Lambug Beach: One of Cebu's Hidden Secrets

I've been to one of the most secluded and beautiful powdery white sand beaches in Cebu, Philippines. Amazing view, beautiful sunset and friendly people in one. Lambug Beach is located in the southern part of Cebu in the town of Badian. It would take 3 hours drive from Cebu City's bus terminal to reach there and experience a beautiful beachfront getaway with your family, friends or your special someone.

Check out the Philippine Traveler to find out more about my travel experience at http://www.philippinetraveler.com/badian-cebu.html

1675 Yap-San Diego Ancestral House and Museum in Cebu

We were able to visit the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House and Museum in Cebu City, Parian, just an hour drive away from my home. It's located near the oldest street in the Philippines, Colon Street. It has a caretaker that will guide you to different part of the house and you can take pictures as long as you are careful not to break anything. Let me share with you what's inside this oldest residential structure in the Philippines.

For a more detail story of my experience, please visit the Philippine Traveler's Blog at http://www.philippinetraveler.com/the-17th-century-yap-sandiego-ancestral-house-in-cebu-city.html


Pictures should not be copied by other websites unless authorized by the owner.

Nikon D5200 Shots

Nikon D5200 shots of myself while enjoying the view of the ocean at South Road Properties Cebu City.

Photographer: Melvin Lao

The Church With 100 Walls

In Cebu, Philippines stands the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, nicknamed "The Church of 100 Walls". A masterpiece design of Filipino-American architect Carlos Arnaiz.

Check out my featured article and more pictures at The Philippine Traveler.

Photography by Melvin Lao. Pictures should not be copied or used on other blogger websites or business websites without authorization of the owner.

The History of Valentines Day

By: Ma. Cristina P. Lao

It all started in the third century, when the Roman Emperor Claudius ordered his empire to worship only twelve God's and not to associate with Christians. People who disobeyed him would have to face death.  Valentinus on the other hand was a devoted priest and physician who kept on practicing his Christian beliefs. Because of this, he was arrested and imprisoned.

While in prison, a jailer saw that Valentinus was a man of knowledge. He asked Valentinus if he was willing to offer lessons to his blind daughter Julia.  Though she was blind she was beautiful and has a quick mind. Valentinus taught her history, described what the world looks like in his eyes and most importantly told her about God.

On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a farewell note to Julia with a crocus yellow flower inside and said in his letter... "Stay close to God" and signed it,  Your Valentine. He was beheaded and died on February 14, 270 A.D on Via Flaminia in the north of Rome.

When the jailer went home, he hands her the letter and the moment she opened it, she saw brilliant colors for the first time. Now she can see! She was blind and now she can see! A miracle!

This part of history would only mean that Valentines is about self sacrifice and to care and love one another in the name of God.

What does it mean to you?

Chinese Astrology - Animal Sign: Tiger

1902       08 Feb 1902 - 28 Jan 1903 (Water)

1914       08 Feb 1902 - 28 Jan 1903 (Wood)

1926       13 Feb 1926 - 01 Feb 1927 (Fire)

1938       31 Jan 1938 - 18 Feb 1939 (Earth)

1950       17 Feb 1950 - 05 Feb 1951 (Metal)

1962       05 Feb 1962 - 24 Jan 1963 (Water)

1974       23 Jan 1974 - 10 Feb 1975 (Wood)

1986       09 Feb 1986 - 28 Jan 1987 (Fire)

1998       28 Jan 1998 - 15 Feb 1999 (Earth)

2010       14 Feb 2010 - 02 Feb 2011 (Metal)

In Chinese astrology, I was born in the year of the Tiger, bearing the element of wood.

In Chinese astrology, the element Wood is believed to grant human warmth and generosity to a sign. Individuals bearing this element are better able to forge co-operative bonds instead of depending on solitary initiatives – something that appears to contradict the basic nature of a sign like Tiger. However the end result is often soothing and appealing personality and quite successful both in social and worldly sense.

