Feature:

How was the Holiday Season

in Iloilo City?



A Christmas tree made from
dried leaves and twigs at
Brgy. Buntatala, Jaro, Iloilo City



By Pepin

Months before Christmas day, the city of Iloilo has been busy preparing different stuffs. In one part of the city, the streets were lined with Christmas trees and Belen (manger) that were made of various indigenous materials. On the other side anyone will be amazed with the sparkling lights and lanterns that cheered up the night sky. Ilonggos truly knew how to celebrate the season with so much enthusiasm and inventiveness. This was a celebration that they surely did not want to miss.

Here are some of the Holiday Highlights in Iloilo:

Major parks in the city were decorated with colorful lights and a Christmas Fair in the City, a project of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, opened the city’s holiday celebration. People, young and old, flocked to the parks to witness the colorful display of lights and fireworks. There were also vendors of bibingka, balut, mani, balloons, and glow toys, who took the opportunity to earn income from a large crowd of spectators.



Tinapayan's Christmas Village



Tinapayan, one of the leading bread stores in the city, once again unveiled to the public their famous Christmas village of pastries, pretzels, and other sweets. People, who passed by the exhibit, can’t help but gave praises and took photos of the sugary masterpiece.

Central Philippine University attracted thousands of audience during the Christmas at Central Park: Festival of Lights and Music. People waited for the final count down until the lights were turned on and a vivid display of fireworks amazed everyone who came. Kids and kids-at-heart also enjoyed in the food fest and the mini fair.                 



A Christmas At Fairytale Land was the holiday offering of Robinson’s Place Iloilo. Children took pleasure in watching animated characters from the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, and The Three Little Pigs, who all sang famous Christmas carols and greetings.



Christmas in Fairytale Land
at Robinson's Place Iloilo



The famous Sigaboom of Angelicum School is a must-see in the city of Iloilo every Christmas season. This year, more people viewed how the silent school building was transformed into a Christmas wonder. School children presented various Christmas traditions and showcased spectacular performances to please the waiting public. As the time for the lighting of lights draws near, spectators marvelled on how the place will become a blast of colorful lights. A ten-minute fireworks display concluded the Sigaboom opening ceremony.



University Church
Central Philippine University



SM City Iloilo also perked up the night sky with a fantastic fireworks display. Inside the mall, shoppers enjoyed signing along with the Christmas songs being played. Of course, they benefited a lot from the discounted prices of goods to accommodate their Christmas budget for gift-giving. A giant Christmas tree was displayed at the lower ground floor of the mall, and shoppers had  free picture-takings.



In most parts of the city, people were still fascinated with the traditional “karoling.” Different choral groups, and even groups of young children, took time to go house-to-house and sang Christmas songs. And eventhough some groups of kids have been out of tune, families, who were listening to them, still shared something that brought them in high spirits during the holiday season.

Iloilo Provincial Capitol

Sigaboom at Angelicum School

The Karoling tradition

So that was Christmas in the city of Iloilo. The different ways that Ilonggos shared to the world to celebrate the special day of our saviour, Jesus Christ only showed that this season is still alive, and it was the joy felt by the heart that truly matters for anyone who was touched by the holiday spirit.

Announcement:

Announcement:

I wish:

Jennifer

By Pepin

20 years old

Household helper

In an urban zone, twenty-year old girls are often seen spending most of their time bar hopping and shopping. They talk, laugh, and party a lot with their friends. In other words, they love to socialize.

But for someone who is already pressured to work at this young age and values every centavo she earns, these “to-do-lists” of twenty-year old gals are often ignored. Just like Jennifer, who sees life at this age in a different angle. She is working hard to earn for her parents and siblings, and that is already making her comfortable and happy in life.

My present life is just as simple as what I planned it to be. I don’t want to complicate things, and I am enjoying every second of my life. Maybe, I belong to the millions of ordinary Filipino who wakes up early in the morning and work the whole day. Exhausting, but that’s the way it is.

I prepare for Christmas in a special way. I usually help my sisters and brothers at home in putting up our Christmas tree. On Christmas day, we invite some of our relatives to come over and enjoy a big party. Of course, the traditional “SP-SP” or exchange gift is there. But aside from all of these, we also hold gift-giving and feeding activities for the less fortunate members of our community.

If I will make one extraordinary wish, I want to become a beauty queen, and I want to follow the footsteps of the first Filipina Miss Universe, Gloria Diaz. She is smart, eloquent, and beautiful.

For the year 2011, I promise to work harder and to do my best in everything I do.

