Anyway, that was my first ever Sinulog experience. Back home in Leyte since I was a child, I only watch Sinulog Festival on TV. When I reached college and started studying here in Cebu last 2006, I don’t go out during Sinulog coz’ of the crowd and another thing also is I don’t have company.

This year was my first ever experience of Sinulog: I walked how many kilometers during the procession, I almost fainted, I thought I’m going to experience a stampede, I was dripping in sweat, saw celebrities particularly Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks, and Sen. Bong Revilia, and I witnessed the most extravagant fireworks display at Ayala Center Cebu.

Back to 88DB.com booth, the 88DB.com members gave us exclusive sun visors and a sling bags with goodies in it. And guess what, I had a FREE face paint. That was just so cool. They do FREE henna and face paint to those who will register to their organization and we were there to help them spread the word. There were lots of people who wanted to get FREE henna and face paint so it really worked.

I thought it will not rain that day, but around 3:00PM the rain poured heavily but luckily it stopped right away. We ran to Acha Pizzeria for cover. Since we felt hungry, Atty. Ethelbert suggested that we grab a bite at Acha Pizzeria so we went inside, ordered two different flavors of pizzas, and helped ourselves. That became our supper. After eating, we then decided to go to Ayala to watch the magnificent fireworks display. We walked from Jones to Ayala. Imagine that. There were thousands of people in the streets even until we reached Ayala.

We waited an hour or two for the fireworks to light the sky. Upon waiting, we saw fireworks from Abellana, Crown Regency, and Capitol which were  beautiful. But nothing can beat the fireworks display at Ayala. It then started. It lasted for about 20 minutes. It was spectacularly amazing which just means its worth the wait! I’ve never seen such beautiful fireworks display in my whole life until that moment.

vain moment while waiting for the fireworks

After the magnificent fireworks display, we then hiked to Ayala Terraces to chill. We decided to stay atVanille and ordered some cold smoothies to freshen us up. I was already exhausted that time. Around 1AM, we decided to go home. Me and Sinjin rode a jeepney on our way home. He stayed at a hotel somewhere in Escario.

Mocha Frappe at Vanille

I would never forget that wonderful experience. Aside from all that, it was also a great day for me coz’ I was able to make new friends through Prince.

I want to thank Cebu Bloggers Society for letting me experience Sinulog Festival, to 88DB.com for inviting CBS to their booth, and to Prince who made me make new friends. Thank you all. May the next Sinulog Festival will be as merry as the previous one.

Our first stop was in Basilica del Sto. Niño. Our meet up time was 8am but apparently, people arrived at 9am already so we were behind our schedule. We then started rolling the camera. Our lines are about the Expression of Individual and Collective Will.

Janmck was the first to deliver his line which quoted “believing that all change must begin within ourselves” just outside in front of the Basilica. In the Basilica Candles, Ken Jesryl stated his line which quoted “we hereby commit to begin the change that we seek in the world by taking simple personal actions. These are, among others, to –”. Outside the Basilica, where the Magellan’s Cross is located, Agnes delivered her line which was “understanding that the environment is not about the birds and the bees;” and Rabsin, with the City Hall in background, stated “rather; it nothing less than about Life itself, and the Sources of Life and Land, Air and Waters;”. From there, we then walked to Colon St. for Sir Timoy to say his line which was “b. Separate and properly handle our wastes.” And from Colon, we then rode a jeepney to Capitol. Bryan then delivered his speech which was “toward this goal, we will exercise our sovereign authority as a people to be expressed in the form of electoral vote”. I then was next to deliver mine at the Lapu-lapu monument still in Capitol which was “we will impress this message upon our political leaders that we now have this individual and collective political will. We implore our leaders to take heed”. Atty. Ethelbert then was next who was the one who prepared our script and the director of our video documentation. At the Palace of Justice, he then stated his line “in the event they fail or refuse to do so, we will render them irrelevant. And where appropriate, we will use the force and the power of the Law”.

It was nearly 12noon and our stomachs were crumbling. We then headed to Larsian in Fuente to have lunch. It was Bryan’s birthday so we surprised him with a cake. We had a very sumptuous barbeque meal plus the cake. Thanks to Vanjohnn and Winston for the treat.

We then continue our tour so at Fuente Circle we headed. Vanjohnn stated his line which was “the accumulated effects of which is now manifesting in the ongoing and perplexing climate changes threaten the very existence and future of human life”. After Fuente, we then went to Enovlink to charge the battery of the video cam and so as to chill a bit. We then continue our journey. Some of us headed to IT Park to continue the shooting. Beejing took the shoot in IT Park in which he stated “realizing that the crisis of water depletion and contamination, air pollution and land degradation,”. I and the others accompanied Vanjohnn to their school which is in Velez College. It was my first time to enter in their school. Afterwhich, we then headed to Ayala where Kevin was able to say his line in the Terraces which was “e. Where possible, plant and nurture vegetables and other plants even in small pots. This will increase our self-reliance for food. More importantly, it will restore the human connection to the natural processes of life”.

That ends our heritage tour. Well actually, that is only the part one of our heritage tour. There’s still a part two for those who were not able to join us that day.

Wow. Imagine in one day, we were able to visit 7 hostorical places in Cebu?  That was really amazing. I really enjoyed doing the video documentation and touring around Cebu. Might as well join the part two of the heritage tour. Yay!

Here are some of the photos taken during our tour:

I ordered large fries, cheese burger, and Coke float. (mmm)

After I had my yummilicious snack, I wandered all alone in the terraces. The view was just amazing. I was in the 3rd floor, and since I was amazed by the lovely view, I decided to take some photos:

And so, when I finally came to my senses and realized that it was already getting dark, I decided to go home.

You Are The One Who Makes Me Happy