Djoanna: My Friend Since Grade One

Djoanna and husband Omar

Djoanna, or "Dj", and I met last November 10 --- Dj's birthday, after almost 8 years of not having seen each other. She brought a new addition to her life that day, Hadjemir, her two-year old son!

I told her I wasn't used to seeing her look a bit plumper than before, the real proof of her motherhood. We really had a lot of some catching up to do that day as we talked over lunch and the whole afternoon before I headed for the airport at past 5 pm. But with Hadj around, we couldn't enjoy talking as we used to because her two-year old son, being a toddler, needed to be looked after while eating --- we had to distract him with the balloon and hat the food crew gave Dj while we were taking dessert! I was so glad that the manager of the restaurant where we ate agreed to my request to make my friend's birthday extra special. The prize was vanilla ice cream! Plus, around 7 of the food crew sang a happy birthday song for her --- twice! Dj was moved and was so happy, it seemed like we were in elementary again. We capped the day spending a lot of time in Book Sale, where we bought kiddie books for her son. Dj was a bookworm back in elementary. She was the one who introduced me to the world of reading. One thing I observed in her was that motherhood has really changed her. She prioritizes her son's needs now and foregoes what she wants.

Djoanna and I were classmates at Sta. Isabel College from Grades 1-4 , if I remember correctly. She was in a different section from Grades 5-6. She moved to St. Scholastica's College in high school and became a well-known debater. We continued writing each other, and since we both love to write, keeping up regular written correspondence was not a difficulty. I managed to visit her at St. Scholastica's during their foundation day, and she would also pay me a visit at Sta. Isabel occasionally, usually during our Intramurals or some days before Christmas break.

We met again in UP Manila in college, at the university lobby where the list of those who passed the UPCAT was posted. My mother saw her and her mother looking at the postings. We were both ecstatic! She was supposed to study Dentistry but ended up taking Development Studies. We found ourselves in the same college, and in the same youth activist organization, UP Kamalayan, where we would have regular meetings and rallies at Mendiola and in front of the Batasan. I stopped attending Kamalayan's activities when I formed part of the Executive Committee of the UP Organizational Communication Society (ORCOMSOC). I also got involved writing for the Manila Collegian while Dj continued on with Kamalayan and another student political group, plus her own Development Studies organization. Up to now, Dj is affiliated with a non-government organization helping Rural Development workers and farmers in the country.

I am very grateful that we met again after so many years of attempts to meet each time I was in Manila. She lives in Cavite and maintains a house in Mandaluyong where her office is accessible. She got married in 2006. Since my stay in Tanglaw University after college, she makes it a point to visit the centers where I live in, except when I moved here in the Visayas. But who knows, she tells me, if there are no more aftershocks here in Cebu, she might pay me a visit with her entire family!

It takes a lot of hard work to keep up with friendships with those you knew since elementary. I don't know what the real staying power of our friendship is, which has now been tested by time and distance. All I know is that our lives had to cross paths somehow, someway, so we can both be enriched by each other's lives.

Central Visayas Will Rise Again

Going to Bohol over the weekend last October 26th is now one of the most memorable outreach missions I have ever joined. It was far different from the places I had been to lend time and effort with a group of people I still barely know, having been here in Cebu for just seven months. It was different because Cebu City is also in the same sad circumstance of having to get back on its feet again after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Central Visayas almost three weeks ago. But seeing Bohol and the extent of the devastation there is more overwhelming. I would say that the Boholanos really need more help than the Cebuanos.

We were fortunate to coincide with a group of doctors and nurses affiliated with the University of the Philippines-Cebu and with a group of Philippine marines who acted as our heavily-armed guards on our way to Tubigon, the port where we docked.  We took the 11:45 am cargo ship and arrived in Bohol at 3:30 pm. From the port, we had to drop some supplies for the families of some of the members of Opus Dei who were much affected by the quake. Most of these families are now living in tents just outside their concrete houses, spread out in the
farms and other open spaces near their residences. From Tubigon, a van brought us to Danao where we met the mayor, Hon. Naty Gonzaga. We arrived there a little before 6:00 pm . Our driver and his helper brought down more than 30 sacks of goods that contained rice, mineral water, toiletries, canned goods, milk and more. We also brought sheets of thick waterproof tents for those families who are still sleeping outside their homes. It was good to see so many army trucks filled with relief goods on the way to Danao. Amidst the sorry state of the two churches we passed by which have become literally 'hollow' churches since nothing was left inside i.e.  it's just the facade that remained, one will just be grateful to God for the generosity of our people which we have seen for ourselves. Of course, seeing several chocolate hills along the main road was in itself a treat for us!


