Felicidad.ph

09/05/2024

𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐆𝐒𝐊 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄

The intriguing strength and grace of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA7) is showcased for the second year in a row at at four key sites.

GSK is Cebu’s Night of Museums, a grand event celebrated in May. This year’s event, from 6:00 pm to 12 midnight on Friday, May 10, 2024, counts 22 participating museums in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapulapu and Talisay Cities as well as various heritage sites across these areas. The event is inspired by Europe’s Long Night of Museums which, like its counterpart in Cebu, grows year on year.

FMA is showcased at GSK as a significant element of Visayan heritage, with most of the existing systems of the art and sport tracing its roots to and clubs establishing their homes in Cebu. FMA has grown in popularity with the participation of various clubs in the FMA7 Program of the Department of Tourism – Central Visayas (DOT7).

FMA7 has established three heritage trails in Cebu – Sugbo Sentral Heritage, Amihanan and Habagatan Trails – tourism circuits highlighting various schools and systems.

The GSK 2024 Opening Program, at 4:30 pm at the Plaza Sugbo in Cebu City features the Cacoy Doce Pares Club. Practitioners, students and fans are also expected to converge at running performances, exhibits and demo clinics at the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Building along E. Aboitiz St. and at Fort San Pedro in Cebu City and at the Liberty Shrine in Lapulapu City.

Cacoy Doce Pares and Balintawak Sugbo Eskrima, Inc. meet enthusiasts at their performances at the Aboitiz Building. Alpha Cebu Doce Pares, EVALUTION: Amarra Fighting Concepts and Balintawak Sugbo Eskrima, Inc. will be at Fort San Pedro. At the Liberty Shrine, Lapulapu’s pride Lapulapu Arnis de Abanico, Eskrima de Abanico Stick Fighters Society and Magkuno Diamond Back Eskrima alternate for performances and demo clinics.

“Inclusion of FMA in GSK is testament of the significance of the sport and art in shaping our cultural identity. It is another milestone in heritage appreciation, ” says Gelena Asis-Dimpas, DOT7 Chief Tourism Operations Officer.

04/05/2024

Step into a world of enchantment ️with 𝕭𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖞 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖙 ballet - a timeless tale brought to life on stage! Join us for an unforgettable evening of magic and wonder.

📌 City Wing Atrium, SM Seaside City
📌 5pm
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Sunday, May 12, 2024

Please message Ballet Academy of Cebu for tickets.

26/04/2024

🌟F̳I̳L̳I̳P̳I̳N̳O̳ ̳M̳A̳R̳T̳I̳A̳L̳ ̳A̳R̳T̳S̳ ̳A̳T̳ ̳K̳A̳D̳A̳U̳G̳A̳N̳ ̳S̳A̳ ̳M̳A̳C̳T̳A̳N̳🙌

Accomplished and budding Filipino martial artists, both local and international, are celebrating with the City of Lapulapu at this year’s Kadaugan sa Mactan.

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, 500 Lapulapu City-based performers delight the audience at the 503rd Victory at Mactan at the Liberty Shrine at 7 am. Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) takes the stage again at the Sadsad sa Kadaugan with the performance of JAGMAC, the internationally-renowned Fil-Am sibling pop group.

The Victory at Mactan dance contingent is composed of the Lapulapu Arnis de Abanico, one of Cebu’s most active FMA clubs, and fighters and learners from various groups in the premier city. Represented during the performance are the Babag Arnis Martial Arts Society, Abunians, Olango Sea Serpent and Pajac Arnis de Abanico, Agusanon Arnis Alliance, Buaya, Ibo, Mactan Guardians and Pajo Martial Arts Clubs, Gun-ob and Sudtonggan Stick Fighters, Lo-ok Arnis Warriors, LLCCES Arnis Sentinels and Marigondon United Arnisador.

JAGMAC, whose name is made up of the first letters of the names of the Patalinghug siblings with roots in Cebu, has performed with contemporary artists in the Philippines, the United States and United Kingdom as well as participating in humanitarian activities.

