I arrived in Cebu City on Tuesday morning. Although it had been about 8 years since I visited Cebu by my recollection, the airport in Mactan basically had not changed in that time. It surprised me, because Davao has a new airport in that time, and frankly, the Davao airport is much nicer than the airport in Cebu. That surprised me, because the Mactan airport is much busier than the Davao airport, and I expected it to be much upgraded from the last time I was there. It is a nice airport, but not nearly as nice as the Davao International Airport. Speaking of Davao International Airport, I had a nice surprise when I was waiting for my flight, I discovered that DIA has free WiFi access! I knew there was WiFi there, but did not realize it was free. Nice job, Davao Airport! I did not check for WiFi at Cebu Airport, as I was arriving in the City and had to run. On the way home I’ll have time to do some surfing the net while waiting for my departure!
Upon leaving the airport, I must say that I was surprised at how nice the roads were, and how well kept. I did not go out the normal way that most airport arrivals do, because I was headed to a different part of Lapu Lapu, not to the City yet, and we went out a back way. The sides of the road were planted with beautiful flowers, very clean, first class. I was both surprised and also impressed. I had some business to take care of in Lapu Lapu City, as I mentioned yesterday, doing some computer work for a friend. That took only about an hour, and I was off to Cebu City.
I went directly to my hotel. I am staying at a place called Pacific Pensionne, which is not far from Fuente Osmena in the heart of Cebu City. Very inexpensive place, only P650 per night, and that includes free WiFi access, but only in the lobby (not in the rooms). I can live with that. The room is clean, a little small, but not bad. For P650/night (about $14 or so), what a bargain! There are lots of nice places to stay in Cebu, but I tend to go for inexpensive, because I consider it nothing but a place to sleep, and I don’t need anything fancy for that. In Davao, the lowest priced hotel that I know of is more like P800 per night, and sometimes up to P1,000 per night. Here in Cebu, I am aware of places as low as P400 per night, but they start getting a little seedy at that price.
After checking into my hotel, I grabbed a taxi and went to Ayala Center. It was about 1:30pm by that time, and I had not eaten lunch. I knew that there should be some decent places to eat at Ayala, so that is where I headed. After walking around Ayala a bit, I came upon T.G.I. Fridays. When I saw it, I knew that it would be on the expensive side – those franchised foreign places always are, but I figured I’d splurge a bit and go for a taste of home. I was hungry, but I didn’t feel like anything too heavy. I ordered an appetizer as my main dish, because it was smaller. I had Jack Sesame Chicken, which was absolutely delicious! It was kind of a chicken strip with a sesame/Jack Daniel’s sauce. My god, I ate it like I hadn’t eaten in years, I think. I hope I didn’t embarrass myself! Honestly, it did taste like “back home” to me. I also had a bowl of cheese and brocolli soup. It was also very good. Prices were higher than in Davao, but not too too bad… P570 for that and a bottomless diet coke. It was indeed good, too. There are a lot of good restaurants in Davao, but not many Western chains, and I must say that although I didn’t realize it, I did miss a bit of an American taste.
Feeling at home in Cebu
Honestly, I really feel “at home” – even as if I am back in the States – here in Cebu. I didn’t expect that. It just feels awfully comfortable here. I was trying to figure out just what it was that felt so “Stateside” to me. One thing is the mix of people here. In Davao, you see a few expats, but certainly the vast, vast majority of people you see are Filipinos. When I was at Ayala Center this afternoon, the mix of people in the mall was amazing to me. Lots and lots of foreigners, and foreigners from all over the world. After lunch, I did some walking around the mall, and then did some walking around the City a bit. I stopped for a cup of coffee at Bo’s Coffee Shop (a Cebu originated operation with branches all over the Philippines, including Davao) for a cup of coffee. The shop was crowded, but I looked and counted, and more than half of the patrons were foreigners! Wow, you would honestly never see that in Davao. Cebu is more cosmopolitan, no doubt. Looking around Cebu City, construction is booming! There are new skyscrapers being built every direction you look. Nothing like that in Davao. We have plenty of new construction happening in Davao (4 new malls coming), but not on the scale of Cebu.
