Top Ten Attractions in Cebu City

Per TripAdvisor, here are the Top Ten Attractions in Cebu City, Philippines:
tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298460-Activities-Cebu_City_Cebu_Visayas.html

1. Santo Nino Basilica
2. Yap Sandiego Ancestral Home
3. Sky Adventure at Crown Regency Cebu
4. 1730 Jesuit House'
5. Bugoy Bikers
6. Ayala Center Cebu Cinemas
7. Tops
8. Museo Sugbo
9. Taoist Temple
10. Mountain View Nature's Park

Photo taken in the Yap Sandiego House

Cleaning up the Rivers of Cebu can be Done - by Cecilia Brainard

 

Cleaning up the rivers of Cebu can be done

By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard 

 Published in

 (The Freeman) | Updated December 17, 2012

and PhilStar.com

>

CEBU, Philippines - Whenever I travel, I pay close attention to the condition of the rivers and lakes of the places I visit. This obsession stems from the fact that the rivers in Cebu have become polluted and silted as to become lifeless. It is not just the cosmetic aspect of dirty creeks and foul smell that concerns me. It is the realization that unhealthy rivers and creeks destroy our environment. Rivers and creeks are like arteries of life and when these arteries are destroyed, life in general is threatened. I put it this way: the garbage you dump in rivers, end up in the sea, and the fish eat the garbage, and we in turn eat the fish, so indirectly what you throw in the river ends up in our bodies.

Lamentations 1:20 - Children are Put to the Sword

Lamentations 1:20:

See, O Lord, for I am in trouble; the inmost parts of my body are deeply moved; my heart is turned in me; for I have been uncontrolled: outside the children are put to the sword, and in the house there is death.

Cat and Christmas Decoration

"I

"I Promise not to Touch it!"
Cat and Christmas Decoration - (I didn't take this photo but it reminds me of my cats and their obssession with the Christmas tree.)

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland - photo by Cecilia Brainard

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland - photo by Cecilia Brainard

I was flabbergasted when I saw these rock formations; they are very regular as to look man made, but they are all natural. Here is the writeup in Wikipedia about it:

"The Giant's Causeway (known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish^[1] and tha Giant's Causey in Ulster-Scots)^[2] is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a National Nature Reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant's Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom.^[3] The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres thick in places.
The Giant's Causeway is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.^[4]"

Photo taken in India by Cecilia Brainard

Photo taken in India by Cecilia Brainard

Cat Caught in the Act! - photos by Cecilia Brainard

Cat Caught in the Act

1. The Tree
2. The Cat
3. The Tail-less Bird Ornament

Real Christmas Tree Versus How my Cats See our Christmas Tree

Real Christmas Tree Versus How my Cats See our Christmas Tree

Cat and Christmas Tree - photo by Cecilia Brainard

Cat and Christmas Tree:
My cat is waiting for me to go away so he can go after the ornaments on my Christmas Tree! Note "bribe" toys near cat. ~ Cecilia Brainard

How do you Clean River Water?

 Cebu, Philippines - are you listening?

HOW DO YOU CLEAN RIVER WATER?

Answers.com's reply:

"River water can be cleansed mainly by stopping factory and municipal garbage and disposals from entering into rivers. Bathing at river ghats,idol immersions,washing cloths should be strictly prohibited in rivers. Above all, public consciousness has to be created through seminars,meetings, leaflets about the importance of keeping river water clean."


~~
Photo of US River by Cecilia Brainard

Good night! ~ photo taken in India by Cecilia Brainard

Psalms 32:7 ~ “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall compass me about with songs of deliverance.” ~ photo taken in India by Cecilia Brainard

LIFE OF PI Movie - Thumbs Up!

 Life of Pi - Thumbs Up!

I saw the movie, LIFE OF PI, and liked it. I'm going to read this novel by Yan Martell. My guess is that the book will be richer; but there was enough in the movie to have won me over. Photography is superb; and I love the tweaking of the storytelling. Warning, if you're a linear sort of person, you may not enjoy the movie that much.

Cat Kisses Dolphin plus 2 more Cat pictures

 The following video shows a cat kissing a dolphin - it is very touching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itW2EPXxHDU

And here are two cat posters

WORLD AIDS DAY - DECEMBER 1, "Be the Cure" by Wanggo Gallaga

This article is by Wanggo Gallaga, a young man I know. To be more accurate, I knew his parents, who come from powerful families in Southern Philippines.  At the age of 29, Wanggo was diagnozed as HIV Positive. With his family's blessings, he revealed his condition publicly and is a spokesperson for AIDs education. "You are the Cure," he says.  Please read his article:

http://wanggo.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/be-the-cure/

be the cure

December 1, 2012

It’s World AIDS Day.
As of October 2012, the Philippines have recorded 11,125 cases of HIV. They say it isn’t a lot, not as much as other countries, but since the number is growing steadily, over 200 new cases every month in the year 2012 alone, the situation is dire. The situation is frightening.