The siblings, Jared, Angelique, Gabriel, Manjo, Alyssa and CJ, have 1.3M followers on TikTok, millions of viewers on YouTube. The number of their fans continues to grow, including on Spotify, where they air all-original music. Holding black belts in eskrima, the Patalinghugs are international FMA ambassadors, promoting the art and sport through their music and choreography.

FMA’s prominence at this year’s Kadaugan celebration “not only highlights FMA as sport and art, or recognizes its entertainment value, but also makes it even more ‘accessible’ on a global scale,” says Gelena Asis-Dimpas, Department of Tourism-Central Visayas (DOT7) Chief Tourism Operations Officer.

The DOT7, together with local government units, among them the City of Lapulapu and the Province of Cebu, and various FMA clubs and stakeholders, support the development of the martial arts sector through the FMA7 Program.

The program brings together the over 30 diverse systems developed by the practitioners and clubs of Central Visayas. The convergence has facilitated widespread promotion and adoption of FMA, bringing more and more enthusiasts from all over the world to events and activities in the region.

FMA7 complements tourism initiatives as it heightens awareness and appreciation of shared cultural heritage, fosters a sense of identity and enhances pride of place.

18/04/2024

👀
📌ℂ𝔼𝔹𝕌 𝕎𝔼𝕃ℂ𝕆𝕄𝔼𝕊 𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ 𝟙𝟘𝟘 𝕀ℕ𝕋𝔼ℝℕ𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝔸𝕃 𝔼𝔻𝕌ℂ𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝔸𝔾𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕊
𝔽𝕆ℝ 𝔼𝕊𝕃 𝔽𝔸𝕄𝕋𝕆𝕌ℝ📌

Cebu hosts over a hundred international education agents from five Asian countries from April 15-19, 2024 on the Grand ESL (English as a Second Language) International Familiarization Tour, the biggest of its kind since the Philippines launched education as a tourism product in 2010.

The agents, from the key markets of Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and South Korea, are inspecting ESL schools and accommodations. They will be meeting with learning program providers, visiting points of interest and participating in planning and networking workshops from April 16-18.

The Cebu Association of Language Academies (CALA) is organizing the event, with the support of the Department of Tourism -Central Visayas (DOT7), partner-agencies Bureau of Immigration and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Province of Cebu. The tour carries the theme “Love the Philippines and Explore English in Cebu”.

Gelena Asis-Dimpas, DOT7 Chief Tourism Operations Officer cites the event as “a significant milestone in the evolution of Cebu as a prime ESL destination.”

Dimpas presents on Friday, April 19, the region’s strategic direction for education tourism, emphasizing DOT7’s support to education service providers and plans for market expansion under its ESL7 and Edux7 Tourism programs.

Pursuant to the National Education Tourism Strategic Action Plan, the DOT has sustained assistance to the international education sector through continued presence in emerging markets, facilitating better travel connectivity to and from these markets, rationalization of the Special Student Permit fees, enforcement of safety standards, training of ESL teachers, and development of off-program tourism destinations.

The ESL7 Program, with proactive participation from CALA, particularly its DOT-accredited members, earned Cebu the top spot among English language learning destinations in the Philippines. The country itself is ranked by the Lucerne-based EF Education First Group second only to Singapore among 23 Asian nations assessed for English proficiency. It holds the 20th spot on the global index for 2023.

“We look forward to an upward growth path for Cebu and Central Visayas where ESL is concerned. We have the tourism fundamentals in place and continue to improve on existing conditions,” Dimpas says.

14/03/2024

Don't miss this opportunity!!! See you there!

Now you don't have to travel far to find the investment opportunity of your dreams!

Don't miss this exciting chance to explore and learn what makes Metro Cebu the country's next investment hotbed while being able to take a closer look at One Mandani Bay, Cebu's next premier business hub!