As you walk around, you see foreign chain type businesses (restaurants, hardware stores, etc) all over the place. While riding the taxi today, I saw an interior design place, and they had a big pane glass window. Behind the window were kitchen cabinets and appliances on display. The stuff I saw there would have been considered high end stuff in the States, yet here it was in the heart of Cebu City.
Feyma and I keep in close touch via texting, and calling on the cellphone. I keep telling her about how Cebu is,and she asked me if I was wanting to move here. I denied it, telling her that I am truly a Davaoenyo at heart. However, as the day progressed, I admitted to her that on first glance, I think that it is possible we might want to consider a move to Cebu, maybe in 10 years or so, when the kids are out of school. However, I am not certain. Some things attract me. But, when I look around and see so many foreigners here, that turns me off a bit. It would tend to indicate that high prices are either coming, or are already here. I will continue to judge that as the days go by. However, the availability of “stuff” is certainly impressive in Cebu. I stopped by at the True Value hardware store in Ayala Center today. I was amazed to see the big fancy gas barbecue grills. I mean the very fancy stainless steel ones that you see the big name chefs using on TV. I am really a person who enjoys making good barbeque, and my mouth kind of watered just thinking of buying a grill like that! You can’t buy stuff like that in Davao. So, some things make Cebu attractive to me. It is true, though, that I love Davao, and consider myself to be a Davaoenyo at heart. It would take a lot to make me decide to leave Davao. But, I also have to remain open minded.
When it comes to thinking of something like moving to Cebu, it is important to remember that first impressions like the things I mention last only for a short time before you settle into day to day life. I like the day to day lifestyle in Davao, and that is important. It’s too soon to say if I would enjoy Cebu that way too. And, it is not the time that I would be even discussing this with Feyma, and it’s a joint decision that the two of us might discuss someday.
Language
On my first stop this morning, when I did some work for my friend, three of his sisters-in-law picked me up at the airport and took me to the house. I must admit that at first, I was a bit shy to speak Bisaya to them, but after we got to the house, one of them asked me if I could speak Ceubano (Bisaya), and that was all it took. It was like an invitation, and I jumped in. I must say, in my conversations with Cebuanos all around town today, I was so comfortable speaking the language. The way they use Cebuano here is exactly the way I was taught the language. In Davao, the language is mixed with Tagalog. In Davao, I can get by and understand what people say, and I can speak to them in a way they understand me, but it is work. Here, I can jump in the taxi cab and start talking to the driver like we are old friends! I love it. It just feels and sounds so natural to me. When I was out my friends house, I sat there for about 30 minutes while waiting for a taxi to come and pick me up talking in Cebuano with my friend’s sisters-in-law and their kids. It was natural, and I felt so good! Although Cebuano is not the language “at home” in the States, it is the language that I learned here, and hearing it spoken in the way that I learned it, I felt at home here. In Davao, speaking Cebuano is a big plus for me, it helps me being able to speak with the people there, but it is not as natural as it is here in Cebu. The language factor could also be part of a reason for possible future relocation to Cebu too. However, as I spend more time talking with people in Davao, I am quite sure that I will become for comfortable with Davao Cebuano too. You know what was interesting? Today, I learned that some of the words that I know are not Cebuano at all, rather Tagalog that are widely used in Davao. The words I have learned from Bebe are Bisaya (Cebuano), but words that I’ve picked up from speaking with people in town, which I thought were Cebuano, it turns out are Tagalog. One time today, when I was talking to a lady at the front desk at my hotel, she said “oh, sir, you can also speak Tagalog?” I told her “no, but I can speak Bisaya.” She said that she knew I could speak Bisaya, but she noticed that some of the words I was using were actually Tagalog. You see, Cebuano is spoken so purely here… no mixture of Tagalog words at all.
Another thing I noticed in Cebu is that all of the signs you see around town are in Cebuano too. In Davao, some signs are in English, some in Cebuano, and some in Tagalog. Then again, some are a mixture of two or even all three of those! It’s like a different world, language-wise here.
