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Sinulog 1931: A Glimpse of Pre-War Cebu

From the January 16, 1931 issue of Bag-ong Kusog, we are offered a rare window into Cebu almost a century ago, its people, its culture, and the vibrant celebration of the Sinulog Festival. Long before modern parades, street dances, and grand concerts, Sinulog was already the beating heart of Cebuano faith and festivity.

Jan 16, 1931 issue of Bag-ong Kusog, archived by Max Limpag

A Feast That Drew Thousands

Even in the early 1930s, Sinulog was no small-town affair. Pilgrims from every corner of Cebu, and even from neighboring islands such as Leyte, Negros, and Buol (likely Bohol), would travel to Cebu City days before the two-day fiesta. Ships arrived at the ports fully loaded with passengers, while trucks and vehicles from across the province poured into the city, bringing with them the anticipation of a grand celebration.

The newspaper described the scene vividly:

“Hilabihan kadasok sa mga tawo, malisud ang pag-agi sa kadalanan. Labaw pa kabaga sa mga hulmigas ang mga mangingilin…”
(Crowds were so dense it was difficult to move along the streets. The pilgrims were as numerous as swarms of ants.)

Faith and Devotion

As in today’s Sinulog, devotion to the Santo Niño lay at the heart of the festivities. Those who had made vows, mga may panaad, would spend the entire day at the Basilica, dancing their sinulog in front of the Holy Child. For many Cebuanos, this was an act of deep personal faith, a gesture of gratitude and petition that transformed the city into a living prayer.

A Festival Beyond Religion

Yet Sinulog in 1931 was not purely religious. Cebu’s fiesta spirit extended well beyond the churchyard. The city came alive with social events:

  • Dance halls (Salon de baile) filled with music and merriment,
  • Theaters such as Oriente, Ideal, and Magallanes Auditorium staging popular shows,
  • Even boxing matches at the Cebu Stadium, which drew large and enthusiastic crowds.

The celebration spilled into every corner of the city. People converged in bustling districts like Taboan, Carbon, and Pansitan, where trade, food, and entertainment intertwined in a lively mix of faith and festivity.

A Century of Continuity

Nearly a hundred years later, the Sinulog Festival has grown into one of the Philippines’ grandest events, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. Yet, as this 1931 account reminds us, its essence remains unchanged: a city united in faith and festivity, welcoming pilgrims and revelers alike in honor of the Santo Niño.

Sinulog is indeed a cultural phenomenon, its soul rooted in the timeless devotion and joy of the Cebuanos, enduring from time immemorial to this very day.

𝗔 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢’𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬

A Bo’s Coffee branch in Abu Dhabi

When Steve Benitez opened the first branch of Bo’s Coffee in Ayala Center Cebu in 1996, few could have imagined that this humble kiosk would evolve into a global Filipino brand. Born in a time when international coffee chains were starting to dominate the Philippine market, Bo’s Coffee stood out by being proudly local, and more importantly, proudly Cebuano.

Planting the First Seed

Steve Benitez was just a young entrepreneur with a law degree and a big dream. Instead of pursuing a legal career, he followed a different aroma — the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee. That dream began with a simple desire: to serve coffee made with homegrown beans from the highlands of the Philippines and create a space that celebrated Filipino warmth and hospitality.

The early days were tough. People didn’t immediately flock to a “local” coffee shop. In fact, Benitez had to do the barista work himself, sometimes even giving away free coffee just to introduce the brand. But he stayed firm, fueled by passion, belief in Filipino products, and his Cebuano grit.

Rooted in Filipino Identity

Unlike global coffee chains that showcase foreign flavors and imported beans, Bo’s Coffee built its brand on a different principle: supporting Filipino farmers and communities.

The beans come from the mountain provinces of Sagada, Benguet, Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Apo, and Mt. Matutum. Each cup served in Bo’s is a tribute to the Philippines’ rich coffee-growing heritage. This commitment to local sourcing didn’t just ensure fresh quality — it also empowered farming communities across the country, making Bo’s not just a business but a movement.

Moreover, Bo’s Coffee made a conscious decision to highlight Filipino culture in every detail — from the interiors of their stores that feature local art and furniture to their partnerships with local social enterprises. It’s a coffee experience infused with bayanihan and malasakit.

The Cebuano Spirit of Resilience and Innovation

The growth of Bo’s Coffee can also be seen as a mirror of Cebu’s own rise — from a regional hub to a global player. Just as Cebu established itself as a center for trade, tourism, and culture, Bo’s grew from one shop to over 100 branches nationwide, then began opening doors abroad.

In 2018, Bo’s Coffee opened its first international branch in Doha, Qatar, followed by expansion plans in the UAE and other key cities in the Middle East. This was not just a business move; it was a tribute to the millions of OFWs and Filipinos overseas who longed for a taste of home.

