stumble upon something unusual. Sometimes it could be staring you in the face. Somewhere out there, in a not so distant location, there’s something fascinating just waiting to be discovered that could change the way one looks at life.

DJF provides hope to paraplegics all over the country

Novelist Marcel Proust aptly put it when he wrote: “The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” That’s exactly what happened to me recently when I embarked on an unusual yet interesting sojourn to an uncommon destination—Davao  Jubilee Foundation (DJF) in Davao City. 


Organized almost thirty years ago, DJF is a non-stock, non-profit organization offering physical rehabilitation services to amputees and other people with disabilities, particularly those from armed conflict areas in Mindanao. Together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), it has established a state-of-the-art prosthetic and orthotic workshop that is fully equipped to produce lightweight artificial legs and braces made of polypropylene. 

DJF also provides free ear screenings to their patients

DJF is probably the only institution of its kind in the country that’s supported by the ICRC, a neutral and impartial global humanitarian organization that assists and protects victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. ICRC has been sending patients from war-torn areas to the Foundation for over a decade now.

Aside from this, DJF also provides services for the prevention of hearing impairment and rehabilitation of hearing disabilities in partnership with the Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM). The foundation conducts ear screenings and provides interventions and referrals for hearing impaired patients.

I’ve been hearing about DJF but it was only recently that I got to know more about its significant contributions in promoting the welfare and protection of the differently abled, people who have limited and/or impaired capabilities to see, hear and walk—a largely overlooked segment of the population which the United Nations refer to as “persons with  disabilities” or PWDs. 

In its 2006 Convention, the UN defined PWDs as “those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” PWDs constitute roughly 10 percent of the world’s population, with about 80 percent of them living in developing countries.

DJF's prosthetic and orthotic workshop

I have a number of friends and acquaintances who are PWDs that is why I was interested to visit DJF and see for myself what exactly the Foundation is doing to alleviate their plight. Through this, I wanted to help make life better and easier for some people I know who are in dire need assistance from the Foundation. 

What made my sojourn to DJF an extra special one was the chance to catch up on things with its Operations Manager—Cheryl Arellano or Che, as we fondly call her—who   happens to be a dear friend from way, way back. Whenever we meet in parties and other gatherings, she always made it a point to remind me to pay the Foundation a visit and write something about it in my blog.

Che, who happens to be a PWD herself, had been egging me and our college buddies to pay her a visit but time constraints and conflicts in our schedules kept us from going there until recently.  When that day came, I was exhilarated to see her as we listened to her briefing about the Foundation.

A couple of years ago, DJF, with the support of ICRC opened its state-of-the-art prosthetic and orthotic workshop that is fully equipped to produce lightweight artificial legs and braces made of polypropylene, instead of fiberglass. With this, amputees can now have access to durable and affordable prostheses manufactured at the Foundation.
 

Polypropylene, according to Che, is relatively cheap, ductile, recyclable, and has a long storage life. She added that the technology that DJF employs makes it possible for them to tailor-fit the prostheses and make these more responsive and adaptive to the individual needs of their patients.

The ICRC has been providing DJF with support, enabling it to enhance its prosthetic services, which are one of the main needs of people physically disabled by injuries resulting from armed conflict. DJF has a gait training area where patients could practice using their new prostheses.

Short as the visit  to DJF was, I learned a lot from my conversation with Che, not to mention, the quick facility tour she gave me. Indeed, the differently abled—the paraplegic, the sightless, the speechless, the hearing impaired—are just like us. They have their own dreams, hopes and aspirations. With the support of individuals like you and me as well as institutions like DJF, we can help them get back their life and find their respective niches in the mainstream of society. :-D