Upcoming Post on Catbalogan Fiesta 2008

Two days from now I will be in Catbalogan City to attend the Feast of Saint Bartolomew. I promise to write a post about it and hopefully include pictures. That day has a personal significance for me and the hubby as he was born on that day thirty five years ago. He never fails to attend the fiesta mass year in and year out for as long as he's just here and not on official travel. Its his sort of a panata (promise) to the patron saint for many graces received (e.g. ending up with me, hehehe) This time I'll be with him as the day falls on a Sunday and there's no work. So do be back and visit my blog for that post...

Traffic Lights, atbp.

I just made a drive around the city, looking for things new, a pinch to myself and notice to the world that Tacloban is inertia on the run, that stimuli, in the form of economic and political forces, is bringing growth and welcome changes.

First stop is literally that, a traffic stop, as the much-awaited traffic lights are now up and operational in major intersections of the city. For sometime now people had been wondering whether the derailed project would ever be finished as the metal posts stood incomplete without its red, green and yellow lights in the city streets, that is until about two weeks ago. After a delay of almost six years and with all legal kinks ironed out, motorists will now be greeted at the intersections of Real St. and Avenida Veteranos; Real and Independencia Sts.; and J. Romualdez and del Pilar Sts. by these tri-colored computerized director of traffic and pedestrian flow. It has since ensured the smooth stream of traffic with pedestrians and motorists alike most cooperative. I like this a lot, the hubby commenting that now errant drivers no longer rule the streets. After all, who could argue with a red light?


Traffic lights on intersection of Paterno and Justice Sts.

But that is not the only sign of progress for this Waray capital of Eastern Visayas. Just by the outskirts of the city, in Brgy. Marasbaras, men are working round the clock to meet a December deadline in finishing the first ever, true blue and honest to goodness mall in the city. Yes, folks, Robinsons Corp. of the Gokongweis has decided to include the city in its expansion plans and have placed their money where there mouth is by building the gargantuan Robinson’s Mall of Tacloban City. Reports has it that the two-story structure includes a food square, a grocery, stores for tenants and one or two (or is it three?) movie theaters (yippeeee!). The latter is what I’m eagerly awaiting for: fully air-conditioned and as clean as its counterparts in Manila. Now I truly have a place to go to watch all those favorite movies of mine without the usual unwanted companions, the sudlot (bed bugs). If we go by the December timetable, then there’s also the possibility that we will be able to watch the latest of the Harry Potter series which is set for a November playdate this year (Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince) in air-conditioned comfort of the mall!!!.

And what would be better after watching your favorite movie than dropping by the Tacloban City Convention Center to have your pick from a score of dining establishments encircling the auditorium? You have a choice of burgers from “Porbida”; pizza and pasta from “Canto Fresco” and an array of Filipino dishes from “Ramos” place to name just a few. Slowly Taclobanons have discovered this fine dining row judging from the rows of cars lining its parking lots at night. No, smooching inside the cars is not allowed.

Dominoes in the face of "Frank's" fury

After the rain and the winds


Twisted metal that was the Ampitheater

What you are about to see is the aftermath of the battle between Mother Nature and man's attempt at semi-immortality. As always, the latter comes out always the vanquished and never the wiser. Heavy stuff, huh? No, its nothing monumental, its just the Balyu-an Amphitheater in the city falling like a pile of dominoes after Typhoon "Frank" battered across town leaving destruction in its wake. Fortuitous event it was and finger-pointing would not bring the "dominoes" back to its standing position. It would be better if everyone instead came together to help Mayor Alfred in making it serviceable once more.


Balyu-an Ampitheater after Typhoon "Frank"

Indeed, trust the Pinoy's ability to make the most of a bad situation as despite its present state, the city government managed to make minor repairs making it good enough for the venue of the recent Sangyaw Festival.

I dub it the "Leaning Towers" of Balyu-an. And maybe just like its counterpart in Pisa, Italy, it might just become a tourist attraction. (photos courtesy of M.A.)

Newest Restaurant Row (or is it circle) in the City

Don't look now, but mushrooming at the Tacloban Convention Center are new resto's and dining places. One thing going for them is their location: right beside the refreshing waters of the Bay. Their customer base has slowly grown and this blogger and her friends had tried out at least two of these food haunts. The first one we went into is basically a pasta and pizza place (No names here yet, no plugging allowed, for now). We ordered fresh salads and a pasta dish, "blanco______", fettucini with white sauce. The latter was quite scrumptious with its hefty servings of carbonara. But what makes the place stand out is it interiors: beautiful paintings and a creative mural decks it walls. But then, I wouldn't recommend it for dinner, not if your of the voracious kind. Why, because they don't serve rice, perhaps it really is a pasta and pizza place. As for the other resto we went into ( we had to, we still had a grumbling stomach), we had sisig and their house specialty, steamed lapu-lapu (grouper). Service was fine and the staff friendly enough, just one suggestion though, more ice please for your drinks.

We still have to try the others in the Circle but maybe at another time, our tummy have had enough for now.

Tacloban Fiesta 2008

Pintados Kasadyaan, '08-the winning delegation, "Buyogan"
of Abuyog, Leyte



Pintados Kasadyaan 2008

Sangyaw 2008. invited delegations from Makati, Marikina and Bacolod

Sometime more is not always better especially if the increase in number is brought about by a great political divide. So it was that the recent Tacloban City fiesta was celebrated last June with two organizers, two festivals, two main venue and two parades. There was the Sangyaw Festival which was spearheaded by the city government headed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez on one hand and the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals each claiming to be the true and the best. The venue for the former was the Balyu an Tower while that of the latter was the RTR Plaza. Each tried to outshine the other in terms of gimmicks and nightly fanfare. While it could be said that the rivalry was divisive, the result gave the city two occasions to showcase its rich culture. As to which was better, the answer would depend on which political side you were on.

As the pictures show, the Pintados and Sangyaw Festivals indeed have gone a long way from its humble beginnings as the costumes of the diffrent delegations are now more colorful and the dance steps more intricate. Just imagine how much grander it could have been has the celebration been a joint one.