Steve Benitez called this move a way to “bring the Filipino coffee experience to the world.” And just like that, a Cebuano-born coffee brand became a symbol of national pride, carried abroad by the winds of nostalgia and ambition.

More Than Coffee: A Platform for Empowerment

One of the lesser-known yet deeply inspiring aspects of Bo’s Coffee is its support for social entrepreneurs. The company collaborates with local enterprises like Anthill Fabric Gallery (for uniforms and furnishings), Bayani Brew (for bottled tea), and Hope in a Bottle (for purified water) — creating a value chain that uplifts small businesses and promotes sustainable livelihoods.

This ecosystem approach — where success is shared, not hoarded — reflects the Filipino value of community, deeply rooted in Cebuano heritage.

Legacy Brewing

Today, Bo’s Coffee continues to expand while keeping its values intact. It has become more than just a coffee shop; it’s a homegrown legacy, a Cebuano-born brand that chose to grow slow, grow proud, and grow local — before going global.

As the aroma of Filipino coffee begins to waft across the world, Bo’s stands as a reminder that sometimes, the best brands don’t come from Silicon Valley or European capitals. Sometimes, they begin right in the heart of Cebu — with a bold vision, a warm heart, and a very good cup of coffee.

Bo’s Coffee has more than 120 branches already including 9 outlets in Qatar and 2 in Dubai. Canada and the USA ate next in their expansion

𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀: CEBU’S 𝟓𝟎𝟎-𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑-𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃

For more than 500 years, the humble horse-drawn carriage, Tartanilla or Parada to Cebuanos, has been quietly and faithfully moving people through the streets of Cebu. While empires have risen and fallen, and cars have gone from steam to diesel to electric, the tartanilla continues its journey, one slow, steady trot at a time.

In a world racing toward artificial intelligence and space tourism, it’s almost absurd,  and absolutely beautiful,  that a mode of transportation pulled by a living, breathing animal still shares the road with Teslas and e-bikes.

And yes, they’re still here.

Not just for tourists, not for display in a museum, but for actual, daily, public transportation. While you may also find them in Intramuros and Vigan with their Barong-wearing Kutseros, but those are just for picture taking and short tours for tourists. A cultural preservation you can call it, but in Cebu, they still toil in the same manner as 500 years ago, oblivious to the changes in the world around them. 

🐴 A Horse, a Carriage, and a Century of Service

Long before Uber, Grab, or even the Ceres bus, Cebuano commuters had the tartanilla. Derived from the Spanish calesa, the tartanilla was the preferred ride of both the masa and the ilustrado, serving everyone from market vendors to priests, from public school kids to Katipuneros on secret missions.

Their routes once stretched from Pari-an to Pasil, from the Cathedral to Colon, and even up to Lahug and Guadalupe. They were the icons of a pre-war Cebu, when crossing town meant taking a tartanilla, not hailing a ride-share app.

Back then, horses didn’t just pull people, they pulled a city forward.

🐎 Not Just a Memory

Fast forward to today, and while many Cebuanos believe the tartanilla is extinct, like the telegraph or love letters, a small herd of these faithful four-legged taxis still clip-clop their way through Duljo–Fatima, B. Aranas, Pasil, Taboan and Carbon Market.

In 2023, the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries recorded 34 operational tartanillas in the downtown area. The number may have shrunk since, but their impact, and charm, has not.

 “Actually, it is still effective,” says Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, DVMF head. “There are still passengers who prefer riding them.”

She adds that there is even a city proposal to formally integrate tartanillas into a heritage transport system, especially around Cebu City Hall to Colon Street,  areas rich in culture and stories.

🩺 Horses with Check-Ups

These aren’t neglected animals left to suffer in the heat. Twice a year, city vets visit each kutsero and horse, providing:

Vitamins

Physical checkups

Blood tests for infections

Proper hoof and skin care

It’s a community effort to keep both the horses and history alive.

⚙️ Obsolete Things… Except the Tartanilla

Let’s pause and reflect:

We’ve landed on the moon.

We’ve abandoned the steam engine, the telegraph, and dial-up internet.

No one sends mail by horse courier anymore.

Cassette tapes? Gone.

Typewriters? Museum items.

And yet… the tartanilla lives.

Somehow, the horse — this ancient, loyal creature, is still on the road, racing (albeit politely) with cars that now run on gasoline, diesel, or electricity.

“Init ug ulan, abog, ka kapoy gi agwanta ang tanan……” 

—

🤣 And Now, A Little Horse Sense

Think about it:

No traffic gridlock. Horses don’t rush; they keep it moving, slow and steady.

No carbon emissions. Zero-emission, 100% compostable.

No engine failures. Just hay and water.

No parking problems. They’ll stop where you say “preno.”

And drunk driving? Totally fine. Because let’s face it: the horse knows where it’s going. You don’t steer a tartanilla, the horse does. So technically, the driver is just the passenger with a whip.

