I was in high school when I first went up Pandan Hill. The only memory I had then was the wide horizon and passenger ships that line it. I never thought that I would go back there again. Twenty-six years later, I went back and was surprised that nothing much has changed from how I…
Tag: Visayas
The Santo Niño in a pagan ritual
I was planning on going back to Kalibo for this year’s Ati-atihan festival, but I had to go somewhere else for work. I’m reposting this old blog entry instead. Kalibo’s ati-atihan festival has got to be the wildest fiesta celebration honoring the Santo Niño. I caught the last three days of the celebration, which…
Puka Beach: the untamed side of Boracay
Most people would think of only one place when they hear the name “Boracay” — the White Beach. But there’s more to Boracay than the commercially abused White Beach side. There is also the untamed side called Puka Beach — home of the popular Puka shells. Escaping from the crowded White Beach, we set out…
It’s called Boracay, not Bora
I came across this advocacy group on Facebook called “Boracay Please, Not Bora”. I joined without thinking twice. The name of the group says it all, and I fully support it. I have since been extending this advocacy to friends who have gotten used to saying “Bora” (some even annoyingly say it as if they…