We left Danao at past 9:00 pm after spending dinner with the mayor. All twelve of us, 3 college students, 7 young professionals and 2 of us from the study center, arrived in Tubigon at around 10:30 pm and boarded the ship back to Cebu. Staying overnight in the boat was another memorable experience since you will not be able to get some sleep. For one, we were just seated the whole time, and the sea air was just too cold, we were shivering. This is because we weren't prepared to leave Bohol at midnight and spend the night traveling.

We were just so relieved to be back here in Cebu at 4:00 am  to get a good day's sleep and rest the whole Sunday of October 27. And really glad to support our fellow Filipinos in times when they needed it the most.

Special thanks to all our friends in Manila and abroad who have sent their donations over to help Bohol. As the new Central Visayas social media movement has said it succinctly, we are bent to rise again, "Bangon Visayas! Bangon SugBohol!"

Note: Cebu's old name is Sugbu, thus the syllable "sug" in the name "SugBohol" of the social media group. For pictures of ongoing relief operations in Cebu and Bohol, please visit  https://www.facebook.com/BangonSugBohol.

There Is No Other Way to Go But Forward

Being new in this esteemed unit of the University of the Philippines System is no joke. For one, I know that challenges are waiting for me to surmount, given that I have long been out of the academic loop for more than ten years now. But what made the difference in pursuing my graduate studies through the Master in Development Communication Program  of the University of the Philippines’ Open University (UPOU) --- and what, I can say, was extremely unique with this online learning academic experience, was to see a very supportive set of faculty and current UPOU students. For this, I will always be grateful.

It would be easy to relate and enumerate here all the things I have learned from my personal Development Communication experience --- from learning the definition of development, understanding the underdevelopment problematique, immersing myself with our societal problems, being familiar with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), knowing what memes are and its inherent power to influence and reach the various audiences we have, reviewing various communication models, concepts and approaches to knowing the definition of development communication, synthesizing development communication and related policies for its advancement, learning the ropes on how to become an effective development communication practitioner, and a lot more. But with all these learnings put together, only one thing struck a chord in me. And this is the definition Samonte had of development communication i.e. it is "communication with a social conscience."

Green Fashion Revolution in Cebu

I can say that  I am now a real fan of Aboitiz Foundation.  On the first Saturday of this month, the company launched another big event here in Cebu. Aptly titled,  "Green Fashion Revolution" staged at  the Cebu Trade Hall of SM City, some of us from Banilad Study Center witnessed a unique showcase of real creative talent from 6 schools and universities from the province: the University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines-Cebu, Cebu Normal University, University of the Visayas, and our very own Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD).

The event is on its 2nd year which features recycled items turned into fashionable pieces i.e. accessories, basic cloth material for blouses, skirts, pants and even gowns. The rationale behind this project is to feature the sustainable and eco-development programs of barangays in Cebu City  being supported by the schools that joined. In BCPD's case, their 8-minute video featured the mother & daughter tandem of Barrio Luz which worked on eco-projects mainly selling and marketing accessories made of recycled materials.  Around 20 BCPD students modeled clothes made of onion sack and jute sack, accessories made from foil wrappers and tetra packs, and recycled gowns decorated with CDs, etc. Very creative! The winners of the event received a sizeable amount for the barangay being supported and for the participants of the competition.

For more information about this fashion event, please visit www.aboitizfoundation.org.