Be a part of this opportunity! Send us a message or visit www.mandanibay.com

You may also pre-register by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/IFMandaniShowGallery

20/01/2024

Mandani Bay Boardwalk Fluvial Procession Viewing

📌A one-of-a-kind experience!!
Grand fireworks display🎉, meaningful cultural performances🇵🇭, surreal sunrise🌤, expansive vista of the Mactan Channel 🏞and the Sto. Niño flotilla🚢, front row spots for viewing and adoring the image of Sto. Niño.

The unique experience is all about having an unobstructed view of the Image of Sto. Niño de Cebu silhouetted against a majestic sunrise, the vessel carring Him cradled by a serene sea. The Creator embraced by His awesome creation, and devoutly adored by a loving people.

PIT SENYOR! Malipayong Fiesta, Sugbo!!

17/01/2024

17/01/2024

Mark your calendars for "Saulog: Encounter, Pilgrimage, and Transformation," an exhibit featuring the works of avant-garde fashion designer and visual artist Steve de Leon.

The Kabilin center breaks new ground with this exhibit that re-examines stories and expressions of Christianity in Cebu and the Philippines through clothes, tapestries and assemblages.

Keep posted for more information about this exciting exhibit!

15/01/2024

What a Sinulog party!

Mandani Bay treated homeowners and guests to Balikbayan Night 2024 just this evening, celebrating Cebu and the Visayas!!

Mandani Bay also hosts on Saturday, January 20, 2024, the Fluvial Procession viewing. Admission is free!!

̃or2024

14/12/2023

ℂ𝔸𝕊𝔸 𝔾𝕆ℝ𝕆ℝ𝔻𝕆 𝕄𝕌𝕊𝔼𝕌𝕄 𝕄𝔸ℝ𝕂𝕊 40𝓽𝓱 𝔸ℕℕ𝕀𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕐

Cebu’s first house-museum, Casa Gorordo Museum, marked its fortieth year on Saturday, December 9, 2023, looking back to its beginnings, embracing the present and looking forward to future chapters in Cebu’s cultural evolution.

The 40th Anniversary event fittingly featured performances by Izarzuri Vidal, Liana San Diego, Mao Ka Guitars, the University of San Jose-Recoletos Chorale and the University of San Carlos Dance Troupe.

In attendance at the event were Cebu City Vice-Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao and National Historical Commission of the Philippines’s (NHCP) Gerwill Cruz. The City of Cebu, the DOT and NHCP continue to support numerous Casa Gorordo activities and advocacies.

Marie Sol Gonzalvo, Executive Director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) Social Well-being Cluster, delivered the foundation’s message of gratitude for partners and collaborators, emphasizing the relevance of understanding heritage in light of contemporary lifestyles and social development.

The anniversary event as well launched the much-awaited “Out of Parian: Essays on Cebuano Heritage,” work of historical and social chronicler Gavin Sanson Bagares. The book provides deep insights into the lives of prominent Cebuanos and stories surrounding the Parian district where the museum is located.

Casa Gorordo Museum was built by the Parian native Alejandro Reynes y Rosales in the mid-1800s. Spanish merchant Juan Isidro de Gorordo purchased the property in 1863. Four generations of the Gorordo family, including Cebu’s first Filipino Bishop Juan Gorordo, lived in the classic two-story “balay nga tisa.” It was acquired by the RAFI in 1979 and opened as a public museum in 1983 to promote enjoyment and awareness of Cebuano culture.

In recognition of the its role in raising appreciation for heritage and culture, the NHCP conferred National Historical Landmark status on the museum in 1991.

Apart from a strong advocacy for heritage and culture, the museum is actively involved in other community-oriented activities, including disaster response. It has served as a hub for RAFI’s disaster response initiatives dispatching relief goods for distressed families during typhoons and other incidents.

The 40th Anniversary celebration seals a year-long series of activities, among them the Mobile Sinug, Mga Sugilanon in Senyor Exhibit, Living Sculpture, Tubo Cebu Art Fair, Open Secret Exhibit, Gabii sa Kabilin and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Cultural Experience.