What are we doing to stop this? The government, NGOs, social civic groups, advocates are doing their best to engage the public and let them know that the threat is real and it is here and we are all vulnerable to the virus. Our only weapon is information. Our only defense is to take care of ourselves.

I’ve been diagnosed with HIV in 2008. That day, I died. On December 1, 2008, I went public with my HIV status, with the help of the amazing Niccolo Cosme, and became an advocate for HIV awareness and prevention. Figuratively, that was my second birthday — my resurrection, if you will — and I was alive again.

Four years down that road, I’ve tried to lead by example. I preached about taking the test, being safe, being smart, caring for one another, caring for yourself. And while more people have been taking the test, through consequence of my actions or not, more people are getting infected everyday.

Four years down the road, I’ve come to the conclusion that we can spread the word and tell you to be safe but if you don’t do it, you won’t be spared. You will always be vulnerable. We can’t protect you. We can tell you how to be safe but we can’t protect you from being infected. It’s all on you.

I throw the challenge, now, to you.

The information is out there. If you can read this, then you have access to the Internet and all you have to do is Google “HIV facts.” Hell, even Wikipedia has enough information that you need to take in. And then, be like every educated person and apply what you know. APPLY WHAT YOU KNOW. Knowing is not enough. You’ve got to make changes.

And then spread the information. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell the people at work. Tell people about it. Start the conversation. Ignorance is the killer. HIV just seals the deal.

Not just for the Philippines — for the whole world

We — the government, the NGOs, the civic groups, the advocates — we can’t tell everybody individually. We don’t know the best way to talk to your friends and your family. We don’t know what tone to take and what language to speak that they will understand. We can only talk in broad strokes and the problem with that is that not all will hear or will want to hear. We don’t know how to talk to everybody individually.
But you do. No one can talk to your friends and your family the way you can.

When I was diagnosed with HIV and I told my friends and family, they all started to become more aware. I would like to think that those at risk took the test and began to take proper precautions.

We can’t save the world. We can’t save you. As much as we want to, we can’t. But you can save yourself. You can save yourself and the ones around you. And if everyone — everyone in the world — just saved themselves and the ones they love, then we stand a chance.

We stand a chance.

I believe in an AIDS free generation. I believe in a world where we care for ourselves and for each other.

Be the cure. You are the cure.

This can end. This can end now.

Be the cure.

2nd Brainard Literary Reading or Christmas Party

 

2ND BRAINARD LITERARY READING/CHRISTMAS PARTY

I couldn't take pictures of all those who participated in the 2nd Brainard Literary Reading A.K.A. Brainard Christmas Party held last Sunday, December 2, 2012 -- but here are some.

We had a literary reading before dinner. I started this tradition last year because I noticed that during parties at home, guests would come, eat, and leave; or come, eat, watch a game and leave. Now they have to read for their supper.

Those who read were: Michael Buckley (author of miniature men); Eve La Salle Caram (author Trio, A Corpus Christi Trilogy); Michael Genelin (author Requiem for a Gypsy); Paulino Lim, Jr. (author Requiem for a Rebel Priest); Douglas Noble (journalist, retired from Atty. General's Office of California); Pat Rice (criminal lawyer); Hilary Walling (journalist). I read from my third short story collection, Vigan and Other Stories. Kim Holmquist, (stage name Carolyn Kimball) closed the program with an a cappella performance of Oh Holy Night - thank you Kim, you put us all in the Christmas mood.

The personal essays by Hilary and Pat were particularly touching.Hilary wrote about their family's red table and all the personal history tied up with it (from the point of view of the table). Pat wrote about a memorable Christmas Eve at her family's ranch when Santa crash-landed on top of a trailer - or so the children believed. Doug Noble had us laughing as he shared his published travel article about a 34-hour bus trip in Peru. 