Bumping Into St. Josemaria Escriva and Opus Dei

Today is the birthday in heaven of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. He died in the room where he worked in Villa Tevere in Bruno Buozzi, Rome, Italy,  a little after praying the Angelus. He was 73 years old when he passed away. I first heard about Opus Dei when I was in second year high school, when an alumna of my school, who happens to have the same name as I do, visited the campus one afternoon. Our guidance counselor told me that Michelle, who is around seven years older, is a member of Opus Dei.

The first prayer card that I received was not that of St. Josemaria, it was Bishop Alvaro del Portillo's, St. Josemaria's first successor who passed away in March 1994. It was my Communication professor at UP Manila who gave it to me while I was taking the final exam for his subject. Now that professor of mine, I learned later on, is also a member of Opus Dei. As in any occurrence, I cultivated the habit of asking why about situations and circumstances I find myself in, trying my best to do so in God's presence. So I asked myself why I often bump into members of Opus Dei every so often. And what is Opus Dei all about? And then one day, when I got home, I saw 3 prayer cards of St. Josemaria on our glass vitrina in the living room. It was my father who brought it home, a taxi passenger of his gave it to him.

Today, as I wish that St. Josemaria's fame of being very close to God i.e. his holiness, reach far and wide, I would like to write about one of the recent favors I received through his intercession. I have already submitted this favor to the Office of the Causes of Saints, hoping that it be included among so many that St. Josemaria has granted to countless individuals, so that God's glory may be seen and felt through this faithful servant of his.

A Charming Exhibit: KOI-Yaw at Ayala Center-Cebu

Walking around UP campus over the weekend, I chanced upon the poster promoting this exhibit which was launched last Saturday, June 15. What caught my attention was the colorful image it had of a Fish, the icon of the Chinese zodiac I am born under, Pisces. Since I still had an errand to do at the Ayala Center, I thought maybe I could swing by Level 3 of Paseo Marina where this fish sculpture exhibit is mounted and see what it's all about.

KOI-Yaw, as the exhibit is called, displays fish sculptures made of rattan, a known local material used for furniture and decor products. Inspired by the fish family 'koi', the sculptures are available for purchase and up for display here at Ayala Center Cebu from June 15 to June 30, 2013. It is a project of the Product Design 3rd year students from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.

I was not familiar with this existing furniture art form until I saw it myself. At the registration desk where the guestbook is, the mobile numbers of those who can be contacted for fish sculpture items up for purchase were made available. I told my work colleague, Venus, who is also Piscean like me, about KOI-Yaw. We hope to go see it together before the month of June ends, as the rainy season here in Cebu gradually sets in.

For more information about KOI-Yaw, you may visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/koiyawcebu.

Tubod: The Philippines' Ultimate Domestic Furniture Trade Show

Right after our Saturday afternoon activities last June 8th, I was invited by Tesa, an Interior Designer and one of those living with me here in Banilad Study Center, to accompany her in checking how her staff is managing the 'packing-up' activity i.e. egress, of their domestic furniture items at Waterfront Hotel's Atlantic Hall where “TUBOD”, The Ultimate Furniture and Furnishings Show for the Domestic Market, was being held since June 6th. This domestic furniture trade exhibition is part of the 4th PhilConstruct Visayas 2013 Expo, Cebu's biggest construction show to date. 

The Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF) conceptualized and spearheaded this event. Aptly called “TUBOD” (or in English, “Source”), the word is used as a noun to refer to spring and water fountain. TUBOD as an event takes on this objective: to set an industry in motion to serve a dynamic and booming domestic furniture and furnishings market. It is envisioned to be the source and the wellspring of the flow of ideas, talents and resources between and among designers, contractors, manufacturers and other players of the interior design and construction industry with the furniture and furnishing manufacturing industry in Cebu.

Gabi-i sa Kabilin: Cebu Cultural Heritage At Its Best

If there is one event that other cities in the country should copy, this annual event in Cebu is definitely IT!

Last May 31st, I had the wonderful opportunity to see for myself how alive and kicking our love for our cultural heritage is here in Cebu City. Several of us from the study center and from our office trooped to the pegged heritage sites all over Cebu to witness the richness of the Filipino's cultural past here at the heart of Central Visayas.