14/12/2023

𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 | Heritage and culture have been our advocacy as early as 1950 when Don Ramon Aboitiz sponsored the printing of the Cebuano translations of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in order to bring the novels to the reach of the masses.

Don Ramon had always hoped for a decent museum in the city, which is why even in his last years, he took an interest and patiently courted the Gorordo heirs to acquire the nineteenth-century family residence of Juan B. Gorordo, Cebu’s first Filipino Bishop, with the prospect of turning the house into a museum. Finally, with the RAFI's acquisition of the Gorordo residence in 1977, the late Eddie Aboitiz brought the idea of a museum to life and opened the Casa Gorordo Museum for the first time to the public on December 15, 1983. This also marked the first-ever lifestyle museum in the country.

For the past 40 years, the Casa Gorordo Museum has opened its doors to tourists and local visitors, celebrating the conservation and promotion of our Cebuano identity.

26/11/2023

FIND YOUR BEST OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AT THE OUTDOORS7 SUMMIT

Catch the OUTDOORS7 EXPO at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu until Sunday, November 26!

Find the adventure that not only brings you great exhilaration, but connects you with nature. Take your pick and book your most thrilling outdoor experience here. Plus check out new products and gear and learn outdoor skills in educational demonstrations.

The OUTDOORS7 EXPO lets you peek into the joy of:

📌CANYONEERING
📌PARAGLIDING
📌BUSHCRAFTING
📌SKIMBOARDING
📌TREKKING
📌TRAIL RUNNING
📌OCEAN CANOE PADDLING
📌KAYAKING
📌MOUNTAIN BIKING
📌MOTOCAMPING
📌OUTDOOR EDUCATION
📌FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS
📌And many more!

The Expo is mounted by the Department of Tourism – Central Visayas (DOT7) in partnership with Ayala Malls, ROX, RAFI and Tuburan Coffee together with the outdoor-adventure community of the region as part of the Outdoors7 Summit from November 23-26, 2023.

The Outdoors7 Summit this year included the Nature-Based Tourism Product Enhancement Series and Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Training for the outdoor-adventure, ecotourism activity operators, farm and martial arts tourism stakeholders at the Laguna Garden Café.

The Summit aligns with the National Tourism Development Plan of 2023-2028 by enhancing existing product portfolios towards improving the visitors’ travel experience.

11/07/2023

👋 Hey, 𝔻𝕒𝐯𝐚ό, are you ready to start your✈️ 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 🧳journey?

IDP Education, world leader in student placement, recently opened its Davao City branch, its first in Mindanao.

IDP’s Certified Education Counsellors offer expert services:

☑️ student placement – for 🇸🇭Australia and 🇨🇦Canada
☑️counselling and guidance on choices of schools and programmes, assessment of student’s credentials
☑️counselling and guidance on the school application process
☑️counselling and guidance on choices of living arrangements (in- or off-campus accommodations)
☑️counselling and guidance on financial requirements
☑️assistance on student visa application
☑️pre-departure orientation

All services free of charge!! Plus, look out for education fairs and other exciting events!

The IDP Education Davao City Office is at:

Tagubud Room, 4th Floor
Topaz Tower, Damosa I.T. Park, Lanang, Davao City

Check them out online: https://www.idp.com/philippines/ https://www.facebook.com/idpeducationph

IDP blends human expertise with cutting-edge technology on its digital platforms to help students get accepted into their dream institutions overseas.

IDP is an Australia-listed company with operations in over 50 countries. Its websites attract 100 million visits yearly. The Philippines office opened in 1985, in Manila. The Cebu office started operations in 2008. Philippine operations has grown exponentially since placing thousands of Filipino students in various institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

IDP is co-owner of IELTS (International English Language Test System), the world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency system.

The expansion into Mindanao confirms IDP Philippines’ growth trajectory, offering better accessibility and convenience for students in the Mindanao regions.

