Introducing: 8 Magazine

There is a new glossy travel magazine that is proudly "Waray" (read: conceptualized and made into a reality by a bunch of young and driven folks from region 8) It's 8 (ocho) Magazine.


Check on the link on the side bar for the official website of the said magazine. For subscriptions, you may get in touch with Hazel at +63 917-636-6078

Baclayon Church, at last

It all started with my undergraduate thesis where I tried to chronicle the history of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. And I got stuck on old churches. The church of Baclayon was one of those which I have always wanted to visit. That came true last Monday. WHEW! That's all I could say as the old structure simply took my breath away. How I wish our own church in Calbayog was preserved (or maintained) that same way that they did in Baclayon.

Kwaresma Na

I was in Cebu when we observed this year's Ash Wednesday. As with the past so many years, I found myself in a Church (in this case the Basilica del Sto. Niño) to attend mass and to undergo that age-old ritual we call "pamuring".

As with the previous Ash Wednesdays, I took some pictures during the mass.

a close encounter with my long lost relative

Nagkita guihapun kami san akun urupod. That's how I fondly refer to my first encounter with the Tarsier. Our countryside tour brought us to this "sanctuary" on our way to Carmen, Bohol for the Chocolate Hills.

My first zipline "ride"

I had my first zipline ride (am I using the right term?) today. It's the suiside ride at the Danao Adventure Park in Danao, Bohol. It is touted at the longest and the highest in the country.

So how was it? Well, I'll do it again. Here are some pix of my "ride" courtesy of De. Teody Fortaleza.

Opening soon! Ciriaco Hotel

Calbayog City in the Visayan province of Samar, will boast of its grandest offering to local and international tourism come mid 2010.Ciriaco Hotel promises more than the usual expectations for accommodations and services in the region. Forty five (45) deluxe rooms and suites complemented by a classy restaurant and a spacious grand ballroom both with a view of the ocean. Urban taste and convinience in a rural back setting.

For Inquiries, please call:
T. (63 2) 635.5558 or email at sales@ciriacohotel.com


CIRIACO HOTEL
Km. 745 Maharlika Highway, Brgy Bagacay, Calbayog City, Samar, Philippines 6710
T. (63 2) 710.4208

INTRODUCTORY RATE

ROOM CATEGORY	PROMO RATE
Deluxe Room (Php 4,800)	Php 2,400
Superior Deluxe Room (Php 6,500)	Php 3,250
Executive Suite (Php 11,000)	Php 5,500

Inclusions:
Overnight Accommodation based on Single or Twin/Double Occupancy.
Daily Breakfast at the Café Elsa.
Complimentary use of Wi-Fi.

Terms and Conditions:
Rates are inclusive of 10% service charge and applicable government taxes.
Children below 12 years old are free of charge if sharing room & bed with adults. Maximum of 2 children.
Official check-in time is at 2PM and check-out time is at 12NN.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Ciriaco Hotel is a Genesis Hotel

Uncover Calbayog video

This video launched last September 21, 2010. I thought I'd like to share it with you.

Great Times Events and Tours Calbayog Branch is one year old

Great Times Events and Tours Calbayog Branch will celebrate its 1st Anniversary on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The staff will treat their loyal clients to an "appreciation dinner" tomorrow night.

Great Times Events and Tours is located along Justice Road (near the Hall of Justice) in Barangay Capoocan, Calbayog City. For inquiries you may call (+63 55) 209-27-65. Or you may check www.gr8times.com.

Cokaliong Shipping Lines all set to serve Calbayog

The streamers are out announcing the soon-to-commence Cebu-Calbayog (Manguino-o) service of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc.

The maiden Cebu-Calbayog voyage of M/V Dinagat Princess will leave Cebu on Monday, November 16, 2009; and will arrive at the Manguino-o port on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

The shipping company will offer Cebu - Calbayog trips on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. It will leave Cebu at 7:00 pm and will arrive in Calbayog (Manguino-o) at 5:00 am.

Calbayog - Cebu trips will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm.

For my previous posts on Cokaliong Shipping, please check these: link1, link2.

For inquiries:
Cebu Main Office: (+63 32) 232-72-11 to 18
Calbayog Manguino-o Agency Office: (+63 927) 799-53-52

Cokaliong Shipping Calbayog Ticketing Office is located at Bugallon Street, Calbayog City (in front of the Rural Bank of Calbayog)

Cebu Pacific to fly daily to Calbayog

Cebu Pacific will be offering daily Manila-Calbayog-Manila flights beginning August 16, 2009.

Cokaliong Shipping Lines to serve Calbayog

Cokaliong Shipping Lines is set to serve Calbayog. The company will be utilizing the M/V Filipinas Dinagat (pix above) to serve the Calbayog (Manguino-o) - Cebu route. I'll keep you posted as soon as the final date of the maiden voyage is made available. For other details about the vessel, please check this link.