One time today, when I was riding in a taxi, the driver and I were talking about my visit to Cebu (in Cebuano, of course!). Suddenly, something hit me…. the radio was playing, but I had not been listening. The radio announcer was speaking Bisaya! You can hear some Bisaya on the radio in Davao, but it is, again, a mixture. When I got to the hotel, I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. I was happy and also surprised to hear so many Cebuano channels! It just made it so nice that I could actually understand clearly the things I was hearing on TV.
I don’t know how important or interesting this language stuff is to most readers, but to me it is very important. Having spent some serious time learning the language, and coming for the first time to the place where that language was born, it just feels so good to me, and helps me get a better feel for the City, the people and everything in Cebu. It makes me feel like I am at home in Cebu City.
When I came to Cebu City, I didn’t expect to be having these feelings of really liking the place a lot. In the past, my visits to Cebu didn’t impress me. It is a big place, with so many people. Although smaller than Manila, it had started to develop a “Manila feel” to me, and I am not a fan of Manila. However, I must say that so far, even though I’ve only been in the city one day as I write this, I am really liking the place, even revelling in it. I am actually hoping that Feyma and I can make a few trips to the City together in the future, and kind of get a feel for the place as a couple. When I travel, or especially when Feyma travels, I miss her a lot. I hope next time we can spend some time together in Cebu City!
Did you know that I met Feyma for the first time in Cebu City? I guess that is one thing that keeps some love for the place alive in my heart.
Hi Bob,
Sounds like your having an interesting trip.I did read somewhere a while back that there are plans to extend the airport there.
Somehow i cannot see you living in Cebu,in 10yrs time i think you will be longing for the peace and quite of Samal Island.
Yes i did remember you met Feyma in Cebu,if my memory serves me well she was studying there.
regard Chas.
Oh no Bob!!! Don't change to Visayas Bob… the weather, surrounding areas and overall quality of life in Davao is better. In my own honest/bias opinion. Go visit there often but go build your retirement home in island paradise of Samal! 🙂
Bob was it fun hobnobbing in the big city … and feel right at home ..and understanding what everybody's saying …must be a good feeling.. 🙂 .Phil n Jess
Hi Bob,
Glad to hear you are having a good time in Cebu. Your article has me thinking of planning a visit to Cebu next year. I don't know anyone there, but I do recall a resort that was foreign operated by some former military guys. If I find that website, I'll let you know. Can we assume there might be a "Wow Cebu" in the works on your end? 🙂
Bob your very near that Indian restaurant I mentioned yesterday. Its the Maharajah. Not sure of my spelling but I know the food there will leave you happy. Ron
i guess, this gives you insight on why i hesitate speaking bisaya to cebuanos & tagalog to manilenyos. sometimes, i can't tell which words are bisaya or tagalog. looks like your trip is helping you give fresh insight to the culture.
not sure of you've seen the vid. but i was interviews by an abs-cbn show that was mostly tagalog. i hesitantly chose to speak "taglish" because i knew i would slip in a few bisaya words if i spoke in tagalog.
true enough, i stumbled into a few bisaya words but were mercifully edited out in the final cut. my brother, who was in the studio, gave me some first class ribbing for days after that he studied college in manila, while i chose mintal :p
Kamusta ka Bob,
Well..of course I think most of the excitement you feel there, is your accomplishment at learning a different language. Also, being able to use it and also understanding the people there and having real conversations.
It will be a lot of hard work, and I have many lessons to go, but this is something I really want to accomplish for myself as well.
Sounds like I will enjoy Cebu City as well, it will be another place for us to visit quite often for business purposes. Rose's mother makes a trip to Cebu each week, and her father makes the trip to Mindanao for vegetables. When her mother is not feeling well, Rose will make the trip.
So is good to hear that there are many "western" style stores there to shop.
I also have friends that live in Cebu, and is only a 5 hour boat ride from Maasin City. Thanks Bob, for the little tour, and look forward to hearing more about Cebu City and its "suburbs".