25/05/2023

🏅The Philippines' first geopark - Bohol Island! Kudos! 🙌👏👏🎊🥳🎉

‘BOHOL ISLAND GEOPARK'

The Unesco has named 18 new global geoparks including Bohol Island, making it the Philippines’ first.

“The geopark abounds in karstic geosites such as caves, sinkholes and cone karst, including the famous cone-shaped Chocolate Hills in the centre of the geopark,” the agency states.

The global geopark designation recognizes “geological heritage of international significance.”

25/05/2023

DIVE 7| SHOOT | RIDE | DIVE in Medellin, Cebu kicks off!!
Running until Sunday, May 28, 2023.

17/05/2023

📌Visit Casa Gorordo for Free!

It's International Museum Day tomorrow. Casa Gorordo Museum waives its entrance fee, from 1-5:00 p.m. Plus it's free viewing of Casa Gorordo's pocket exhibits Kinaiya / Kinaiyahan: Prisms of Ownership, Personality, and Nature & Open Secret: Glimpses of Folklore in Revolution and Resistance or immerse at The Kabilin Center's exhibit, Duyan Ang Kadagatan: Cebuano Culture and Heritage of the Sea

We are opening our doors for free in celebration of International Museum Day!

Get a chance to tour Casa Gorordo Museum, visit our pocket exhibits Kinaiya / Kinaiyahan: Prisms of Ownership, Personality, and Nature, and Open Secret: Glimpses of Folklore in Revolution and Resistance, or immerse at The Kabilin Center's exhibit, Duyan Ang Kadagatan: Cebuano Culture and Heritage of the Sea absolutely for free!

NOTE:
Free entrance only applies to hours indicated in the poster.

17/05/2023

👀 ICYMI
SCENES FROM THE FMA7 𝕲𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖎 𝖘𝖆 𝕶𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖓 2023 DEBUT

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), was highlighted at Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK) for the first time at last Friday’s staging of the popular and much-loved heritage festival. Cebu’s FMA clubs mounted magnificent performances at the Heritage of Cebu Monument in Parian, the Fort San Pedro and Museo Sugbo in Cebu City and Lapulapu City’s Liberty Shrine.

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), the 32 Systems and Clubs flourishing particularly in Cebu Province, has evolved into a significant element of Cebuano heritage.

The performance at the Heritage of Cebu Monument was made more exciting with the audience participating in impromptu stance tutorials, photo ops and games where they won arnis canes to take home.

FMA is an extensive body of systems and forms of combative self-defense. It lends itself as an umbrella label for arnis, eskrima, kali and other similar street-fighting techniques. Republic Act 9850, signed in December 2009, declares Arnis as the national martial art and sport of the Philippines.

DOT7 supports the art and sport through the FMA7 Program which promotes it as a means of cultural affirmation and source of national pride. FMA7 unifies practitioners, clubs and schools for the enrichment of FMA Heritage Trails and the development of the art and sport themselves.

12/05/2023

YOU DON'T WANNA MISS THIS!

This is TKC's Cultural Show for Gabii sa Kabilin, "Kalingawan Sa Bantawan". Acts like Budoy, Lourdes Maglinte, Jewel Villaflores, Mampor & Me, Izazuri Vidal, St. Cecila College - SHS Students, and the candidates of Ginoong Pilipinas, will be gracing/performing from 6 p.m.- 12 midnight on May 12, 2023.

12/05/2023

12/05/2023

starts NOW!!

Have fun, Cebu!

10/05/2023

G na sa GSK!!

AROUND 9,500 people are set to participate in Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK), an event where participants visit museums, heritage sites, enjoy cultural shows, exhibits and other activities...

09/05/2023

06/05/2023

In partnership with Cebu Insitute of Technology- University's Creative Alliance of Multimedia and Visual Arts Students and the University of the Philippines - Cebu Fine Arts Students Organization - FASO, we present to you "Open Secret: Glimpses of Folklore in Revolution and Resistance"

We are inviting all of you to experience this black light exhibit for this year's Gabii sa Kabilin.

