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It was a warm and sunny day when I strolled around the Capitol area of Cebu City. The city was buzzing as the whole province was in anticipation for a celebration dubbed as Cebu’s “Festival of Festivals”. The event would include a competition between contingents from the different municipalities and cities of the province of Cebu vying for the top prizes in Ritual Dancing, Street Dancing, and Festival Queen. This was a showcase of Cebu’s best in one venue dubbed as the “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024”  The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is a gathering of the best festival performers of the province of Cebu. The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo celebration is one of the highlights of the province’s Foundation Day. It aims to bring together the different festivals from the different corners of Cebu in one stage. The goal is to showcase and promote the culture, product, and beauty of the municipality or city to those watching the showcase. This is done in an elaborate presentation of creative storytelling of dance, matched with colorful costumes and huge props. This year’s festival had a total of 51 contingents and brings back the celebration to the streets of Cebu City and the Cebu City Sports Complex. Kwento ng Pasigarbo The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo was the brainchild of the incumbent Governor Gwen Garcia. Launched in 2008, the goal was to bring on one stage the different festivals of the municipalities and cities of Cebu. “Pasigarbo” is rooted from the Cebuano word “garbo” which means pride. The festival highlights the pride of the Cebu’s colorful culture and celebrations of the province of Cebu.  We are ready to witness the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 at the Cebu City Sports Complex. Photo by: IG @zaridads. The first venue of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo was at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City. It was later moved to the Cebu City Sports Complex after the former venue was deemed unsafe from the damages brought by the earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda. In its 9 years of staging, Bantayan’s Palawod Festival and Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival has brought home the top prize for a total of 3 years each. This year brings together a total of 51 contingents on Cebu City’s streets and on the stage of the Cebu City Sports Complex. Pasigarbo Sa Dalan The street dance exhibition started at around 2pm that started along V. Rama snaking its way to the Provincial Capitol to Fuente Osmena down to Osmena Boulevard and finally to the Cebu City Sports Complex. The final stop is the venue for the Ritual Dance Showdown. There are stops along the way where the participants showcase their street dancing to the tune of the theme of the “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo”.
The streetdance ensemble includes the municipality or city’s float, their Festival Queen, the Festival Dancers, and their beautifully-designed carozas honoring their patron saints. The ensembles parades through the city and, at specific points (judging areas, I presume), they engage the audience with their ritual street dance routine. The participants continue the display of creativity and movement rain or shine and throughout the duration of the celebration. The smiles and the sways are all weather and time proof, I must say.
This year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo had the Cebu City contingent leading the front as guest performers. I was only able to catch the performers from Cebu City, Tuburan, San Remigio, and Toledo City at the start of the parade because it started to drizzle. We had to rush to the sports complex from Fuente Osmena which made me miss out on the street dancing of the first batch of the contingents. But I chanced upon the contingents who were still on the parade route at 10.30pm at Fuente Osmena. I was able to catch up with the contingents like Alegria, Cordova, Consolacion, and Minglanilla. The energy and smiles remain high and bright despite having been on the route for close to 10 hours. They were slowly inching their way to the venue but their energy remains high and they were always ready to give the audience a street performance with so much gusto. Pasigarbo sa Entablado The festivities of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 culminates at the Cebu City Sports Complex where a huge stage serves as the main showdown area. This is where the Ritual Dancing Competition are held in front of esteemed judges and hundreds of spectators. The bleachers of the complex are filled to the brim as the entrance is free to the public. The huge stage has one entrance at R. Landon Extension and one exit towards Bacalso Avenue. This allows a smooth flow of contingents from their entrance to their exit. The rules of the competition are strict. Contingents have a minute to ingress their props as their mayor gives them their introduction. Their music plays as soon as the introduction ends, no cues given. As soon as the presentation is done, the team has a full minute to extract EVERYTHING offstage. Failure to follow these rules would mean a deduction and, if you are in luck, a mild scolding from their beloved Governor Gwen.
You might think that it is such an easy task but, when you have a battalion of dancers and a lot of huge props and backdrops to move around, it can be nerve wracking even for us in the audience. But I guess these performers have been trained perfectly as they seem to execute everything flawlessly. Everything seems to work like clockwork. Despite the event being a competition, each contingent all fully aware of the part that they play, cooperates, and understands how they are connected to each other’s performances.
