Scene: The researchers conducted
a survey involving students from selected public and private high schools in
Tagbilaran City. Out of 1300 respondents mainly students who regularly ride
tricycles as a means of transportation in going to school, 83% answered that
they have often been charged with fares higher than the mandated tricycle fare,
with respect to the distance of their flag-down location to their school,
meaning, overpricing of fares is a common experience for high school students
in the City. Project Citizen, an international program being implemented in
sixty (60) countries committed to active citizenship, is being implemented by
PCCED, a non-government organization which promotes good citizenship and
participatory democracy through education. The TCSHS group were chaperoned by
Geraldine Doron, TCSHS Araling Panlipunan teacher, and Marina Salamanca,
Education Program Supervisor of the Tagbilaran City Schools Division.
Scene: There were no
international participants in the 2nd Dragon Boat Competition-First Bohol
Challenge. Spotted during the event was Sev Lubigan, a corporate trainer and training
coordinator of the Asian Gaming Academy. He is also a freelance fitness
personal trainer.
Seen: Spotted in Bohol
last week was Kapamilya Star Melissa
Ricks. She visited Bohol Bee Farm, Tarsier Botanika and other beauty spots. She
also went diving in Balicasag Island.
***
Tagbilaran
City, the city of friendship, was unmistakably the top destination over the
weekdays.
 |
| St. Joseph Cathedral |
After
lunch at The Buzz Cafe at Galleria Luisa along Gallares Street, Tagbilaran
City, my nephew Jhelmar Jala and I went to BQ Mall to buy some cranberry juice.
That’s where we watched and took pictures of the first Saulog Festival, a
cultural event in honor of Saint Joseph the Worker, the City’s patron saint, featuring
the contingents and floats (carrying Kapuso
star Angelo Ilagan of Munting Heredera
fame and Ramp Models Association of Bohol or RMAB
models). Highlights include a dance competition among groups from the city’s
different barangays in elaborate costumes, all of them honoring Señor San Jose.
Even under the scorching heat of the sun,
locals and visitors alike, including award-winning Boholano
director Maryo J. delos Reyes (who told me that he has an upcoming movie
“Bamboo Flowers” to be filmed in Anda, Alicia and Maribojoc on May 15-30),
lined up the streets to get a view of what was going on.
 |
| Bool |
It
took the uncommon streetdancing route from the Old City Hall, Gallares Street,
B. Inting Street, CPG Avenue, J.S. Torralba Street, E. Sarmiento Street, then
to the long stretch of J.A. Clarin Street leading to the Tagbilaran City Hall
where the ritual showcase took place. At least,
it was something “new” for the people of Bohol.
The first-ever “Saulog Tagbilaran” was
held under the auspices of the City Government of Tagbilaran
(through the City Council for Culture and Arts) and its partner, the Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph, with the support of the
participating barangays of Bool, Booy, Cabawan, Cogon, Manga, Mansasa,
Poblacion 1, Poblacion II, and Ubujan. Barangay Manga got five of the nine special
awards, followed by Cogon with three and Bool with one.
 |
| Manga |
Cebu’s Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog
Foundation, Inc. executive director, along with Ormoc’s Glenn Aparis, Tubigon’s
Dennis Walton Balbero, Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker’s Msgr.
Jeffrey Malanog and City Planning and Development Coordinator and City Council
for Culture and Arts chair Paterna Ruiz composed the panel of judges.
Our good-friend, the
ever-generous US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal of mikeygatal.com, sponsored
the 40 white-collared T-shirts with prints used by the working committees
during the event. Part
of the streetdancing committee were Fiel Angeli
Araoarao-Gabin, Butch Bernas, Edison
Gumapac, Romel Sapid, Jovenal Edquilag, Antonette Bongalos, William Aranilla
and Monica Boyboy.
 |
| Cogon |
Oh,
what a day when I met some friends— Emerson Pinos, Alexis Cadeliña and Liza
Macalandag — you know it was comforting to see old friends.
After
the dance showdown, we had our pamiesta.
Burp! Burp! (That’s what I like
during the Merry Month of May, everyone is happy.)
Hopefully,
Saulog will continue to become a
well-sustained cultural activity of Tagbilaran, considering that Tagbilaran’s
May 1 fiesta is the opening salvo of the month-long fiesta celebration in
Bohol.
Take
a bow, Maam Pat! Take a bow, Fiel!
***
Lots
of people in Tagbilaran ride bikes for lots of different reasons. It is widely
acknowledged that cycling is one of the best ways for people to achieve good
health and fitness.
It
was Nikki Quintia who convinced me to join them in their rides for, you know,
health reasons.
“Biking
is great for your health, good for the environment and can save you money,” said
Nikki. “It can be done by people of all
ages.”
Cyclists
are a diverse group but Nikki and her hubby Mike are members of the group “Cute
16 Folders” who are using folding bikes, very small bikes that are super cute (Members
are also cuties!).
Folding
bikes come in an increasingly wide variety of shapes, sizes, weights, and
“fold-abilities.” In my visit to Nikki’s home at Airport, she showed me her
collections of folding bikes.
Nikki
explained that folders are efficient, economical, healthy, ecological,
fashionable and fun transportation.
“The
difference between a folding bike and a standard bike is that folders are
easier to transport and store, said Nikki. “The modern folder is lightweight,
versatile and easy to use.”
“Cute
16 Folders” members have nightly rides every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For
short ride, they have the Airport Road to Manga, Airport to Dauis and Airport
to Baclayon. For long ride, they have
the Airport to Cortes, Airport to Panglao and Airport to Loboc.
Last
November 30, 2012 (Bonifacio Day), the Cute 16 Folders held the "1st
Tagbilaran City Folding Bikes Unity Ride” organized by the "Cute 16
Folders" under the leadership of hot couple Nikki and Mike Quintia and
Jake Gregorio.
Folding
bikers from the entire city gathered together for the said event that brought
more friendship and camaraderie.
The
event was participated in by different bike clubs and bike enthusiasts around
the city, unexpectedly it reached to about 100 plus bikers. It was sponsored by
Mikey Gatal (OMG). OMG shirts were worn by the bikers from the starting point
at CPG North Avenue to Baclayon, then a stopped-over in Dauis Bridge where prizes
were drawn and given to the lucky winners, then back to Plaza Rizal for the
finale group picture taking.
Like
“Cute 16 Folders” on Facebook to know more of their events.
***
Thanks
for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