In a world where smart cars can drive themselves, Cebu already had the solution: a horse with a brain and a direction.

❤️ Clip-Clopping Into the Future

So the next time you’re stuck in traffic on SRP, watching the fuel gauge drop and your temper rise, remember: there are still horses in Cebu that get to their destination faster than you.

The tartanilla isn’t just transportation. It’s Cebu’s heartbeat on wheels, a living relic, and a reminder that sometimes, the old ways still work,  even better than the new.

And perhaps the best part? When the day ends, and the kutsero lets the reins go slack, the horse already knows the way home.

Tabuelan, The Youngest Town in Cebu

On the rugged northwestern coast of Cebu lies the town of Tabuelan, tucked between the municipalities of Tuburan and San Remigio. Cebuanos love it for its beaches, from Durhan to Maravilla , and its scenic rivers. While many are familiar with its natural beauty, only a few know its history.

Tabuelan holds the distinction of being the youngest municipality in Cebu. In fact, it is the only one created after the second world war. Young heart with an old soul.

Created by Executive Order No. 621 issued by President Elpidio Quirino on October 23, 1953, Tabuelan was born out of the desire for better governance and closer services for the people living in the far barangays of Tuburan. With a sense of purpose and hope, 12 barangays were carved out of Tuburan to form what would become Tabuelan.

The Town That Found Its Voice

In its early years, Tabuelan was what many would call a frontier town , distant, rural, and largely unknown. Life was simple and self-sufficient. Residents relied on farming, fishing, and raising livestock to make ends meet. Roads were rough, public services were limited, and opportunities were scarce. But what the town lacked in infrastructure, it made up for in resilience.

Local leaders, teachers, and farmers became the quiet builders of a new identity. Schools were established. A municipal hall rose on the hill. Community life began to take shape, with town fiestas and civic events giving people a sense of pride and belonging.

Maravilla Beach

A Scenic Gem Waiting to Be Discovered

Today, Tabuelan is a vibrant town but remains a largely agricultural town, one look at its landscape reveals a place of untapped beauty. Rolling hills stretch toward the sea, and in places like Maravilla Beach, powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters surprise first time visitors. For years, only a few locals and backpackers knew of this hidden paradise — but in recent years, word has begun to spread.

Tabuelan Astrodome

With improved road access and a growing interest in countryside tourism, Tabuelan is now positioning itself as a peaceful beach destination for those looking to escape the busier shores of Cebu.

A Vital Link to Negros and Iloilo

The port facility of Tabuelan is one of the busiest in the province because of its strategic location serving roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) services for the movement of cargos between the neigboring Visayan islands of Panay and Negros.

Tabuelan Port

From the bosom of Tuburan, Tabuelan was born, and today, it has fully grown into a promising locality with immense potentials. It is home and source of pride for its constituents, yet within it, still dwells the soul and memories of Tuburan, its mother town in the not so distant past.

Manila Under Water

Torrential Rains Submerge the Capital

Manila, Philippines — July 22, 2025

Water level at Marikina river this morning is critical at 16 meters

Large parts of Metro Manila were submerged on Monday night as torrential monsoon rains, intensified by a low-pressure area, caused widespread flooding, traffic standstills, and the suspension of classes and government work in many areas.

The heavy rains began late Sunday and intensified throughout Monday, overwhelming drainage systems and turning major roads into rivers. Areas such as España Boulevard in Manila, Taft Avenue in Pasay, and parts of Quezon City, Makati, and Marikina were reported to be under waist-deep to chest-deep floodwaters.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the southwest monsoon (habagat), enhanced by a nearby weather disturbance, dumped record rainfall over a 24-hour period. PAGASA issued red rainfall warnings in multiple NCR districts and neighboring provinces including Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) declared a state of emergency in some areas, as flood levels breached critical thresholds. Emergency responders were deployed to assist stranded commuters, evacuate residents from low-lying communities, and monitor the rising water in river systems.

“We are experiencing one of the most severe flooding events since Ondoy,” said MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes, referring to the devastating 2009 typhoon. “We urge everyone to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and closely follow official advisories.”

At least 15,000 individuals have been displaced across the capital region, with temporary shelters opened in schools and barangay halls. Power outages were also reported in several districts due to damaged transformers and precautionary shutdowns.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for immediate coordination between national agencies and local government units. “Let us prioritize rescue, relief, and safety. We will rebuild, but right now we must save lives,” the President said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Classes in all levels and work in government offices across NCR have been suspended for Tuesday, July 22, to allow for clearing operations and further assessment of the damage.

As water levels slowly recede in some areas, experts warn that more rains are expected throughout the week. The Department of Health also reminded the public to be wary of leptospirosis and waterborne diseases, urging those who waded through floods to seek medical consultation immediately.