Buy your tickets now!
https://facebook.com/casagorordomuseum/posts/546252814351273

06/05/2023

👀 HERE:

ⒸⒶⓈⒶ ⒼⓄⓇⓄⓇⒹⓄ 𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙽𝚂 𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝚄𝙻𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙴𝚇𝙷𝙸𝙱𝙸𝚃𝚂, 𝙸𝙽𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟾

Exhibits are part of museum’s 𝕲𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖎 𝖘𝖆 𝕶𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖓 attractions

👏👏🌟💞✅❕🎉🎊🎈

Casa Gorordo Museum adds interesting elements to the appreciation of Cebuano heritage on May 8, 2023, opening two (2) pocket exhibits and a string of outdoor installations. The exhibits, “Kinaiya/ Kinaiyahan: Prisms of Ownership, Personality and Nature” and “Open Secret: Folklore in Revolution and Resistance”, together with the installations within the house museum will be part of the Gabii sa Kabilin displays on May 12.

Both exhibits will be mounted on Ballesteros St. cor. Eduardo Aboitiz St., within a few steps from Casa Gorordo. The displays take off from this year’s GSK theme: “Pagpanag-iya: owning our story,” honoring the 125th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.

Kinaiya / kinaiyahan is a provocative presentation of the interplay between culture and nature. It uses historical materials to trace how the local community of Cebu City related to or detached itself from its environment over the years. Its centerpiece is an old map of the city. Around this focal element will be a selection of portraits of personalities, digitally-constructed mosaics of the modern cityscape and flora and fauna serving as backdrops to the creative works of the renowned Cebuano designers Protacio Empaces, Jr. and brothers Nikko and Nikki Ricaplaza.

On the other hand, Open Secret uses black light to underscore what happens during periods of upheaval, specifically in the revolutionary movements of long ago, juxtaposing fact with folklore as they influenced notions of nationalism and patriotism. The audience will peek into darkened cubicles where acrylic paintings rendered by young artists interpret images and symbols from Cebuano folklore and the 1898 revolution.

As part of the museum’s GSK offers, Kinaiya/Kinaiyahan and Open Secret may be accessed with GSK tickets at the Gabii sa Kabilin, available at the event’s 22 participating venues, including Casa Gorordo Museum. The special exhibits may also be viewed until June 1, 2023 for a P100 entrance fee.

Aside from the two pocket exhibits, Casa Gorordo magnifies its Cebuano citizenship with outdoor installations collectively dubbed “Unearthing Sugbo” mounted in partnership with the City of Cebu and the University of San Carlos Museum. The carefully-curated displays will be at Parian, Plaza Sugbo, Plaza Independencia, Freedom Park and Fort San Pedro.

12/04/2023

𝔹𝕀𝔾𝔾𝔼ℝ ℙℝ𝕆𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕋𝕊 𝕊𝔼𝔼ℕ 𝔽𝕆ℝ 𝔼𝔻𝕌ℂ𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝕋𝕆𝕌ℝ𝕀𝕊𝕄 𝕀ℕ ℂ𝔼ℕ𝕋ℝ𝔸𝕃 𝕍𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕐𝔸𝕊, ℙℍ𝕃

The Department of Tourism – Central Visayas (DOT7) sees rosier opportunities in a growing market for English as a second language (ESL) with industry players improving programs and facilities and creating strategic alliances with collaborators abroad.

Over a hundred agents and officials of key ESL markets in Asia have visited Central Visayas over the past six months and were conducted on successful technical assessment visits of local centers, DOT7 Chief Tourism Operations Officer Gelena Asis-Dimpas reports.

In the first quarter of 2023, Japanese, South Korean and Chinese delegations inspected various ESL academies in Cebu. The visits were coordinated by the DOT7 and the Cebu Association of Language Academy (CALA).