I was totally not prepared that the whole festivities would run until early in the morning. I only had the chance to watch the first batch of 17 municipalities. I must say that I was impressed by how the whole program flowed flawlessly. It was a visual and audio treat for me who enjoys theater and artistic live productions. It was like watching 17 short theater productions with all the works. It was really impressive and amazing. Too bad though that I was not able to watch all 51 contingents. Pasigarbo Talagsaon The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 ended with a high in the wee hours of the next day. Naga City’s Dagitab Festival brought home the top prize when they dazzled the audience with their music and movement highlighted by an amazing light show. Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival brought home the top prize for the Street Dancing Competition. My personal favorites from the batch that I watched was the Tuba Festival of Borbon finished at 7th Place and Toledo’s Hinulwan Festival finished at 9th Place.
On a personal note, Borbon’s Tuba Festival was my biggest winner. The group’s catchy rhythm and creative and fun presentation of work-life balance piqued my interest. Their music, movements, and OG style of performance really brought the house down. It was a performance that really made a mark for being fun and amusing. If the goal was to showcase and promote tourism and culture, Borbon’s performance successfully influenced me to read about the municipality and plan a trip there to explore the place and have a taste of their famed tuba. Borbon can expect me to visit their place after watching them at the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024! POST TRAVEL NOTES I am no longer wondering how Cebu stands unified as one province. With an event like Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, the celebration effectively brings together the province into a friendly competition while enforcing the values of unity, resilience, and the sense of Cebuano pride. The province has effectively preserved and showcased its colorful culture and traditions to Cebuanos and to the world whilst instilling that sense of pride in my minds of the younger generation. Pasigarbo sa Sugbo fires up the creativity of its local talents and the Cebuano pride through world-class performances in one stage.  Isang biskwit and nagdala sa akin sa lugar na ito. San tayo sunod? Local governments play a huge role in promoting tourism in their local communities. They should be opening opportunities for communities and groups to showcase their products, talents, and attractions to a wider audience. The exposure would create interest in the destination that would translate to alternative sustainable livelihood aligned with tourism. Local community fairs and festivities bring new and renewed interests to the destination. Like what I have already said that my biggest take away from the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 is that I will be exploring you soon, Borbon! #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas #CebuSeries Getting there: Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is celebrated during the month of August, during the Founding Anniversary of the province. There are direct flights from major cities in the country and international airports to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the main gateway of the province. From the airport, there are public transports, public taxis, and ride-hailing transport to the city. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Picture this… sitting on the shores of an unadulterated public beach and enjoying its cream-colored sand under your feet. You are breathing in the beauty of the turquoise-colored waters and you are sharing the experience with locals and locals only. You don’t see flocks of tourists, not even a shadow of foreign guests. This is an off-beat destination and it is known only among Cebuanos. This is Tabuelan.  Enjoying a laidback Tabuelan weekend. Tabuelan is the youngest municipality in the province of Cebu. Established in 1953, the town is popular for its community spring pools and its white sand beach spots. It is an off-beat destination so you don’t get the usual touristy fanfare. It makes you experience an OG weekend the way locals do. Join us as we discover the hidden gems of Tabuelan over a weekend. Tabuelan Poblacion It was a three-hour old style of bus travel to the town of Tabuelan. Since the town is relatively off the usual tourist grid, transportation is usually limited to ordinary mini buses that ply the route of Tuburan or San Remigio. This means that going to is relatively easy while going from can be quite a challenge especially if you are coming off from a weekend. Our travel to Tabuelan went unhitched since we left Cebu City early in the morning.  The Tabuelan Public Market is a central point of the town. Tabuelan is a typical rural town that is slow-paced and simple. At the heart of the town is the bustling commercial center, the Tabuelan Public Market. This is where business happens for most of the day. It is the center of trade and transport and commercial buses make a quick stop here. Apart from a nearby 24-hour convenience store, there’s no other trace of modern-day convenience in and around town. Everything that you need, from daily supplies to meals for tourists, is found in the area.  The San Juan Bautista Parish Church with its serene vibe. The San Juan Bautista Parish Church is just a 10-minute walk from the market. Void of the usual Spanish-period structure found in most municipalities of Cebu, the Tabuelan Church stands in the most conspicuous part of town and exudes an air of peace and tranquility. Its belfry stands adjacent to its facade by its mosaic windows. The interior is high-ceiling and spacious with its simplicity. Angels line the pillars of the church that helps highlight its gold-lined retablo. Just a short ride away from the poblacion, one can find the Tabuelan Municipal Hall. The government center is tucked along the hillside of the town. The compound houses government offices and the town’s gymnasium which serves the town’s center for its activities. The hall, together with the town’s version of its Rizal Park, stands overlooking the poblacion. From this vantage point, you get a quick glimpse of its coastal areas and the poblacion. Tabuelan Municipal Plaza At the heart of the poblacion is the Tabuelan Municipal Plaza. The plaza is a sprawling park that lies along the town’s riverside. The plaza is complete with a bandstand and a playground making it an ideal place to enjoy watching the day pass by in Tabuelan. Just right across the plaza is the Tabuelan sign with the mangrove cover as its backdrop. I have read that there is a boat cruise activity that tourist can try that will tour you along the river that snakes through the town. Unfortunately, we were not able to catch it when we visited Tabuelan and I am not sure whether it is ceased operations.