Panay Festivals

PANAY FESTIVALS SCHEDULE

December 2010

Sinadya sa Halaran (Roxas City, Capiz)
• First Week of December
• A celebration of thanksgiving for the graces and blessings received by every Capiznon
• Literally means “Joyful in offering and sharing of blessings”

Oton Fiesta (Oton, Iloilo)
• The town of Oton celebrates their annual fiesta in honor of their patron , “The Immaculate Conception.”

Iwag Christmas Lights Festival (Pototan, Iloilo)
• December 16 to 31
• An annual Christmas celebration of the town of Pototan, in which the entire town plaza is decorated with lights and colorful lanterns.
• This celebration made Pototan as the Christmas Capital of Western Visayas

Paskua sa Baranggay (Salvacion, Buenavista, Guimaras)
• Every December
• This celebration that runs for one month showcases different Christmas traditions, such as the karoling, and daigon.

CPU Festival of Lights (Jaro, Iloilo City)
• Every second week of December
• Central Philippine University is decorated with colorful lights and a fireworks display signals the start of the Christmas celebration.
• People also enjoy a Christmas singing competition, called “Kantahan sa Paskua”

Sigaboom sa Angelicum (Jaro, Iloilo City)
• Every second week of December
• The school, which is an old mansion, is decked with lights and lanterns
• People come and visit the place to take pictures and to feel the holiday ambiance.

Iwag sa Paskua (San Lorenzo, Guimaras)
• December 14 to January 1
• A holiday celebration of the town of San Lorenzo.
• People witness the” switching on” of Christmas lights at the town plaza

Kahayag ag Kabuhi it Kalibonhon or KKK (Kalibo, Aklan)
• December 15
• Light-a-tree program of the local government
• People enjoy a colorful display of lights every night of the holiday season

Light A Tree Program (Oton, Iloilo)
• December 15
• A week after the town fiesta, Ogtonganons gather once again in the plaza to witness the lighting of a giant Christmas tree,

Pantat Festival (Zarraga, Iloilo)
• 3rd week of December
• A celebration of thanksgiving by the town that is popularly known as the largest producer of mudfish (pantat) in the region.
• People enjoy the luscious taste of pantat that is being sold around the town plaza for a low price.
• Cultural dance competitions also take place.

Graciano Lopez Jeana Day (Jaro, Iloilo)
• December 18
• Usually a non-working holiday to celebrate Graciano Lopez-Jeana’s martyrdom. He is honored, not only as an Ilonggo hero, but also a hero of every Filipino.

Buruyloganay Festival (Sibalom, Antique)
• December 17-19
• A cultural celebration that depicts the traditions of Sibalomnons

Pasidungog kay Senyor San Miguel Festival (San Miguel, Iloilo)
• Last Week of December
• A special celebration to honor the patron saint of the town, St. Micheal the Archangel.

Kadagatan Festival (San Roque, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras)
• December 27
• To celebrate a bountiful catch, as well as to remind the people of the importance of preserving the sea and its resources

Tultulgan Festival (Maasin, Iloilo)
• December 29
• In line with the town fiesta, the people of Maasin also celebrate this festival to remind the world of its reputation as the premier bamboo-producing town in the region.
• People enjoy a cultural presentation, as well as various displays of bamboo products.

Feature:

Delicioso!

Christmas pasalubong treats from

Ninfel Pasalubong Center

By Pepin

Whether you are a food-loving local or a passionate balik-bayan, there are plenty of delicacies that await you in your hometown. Nothing beats the “tastes of home”, and whether you will like it or not, we Filipinos will search anywhere in the world for that exceptional flavor that we really love since our childhood years.

Just like here in Panay Island, people are going crazy about Lukos (dried squid), Ginamos (fish or shrimp paste), and Palad (fish flakes). The smell of these when cooked in low heat triggers an unexplained euphoria that will let you eat five cups of rice. Certainly fattening, but who cares? People will enjoy an unmatched moment with their plate.

Thanks to Ninfel Pasalubong Center and we can find all of these and more special local treats in one store. We can enjoy these flavours anytime we want, and so as our loved ones abroad who will be coming home this Holiday season.

A tale of success:

Manong Junjun shared to me how his family’s business became one of the most sought-after pasalubong stores here in Iloilo. According to him, it was established fifteen years ago and they have to put a lot of hard work in order for them to recover the money that they gambled to put this up. “It’s not an easy task after all,” he added.

But as the years go by, they learned how to play the business fairly and their efforts paid off. At first they were intimidated because most Filipinos and tourists considered Cebu as the best producers of dried sea foods, but Ilonggos had finally improved their own ingredients and established their own flavor. Now, when you say “ginamos,” “squid rings,” or “lukos” most people will associate them with the province of Iloilo.

Ninfel Pasalubong Center is located at Central Market in Iloilo City with branches at Travellers Lounge in SM City Iloilo and Iloilo Domestic Airport. Manong Junjun said that Central Market is the best location because non-Ilonggo buyers will not only experience their delicacies, but the Ilonggo market life as well.

