Midsayap dancers dethroned the defending champion dancers of Alamada during the Kalivungan Festival’s street dancing competition on September 1. The Province of Cotabato also held its 98th Foundation Anniversary on the same day. More Photos
The Bambad National High School contingent from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat bagged the P500,000-grand prize of the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan Open Category on Saturday. Followed by Notre Dame of Sto. Niño (South Cotabato), Kutawato Institute of Technology (Cotabato City) Mabuyok Surigao del Norte and Bobongan Dance Arts Talaingod (Davao del Norte).
Davao Category:
1st Place – Jesus Soriano National High School
2nd Place – Sta. Ana Performing Arts Guild
3rd Place – Tribu Kalibungan of Fatima Elementary School
4th Place – San Isidro Elementary School
5th Place – Vicente Hizon Elementary School
The Kadanao Theater Collective from Butuan City bags the first prize for the open category during the Sayaw Mindanaw 2012 finals in Davao City on on Thursday, August 16, 2012, as the city celebrates the Kadayawan Festival.
Children Category:
1st Place – Cesario Villa Abrille Dance Club
2nd Place – Matina Central Dance Troupe
3rd Place – Vicente Hizon Dance Troupe
Open Category:
1st Place – Kadanao Theatre Collective
2nd Place – Kathara Dance Theatre Collective Inc.
Road repairs along the Cagayan de Oro and Davao national highway like this one in Barangay Sinuda in Kitatotao town in Bukidnon have caused delays for commuters. What used to be a six-hour trip between the two cities has now become a 10-hour nightmare.
It took this truck 15 minutes to negotiate the 350-meter dirt road in Maramag, Bukidnon yesterday. Wondering what’s in the mind of the drivers and passengers of the bus tailing this truck 
When it reached the other end of the dirt road, everyone asked the driver what’s in that box. He said: Generator!
A daytrip at Apo Island in Negros Oriental with Ruby. The sea was pretty rough but it was fun. Haven’t had a banca ride on a rough seas for a while. The last time was in Davao Oriental. Local folks say summer is the best time to visit Apo Island. But this is also the time when hundreds of tourists would flock in the island everyday.
They said summer is the busiest time of the year. Although tourists come and go into the island almost everyday.
From Dumaguete City, we took an aircon bus to Malatapay for P50 each. Then a short walk to the boat station. For the daytrip, smaller boats costs P2,000 and can carry four persons while medium boats that can carry eight persons cost P3,000.
When we get to the boat station, four other excursionists were also bound for Apo Island. So we agreed to divide the boat rental of the medium boat.
At the island, there is an entrance fee of P100 plus P50 for the snorkeling fee. If you don’t have the gears, you may rent the life vest for P100 and another P100 for the snorkeling gears.
Food is available on some resorts and local restaurants. Local folks also offer to cook for your lunch for P150 each person.
Apo Island is considered to be part of the jurisdiction of the town of Dauin in Negros Oriental. Its pride is its fantastic rock formations scattered over the terrain, a protected marine reserve, magnificent white sands and a relatively untouched endowment of natural marine resources – 650 documented fish species and 400 kinds of corals. Read On
Our two-day adventure in this lonely island was real fun.
Ruby and I stayed at John Lea Resort, owned by a British national married to a Filipina. It’s a quite resort — no videoke and not too far away from San Juan town proper, which is about 30 minutes by tricycle from Siquijor port.
Manong Roland, the tricycle driver, also served as our tour guide. He knows if who owns some big houses you could see along the national highway. According to him, if the house is not owned by those who are working abroad, the Pinay from the island is married to a foreign national. While some are owned by retired government employees.
Normally, he charges P800 for an island tour which usually takes about half day – including taking pictures in different tourists spots along the road and a quick swim at Salagdoong beach resort in Maria town. The entrance fee is P15 and you may also rent cottages for P100.
About a kilometer canopy of tugas trees leads to Salagdoong beach resort.
We also asked him about the faith healers and the infamous mangkukulam (sorcerer), in the island. He said they are living in the mountains. We just don’t have enough time to visit them. Manong Roland suggests that the best time to visit them is during Holy Week.
As we hit the road, many foreigners are riding in tandem on motorcycles, which are available for hire at P200 to P300 per day.
At the resort…there’s no music, just one TV channel and slow internet inside the room. So quiet. Perfect for vacation mode.
By 7pm, most of the sari-sari stores in San Juan town are already closed. You would also rarely hear motorcycles or tricycles buzzing in the highway. It’s the same at 4am, only the sound of crickets and some insects.
Maybe the towns of Siqujor and Larena are more lively compared to towns of Enrique Villanueva, Lazi and San Juan.
At the resort, the only sound that you could hear in the middle of the night: sound of waves.
Deafening silence.
Clips taken during our trip to Apo Island.
Our two-day adventure in the island province of Siquijor.
Music: Island Life by Divine Comedy