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
Bob I know how you like Davao so much but.. I've been to both davao many times and cebu to me is infinitly better than davao. Much more to do from better selection of food venues, malls & entertainment in general. Prices may be a bit higher but for the choices you have for things to do is well worth it.
Mactan is only a short drive away for a quick day at the beach, bohol which i dearly love is a 2 hr fastcat trip to laid back paradise where i can rent a motorcyle and ride in relative little traffic for 6-8 usd per day and go diving or just hang out at the beach on pangalo. Kawasan falls & molboul is a 2 hr car ride to a nice brisck freash water paradise. I consider cebu the number one spot for retirement myself ..not to big and not to small.
Bob,
Mentioning the cleanliness and modern look in Cebu reminds me of what I saw in GenSan. I was surprised how clean and need the downtown main roads were.
About the airport in Davao, I do not remember the year, but the airport here is new because of the bombing at the original.
good job explaning your trip , that makes a big diffrence on how we see cebu through your eyes. by the way i didnt notice how much the barbecu was. and how would one get a barbecu to davao from there?>
Didn't you pass through Cebu airport in 1990 going To Gen San? What a joke the airport was back then.
Gikan sa imong mga sinulti, mora og enjoy man ka kaayo diha Manong Bob! 🙂
Every time my aunt goes home she always goes and takes the Seoul-Cebu connection instead of the Seoul-Manila, after flying from New York to Seoul. She says the arrival in Cebu is much less of a hassle than an arrival at NAIA. From what you've said, it's true!
And oh yeah, Manong Bob, sorry to get off track, but since you like listening to Cebuano and also like the Pacman, I'm sure you'd love to see this fairly unknown interview of Mr. Hatton. 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmtJXGSZesE
Hey Bob, So glad you had a good time. I've never been to Davao, and I'm sure that it's a great place, but I just have to say CEBU RULES! As filipinos' often say, "I love my own"
More pictures of Cebu please!
Hi Bob, that reminds me of my 1st visit to CBU. For a tagalog like me, everything was a struggle in CBU. You go to pizza hut, immediately you have a sense that you are not in MLA. (For the record, we were not acting like the "ugly manileño). We were trying to connect but we couldn't. Later, I learned that Cebuanos would rather talk to you in english than tagalog. We talked to the waiters, waitress, locals in tagalog and they spoke english so we were put off then, to say the least.
I don't remember but somehow I had a sense that Cebuanos were not friendly. You eat in a carinderia, & you ask for a patis (fish sauce) they give you soy sauce. That's why I didn't complain when I got 7-Up when I asked for sprite.
Hi Bob!
I must say I'm totally shocked, I thought you'd hate the place. 🙂 Cebu is nice in that you can get most anything you're looking for. But not everything. I still ship things to myself here from the states but not every month any more.
I think Cebu City is a wonderful place to visit. Once I'm better established here, Jessie and I plan to get a small apartment there we can use on the weekends or something. Can get Western style, well modified western style for as little as P5000 in nearby cities, perhaps there as well.
One of our main reasons for moving to Bogo was the school and the kids.
Ayala caters to the up-scale crowd. Try to get by SM mall and be sure you visit the new wing which is the North Wing. There are more Filipino there, more Korean there but I usually can't tell the difference. I ask Jessie often, and I'm usually wrong. 🙂
SM mall is one of the largest in the world. It was at number four a few years back but probably fell behind. However, the new expansion is HUGE so it may be back into that level again. Ayala is an expat mall. I don't go there too much but they do have some nice places there.
SM Mall has kiddie rides on the bottom floor and bowling ally and theaters, I think, on the top floor.
I lived in Talisay for about three months and it is a good place to live. Safer and better schools from what I HEARD. 🙂
The worst thing about Cebu City is the crime compared to Davao.
I really enjoyed our time together except it went to fast and it was dang humid! Our walking 3.5 miles left me totally drained today. Was nice to Juliet take to you so well! To bad you didn't get to see her go into cuddle mode at home. )
Thanks for the pizza, hot dogs and all. 🙂 At least they do have cheese on it. 🙂
Surprised you liked it, glad you did, hope you cam visit more often.