Now on its 7^th year, “Gabi-i sa Kabilin: A Night of Heritage,” is a yearly cultural event sponsored by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), in celebration of the Philippine National Heritage Month and International Museum Day. This provincial-wide event was made possible by the active cooperation of those from the national and local government i.e. Department of Tourism and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and from the different museums and heritage sites found here in the province. Aside from Cebu City, other participating cities included Mandaue, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu.

The rain right before we left our office didn’t dampen our excitement and enthusiasm to go and participate actively in this unique activity. It was so good to sense palpably how Cebu’s families supported this event.

We got to visit the Sto. Nino Shrine, Magellan’s Cross, The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral’s Museum, Plaza Independencia, and Fort San Pedro. The last venue was where we took the Tartanilla i.e. calesa ride, much to our enjoyment. The last time I took the calesa was around seven years ago, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur where we had one of our excursions in our annual seminar held in Baguio City's South Drive.

Of course pictures had to be taken --- from anywhere, and everywhere! This had to be documented because we don’t have the likes of this activity every month. For only Php 150, we could go to ALL the participating heritage sites i.e. Casa Gorordo, Museo Sugbo, Cebu City Museum, Cebu Cultural Center, Museo Parian sa Sugbo, etc. the list goes on! What really mattered to me most was the value we were getting in this enriching cultural fete.

Last Friday night was definitely Cebu’s Cultural Night of Heritage at its best!

For more information about this annual event, please visit. www.rafi.org. 

From U.P. and Back Again

I have always wanted to give back to my Alma Mater, the University of the Philippines Manila, the institution that imbibed in me academic excellence, freedom coupled with responsibility, and spirit of service. My batch mates and I actually made a pact to go back to U.P. after some years of practicing the professions we want to have in the corporate world, in order to pursue the noble path of teaching.

Our professors surely played a big role in this dream of ours to become professors in any U.P. unit in the future. I remember several teachers of ours relate how grateful they were with the education they were receiving while they were still young students. And how much they also aspired to return the favor to the state university by re-entering it for a Teaching Post.

Now that I am freer, schedule-wise, I am set to study again as I take the master's program in Development Communication this academic year here at U.P. Cebu through the U.P. Open University (UPOU). Much as I wanted to get a scholarship, the limited number of slots available posed as a big hurdle for me not to be granted one. Now I know I must work doubly hard to make sure that I have enough monetary support to pursue graduate studies. Special thanks to my godmother, Lyn, and to my uncle, Al, who both agreed to send over some student loan just so I could go ahead with the enrollment this first semester. I am hopeful that this master's program I will be taking will pave the way to re-enter the university as a future educator.

It felt good visiting the U.P. Cebu campus the other day and meeting the local coordinator of UPOU at the College of Arts and Sciences building. It felt good being in familiar terrain once again --- seeing the Oblation, the U.P. seal, the org nooks and 'tambayans', the 'traditional' classrooms, and comfort rooms --- all with that familiar U.P. trademark i.e. vintage.

Cebu Pilgrim Site: Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Since the month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, we have been going out for pilgrimages to her shrines to pray for the Church, the Pope, Bishop Javier Echevarria, our Prelate, and for all our personal intentions. I had the chance to visit a nearby shrine  recently, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a 15 to 20-minute walk from our study center. The chapel is part of Asilo de la Milagrosa, a charitable institution run by the Daughters of Charity (DC) of St. Vincent de Paul here in Lahug, Cebu.

I must say I am fortunate to find this shrine so near because I am an alumna of a school run by the DCs in Manila, Sta. Isabel College (SIC). Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal has been an important part of my childhood since our big quadrangle at SIC, which has a towering statue of her, is named after this title of Our Lady. I remember playing 'piko' and 'patintero' with my classmates in the quadrangle under her gaze till late afternoon when our parents come to fetch us. I'd like to mention here, too, that last year, in our annual seminar at Latag Study Camp in Batangas, the same title of Our Lady was the one our group reported for our Mariology class. I still keep a copy of our powerpoint presentation, thanks to my group mates Tina A. and Tita O.

