Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza - Sibonga Cebu

The facade of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza

The second church that we visited during the Cebu Southern Heritage Trail was the old parish church in the town of Sibonga - Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza church. 

Church facade

Brief History

On 1690, the Church of Sibonga was established as a Visita of Carcar by the Agustinian Missionaries and on 1830, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza became a parish. The earlier church was made of wood and nipa. The convent was constructed using corals and stones under the leadership of Fr. Prospero Puerto on 1839; and the construction of the current church which is made of stones was started on 1866. The church's architectural design is Neo-Gothic. The construction was continued by Fr. Juan Alonzo,1868-1881; Fr. Enrique Magaz,1881-1890; Fr. Emiliano Diez, 1890-1898. On 1924, the church ceiling was painted with various biblical scenes. This amazing work of art was rendered by Raymundo Francia of Cebu.

It was around 10AM when we arrived. The event organizer gave us only 40 minutes to shoot and have a quick tour around the old church. The facade of the church is like an ordinary old stone architecture, no eye-catching colors but as they say – never judge a book by its cover for the beauty that lies within is a complete opposite to what you see from the outside.

Church Interior

You will be amazed by the artwork on the high ceilings of this church. It is covered with paintings of some biblical scenes starting from the church entrance up to the altar.

Church Interior

Communion - Portrayed on the ceiling

Bishop and priests blessed the children.

Jesus Christ on the Cross

A woman offers a prayer inside the Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza Parish.

An image of the Virgin Mary with the Holy Child Jesus

My colleagues - Liz, Rafael and the award winning photographer Robo Formacion 

Owe, Liz, Rafael and Me at New Sibonga  Plaza accross the church.

This was really an amazing visit to this old church, I was mesmerized by the painted ceiling and how the people of Sibonga have preserved this old structure.

For more photos please visit my facebook page.
Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk: Cebu Heritage Tour

Manny Rulona | Facebook

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church - Carcar City

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

Situated in the heart of Carcar town, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church stands on top of a hill. It is surrounded by a fence made of coral stones and steel bars. It has 12 statues of the 12 apostles standing on every pillars of the fence that is coated in white paint. Its construction was started in 1860 and was finished in 1875.

Last October, as part of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk Cebu Heritage Tour, we took a visit to the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria with my fellow amateur and professional photographers   We did a tour around the church plaza, the convent and the bell towers.

Here are some of my shots.

The facade of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church Parish Convent

One of the Statues of the 12 Apostles in front the church's patio.

Church high Ceiling

A view of the altar from the main door of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

The Ceiling of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church taken from the 2nd floor.

A view of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church from the 2nd floor.

The ceiling of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

The bell tower of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

The bell tower of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church

Portrait with my friend Rafael, Elizabeth and me.

This was the first church that we visited during our Heritage Tour and we were amazed of its beauty and grandeur as well as how the people of Carcar were able to preserve this real treasure that reflects their culture from generations to generations.

For more photo please visit my facebook page.
Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk: Cebu Heritage Tour

Manny Rulona | Facebook

Carcar City Trip

Carcar City Rotunda

It was a gloomy weekend on February 2011 when one of my officemates organized a road trip going to the southern part of Cebu - my first trip with my DSLR camera. This was some kind of a heritage tour which includes visiting old churches, town landmarks and ancestral houses. First on our list was Carcar City.

With my colleagues inside the bus

Carcar is located approximately 40 kilometers from Cebu City. We took a bus ride from the Cebu City South Bus Terminal and we arrived after 45 minutes in the downtown area.

Carcar City Museum

The city is known for its old houses which are mostly of Spanish and American design showing that the place is really rich in culture. Even though Carcar is already considered a city, the townspeople have been successful in preserving most of the ancestral houses along the national highway despite the fast emergence of commercial centers.

Manny at Balay nga Tisa

A few of our destinations were St. Alexandria Church, Balay nga Tisa, the famous Rotunda and their shoe retail outlet.

With Nelly, Ghia, Charles and Jobel at Carcar City Rotunda.

At Carcar City shoe retail outlet

This was my first time to have a walk in Carcar and took photos with my friends. This is only just the start of our heritage tour in the Southern part of Cebu.

Oh wait! I forgot to mention their delicious delicacies like "Ampaw" and "Chicharon". If you want to try and taste it, visit Carcar City now!

My Plantation Bay Episode

It was summer of 2011, my unforgettable experience in Plantation Bay Resort and Spa for free. Yeah, you are right, it's free.  Why it's free? Here we go.

When one of my colleague posted a link on Facebook last April 2011 that Plantation Bay will having a photo contest on their resort, well, I just click the link and go directly to their website. This time, I was so excited because this would be my chance to enter on one of the best resort in Asia. The excitement really goes to the highest level when they said that there's no registration fee and the entrance is free. Then, I just filled up the forms and email it to Plantation Bay and after that, they gave a schedule for our shoot.

Straight from the office after duty, I go directly to Marigondon in Mactan Island where Plantation Bay is located with my friend photographer, Rafael. It was 2 O'clock in the afternoon, the sun is up, the sky is blue and the weather is really good. Perfect when the staff of the hotel really gave us a warm welcome and they really treat us as a guest. So overwhelming, it was a five star greetings.

