Café Culture in Cebu: 6 Underrated Hangouts You Don’t Want Other People to Know

Il dolce far niente! Oh, the sweetness of doing nothing. There is an apparent renaissance that is taking the whole metropolis in its grip. They call it the “café culture”. Clever marketing, creative concepts and trend-chasing brats have given rise to a renaissance of coffee-sipping and bean bag-lounging fad currently popular among the younger spectrum… Read More Café Culture in Cebu: 6 Underrated Hangouts You Don’t Want Other People to Know

March 20, 2018August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro16 Comments

Traversing Cebu: An Introduction to False Promises and Viral Photos

For the past years, tourism in Cebu has been selling like the proverbial hotcakes despite the rather steamy political landscape in the island. The advent of so many JOINER packages posted on Facebook is an indication of the traveling frenzy prevalent among the younger professionals. Thanks to affordable car promotions and clever advertising ploys pulled… Read More Traversing Cebu: An Introduction to False Promises and Viral Photos

February 28, 2018August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro6 Comments

Attitude of Gratitude: 5 Things We Haven’t Thanked Enough For

If I would be so bold and squeeze the years that have gone in two words, I would say THANK YOU. The time has come for us to bid goodbye to 2017. The ride has been amazing but as all other great things do: it, too, has to come to an end. Soon, we will… Read More Attitude of Gratitude: 5 Things We Haven’t Thanked Enough For

December 31, 2017August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro6 Comments

Mt. Naupa, Naga: From Reefs To Ridges

I am not the superstitious type despite the provincial upbringing I had when I was little. I grew up fearing the tolling of the eight o’clock bell at night but it was more of a fear of the belt against my behind than the agta, or the kaskas, or the aswang, or whatever elemental my… Read More Mt. Naupa, Naga: From Reefs To Ridges

December 3, 2017August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro16 Comments

Money, Age and Life: A Rant Of A Millennial Who Is Yet To Figure It Out

millennial [miˈlenēəl] noun. a person reaching young adulthood in the early 21st century plural noun: millennials If anything, 2017 is a blaring wake-up call for me. I have been working for eight hours a day, five days a week for the past nine years and I am not complaining about it. Life has… Read More Money, Age and Life: A Rant Of A Millennial Who Is Yet To Figure It Out

March 5, 2017August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro24 Comments

That White Christmas Away From Home

“Christmas here in Canada is very much like that which I used to watch in the movies: snow, pine trees… all the works. And, I think we’re just so close to the North Pole too,” Tina said while she tightened the scarf around her neck. “But, you know what, I won’t trade Christmas back home… Read More That White Christmas Away From Home

December 24, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro9 Comments

Canyoneering in Badian, Cebu (and that Long Swim to Kawasan Falls)

“What is life but one great adventure.” Oh, brother! The only Evel Knievel-ish thing I would risk doing is, perhaps, crossing the busy Colon Street at the rush hour when the lights are green. But, two weeks ago I made an exemption. I finally confronted two of my worst fears: swimming and falling. It… Read More Canyoneering in Badian, Cebu (and that Long Swim to Kawasan Falls)

November 6, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro33 Comments

The Osmeña Peak and Its Rues and Ruins

Every act of creation is an act of destruction — such were the wise words I once read from some dog-eared book whose title I could hardly recall. Every discovery is a step to ruin — so I lamentably philosophized while I deliberately ignored the morning paper and its hot-off-the-press smell I sorely missed despite myself. A… Read More The Osmeña Peak and Its Rues and Ruins

October 20, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro16 Comments

Carpe Diem: Ten Tips on Having a Good Day

Here’s a little song I wrote. You might want to sing it note for note. Don’t worry. Be happy. In every life, we have some trouble. When you worry, you make it double. Don’t worry. Be happy. Bob Marley, Don’t Worry. Be Happy. We all love the weekend and, maybe, we have been wondering how can five… Read More Carpe Diem: Ten Tips on Having a Good Day

October 9, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro50 Comments

“Liking Kawayan”: Confessions of Single Mothers

The thought of going through the pregnancy alone frightened me. The thought of being a single mom scared me. But, I asked God that if I was meant to do at least one great deed in my life, let it be me being a mother. … Read More “Liking Kawayan”: Confessions of Single Mothers

August 16, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro25 Comments

Putting Art in Street Art

Generally, graffiti are still taboo. Despite Filipinos being a creative race, we are still, surprisingly, not ready for street art — and, who can blame us? Those multi-eyed slugs… or those triangle-headed monsters… or those anthropomorphic phalluses are not exactly what we call — uhm — “cute”. For us, art is still a coat-and-tie thing.… Read More Putting Art in Street Art

