North & South

If the Province of Cebu has its “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo,” I also had my own from north to south, three places in a span of more or less a month and it was all worth it. Seeing some dear friends from way back after quite some time and meeting new ones made it more memorable. Not to mention the very hospitable hosts we had in every town we visited.

The first one was during the fiesta celebration of Carmen town in the north for their Sinamay Festival Queen. This writer stood as one of the board of judges together with other personalities from the city including ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother housemate, the very good-natured and Cebu’s very own Paul Jake Castillo, who happens to have a vast farm in that town. This was like a couple of weeks or so before he was formally introduced as one of the “housemates.” In this note, I would like to personally appeal to all the Cebuanos that we extend all our support to the “Negosyo Prince of Cebu.”  

A few weeks later was the Karansa Festival of Danao City. Through the invitation of Danao City Councilor Ivy Durano-Meca, I had the chance to witness the very impressive festival held at the CSCST grounds. There, we were able to meet the city’s amiable Mayor Ramonito “Nito” Durano III and his very accomplished sons, DOT Secretary Ace Durano and Congressman Red Durano, who were very much at the helm. It was an opportunity, too, to have met Senator Chiz Escudero who was the honored guest that afternoon. Of course the two lady Board Members of the district, Agnes Almendras-Magpale and Judy Sybico were there, too. Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama took time out and apparently enjoyed the different contingents performing at the grand stand together with Danao First Lady Elizabeth Durano, Sogod Mayor Moonyeen Durano, businessman and boxing aficionado Michael Aldeguer with his lovely wife Christine and some other VIPs. The night previous to that was the Karansa Festival Queen coronation night with Governor Gwen Garcia as the honored guest.

The following week was Argao town’s Pitlagong Festival. Of course, as an Argawanon myself, I wouldn’t miss the fiesta celebrations in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel for nothing. I was able to attend three different nightly events which definitely added more color to the fiesta celebration. First was the Pitlagong Festival Queen coronation. The following night was the “Garbo sa Argao” wherein the town honored the former mayors and other Argawanons with exemplary accomplishments. And one of them was my late grandfather, Vicente C. Kintanar, Sr. who was Argao’s first municipal mayor when the Philippines gained its independence. The following evening was the wacky show of comedian Pooh with GMA 7’s “Who Will Be The Next Singing Star” 1st runner-up Alex Santos and ABS-CBN’s “Born Diva” 1st runner-up Shayne Corpuz.

To the beautiful people of Carmen and Danao, thank you very much for your warm hospitality! More power and God bless!