At the heart of the plaza is a statue of one of the prominent figures of Tabuelan - Casiano Gerona. He is referred to as “Titi Casi” and served as a public servant for Tabuelan. He is the man responsible for the developement of Tabuelan from a sleepy rural town to a bustling center for commerce. The town honors this man with a monument erected at the plaza. Tabuelan Wharf Did you know that Tabuelan has a municipal port that connects it to Negros? It was Titi Casi who spearheaded the construction of the wharf that connected Tabuelan to Escalante. The port is located close to river’s mouth and it is about a 20-minute walk from the town’s public market. The opening of the wharf significantly improved commerce in the area with supply trucks plying the route. There is even a bus line that connects Cebu and Bacolod that ply this route.  The Tabuelan Wharf connects the province of Cebu and the town to the island of Negros. The wharf was busy when we visited the port. We came at a time where a RORO just offloaded their cargo from Negros and was about to load their cargo trucks to Negros. Since boat trips are limited, the wharf is not as busy as other ports. I had the chance to walk around the port and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the place. The view of the river meeting the sea was very relaxingly beautiful. Liki Spring Community spring pools are regular spots in Cebu, and Tabuelan has its own collection to show off. These freshwater pools are not the usual tourist attractions as it caters more to the community’s water needs. It is part of the locals’ daily lives and, for us urban pips, an attraction that really amazes us.
Liki Spring is one of the many spring pools in Tabuelan. Located along the hills of the town, the pool was developed to harvest fresh water for the community’s water needs in irrigation, household, and even potable drinking water. Liki Spring is a relaxing place to visit because the pool is surrounded by greens. Its clear waters offer a refreshing cold dip after we explored the town. It is a shallow pool and its depth varies through the day depending on the tide. On a usual day, you find locals washing their laundry or kids enjoying a quick dip in its cold waters. Gumbang Spring Among the three pool springs that we visited, Gumbang Spring was the busiest. The spring pool is small and is located along the highway going to the poblacion. It was developed into a concrete pool and its waters flow downstream to a stream that runs alongside the highway. It was a busy day when we arrived at the pools. The locals were probably surprised with our arrival in the middle of their usual Sunday chores. Mothers were doing their laundry and the kids were taking their usual baths. Concrete steps lead down to the pool and a concrete pool was also developed as a catch basin of its flowing fresh water. Who would have thought that there was a spring pool attraction right along the highway. Cantacoyang Spring Cantacoyang Spring is the most popular spring pool attraction in Tabuelan. Located just a few meters from the highway, you would have to take a quick walk through a trail to a concrete dam structure that collects freshwater into a pool before it drains out to a stream. Just like the two other spring pools, Cantocayang serves the fresh water needs of its surrounding communities. Do not be surprised to find locals enjoying its cold waters especially on a hot day.  The Cantacoyang Spring is the most beautiful and dramatic fresh pool spring spot in Tabuelan. What makes Cantocayang Spring different is it its picturesque downstream flow. As freshwater flows out of the pool. It makes its way down into a stream disappearing into its thick palm tree covers. This spot is a perfect spot for an IG-worthy picture. It gives the spring pool a dramatic view as you enjoy the cold waters of Cantocayang Spring. Maravilla Public Beach Located about 20 minutes from the Poblacion, Maravilla Public Beach is the most popular beach spot in Tabuelan. This is where you will find most local tourists enjoying the sun, sand, and sea on this side of Cebu. Unlike other popular destinations north of the province, Tabuelan is not a spot that foreigners often visit so you get to enjoy Maravilla Beach the way locals do and it does not come with a hefty budget. This is the real deal Cebuano kind of weekend beach spot.  Maravilla Beach is the most popular beach spot here in Tabuelan. The white sand shoreline is lined with private resorts but there is a public beach that you can visit that requires no entrance fees. There are beach tables and huts that you can rent if you intend to stay longer. We rented out a beach table before we checked out what we can get for lunch. We got a whole grilled chicken, puso, and 3 packs of steamed scallops. The scallops were a good deal for a hundred with around 15 pieces per pack. We ate in style using our hands as we enjoyed the view and the breeze.