July 16, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro27 Comments

One Day in the Life of an Ex-Seminarian

Truth be told — I did not enter the seminary on account of some personage appearing in my dream telling me I was called to be a shepherd of God’s flock, or anything to that effect. I entered the seminary in the hope of redeeming the approval of my parents, relatives, neighbors and, basically, anybody… Read More One Day in the Life of an Ex-Seminarian

July 13, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro25 Comments

Backpacking a Broken Heart: An Idiot’s Guide to (Failed) Relationships

Remember what they say about how time heals everything? Well, sometimes it doesn’t. We thought it would, but that consuming feeling of bitterness — or, perhaps, regret — we have silently nurtured within, despite the outward appearances of “I’m okay” or “I just don’t care anymore”, burns a growing hole in us. Hearts are broken.… Read More Backpacking a Broken Heart: An Idiot’s Guide to (Failed) Relationships

July 11, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro8 Comments

Pungko-pungko: The Hallmark of Being Cebuano

In an epic sense of irony, let us start the Nutrition Month with another gastronomic weirdness that is purely Cebuano — the pungko-pungko. Come on, it isn’t that bad. Yes, I know that some incidents of food-contracted hepatitis involve the well-loved Cebuano food peculiarity, but, man, just live a little. The trick is to choose the… Read More Pungko-pungko: The Hallmark of Being Cebuano

July 3, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro8 Comments

Azul’s Tuslob-Buwa: On Food, Music and Brains

With his biting witticisms, great music and extraordinary food, Ian Sekong, the dreadlocked owner of Azul and drummer of the popular band Powerspoonz, seems to have figured it all out. Azul, a garage-turned-diner along Gorordo Avenue, has been attracting curious visitors and food savants alike for quite some time now. And, we simply just cannot get enough of… Read More Azul’s Tuslob-Buwa: On Food, Music and Brains

June 27, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro2 Comments

The Cathedral Museum of Cebu: Faith, History and an Old Friend

“My relationship with things antique started when I was young”, Gerard Desquitado reminisced the days when he first served as an altar boy in Bantayan, his hometown. More than a score after, he is now living his dream as an in-house curator/tour guide in the Cathedral Museum of Cebu located near the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral… Read More The Cathedral Museum of Cebu: Faith, History and an Old Friend

June 26, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo DegoroLeave a comment

The Muffin Hill: Mount Babag – Bocaue Peak Traverse

I haven’t been to a lot of mountains — that’s a fact. So, please excuse me for stating such a bold claim but, at least among the mountains I’ve been to, the Bocaue Peak (aka Muffin Hill) is the most awe-inspiring of all. The peak can be reached via many different trails but we chose the… Read More The Muffin Hill: Mount Babag – Bocaue Peak Traverse

June 21, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro7 Comments

Balut: The Story of the Ugly Duckling (An Independence Day Special)

Perhaps, there is no other Filipino food more polarizing than balut. The decision to try one is too big a leap from anybody’s comfort to afford a middle ground. It is either you like it or you don’t. CNN called it ” the Filipino delicacy that makes the world squirm” — and for good reason.… Read More Balut: The Story of the Ugly Duckling (An Independence Day Special)

June 12, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro4 Comments

Eco-Tourism in Aloguinsan (Part 3): Hermit’s Cove

A visit to Aloguinsan is never complete without the required dip in the clear waters of Hermit’s Cove. It is said that Tabog (hence Kantabogon, the barangay), a hermit (hence Hermit’s Cove), discovered the crescent-shaped beach secretly ensconced amid the high mountains behind and the blue sea in front. The local government promotes the cove… Read More Eco-Tourism in Aloguinsan (Part 3): Hermit’s Cove

June 4, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro3 Comments

Eco-Tourism in Aloguinsan (Part 2): Bojo River Cruise

Bojo River‘s international acclaim is the culmination of Aloguinsan‘s relentless advocacy on sustainable living and eco-tourism. Bojo River secures a place for Aloguinsan in every tourist and adventurer’s (wannabe’s included) list of must-go-to’s. Then Mayor Cynthia Moreno was awarded with the “Inang Kalikasan for Eco-Tourism” in 2013 by the DENR for her outstanding leadership in protecting… Read More Eco-Tourism in Aloguinsan (Part 2): Bojo River Cruise

May 26, 2016August 17, 2018 Marjo Degoro7 Comments

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