When I visited Asilo, I was glad to meet Sr. Teresa, a nun who knows our former music teacher and children's choir moderator at SIC, Sr. Martha who obviously became a DC herself. I was happy to get the contact details of Sr. Martha, or Ms. Gamolo as we used to call her. We are hoping to see each other in my next trip to Manila. 'Ms. Gamolo' was the one who discovered that I have an ear for music, and an aptitude to learn one of the lower voices in our children's choir i.e. the so-called 'alto' or soprano 2. I am grateful to Sr. Martha, one of my mentors who taught me to aspire for the higher and nobler things in life.

It is my wish that there be more people, lay and religious alike, whose 'struggles' to live a life of virtue, pave the way for many people to discover the path God has designed for them to tread in this life, always with the help of Our Lady.

Mountain View Nature's Park: Try the Rope Course That Will Change You!

It was another excursion day for us last May 5, Sunday, and this time we went to a nearby tourist spot here in Cebu, Mountain View Nature's Park, located in Busay town, just 25 minutes away from Cebu City proper. That day, some of us planned to try the Rope Course being offered in the Holiday Fun adventure site which is near the Christmas Park.

We arrived there at around 10 am and headed straight to the counter of the Rope Course. There were seven of us in this excursion, but only four of us signed up for the adventure course. We paid a minimum of P150 for this attraction, signed a waiver form and geared up! We were given a helmet each and were strapped safely to the cable that will lead us through all the different ropes in the adventure course. Of course we had a photo op before we said GO! There was no turning back!

On the Feast of Our Lady of Montserrat: Summer Outreach in Carbon, Cebu

This coming first Saturday of May, we will be on our third weekend of mural painting and outreach work in Brgy. Ermita's daycare center and its Sangguniang Kabataan office, here in Cebu City's Carbon district. According to the locals, Carbon, where Cebu's biggest wet market is situated, is known as a notorious place where brigands i.e. snatchers, slashers, etc. are said to reside. All of us from Banilad Study Center's group of student and young professional volunteers have always been reminded to keep careful watch over our belongings and to make sure that we do not wear any jewelry when we walk further inside the narrow and winding streets and alleys, heading towards the seacoast, literally under an area of the long bridge of the South Road Properties (SRP) owned by SM Prime Holdings, which is where our beneficiaries live. But so far, all we are receiving from the barangay residents here are nothing but kind attention and gratitude for our presence.

Mary Anne and Family at the Marriott Hotel-Cebu: A Meeting Not to be Missed

I am so glad to have met Mary Anne again this April here in Cebu after quite a long time. I was her Wedding Mass Commentator when she got married in 2004 at the Our Lady of Remedies Church. Afterwards, we just met sporadically, only twice, if I am not mistaken.

Mary Anne Sy-Gocheco is a long-time friend, a classmate since grade school (Grade 1 or 2) as far as I can remember (Note: We were among those who received a Loyalty Award in our high school graduation for studying in Sta. Isabel College for 10 years and more!) Our last names both end in 'S,' that is why we're oftentimes seated close to each other, together with Ivy Regina 'Queenie,' another long-time friend, whose last name is 'Sagudo' (now married and based in UAE.) Me-Anne , as we fondly call her, is now wife to Max, a businessman, and a loving mother to two boys (Aidan and Mikko) and one girl (Maxinne), and to a future baby boy come July this year.

I am writing this to simply chronicle how grateful I am for the generous amount this good friend of mine gave for the oratory/chapel needs of our center in Bacolod. Actually, I only had to mention the matter to Me-Anne once through Facebook. And even if the request was made when I was still in Bacolod, she did not fail me one bit, though it took time. Her family was on their way to Plantation Bay that Saturday morning, and I am really grateful that we found time to be together over breakfast.

With Me-Anne Sy-Gocheco, good friend and SIC Batchmate of 1994

With friends like Me-Anne, I realized I don't have to hesitate to ask her for anything. She helped with the trademark simplicity expected of a true Isabelan.

Thank you, Mary Anne, and may God bless you and your family more abundantly!

May you always give open-handedly, because God can never be outdone in generosity.