Not sure if this also applies to Cebu, but where I live in Negros Oriental (also a Cebuano speaking area), we call Soy Sauce: Patis. Very rarely have I heard of someone refer to it as Toyo. We call Fish Sauce: Rufina or Rufina Patis.
As for the 7-up thing, again where I live, we use 7-up/Sprite interchangeably, as well as Coke/Pepsi. We also call toothpaste: Colgate/Close-up and Razor blades: Gillete (pronounced Gil-yet) among other things.
So it all just might be a little misunderstanding, not necessarily attitude an anti-Tagalog attitude on the part of the Cebuanos.
Then again, I have heard of a plan of Cebu's to secede from the republic a while back O.O, to separate from "Imperial Manila" and Tagalog dominance, but it never came to fruition due to all the difficulties of that happening….so there might be a little attitude towards Tagalogs (not really sure, us Negrenses tend to be fairly laid back and uncaring in a good way :D).
Majority of manileño’s —– like to make fun/imitate of our hard Visayan accent, that’s why most cebuano’s speak English to manileño’s rather than tagalong.. :_)
You're right Ann..some are like that because of ignorance. When I hear someone from Luzon use 'visayan' as a negative adjective, it upsets me. They think that they don't have the accent, that only visayans do, when clearly this is not so.
But you can understand why we are put off. We are both Filipinos, I talk to you in tagalog and you respond to me in english. I think that's weird.
Hi Jong, yes, there was a misunderstanding due to the language. It did not help that there's this weird feeling towards Manileños. When I vacationed in DVO & CDO, people were friendlier.
Nothing really happened in CBU. We never met anybody:-) We just swam in Moalboal & Kawasan falls.
Manila vs Cebu vs Davao… a product of Spain's divide and conquer rule in the Philippines … Filipinos are still at it 100+ years later… 🙁
Then speak Cebuano Roy. I want you to experience what happened to us. I want you to struggle on the language. I want to laugh at you also when you speak bisaya in your tagalog accent.Speaking in English rather than in tagalog takes away your advantage and that evens the playing field. Brilliant!
hi bob,
cebuano accent + american slang english = irish accent.
Lol!
Come to think of it, it seems to be only the Davaoeños who really speak the "PILIPINO" language. 😀
Wasn't it the thrust of the Phil. gov't to make the Pilipino language an amalgam of several languages of the Philippines?
I have never been to CEBU nor to DAVAO. Thanks to the blogs in this site that I get to learn more about my own country. Ironically from expats! ^_^
I was actually a Manila girl. And for the longest time, I thought "everybody wants to live in Manila" and that "MLA is where the real action happens". Now I think I am a "probinsyana" at heart.
My parents are both from the north though. Where lights are out at 5PM and everybody really knows (and usually by blood/marriage related to ) everybody.
I have heard many many positive feedbacks about Cebu and Cebuanos. The best one-that my husband was advised to find a Cebuana. ^_^ Glad he did not! ^_^
***
What I don't understand is why ENGLISH seems to become the common denominator among the Filipinos and our dialects. In school, we were taught that FILIPINO (the language) is the combo of about 15 dialects most commonly spoken. If the non-Tagalogs can learn English, they can surely learn FILIPINO, right?
Although I don't think this is a more important issue than the fact that our Supreme Court decisions have been written in Spanish and in English but never in the Filipino language!
Joe, pinahingkaningkamutan ko na nga. Bob is right,tagalog speaking are more at ome in DVO than CBU. I dormed once and I was the only tagalog speaking in a faction of two big groups of DVOeños & Cebuanos. It’s almost impossible to pick up what what the Cebuanos are talking about.
Seriously, I think it was a reasonable expectation from any Cebuanos who had any type of formal schooling that they speak tagalog. Tagalogs were never taught to count in visaya. Cebuanos, I think had Pilipino subjects up to highschool.
Hi Bob
Well an hour ago I was here in my Pensionne having a coffee and the only other guy there was a big guy using his laptop, something looked familiar but the penny did not drop, came back to my room and fired up my laptop to look at my forums and when I got to LIP the penny did drop, I was sitting less than 10 feet from you, immediatly went back to coffee shop but you had disappeared.