Agents and officials from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Quang Ninh and Can Tho in Vietnam and major locations of Taiwan ran similar missions in the last quarter of 2022.

Dimpas says the assessment trips are resulting in enrolment surges in ESL programs in the region, with Cebu getting the lion’s share of students.

The positive trajectory of the ESL sector is aligned with the direction of the DOT Office of Product and Market Development which is supporting initiatives in budding markets, particularly Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey.

A majority of the ESL schools in Cebu have completed rehabilitation of facilities damaged by Typhoon Odette. Hunju Lee, President of the Cebu Association of Language Academy (CALA), the area’s biggest organization of language institutions, shares that aside from repairing and upgrading facilities, ESL academies are making special efforts towards seamless entry of students to ensure an effective reboot for education tourism.

The proactive approach of ESL service providers to marketing is among the distinct advantages of Central Visayas.

“ESL is currently re-establishing itself as we suffered a total meltdown with the pandemic and serious lashing by Typhoon Odette. With the assertive cooperation of local ESL operators, we are fast reclaiming our position in the global marketplace,” says Dimpas.

ESL learning was shifted to online mode as students were called back home at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the reopening of the economy nationwide, the DOT7 supports the ESL sector and other tourist-facing businesses to ensure faster recovery.

The region’s ESL schools offer short- and long-stay programs. Dimpas explains that students enlist here because of quality learning experiences, high instructor competencies, hotel-like accommodation facilities and accessibility of ridge-to-reef activities which offer “highly satisfying extra-curricular experiences.”
CALA’s member-academies have accommodated thousands of students from Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia and Russia since in-person programs were re-opened in July last year.

Cebu has 110 ESL schools and other similar institutions offering a diverse menu of programs for students of various levels.

The Philippines ranks 13th on the global English Proficiency Index this year. It was second in Asia in 2022.

12/04/2023

📌CASA GORORDO FULFILLS ITS FAITH HERITAGE IN
CONTINUED COMMUNITY INTEGRATION📌

Its robust faith heritage and continued assimilation into the Cebuano community’s spiritual journey was effectively demonstrated by Casa Gorordo Museum at its participation in Semana Santa 2023.

The beloved house-museum was the first in the province to open to the public. It approaches its 40th Anniversary this year, with a carefully curated series of activities exhibiting seamless integration into Cebuano historical, cultural, social and spiritual life.

The museum produced another first for Cebu at Semana Santa 2023 in coordination with the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral - the Live Sculpture Interpretation of the 14 Stations of the Cross on the evening of Holy Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The museum’s century-old carrosas bearing the Segunda Caida and Santa Veronica images were among those at the Pasos, the Cathedral’s annual Holy Wednesday procession. Casa Gorordo’s participation at the Pasos is a treasured house tradition.

“Cebuano culture is deeply rooted in faith; it, in fact, shapes the Cebuano’s very identity. Being a heritage showcase and guide to the world that shaped Cebuano cultural identity, Casa Gorordo retains all of the faith-based traditions handed down by the house’s previous owners. The Live Sculpture Interpretation of the Way of the Cross brings this faith identity to an even deeper dimension,” says Florencio Moreño II, Officer-in-charge of the Culture and Heritage Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI).

RAFI acquired the then over-a-century-old house from the family of Cebu’s first archbishop, Juan Gorordo. It was restored and opened as a public museum in 1983. RAFI’s CHU, fulfilling its goal of developing a strong sense of cultural identity among local communities, continues to enrich the Casa Gorordo experience with immersive social and religious elements.

Aside from the annual participation in the Pasos, the museum’s house traditions include Sinug sa Casa Gorordo at the close of the Fiesta Senor in January, Sabyag San Juan during St. John the Baptist’s Feastday on June 24 and the display of the house Belen in December.

The house traditions do not only provide windows into the religious practices of the colonial Cebuanos of Parian; they are as well opportunities for the renewal of spiritual fervor among the modern-day residents of Cebu City.

07/04/2023