Making up the past and the present

Jobers Reynes Bersales 02/03/2020

  Congratulations are in order for Vice-Mayor Michael Rama for successfully meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. I believe he had a big part in convincing the President to consider the historical and cultural aspects of the Quincentennial…

Where in the world is Sibu?

Jobers Reynes Bersales 01/27/2020

My good friend Louie Nacorda almost fell off his chair when, while watching the Sinulog finale, he heard loud and clear that the word ‘Cebu’ was taken from “Sibu” (or “Sibo”), which supposedly meant barter. It was…

Isn’t It Time for a Sinulog Museum?

Jobers Reynes Bersales 01/20/2020

I would be the first to offer my services for free, in whatever capacity, if Cebu City will set up a museum or a set of galleries in a museum that will be dedicated to the long…

Coming of Age

Jobers Reynes Bersales 01/13/2020

Even as we debate on the wisdom of allowing after-Sinulog street parties for young people who more often than not turn unruly when drunk, Japan has long been taking a serious look at their youth. So seriously,…

It’s 75 years already, my dear Mayor Labella

Jobers Reynes Bersales 01/06/2020

The year 2020, which began just six days ago, is a milestone year in much of the world as much as it is for Cebu, especially for Talisay and Cebu cities as well as the town of…

Memorializing Rizal on a chair

Jobers Reynes Bersales 12/30/2019

Today is the 123rd anniversary of the death by firing squad of our national hero, Jose Rizal. Nothing more than a wreath-laying ceremony and one or two short speeches extolling his heroism will occur early in the…

From humongous hole to Heritage Park

Jobers Reynes Bersales 12/23/2019

‘Tis the season for heritage advocates and the public to be jolly. In lieu of a monstrous matchbox of a building rising by now at the Cebu Capitol grounds, a heritage park —punctuated by the season’s most…

Mactang, Camotes and the feeling of ‘Here We Go Again!’

Jobers Reynes Bersales 12/16/2019

I seem to be spending more time these days dispelling all these unfounded, absurd and idiotic claims and myths surrounding the Magellan expedition of 1521. In a previous column I already warned that as the 500th anniversary…

Performing Tea

Jobers Reynes Bersales 12/02/2019

I had a good reason to miss watching on TV the opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) last Saturday. While the ceremony was going on in Bulacan, I was with a host of local Chinese…

Gilda Vestil, Cebuana Katipunera

Jobers Reynes Bersales 11/25/2019

Hermenegilda ‘Gilda’ Vestil was just 18 years old when the revolution in Cebu against Spanish colonial rule finally broke on April 3, 1898. Born in Mambaling in 1880, her brother, Gabino Vestil, was an active member of…

Lapulapu, the Bornean Baloney, and the vacuum of history

Jobers Reynes Bersales 11/18/2019

I almost fell off my rocker when I read Pachico Seares’ column in Sunstar last November 11 about a German named Erich Wannemacher suggesting to Lapu-lapu City Tourism Officer Edward Mendez that Lapulapu was Muslim and therefore…

Much ado over a cartoon?

Jobers Reynes Bersales 11/11/2019

As we were about to close meeting last Tuesday afternoon on how to add more tour packages to align with the upcoming Quincentennial commemoration, I suggested the production of a movie about the Magellan expedition up to…

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.