I have been staying here at Pacific Pensionne for the past 3 months,and am enjoying my stay here in Cebu City, I can recommend this place to anyone that takes a visit here, the staff are very nice and friendly and is only a P60-P70 taxi to either SM or Ayala and Robinson is a 5 min walk from here.
I will buy you a coffee when you next appear at the coffee shop.
Enjoy Cebu City
Rgards Ian S
Pacific Pensionne
How many Tagalogs can speak or care to learn vusayan as opposed to the many cebuanos who can actually understand and speak tagalog? Cebuanos are proud purests though, and only speak visayan. It's true that they have more inclination to desire to speak english than tagalog.
Bob, I'm glad that you enjoyed the local dialect while in Cebu. It's said that in the city and in the south of Cebu the visayan is much more formal than in the northern part of Cebu. I wonder if Christine and people from the north could attest to that? In my town in the north everything is shortened, add to my issue of having a strong nasal Boston, RI accent, it adds up to be quite "taga bukid" sounding visayan! LOL
Hi Bob
When i got to Cebu in 92, I was really impressed, but the years have taken a toll, and the place has grown. good for the people, but the old cebu being smaller I thought was nicer, Guess that why I fell in love with Mindano, and settled there. But I still love to vist Cebu. As you say lots to see and do.
Hi Bob
Your visit to Cebu City has prompted me to write to you. I have many happy memories of Cebu, as a matter of fact my wife and I stayed at the Pacific hotel, where you are staying, shortly after we were married. Its true Cebu is much more cosmopolitan and modern but Davao still has that old world charm almost as if the modern world has not quite caught up with it! Some words which Cebuanos use are different to Davaoenyos, they use 3 words for "where", depending on tense! Have you visited the Chinese temple up on the hill? Hadsan beach is very nice as well. Have a great time.
All the best
Malcolm
Oh Jong, the Hatton interview was just too funny! Loved it, Thanks!
Hi chasdv – It's been a great trip so far. I'm enjoying it a lot. You are probably right about not living in Cebu, but I will consider it.
Ha ha.. well, Gerry, I must say that I really consider myself a Mindanaoan. I've invested time and effort into developing my brand name too!
Hi Henry – I would indeed encourage you to make a visit and check it out. By the way, I already own the name "WowCebuCity.com" and have owned it for years. 😆
Hi Ron – Sorry, am not a fan of Indian cuisine! Thanks for the tip, though.
Hi macky – I have thought about you in these regards over the past few days, you can bet on that! It really mirrors your situation.
Hi Brian – Indeed, Cebu has a lot of advantages over Davao. But, Davao has some advantages too. I lean more toward Davao, but it is something for me to consider over the coming years.
Hi Bruce – GenSan is a nice place, and I enjoyed living there. I personally like Davao a lot more, though. I would be too bored living in GenSan again. I do enjoy visiting, though.
Hi jerry – Thanks, I'm glad that you have enjoyed my peek at Cebu. If you bought something big like a big BBQ grill, you could ship it on a boat for fairly little money.
Hi Ray – I sure did! It was a hole in the wall back then! Still nicer than GenSan's airport in 1990, though!
Hi Jong – Thanks for your comment. I agree that Cebu Mactan Airport is less hassle than NAIA, no argument there!
Hi queeniebee – Cebu has pluses, as does Davao! Both places are good, with some bad mixed in. Hey, you have been quiet lately… don't be a stranger!
Hi amethyst – After I get home I will deal with pictures. It is too much to do while traveling.
Hi Ray – Well, you know, Tagalog is not the language in this part of the Philippines. The fact that the Government has tried to force Tagalog down the throats of the rest of the country has left some resentment. No doubt, in Cebu it is better to speak English than Tagalog. I understand your feelings, but I also understand how Cebuanos feel too. How would you feel if you and the rest of the Tagalogs were forced to speak Bisaya? Probably would be resentful.