One of the most significant influences of the Wood element is to make the Tiger much more capable of reaching out to others on a one-to-one basis. Though the essential Tiger nature is quite popular amidst friends and followers, this is more the effect of personal magnetism and a certain mystique. Instead the Wood Tiger is able to forge far more personal connections with people around, based on genuine warmth and generosity. Not only are they fiercely loyal and willing to defend their friends, but they also work tirelessly to help out a friend in need. This makes the Wood Tiger a highly popular individual so that they seem to be more of a success in the social sense. At the same time however in an effort to be useful to their loved ones, Wood Tigers may be prone to spreading themselves too thin, and should remember to take time to calm down and recharge. -- Futurescopes.com --

Philippines Superstorm Yolanda: Before and Aftermath

By: Ma. Cristina P. Lao

On November 6, 2013, two days before the super storm Yolanda hit our country, we were warned by the government via TV news telecasts that this super storm was dangerous and we should take necessary precautions. Yolanda was anticipated as more harmful than hurricane Sandy, one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in the United States. We've seen the satellite pictures and videos of the vastness of clouds that has engulfed almost the entire nation.

Unfortunately, I think nobody knew what a storm surge was or how dangerous it was. We had been warned that sea water levels may reach up to five meters during the storm surge, but I think nobody knew that the effects of a storm surge would reach the nearby land areas like that of a Tsunami. Unfortunately some places that were believed to be safe like schools were also destroyed and may have killed thousands of lives as the count is still ongoing as of this moment.

November 6, 2013, 9PM: Panic buying was evident in most supermarkets and stores in Southern part of Cebu City, where I live. All the noodles, canned goods, batteries, flashlights, garbage plastic bags were swept off the shelves.  I was a bit calmer and decided to have my shopping the next day, as I don't want to shop with lots of people pushing each other.

November 7, 2013: I woke up early and observed the sky. It's so cloudy but there was still no rain. My focus was to update myself about the storm and checked out the news on TV, the news highlight was about Napoles' Senate Hearing, the alleged mastermind of scandal involving billions of pesos in pork barrel funds. I was not so interested about the senate inquiry, so I changed to another local channel. Well, all channels were about Napoles, so I changed the channel to CNN, there the newscaster discussed about storm surge that it can go to the land areas. It never occurred in my mind that the effect of a storm surge was somewhat like of a strong flood or a Tsunami that would pose a threat to people on land. 

November 7, 3PM: I went shopping for some food and was looking for black bags or garbage bags to cover our appliances like TV and computers. To my surprise there's not one garbage bag, or any kind of bag available. No more plastic cup noodles. It was like the grocery store has been robbed with the most common commodity like rice and canned goods. Even though there was not enough goods for me to buy, we were able to prepare beforehand rice, canned goods, water, emergency kit, and bags with some clothes, in case our house was destroyed. If in case there was flooding we were ready to run to a 5-floor pension house, which was twenty steps away from our apartment. We were ready for the storm.

November 8, 2013: I woke up around 5:45 a.m. Electricity was still on. The TV and radio coverage was all about the storm hitting Tacloban first. At around 8 am, I saw an ABS-CBN newscaster in Tacloban who was getting a video of the pier and the storm as the wind was becoming so strong. I said to myself, "What is this? He must be very brave or out of his mind." I had no idea that it was ABS-CBN news reporter Atom Araullo at that time.  Their video was able to show water starting to flow up the houses and almost reached the roofs. Then suddenly their video coverage was out. OMG what happened to the ABS-CBN news crew?

November 8, 2013, 9AM: Electricity was out. OMG, this is it! My two boys age 8 and 11 were just very quiet and observant. My younger child asked me if our house would be destroyed any moment that day. I told him, "No, it will not be destroyed." And keeps on asking me, "What if it will be destroyed, what will happen to us?" I told him, "It's okay as long as we are alive, we will be fine." I expected broken windows or at least the water to come in our house, but that did not happen. The wind was like concentrated on the top. The radio was still on, so we were able to hear most of the storm's development, until the radio stations cannot contact any of their co-reporters in the fields.  Everyone started to worry. What happened to all our neighboring cities in Cebu like Bogo, Daan Bantayan or other islands like Leyte? We thought the effect in other areas were the same as in the Southern part of Cebu City. Maybe because their cell phones are low bat or telephone lines cut off, so they were not able to contact anyone outside their cities.

November 8, 2013 11PM: Electricity came back. Wow! This is great, we can sleep well tonight. Tomorrow is another day. I prayed and hoped that everyone were safe, unaware of the aftermath.... 

"To be continued with pictures..."