The relatives of the readers were there: Mike Buckley's parents Lyn and Sue and his three-year old little girl, Audrey (we limited her to just two cockails). Mike Genelin's partner Loretta; Pat Rice's husband Vern Putnam, Paulino Lim's wife Barbara who brought her famous leche flan (This vanished in record time!) My husband, Lauren Brainard, was emcee- thank you, Lauren; you were funny. My sons were even there - Alex with Juana Campos. Andrew with Swapna Pawar, Andrew's writer friend, Blake was also present - next year Blake, join us.

Guests included: Richard Bakke, Myrna Horton who drove from Arizona for the event, my college chum, Bingbing Ponce de Leon with her accomplished and beautiful daughter Angela. There were long-time friends, Linda and Mike Ross, Diane and Jarlath Oley, Elizabeth and John Allen, Richard Bakke, Linda Venis and husband Gary, Linda Marsa and husband Bill, Akemi Kikumura and husband Gary, Carol and John Devries.

The reading was followed by dinner; I made my famous Beef Bourguignon with my secret ingredient that even French people can't identify (I'm not telling).

Altogether a great combination: literature, good company, food and drink - Happy Holidays to all!

~~
Photos from top to bottom:
1. Mike Buckley
2. Eve La Salle Caram
3. Michael Genelin
4. Paulino Lim
5. Doug Noble
6. Pat Rice
7. Hilary Walling
8. seated l-r: Eve Caram, Linda Venis, Swapna Pawar, Mike Buckley, and Doug Noble in the back row, far right;
9-10. guests with Kim Holmquist at the far right
11. Myrna Horton and Doug Noble
12. Doug Noble, Cecilia and Lauren Brainard
13. Cecilia and Bingbing Ponce de Leon
14. Bottom picture shows Richard Bakke and Kim Holmquist in Burma last April. I'm including this because I wasn't able to take a picture of Kim when she sang Oh Holy Night!
~~~

Violence Against Women Martyrs - Stang, Gorrosteita, and Malala

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN MARTYRS
by Cecilia Brainard

I'm thinking of some of the women who have been killed for defending what they believed was right.

Sister Dorothy Stang, an American nun, was murdered in Anapu, in Brazil, for her efforts in protecting the poor and the environment. She had received death threats from loggers and land owners, and was gunned down on February 12, 2005.  There is a documentary, They Killed Sister Dorothy, about her death and her brother's efforts to find justice. Unfortunately the rancher suspected of ordering the killing, even though convicted in 2010 and sentenced to 30 years in prison, was granted a Habeas Corpus by the Brazilian Supreme Court and freed in 2012.

For more information, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Stang 

A few days ago, Mexican Mayor Dr. Maria Santos Gorrostieta became still another victim of the Mexican drug cartel.  She had survived two assassination attempts, but the third attack left her beaten, burned, tortured and dumped by a roadside. She had been driving her child to school at 8:30 in the morning when she was ambushed in the city of Morelia. In front of witnesses, she was physically assaulted; she had begged for her child to be spared; they took her away, leaving the child wailing. This happened on November 12, 2012.

For more information, click here:
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/11/28/mexican_cartels_violently_beat_and_kill_female_mayor


There are many other instances of violence against women who have stood up to what they believe is right, including the young Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafrai, who was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban, simply because Malala spoke up for women's education. She survived and is recovering in London with her parents.

For more information, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai

When will this violence end?

ROOTS - Pictures of my Mother and More

I found some sites with pictures of my mother, Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra:


1) Carnival Queens site, including Concepcion Cuenco - scroll down:
http://manilacarnivals.blogspot.com/2010/05/115cebu-carnival-queens-1914-1931-part.html

2) Southeast Asia Digital Library (Northern Illinois University Libraries - Southeast Asia Digital Library (http://sea.lib.niu.edu)- Jose Ma. Cuenco and Family, the girl seated on the far right is Concepcion Cuenco; the woman seated, second from left is Filomena Alesna Cuenco (my grandmother; Concepcion's mother)

3) PALH's Mariano Cuenco Website
http://www.palhbooks.com/cuenco.htm