At the lobby, we start taking pictures, observing some of the guest that was entertained by some hotel personnel. They are really hospitable. They are treating everyone as VIP. The lobby pond is great, lots of colorful fishes, it really takes away my stress from work. Then after that, we go around the resort and whoah... the resort is really big. Time to Shoot.

Like a village in a resort, there are lots of swimming pools and different kind of accommodations with modern Western and Mediterranean architectures. 

This is one of the fresh swimming pools in Plantation Bay.

The pool was clear, so fresh and really tempting. I want to jump and swim. 

The bamboo fountain outside the Spa

The Mogambo Spring at Plantation Bay Spa

It feels like we are in ancient zen garden. The ambiance is so relaxing and the landscapes are really beautiful.

The Kilimanjaro Cafe

              I believe, this is where the buffet lunch/dinner were served. Plantation Bay has a lot of restaurants and International food choices. They have Palermo Cafe & Bar, Fiji restaurant, Savannah Grill and Kilimanjaro Cafe(photo above). Good thing  that we ate snacks before  we go inside the resort. The prices of the food here is a little bit expensive but they say that the food is great because they have a good and award winning international Chef. So much for the food, let's go to the beach!

Plantation Bay Beach with speed boat and Jet Ski for water sports and fun rides.

The beach scenery was amazing. The small white beach is quite, simple yet elegant and I'm sure that the guests will really love to have a sun bathing here. We stay here for almost an hour, just sitting on their mini port veranda.We keep on talking about the resort on how it was developed. We are lucky enough to get inside the resort.

The sea water pools  inside the Plantation Bay surrounded by different accommodations, rooms and cottages.

The Water Edge accommodation.
My favorite room. I wish I could stay here even just for one night.

We are now watching the sun to set and waiting for an evening lights. Perfect! Plantation Bay were having a "Night in the Plantation Bay" program. A night of entertainment with a dinner buffet for all the guests. Lights on the stage as the beautiful ladies and talented gentlemen performed on an spectacular modern and ethnic dance.

Fire dance during the Night at the Plantation Bay

If you are really  a guest, there are still lots of activities that you can experience in the resort like biking, kayaking, wall climbing and riding on their Kalesa.

Self Portrait before leaving Plantation Bay: Playing with the lights on lobby. 

After 6 hours of clicking and shooting at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, our tummy is now complaining. It's time to go home.

 This is one of my unforgettable experience in the summer of 2011. Even though we didn't swim on their pools, or stay on their very luxurious rooms, we are still lucky enough to tour around and see the beautiful Plantation Bay. 

I hope that someday i will go here for an overnight stay and experience the real hospitality as a real guest not just a visiting photographer. I really recommend this resort for vacations, relaxations and for fun. This is an all in one resort.

You can visit their website for booking and inquiries at http://plantationbay.com. Or you can go directly to the resort located at Marigondon, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.

Food Photography(For the First Time!)

Last June 2011, one of my friend in facebook leave a private message. He told me if I'm available for a photo-shoot. I don't have any idea if what kind of subject am I going to take, he just took my contact info and then in a moment, my phone ring. I answer the phone and a lady was talking. I introduce my self and she interviewed me about photography. I'm talking now with the Account Manager of a hotel in Cebu City--Golden Peak Hotel! Weeeeww... Sweating! First time to make a deal with this kind of person. She scheduled me for a meeting about what we are going to shoot. I also invited one of my istorya.net buddy that love to take pictures. Then, we make a shooting proposal for the entire hotel. One of the highlights of what we going to shoot is their restaurant-- Cafe Lucita.

On the first day of our shoot, our camera was set on the restaurant and bars. We took shots on the bar settings and of course their food and food and lots of food...hehe...

Here are some of my shots:

Leche flan

"Mangang Hilaw"(Green Mango) with Hipon

Calamari

Pork Steak Combo meal

Puto? Puto!(Steamed rice cake)

After shooting, we had a great lunch buffet. Yeah!

For more photos, please visit my Facebook and Flickr Photostream.

A visit to Olango Island Cebu

Olango Island, a known wildlife sanctuary island that belongs to the Olango group of islands that found in Central Visayas Region. Composing of the main island Olango and the 6 islets namely: Sulpa, Gilutungan, Nalusuan, Caohagan, Pangan-an, and Camugi. It lies between the Bohol strait in the north and Camotes sea in the South. Olango Island is located 5 kilometers east of Mactan Island.

Using "Banca de motor" or motor boats and a ferry boat as a main transportation to cross the Island from Hilton Wharf in Mactan, our vessel was departed around 8AM and arrive at the island after 20 minutes.

This photowalk in Olango was headed by the masters and professional photographers namely: Jeffrey Go and Alberto Abay. We are only 4 in this walk including Miss Mary Luz Tubal. We started our walk from the port area of Olango going to the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Here are some of my shots:

"Inosente"

One of the livelihood in the Island--Shell craft

Looking at you

You can check my facebook account to see all the photos in our Olango journey -- Manny Rulona.