Hi Rusty – I enjoyed visiting you yesterday! Thank you so much for your great hospitality! I really like Jessie a lot, and you are kind of OK too. 😉
I went to SM today, and that new wing is amazing. I am writing partly about that in tomorrow's article. I was flabbergasted when I saw it.
Hi Jong – I think that what you say applies to most Bisaya speaking areas.
Hi Ann – Tinuod kaayo!
Hi roy – But, the Cebuanos feel put off when you speak Tagalog to them. That is not their language.
Hi Gerry – Maybe so…. Or maybe it is a matter of a bunch of islands which were not naturally a united country being molded into one?
Hi Joe – It's a tough situation. I think that Roy just could not understand why it happened that way. For him, it's natural to speak Tagalog.
Hi dans – 😉
Hi Rey – That's true!
Hi Michelle – Happy to help! Expat and all! I could probably live anywhere in the Philippines – EXCEPT Manila. It just is not for me.
BTW, If Tagalogs can learn English, they can also learn Bisaya, di ba? Touche.
Hi Ian – I am in the coffee shop right now! Yes, I remember you drinking coffee this afternoon… I think we were the only two customers in the coffee shop! Sorry I missed you, I'll be leaving very early in the morning!
Hi queeniebee – You are so right! I love speaking Cebuano with the people here! Today, I saw a foreigner and started to say "kumusta ka?" then I realized that I should speak to him in English if I am going to say hi! It's great here, language wise. I do notice that they don't shorten words here in Cebu City, and I like that!
Hi Kenney – I agree, the old Cebu has given way to a metropolis. It is a totally different place now.
Hi Malcolm – Nice to hear from you! I didn't make it to the places you mentioned. Mostly just visiting friends here, and some of the malls. I have enjoyed using the language a lot though. Speaking Cebuano is a lot easier here than in Davao.
The internal struggle with deciding upon where to live when I finally make my move to the Philippines is indeed complex. I've studied and studied on the issue, and still have not make a final choice by any means with the exception of ruling out the Manila area. Your visit to Cebu and writing so fondly of it tends to put another peg in Cebu's hole. Cebu, Davao, CDO, Bohol (amongst a few other possibilities) are on the list so far – I'm probably leaning more towards Bohol at this point, but truly believe that Cebu or Davao would be wonderful places to live. I'm more of a rural type of person, and really enjoy motorcycling everywhere I go. That seems to be more suicidal in Cebu & Davao than Bohol. Although I've spent many years in very large cities in various places in the world, I think that for long term, smaller, more personal places may suit best. A series of trips/visits to all are in the offing over the next couple of years, and the decision will be made in that manner. Maybe a month or so in each place will help decide. One thing is clear: learning the language (Cebuano) is a near-necessity in my mind, and it's not that easy to accomplish here in the U. S. – very slooooow progress on that front ! It's really going to be fun after the "real" investigation begins…..tentatively scheduled for later this year, or early next year.
Nonetheless, thanks for the insight, Bob ! It's nice to hear your take on Cebu – as we all know your love for Davao is well established.
Bob
Sorry I missed your reply and read it at around 10pm, you had already left for your room when I went down to the coffee shop, next time you are here hope to have a chat.
Regards
Ian
Of course, Bob! I myself speak Ilocano and understand a little Bisaya and some Kapampangan.
I think by nature we Filipinos are happy to pick up words here and there.
But Bisaya is only a dialect. Filipino is our country's national language. I think they should start teaching it in schools before they offer English. I think every Filipino should know Filipino, the language. For a citizen of the Philippines, it should be for self-pride, more than anything.
But for the sake of co-existing, yeah, we Tagalogs can definitely learn Bisaya. I believe compromise is always a good thing.
http://sunnysideofmichelle.blogspot.com
You are right Bob…I think the geography of the Phil has also alot to do with the regionalism/lack of unity. However in Luzon, Ilocanos differentiate themselves from the Tagalogs, Kapampangans etc. And they are only few kilometers away from each towns! Amazing!