Former Name: “SOYA MARU NO. 2”
Type of service: Roro/Passenger-Cargo
Gross Tonnage: 1,173.70
Length Overall: 60.52 meters
Breadth: 13.00 meters
Engine Nake: Daihatsu
Horse Power: 2,600 HP (1,300x2)
(Present) Trading Route: Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Cebu-Iligan-Cebu
Friday: Cebu-Palompon-Cebu
Classification Society: Philippines Register of Shipping (Philippines)

Great Times Events and Tours opens Calbayog branch

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Dr. Socorro Bohol as they led the ribbon-cutting during the opening of Great Times Tours and Events Calbayog Branch. In photo are (partly hidden) Fr. Mike Aguilar, Jehan Uyloan and Anne Blanco.

Great Times Events and Tours, Calbayog's first travel agency is now open for business. The agency officially opened on May 8, 2009. Present during the event were Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and TTMIST President Socorro Bohol. Fr. Mike Aguilar was on hand to say the prayer of blessing.

Great Times Events and Tours Calbayog branch is located along Justice Road, Barangay Capoocan, Calbayog City (That's near the Calbayog Hall of Justice). For inquiries you may call (+63 55) 209-27-65 (PLDT) or (+63 55) 533-81-27 (Globe).

Great Times Events and Tours Head Office is located in Unit L8C, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City with phone # (+63 2) 809-07-64/ 809-06-05.

something for our friends from Magsohong

As I have mentioned in an earlier blog update, the Alimango Festival of the Municipality of Sta. Margarita performed during the One Visayas event in Cebu. Above photo is but one of the many that Nelson Petilla took during the group's performance. For the other pix, you may click on the photo or check this link.

Images from One Visayas

Let me share some more pictures which I got courtesy of Nelson Petilla. These were taken during the Streetdancing which was part of the ceremonies that opened the One Visayas festival at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Calbayog Mayor and RDC-8 Chair Mel Sarmiento led the Calbayog delegation which presented the "Inodoro" musical play on wastewater management and "LAKUB", a presentation of Calbayog songs and dances. These presentations were well received and were requested to have repeat performances. I still have to get hold of pictures during the presentations.

In the meantime here are Nelson's pictures of the streetdancing.

Calbayog's Sarakiki-Hadang Festival begged off from the event. The festival's instrumentalists performed for Alimango Festival of Sta. Margarita, Samar.

For more pictures, please check Nelson's blog.

at the Calbayog airport this morning

We were at the Calbayog airport earlier today (as in 7:00 am) for the short program following the maiden Manila-Calbayog flight of Cebu Pacific. Let me share some pictures which we managed to take.

The pre-departure area crowded with both PAL Express and Cebu pacific passengers.

The check-in counters . . .

. . . of PAL Express

. . . Zest Air

. . . and Cebu Pacific

Now this is a sight to behold, two commercial aircrafts at the Calbayog airport apron

Cebu Pacific flies to Calbayog

Cebu Pacific will start serving Calbayog City on February 18, 2009. You may check these links:

link 1

link 2

Daily Manila - Calbayog - Manila flights

This is to correct an earlier blog update. Philippine Airlines through its new, low-fares unit PAL Express will be offering daily Manila - Calbayog - Manila flights starting July 15, 2008.

Flights from Manila to Calbayog will depart at the NAIA Terminal 3 at 5:20 am and will arrive in Calbayog at 6:40 am. Calbayog - Manila flights will depart at 7:10 am.

some kinda good news (for air travelers)

"PAL Express", the new, low-fares unit of Philippine Airlines is set to serve Calbayog City starting July 26, 2008.

For other details, please check this link.

The celebrity hound with Tessie Tomas

The celebrity hound struck again. Tessie Tomas was among the relatives who were present during Mrs. Alcantara's birthday which I coordinated last Saturday. I made sure our group had a picture taken with her before we left for Calbayog.

Tessie with me and my PAs Anthony and Bodim

Out of Calbayog City: A birthday in Catbalogan

My group traveled to Catbalogan today. We coordinated the 80th Birthday celebration of Mrs. Bea Maga - Alcantara. It was actually a double birthday celebration, that of Ma'am Bea (February 14) and her husband Al (March). The Thanksgiving Mass was held at the Marian Shrine in Ubanon with Fr. Johnny Planea as celebrant. Luncheon was held at Rolet Hotel where Jude Maga proposed the toast and Tessie Tomas renderded a song.

Here are some pictures I took during the affair:

The birthday celebrator as she delivered her thank you speech.

Mr. Al Alcantara saying thanks to the guests

The hosts as they posed with their celebrity guests / relatives Tessie Tomas and Laura Hermosa