I added my video of Marimar to the original. In case you don’t want to go back to read the post here she is:

Click here for the original post.

There is a problem at the Farm so Fe and I have them drop us off at Titays in Liloan for another taste of Rosquillos, and to see if the Old Man is again there playing his Harp.

I spent a few hours touring Fort San Pedro in the old part of Cebu. Built to repel Muslim and native pirates in 1565, at one time the Fort stood next to the water. Reclamation over the past 500+ years has moved the foreshore about 500 meters away. You can barely see the ocean now because of intervening buildings and trees.

The main gate

I heard about these guys before I met them. Everyone said they are the best blues band in Cebu and have been together a long time. I did some net research and found a couple of vids on Youtube, not much, but what I saw piqued my interest. If I couldn’t connect with Bruce Conte (former guitarist in that quintessential funk group Tower of Power, who is now living and playing in Cebu) maybe I could find Arnold Ang, the leader of 40 the Band.

Lyndon, Juel, Arnold, Henri, Kay (L-R)

all pics from 40 the Band website.

Michael, Fe’s son, comes from the US for a short visit and Dr. Lito decides to take us on an overnight trip to Malapascua Island. Malapascua, off the northern tip of Cebu, is graced with white sand beaches and an extensive reef system. Thresher sharks and manta rays are seen regularly. Scuba divers around the world make their way there. It has also become a popular spot with vacationers.

Most of the resorts and dive facilities are located on “Bounty Beach” along the southern end of the island. We are to spend the evening at Bantigue Cove, a new resort located at the extreme NE corner of the island, far away from the noise, hustle and bustle.

View from our cottage

Traveling down Gorordo Avenue from JY Square, somewhere in the vicinity of the University of the Philippines, I noticed a stretch of sidewalk that looks like a showroom for bamboo products. Everything from beds, chairs, loungers, sofas, tables, cabinets, vanities, cribs and even ladders are displayed, all made of bamboo. One afternoon I went there for a visit

Many houses in Cebu have walls, eight to 10 feet high topped with barbed wire or better yet, broken glass, with big double sided steel entry gates.

Ever wonder what’s behind these walls?

We were invited to a dinner party at the beach house of Lou and Tony Aldeguer. Together they own Aldeguer Group of Companies which includes Loalde Boutiques, Island Souvenirs and USA Sports among other interests. Tony also owns renowned ALA Boxing Gym and manages world boxing contenders, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, Rey “Boom Boom” Baitista, Czar Amonsot, and Z Gorres. Before we left the Philippines Bazooka and Boom Boom both won matches by knockout in the “Philippine Invasion,The Philippines against the World”.

When I first toured the beach house 20 years ago it had a native thatch roof and dividing walls were made of nipa. Today, after suffering extensive typhoon damage, they have completely remodeled the house, replacing the thatch with fiberglass roofing and installing painted concrete and plaster walls. Though retaining it’s “native” feel, the house is now modern contemporary. The reincarnation was designed by their daughter who is an architect in the US.

For a couple of years I have been posting on a forum named “Living in Cebu”. It is owned by Paul Petrea, an American expat from Georgia. Paul came to Cebu several years ago and fell in love with the Philippines, the lifestyle and it’s beautiful women. He decided to live here full time and provides the forum as a way of helping others who are thinking about visiting or moving to Cebu.

Pandanon Island

Once a month the members who are in country get together for a boat trip. Costs are shared and they have a pitch in picnic. Depending on how many come, it can be a very inexpensive way to go island hopping.

As you walk back toward the entrance the houses start getting smaller again.