This Week in Cebu (October 02 to 08, 2016)

Cebu City Transportation Office Head (CCTO) Rafael Yap recently announced that jeepneys from Mandaue will no longer be allowed to pass through J. Panis St. The jeepneys will enter Gaisano Country Mall through the right turning lane close to the Mahiga Bridge and use the vehicle exit of the mall in turning left along Gov. M. Cuenco Ave. on their way back to A.S. Fortuna St. Yap said the no-left-turn policy is to reduce congestion along the area.

On October 7, San Miguel Brewery will hold the Oktoberfest Beer and Music Festival at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) Football Field. Due to this, moderate to heavy traffic can be expected from late afternoon to early evening along M.L. Quezon National Highway. Travelers going to Mactan International Airport are advised to add an hour or two in their travel time to avoid missing their flights.

From October 7 to 9, the Miraculous Image of Mama Mary of Lindogon, Simala will be brought to Cebu City for the first time. At least 5,000 devotees are expected to visit the International Eucharistic Celebration (IEC) Pavilion and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño for the event. A Halad Concert for Mama Mary will also be held at the Pavillion on October 7 at 7:30 PM. Thus, motorists should brace for moderate to heavy traffic along Pope John Paul II Ave. and the Colon area during said dates.

The Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) agreed to the proposal to create the Metro Cebu Traffic Enforcement Academy (MCTEA) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Central Visayas (TESDA 7). The project aims to professionalize the handling of traffic in preparation for the synchronization of traffic enforcement within metro Cebu.

The Subcommittee on Transport and Traffic Management (SCTTM) of the board presented the plan to the MCTEA. SCTTM vice chairperson Lynn Gloria Madrona said the subcommittee members agreed with the proposal of TESDA, which is a feasible project for the board. Madrona added that the proposal will professionalize traffic enforcers and allow them to receive full benefits required by law.

The rainy season is already in full swing. One of the best ways of keeping oneself warm is to have a cup of piping hot sikwate or tsokolate (hot chocolate). The best sikwate in Cebu is made using tablea, or roasted cacao beans in tablet form, from Argao. Sikwate is made by putting tablea into a pot filled with hot water. A wire whisk is used to ensure the cacao tablets are melted properly and all the lumps are gone before adding milk and sugar.

Sikwate is best paired with ripe mango and putomaya or steamed glutinous rice. The drink is offered in a number of hotels in the city as well as some Cebu-based coffee shops like Coffee Dream and Tablea Chocolate Café.

The main tourist attraction of the municipality of Aloguinsan is the Bojo River Cruise . But the town also has another hidden treasure.

Hermit’s Cove is a small cove located on the same road where the Bojo River Cruise begins. The place is managed by the Kangtabogon Ecotourism Association. There are a number of cottages available for visitors to use. They can also buy food from vendors in the area. Guests need to pay for an entrance fee at The Farmhouse, which is located close to the turn off from the main road going to Hermit’s Cove.

The best time to visit Hermit’s Cove is during summer since the waves are not too rough, allowing visitors to go snorkelling.