The little girl on the left, holding a doll and leaning against an older woman is Concepcion Cuenco, my mother. The woman standing behind her (left) is Filomena Alesna (my grandmother); the older woman seated left is Juana Lopez (my great-great grandmother), and the woman seated right is Remedios Diosomito Lopez Cuenco (my great-grandmother).

tags: Cebu, Philippines, Mariano Cuento, Jose Ma. Cuenco, Concepcion Cuenco, Cecilia Brainard

What kind of bees are these? - photos by Cecilia Brainard

BEES? - In Zion National Park, Utah, we saw these pollinators. Are they bees?  they don't look like your regular honey or bumble bees; they're bigger than regular bees and their bodies are flat.  They were buzzing all over the place.

Here's a list of bees that I found in the internet; the ones in the pictures come from Utah.
Bees

• Alkali Bee - Sweat Bee - - (Nomia melanderi) - black and yellow bee on Rocky Mtn. Bee Plant, Ant. Island
• Bumble Bee "Mountain Bumble Bee" - (Bombus appositus) - in the hills above Strawberry Res., Wasatch Cnty. UT
  
• Bumble Bee - (Bombus - species unknown) - at the Jordanelle Wetlands
• Bumble Bee "Golden Northern Bumble Bee"  - (Bombus ~) - in Southern Utah, photographer Dori Williams
  
• Bumble Bee - (Bombus huntii ) - yellow bumble bee with orange at the Jordanelle Wetlands
• Bumble Bee - (Bombus centralis) - yellow, black and orange bee at the Jordanelle Wetlands
  
• Bumble Bee - (Bombus morrisoni) - mostly yellow bumble bee with black markings
• Bumble Bee "Sonoran Bumble Bee" - (Bombus sonorus) -  at Tonaquint Nature Park in St. George, UT
• Cellophane Bee - (Colletes) - on Antelope Island
• Cuckoo Bee - (Nomadinae) -  black and yellow wasp-like bee at Pineview Reservoir
  
• Cuckoo Bee - (Epeolus) - gray and black striped bee on Antelope Island
• Cuckoo Bee - (genus Nomada) - orange parasitic bee at the Jordanelle wetlands
• Digger Bee with Oil Beetle larvae - at Strawberry Reservoir
  
• Digger Bee   - (Diadasia enavata ) - gorgeous large brown bee at Promontory Point
• Digger Bee - (Anthophora urbana ) - hairy little bee on Antelope Island
• Honey Bee - (Apis mellifera) - golden honey bees in Utah
• Leaf-cutting Bees
  
• Leaf-cutting Bee - (Megachile parallela ) - small cute bee at Red Butte Gardens, SLC, UT
• Leaf-cutting Bee -(subgenus Megachile) - hairy-faced bee at Pineview Reservoir
  
• Leaf-cutting Bee - (Megachile inermis) - black and white bee with a big head in Wasatch County
• Leaf-cutting Bee " Wool Carder Bee " - (Anthidium manicatum) - male and female in Red Butte Gardens
• Leaf-cutting Bee Nests - plugs found in nesting tubes
  
• Long-horned Bee - (Eucerini) - bee on Antelope Island, Davis County, UT
• Mason Bee - genus Osmia - blue-black, stocky bee with a gold diamond on its forehead - Red Butte Gardens, SLC
  
• Metallic Green Bee - (genus Agapostemon) - four photos at Taylorsville, Bear River and Antelope Island
• Mining Bees
  
• Mining Bee - (genus Andrena) - furry cool-weather pollinators on Antelope Island
  
• Mining Bee - (Andrena prunorum) - hairy yellow and black bee on Antelope Island
• Mining Bee - (Andrena pronorum) - small colorful bee with long slender wings on Ant. Island
• Mining Bee - (Andrena transnigra) - attractive solitary bee sporting a boa in Brighton, Utah
  
• Resin Bee - (Dianthidium) - 2 photos of resin bees and a pebble nest
• 
  
• Sweat Bees
  
• Sweat Bee - Dieunomia nevadensis arizonensis - oranged and black bee on Antelope Island
  
• Sweat Bee - (subgenus Halictus sensu lato) - small striped black bee at Red Butte Gardens
• Sweat Bee - 3 photos - two of Halictus ligatus and one of Lasioglossum
  
• Sweat Bee - possibly Lasioglossum zephyrum - tiny ant-like bee in Taylorsville, Utah
• Sweat Bee - Alkali Bee - (Nomia melanderi) - black and yellow bee on Rocky Mtn. Bee Plant, Ant. Island

 - photos by Cecilia Brainard  

It's all up to you - Jane Goodall quote

You get to choose: do you want to use your life to try to make the world a better place for humans and animals and the environment? Or not?" It's all up to you. ~Jane Goodall

Antique postcards of Cebu's Creeks - Save Cebu's Rivers!

I'm still thinking of the sad condition of Cebu's creeks now. Save Cebu's Rivers!

Here are old postcards with images of Cebu's creeks, courtesy of Dr. Linda Alburo. The notes re the postcards (courtesy of Dr. Linda Alburo) indicate these creeks/esteros/canals already smelled foul, but they didn't have the sea of debris that one can see now.

Top photo #1 - from a postcard dated May 26, 

1911, with the ff. note: "This canal is a beastly, filthy mud gutter, though you 

