CBS Christmas Party 2008

Mc Donald JY, Lahug - Obnoxious Queer's Photo

Mendoza's Residence - Clado's Photo

At the Pool - Clado's Photo

Awarding Ceremony - Vanjhnn's photo

CEBU BLOGGGERS SOCIETY, December 13, 2008 – The weather was fine. I grabbed my bag after work goin’ to the assembly area not minding the traffic that may hinder my minutes ride. That was my second meet up with the group since I joined CBS last October. It was past 3pm when CBS thronged inside McDonald located at JY Square, Lahug and later that time we collectively decided to proceed to the venue.

We took an enjoyable ride before reaching Mendoza’s Residence @ Jarden de Busay. Although the road of the village is steep and winding but the views of impressive and beautiful natural sceneries made us appreciate the place. It was so relaxing and you can feel freshness of the environment. Everyone got time to mingle, chat and others were busy taking some pictures. Am not that lucky because my camera was borrowed. I’m fond and taking pictures and love photography as one of my hobbies. Other members were busy sharing the work in preparing for food in the kitchen.

The party began by introducing every CBS member at the theater room. Ambiance inside the room was so joyous and euphoric especially when the creative slideshow of the Never Ending Story and the videos presented by Vanjhnn . The talents of our own CBS spokesman Kevin Ray Chua , his Inglisera lip-synching, and Obnoxious Queer's Take A Bow of Rihanna have been presented. I’ve seen Kevin's rendetion before in youtube but didn't actually knew him till I became a member of this society. Am a bisrock fanatic since the birth of the BUGS. Cheers bisrockers!

Dinner time – the food served was so delectable and mouthwatering especially the bok choy (pechay gud). I love that vegetable viand (sud’an ba). As the group having our good time for the midday meal, lights from the cities started to illuminate and brighten up the night sky contrasting the gloomy mountain on the other side. After we satiated our stomach, we proceeded to the living area for the awarding of certificates.

A recognition that was just for fun and was decided by the majority of votes (kabantay ko dihay flying voters ato…hahaha. juk). Bloggers who got most of the awards were Clado and X. If my memory serves me right, these are the awardees:

Most Promising Blogger - Beejing
Early Golden Dove Award - Kevin
Star of the Night - AJ
Couple of the Night – Jorich and Clado
Better Late Than Never - Clado
Best Food Blogger - X
Best Photo Blogger - Vanjhnn
Camwhore of the Night - X
Best Blog Layout or Design - Rodel
Controversial Entry Award - Beejing
Pose of the Year – X
Best Spammer - Jorich
Most Bisdakistic Blogger – Clado

That night, I felt the coolness of the breeze only to remind me that it’s yuletide season and the event I have attended was CEBU BLOGGERS SOCIETY Christmas Party 2008. All hail CBS!

Photos posted here were from Vanjhnn , Obnoxious Queer and Clado . Thank you guys!

Church of Hilongos, Leyte

The Facade - Hilongos Church

The Altar

Belltower

Right Side

Left Side (Old Entrance)

The Immaculate Concepcion Parish is located only across the Municipal Hall. The Church is a 17th century edifice as presented in the landmark put up by the National Historical Commission. The “cota” that encircles the church was constructed in that year to protect the church from the marauding “moros”.

Hilongos Church is a classic example of a well-preserved fort (cota) and church. Hilongos way back in 1700’s was already a parish with its neighboring towns included as its jurisdiction. In Palompon, early settlers sailed to Hilongos to attend masses every Sundays. The belfry of the 270-year old stone church in Hilongos, Leyte and the fortification of stone around the church was built to protect the early settlers from the onslaught of Moro raids. The frequent Moro raids made the Leyte churches unique, with fortification of massive coral stones.

The church in Hilongos was buit in 1737, but during the American occupation, a Katipunero, Francisco “Kikoy” Flordeliz, was forced to surrender by the US forces, but he refused. The whole town of Hilongos was burned including the church. But the ruin was masterfully renovated not to touch the original architectural make-up of the structure. The old church is still there, but an extension was built in 1960’s. The ruin of the altar was transformed into a devotional garden (dagkutanan) with statues of saints and decorated with ornamental plants and flowers.

It is quite clear that the church complex underwent major renovations over the centuries. The old entrance, formerly the main entrance to the fort, is now blocked. Area in this side now became a school (St. Therese School of Hilongos) and the old nave converted to the transept of a new church. A newer convent has been built inside the fortification that guards many of the church’s antiques including silver vessels from the 18th century. The church interior is completely new in contrast to the convent which may have been completed in the 19th century.

The bell tower build by Fr. Celis-Diaz is an independent multi-story structure, now plastered over with Portland cement. Examination of extant remains indicate that the church and the surrounding walls were built as one ensemble and is akin to 18th century construction. Some bastions and walls of the original church’s fortification still remain. A fortification surrounds the church to which an older church façade is attached suggesting that the fort was coeval to this old structure.

People of this generation treated these architectural heritage sites differently, people wanted to make the place integral to modern fortifications walls and some bastions remain. Now, effort to preserve and protect the Hilongos church is a joint undertaking of the parish and the local government unit. History-conscious Hilongosnons wanted these walls to remain untouched and preserved the church ruin. Today, only in Hilongos, where we can find a church with a fortification.

Here is my watercolor painting of our church (Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Hilongos Leyte) 22" x 17" framed.