Their products came from Estancia, a town located at the northernmost part of the province. According to him, it is where the best producers of dried fish and seafood crunchies are from, and they are very passionate in producing these. The products will be delivered to their store twice a week, and they are buying loads of it – for lukos alone, the store makes an order of at least 100 kilos per delivery.

An easy process:

If you want to make a dried squid or dried fish, the steps are easy. First, you need to have a squid or a fish. Then you need to let it dry under the sun (the process is called “bulad”) for one day or two days. Then that’s it! You can fry it then eat it. Manong Junjun shared that these products taste well with a bottle of beer (people consider it as “pulutan”).

Pricing:

Here is the Price Guide:

Lukos – 1 kilo – Php 560.00

Tabagak – 1 kilo – Php 140.00

Palad Flakes – 1 pack – Php 80.00

Plain Danggit – 1 kilo – Php 460.00

Salted Danggit – 1 kilo – Php 460.00

These price tags vary depending on the season. It may go up during Christmas season and in the months of January and February, when Iloilo City celebrates its major festivals that attract thousands of tourists.

Other Specialties:

Ninfel Pasalubong Center produced its own specialties. One of these is the Sweet and Spicy Dilis. It has a unique tang that will make you crave for more. Another specialty is the Spicy Shrimp, which is considered as an exotic food by some foreign tourists. Other products you can buy are the Native Chocolate (Cacao), Salted Kasuy (Cashew nuts), and Pinasugbo (caramelized banana).

Consumer tips:

Manong Junjun gave some advice when buying these dried products. He said that Uga and Tabagak are best purchased within one week after they were made, because the flavor starts to wear off after that time. On the other hand, the Ginamos gets better in time, like the wine. That means that the older it gets the more it becomes flavoursome.

For more information or if you want to make some orders call:

NINFEL PASALUBONG CENTER

Tel. no: (033) 5099013

Seafood crunchies

Spicy Pusit, Spicy Dilis, Spicy Shrimp

Dried fish products

Tabagak, Danggit, Dilis

Eco-chic:

The Garden Explorer

By Pepin

Nature’s beauty cannot only be seen on pictures of vast landscapes, colossal waves, and extreme safaris. Sometimes, you just need to explore your own backyard for you to fully appreciate how beautiful this planet is.

I did it once, and I was able to recollect my thoughts that the earth is indeed full of life. I felt that everything was in the right place and in perfect harmony, and I sensed that nature has its own special way to remind me of its exquisiteness.

I am not an expert photographer, but I was able to take amazing still shots of the flora and fauna that are thriving peacefully in our garden at home. From creatures that dwell on dirt to colorful blooms hanging on shrubs, I was able to say to my self that we are lucky enough to be situated on the Goldilocks Zone of the solar system, because if we weren’t, this planet will be too hot or too cold for any of these living things, including ourselves, to sustain life.

It’s nice to wake up in the morning and see how these vibrant flowers bloom and how tiny creatures start their day as well. We need to appreciate these small wonders of nature for us to love and live life to the fullest. And most of all, we need to save our planet so that the future generations will be able to experience how truly wonderful this earth is (cliché? But it’s true.)

 "Nature never hurries. Atom by atom; little by little, she achieves her work." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) 

 

"Whoever loves and understands a garden will find contentment within." (Chinese Proverb)

"Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily, visiting the natural world." (Catlin Matthews)

Eco-chic:

Dead Sea

By Pepin

There are a thousand reasons why fishes die in the water, but the most morbid of which is global warming. Sudden changes in the Earth’s temperature can affect badly millions of organisms and microorganisms that thrive in water. That is because most of these living things cannot tolerate the extreme heat that the planet is presently receiving from the sun.

Global warming kills slowly but it can register millions in the death toll. Just like what had happened in some of the provinces in the country in which hundreds of thousands of lifeless fishes floated on freshwater ponds. According to some environmental experts, the fishes were depleted of oxygen supply because of a chemical process that altered the normal condition of their habitat.

In the coming years, the ocean will become more and more acidic because of the incessant release of hydrogen atoms brought about by the different chemical processes that take place as the sun continues to heighten the Earth’s temperature to a couple of degrees. There will be less food in the ocean and microorganisms will pollute the water, making it less suitable for the fishes to live. Not to mention, aquatic research experts also dub that extreme temperature will be a major cause of the total destruction of our coral reefs.

It will always be a “survival of the fittest” among the creatures that live in our waters as global warming gets worse everyday. The natural balance has already been distorted, and those that cannot maintain life in extreme temperatures will have to depart early from this “once a life-giving” planet.