would never think it from the picture." There's a pencilled note at the back as 

well that the librarian may have written: "prob. estero de Parian in Tinago." On 

the photo itself you can read: "Canal, Cebu, P.I. 

Middle photo #2 - no note at the back, but 

on the right lower corner you can read "Tres de Abril St., Cebu." 

Bottom photo #3 - from a postcard without date or notes, but on the photo itself, upper left of center 

you can read: "Old Spanish Bridge, Cebu, P.I." This may be Zulueta bridge near 

Parian

Dirty Rivers in Cebu Equals Dirty Sea - Save Cebu's Rivers!

Another blog article by Jing Lavilles de Egurrola, this one about the filth being disgorged by Cebu Rivers into the open sea. Hello Cebu - are you listening. Save Our Rivers!


http://pinoyapache.blogspot.com/2007/11/murky-future-for-mactan-channel.html

River in Ireland, photo by Cecilia Brainard

River in Ireland, photo by Cecilia Brainard

Save the Rivers in Cebu and the rest of the Philippines!

Cleanup Seven Rivers. Creeks, Esteros in Central Visayas, Philippines

 I was happy to read the following article. I wish they'd clean up the creeks in downtown Cebu, in the tourist belt area.

8 firms sign pact with DENR to clean rivers, creeks, esteros

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/FPL (The Freeman) | Updated November 23, 2012 - 12:00am

CEBU, Philippines - Eight private companies and corporations recently signed a memorandum of agreement to cleanup seven rivers, creeks and esteros in Central Visayas in support of the “adopt-an estero or  waterbody” program of the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources-7.

  Isabelo R. Montejo, DENR-7 executive director, said that with the support of the private sector, DENR intends to institutionalize proper waste management practices such as waste minimization and resource recovery among  the estero communities.

  The new collaborators that signed the partnership are Aquilini Mactan Renewable Energy Inc., Atlas Fertilizer Corporation, Carmen Copper Corporation, Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Inc., Global Business Power, San Miguel Brewery Inc., Monde Nissin Corporation  and the Cebu Industrial Park Developer Inc.
  Among the rivers and creeks that are up for restoration and rehabilitation are Butuanon, Tipolo, Buanoy, Arpili, Sapangdaku, Cantabaco Bay, and Luray.

 The Linis Estero program of the DENR aims to mobilize adjacent communities and industries to stop illegal dumping of wastes. It also hopes to maintain proper sanitation to minimize threats to public health and safety.
 Montejo also encouraged the public to participate and to take part in cleaning up their nearby river, canal or esteros, in collaboration with their local government officials and partner stakeholders to maintain a clean and pollution free water bodies in the region.

  With the reported flooding during heavy rains in some urban areas, Montejo added these organizations together with the communities themselves could initiate declogging of trash and other litters on our waterways to ensure unimpeded flow of water and reduce pollution loading to the rivers.

  As of November 21 this year, the list of partners or adoptors moved up to 22 or an increase of  22 percent of this year’s target of 18. (FREEMAN)

Blog articles re Lahug Creek in Cebu and Pasig River - Save Our Rivers, Philippines!

 As part of my Save the Rivers in the Philippines efforts, I'm sharing these articles:  

More on Rivers, 

here's a blog article by Jing Lavilles de Egurrola about the Lahug Creek in Cebu - 
http://pinoyapache.blogspot.com/2009/11/lahug-creek.html


And here's an article on the Pasig River by Prosy Delacruz

http://balikbayanmag.com/regina-lopez-social-impact-environmentalist-for-pasig-rivers-revival/

I love Wedgwood China and Sterling Flatware

I love Wedgwood China and Sterling Flatware!

Copenhagen, Denmark, photo by Cecilia Brainard

I'm posting a picture of Copenhagen, Denmark, to show that urban rivers should be kept clean and healthy. Hello Cebu and the rest of the Philippines, Save Our Rivers! ~ Cecilia Brainard

Nile River, photos by Cecilia Brainard

I took these pictures of the Nile River, Egypt. In general the Nile was clean, although there were parts that were dirty. Ancient Egyptian texts show how the deceased must deny polluting or damming the Nile. (In other words, to pollute or dam the Nile were sins.)

Cebu, and the rest of the Philippines - are you listening?  Save Our Rivers!
~Cecilia Brainard