Maravilla Beach exudes that OG beach vibe. You get to enjoy just chilling down and enjoying the beach without the usual touristy vibe. You get an occasional vendor coming through but they are not as pushy with their trade and the prices are not touristy. I enjoyed cooling down in the waters of the beach like the way I used to when I was younger. You get to enjoy the humdrum of a Sunday beach day the way local Cebuanos do. You simply just keep chilling the day until it is time to go home. Cansimon Bai Beach resorts line the coastal stretch of Tabuelan. These resorts cater to different kinds of tourists from the lavish spenders to budget-conscious travelers. In our case, we opted for a cheaper and a more laidback weekend accommodation at Carmeling’s Place in Barangay Olivo. It turned out to be a good decision as we got to enjoy the laidback vibe of the resort all to ourselves.  I have found a personal beach spot in Cansimon Point. Cansimon Bai is one of the beach spots that sit along the coast of Tabuelan. The beach is more laidback and, since it is relatively unknown, only guests of nearby resorts and locals get to enjoy the laidback and tranquil vibe of the beach. You get to enjoy the spot with its combination of white sand, rock formations, and mangrove covers. The northern side of the beach is home to a thriving mangrove forest where you can capture dramatic images of mangrove tree formations. This is also the spot where locals enjoy the beach here in Olivo.
Cansimon Bai is a pretty laidback beach spot. We enjoyed the unadulterated beach vibe of the place. It was untouched and was not crowded. It is one of the local’s best kept secret in Tabuelan. We enjoyed sipping on our fresh buko juice, sourced by one of locals, while enjoying the tranquil vibe of the beach. This was a perfect way to end a weekend in Tabuelan - away from the crowd, with just us and nature. POST TRAVEL NOTES Tabuelan was a great destination find. This off-beat spot, north of Cebu, gave us a perfect weekend escape from our usual urban hussle. It slowed us down, made use appreciate and commune with nature, and recharged us. It was a destination that unexpectedly gave us a perfect weekend that we enjoyed the time we spent there. It is THE destination that is perfect to unwind and recharge. I have found a weekend escape destination in Tabuelan.  Eeeeyyyyy to our next adventure! Exploring offbeat destinations often leads us to discovering a new and exciting spot that is not on the usual tourism trail. We are able to explore and enjoy the place in its unadulterated state, long before mainstream tourism gets its hand on it. We get to see its raw beauty and enjoy its local vibe before commercialism sets in. This is a great position because we can share the raw experience for others to start exploring and opening new opportunities for its locals and its community. Check out our Tabuelan Youtube Travel Video here:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas #CebuSeries Getting there: Major airlines have direct flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from local and international airport hubs. You can take a cab, a Grab car, or the Airport-SM City Cebu Bus to get to the North Bus Terminal from the airport. You can then take a bus to Tuburan via Tabuelan and ask the driver to drop you off at the Tabuelan Public Market. To get around Tabuelan, you can contact our Trike driver/guide Kuya Andrew at (0965) 499 3072. Make sure that you make an arrangement for your pick-up at the public market prior to your arrival. I highly recommend Carmeling’s Place for their rustic and serene accommodations near Cansimon Point. You can reach them at (0920) 4859646 or through their FB page: FB Page: Carmeling's Place Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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