Feature:

PANAY MUD PIE launches

the BLISS.BOX project

December 2, 2010

I wish

Manong Al

By Pepin

47 years old

Painter (contractual)

“Magic is in the air!” This is what the book, Olly Spellmaker and the Hairy Horror, is all about. Written by Susan Price, it embraces enchantment in a new twist, with the major characters in the story seizing plenty of magical spells that allow them to change their shape and their state of affairs.

Only if Manong Al can do the same, he would probably leave his paint brush behind and enjoy living a life of gold, diamonds, and pearls. His three kids would have been sent in some of the most prestigious schools in the world, and his wife’s hands would be free from those gruelling chores.

But his fate to strive harder in life has been prearranged. After all, he did not finish school. He had accepted his destiny and all that he has to do now is to become patient and indomitable in whatever he does.

My present life involves a lot of luck and hard work. It has been this way ever since. We are broke, but I am not giving up looking for a decent job.

I prepare for Christmas every year. I don’t want my family to miss the spirit of the season. It is not an excuse that we are poor for not celebrating the birth of our saviour. My wife cooks salad and pansit or spaghetti. I buy the bread and the beverages. It’s usually a small celebration, but my three kids enjoy it a lot.

If I will make one extraordinary wish, I want to become Rudy Fernandez, the action master popularly known as “Da Boy.” He is good-looking and he knows how to fight well in all the action scenes of his movies.

For the year 2011, I am only hoping for a better life. I know I will be working harder for my family especially that my children are growing up.

Feature:

Bloggers shine in the first edition of the VBS

By Pepin

The 1st Visayas Blogging Summit was indeed a blast! Not only were there an array of informative talks and a showcase of the Ilonggo culture, but everyone got into the true spirit of blogging.

Hundreds of blogger from the different parts of the Visayas flocked to SM City Iloilo Cinema to listen to some of the experts of blogging. Many realized the importance of this endeavor, especially on how it can be a tool for change and an excellent channel for promoting advocacies.

But the summit itself was centered on how bloggers can develop and keep a passion on blogging rather than turning it into a money-making scheme on the web. Many participants raised different questions on how they can commit to their responsibility as “web scribblers” and as “netizens”. Many more would have like their queries to be resolved if only not for the time constraint.

"You must have passion!" 

by Aileen Apolo

Topic: I have a blog, now what?

"Don't change for it, be a part of it!"

by Flowell Galindez

Topic: Blogging for advocacy

"We can form a community that will blog for one nobel purpose"

by Tonyo Cruz

Topic: Social Media and Citizenship: Elections, Ondoy, and Beyond

"With new media, anybody with anything to say can say it anytime he or she wants."

by Ria Jose

Topic: Role of bloggers as new media

"You have to ask yourself, 'Am I contributing something useful?'"

by Jayvee Fernandez

Topic: Blogging Ethics: What's hot and what's not

"Travel is a sensory experience - you have to see, smell, taste, hear, and feel the place."

by Estan Cabigas

Topic: Selling the best of the Philippines through blogging

"If you see anyone violating the copyright law, educate him with the right thing to do."

by Anton Sheker

Topic: How can we protect our intellectual property rights?

"If I have to handle a brand, I see to it that it should be useful."

by Janette Toral

Topic: Impact of blogs and social networking sites to businesses

"You need to blog something with commercial value."

by Fitz Villafuerte

Topic: 101 ways of earning money through blogging

"Having an advocacy on your blog will not only be good for you, but for your community and country."

by Blogie Robillo

Topic: Internet Governance: Implications and Opportunities

"I am a person in constant transition, so are you. Blogging allows us to document the milestones in our lives."

by Lloyd Tronco

Topic: Why Visayans should blog?

While the discussions were taking place, the audience enjoyed free cups of coffee from Bluejay Coffee and Deli, as well as delectable treats of cheese bread and biscocho courtesy of Deocampos Barquillos. There were also a lot of freebies from other event sponsors and from the speakers themselves.

At night time, the Visayan bloggers took part in the first ever Philippine Blog Awards Visayas held at The Venue. Outstanding bloggers in various categories were recognized during a short program prepared by the Iloilo Bloggers Inc. The participants were also treated with a free buffet dinner prepared by the most lavish restaurants located at The Avenue and a giant cake baked by Tinapayan.

On the second day, bloggers witnessed the Ilonggo hospitality and way of life as they tour different hot spots and heritage sites. They also got a chance to taste some of the mouth-watering delights that the city boast a lot.

The event was truly a success, not only because the attendees consist of bloggers from provinces as far as Dumaguete, Cebu, Tacloban, Manila, and the Mindanao region, but it testified that Filipino did not only emerge as masters of web-browsing through the years, but also of blogging.