20 storeys to ponder on

Jobers R. Bersales 06/06/2018

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has finally spoken on the proposed 20-storey Cebu Capitol building. In fact it apparently spoke a long while back, some 15 months ago, or March 2, 2017, to be…

Supporting heritage

Jobers R. Bersales 05/30/2018

The annual Gabii sa Kabilin last Friday, albeit dampened somewhat by the sudden downpour, showed once again that the Cebuano and tourist alike have time for local heritage and history. As we continue to celebrate the National…

Problematizing Cebu’s Chinatown

Jobers R. Bersales 05/16/2018

I have always grown up with the notion that there is no Chinatown in Cebu simply because all of Cebu is one big Chinatown. That everywhere you go there is always a “Chinese” presence, whether in residential…

Cebu’s garbage woes, a reaction from Lou Jurika

Jobers R. Bersales 05/02/2018

I received this email recently from Lou Jurika, a friend whose father and uncle were World War II heroes. Texas-based Lou grew up in Cebu and Davao (his neighbors and very close childhood buddies include now Pres.…

Commemorative reenactments and artistic license

Jobers R. Bersales 04/25/2018

The fog of history can make commemorative reenactments problematic for the nitpicker and the customary historian and scholar but entertaining for the rest. Tomorrow, the historic Battle of Mactan will once again be commemorated with a mock…

All hail the LRT! But be prepared

Jobers R. Bersales 04/18/2018

Like manna from heaven, the announcement by a consortium of Chinese companies to set up at their own expense a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system linking the seven cities and five municipalities of Metropolitan Cebu, must be…

The private sector and a fond farewell to Nyor Carl

Jobers R. Bersales 04/11/2018

In last week’s column, I mentioned that Mega Cebu, or more properly, the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB), has in fact an urbanization plan. Prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it is designed…

The quicksand of haphazard urbanization

Jobers R. Bersales 04/04/2018

The brewing issue between businessmen and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the latter’s plan to build an underpass on United Nations Avenue in Mandaue is but a symptom of more social tensions to…

The ‘king’ of Aloguinsan

Jobers R. Bersales 03/28/2018

The keen observer will always know that Christianity never really stamped out our ancient pre-colonial beliefs and practices when it’s Good Friday. Tomorrow, even as the whole of Christendom observes in many ways the death of Jesus…

Faith tourism and the fate of Mactan’s beaches

Jobers R. Bersales 03/21/2018

The recent pronouncement of Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo to add faith tourism into the existing tourist attractions and resources of the country has moved forward fast. Already, a Director for Faith Tourism has been created…

Fujian up close and personal

Jobers R. Bersales 03/14/2018

In the thick of finishing a chapter on Chinese demographics and commercial history in Cebu during the American colonial and early post-war periods for an upcoming book, the opportunity to visit their places of origin in China…

Why not move the provincial seat elsewhere?

Jobers R. Bersales 03/07/2018

Recent reports to construct a 20-storey building at the Cebu Capitol Compound had me thinking what Gov. Emilio “Lito” Osmeña actually proposed during his term as the first elected governor of the post-Marcos era. While there were…

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