Hi Bob – You can take this boy out of the province, but you can't take the province outta dis boy! 😆
In my "plus column" for living way up north is "too few puti"! The area never was big on them, after experiencing a few decades of Peace Corps Volunteers roaming about, scraggly, unkempt, and with a mentality of "Only I can show you how to live." The Corps was asked to leave, and thank goodness they did! 😉
Ilocano is the language, and Ilocandia is the place for me. Rural, provincial life beats city life hands down. Even the provincial capital has the feel of the province to it, not the urban air normally associated with all that concrete poured so very close together!
cebu is terrific ,almost anything you have in the usa you can get in cebu.alot of malls like sm,countryside in banilad,ayala,metro mandaue,colon st,jy square in lahug,and they even have a sams club cosco type place cant remember the name of it between sm and on the way to mandaue near cebu doctors univ.
Hi Spencer – Absolutely, it is a hard decision to make, which is why I always encourage people not to put down roots – don't buy a house, etc. until you give yourself time to really know for sure that you are in the right place. I have not been to Bohol yet, but it is a place I want to visit soon. I would say, though, if you are looking for availability of products and services, that is not the place to be compared to Cebu or Davao. If you want peaceful, quiet, etc. I think Bohol is a good place, but can't say for sure since I haven't visited yet.
Hi Ian – I was fast asleep by 10pm, as I had to get up at 4am for my flight. Sorry I missed you, but if you see me again, be sure to say hi! Have a good time in Cebu!
Hi Michelle – not trying to argue, but you are not right. Bisaya indeed is a language and not a dialect. There are regional dialects of Bisaya, but Bisaya itself is a language. My teacher is a linguist, and I specifically asked her that question a long time ago, because I have read this controversy many times.
Hey, compromise? I'm all for that. Forcing Tagalog on people who are not Tagalogs… for me that is not right. That is what Pilipino was supposed to be all about, but it turned into basically nothing but Tagalog.
Hi Gerry – That is quite true as well. It certainly is an interesting topic!
Hi Paul – I fully agree that having too many foreigners around is kind of a downer for me as well. In Cebu there are a ton of Puti, and honestly, it shocked me and kind of made me feel uncomfortable, because I am not used to that, after 9+ years in Davao and GenSan.
Hi mike – Yes, there are certainly upsides to Cebu, but downsides as well. For now, I am quite happy in Davao, though.
Hi Roy – Actually, Tagalog was not taught in Cebu schools until 1990. I was here when the schools were forced to start teaching Tagalog in 1990, and the people here were very unhappy about it.
Compromise is in dealing individually. If a Bisayan friend of ours can't speak good Tagalog, we don't isolate her nor gang up on her.
I guess I meant to say Cebuano-Bisaya is a dialect. You are right in that Bisaya and Tagalog are both languages and neither is a dialect of/to the other.
But the fact remains that Filipino is the Official Philippine National Language. They did base it in Tagalog mostly because it is most widely understood and spoken. So the decision also included the rest of the regions.
I am definitely for teaching Filipino to non-Tagalogs. It should be like learning the Philippine History which of course is always in the curriculum. It is part of who we are as a nation.
So then, in a way, it is also like learning and using Math after school. They either do or don't.
That said, I think the other languages should be equally preserved and taught REGIONALLY. So as not to teach Bisaya to the Ilocanos or Kapampangans neither the Ibanag to the Bisayans. That will mean Bisaya does not have to be taught to the Tagalog-speaking regions.
I want to repeat that I find it ridiculous that the common language we end up using is English. We have our own that should be taught and used to unite us and represent us to the world.
Of course, English is not the "bad element" here either.
But the Philippines has Filipino as the National Language. Like the carabao as the national animal and Lupang Hinirang as our national anthem, it should be known and ACCEPTED by all Filipinos.
Bob & Paul,
In Palawan, there's a lot of puti. The last time I was there, the Germans & French have claimed most beach front properties. Most love the jungle. They have no fear of malaria & living deep in the jungle, trekking in the night w/ just flash lights.
BTW, Paul, may I know w/c part of Ilocos do you live?
Hi Bob, unbelievable! Not that I doubt your facts, I'm just stunned to know that. But I'll check on it. 🙂
In highschool, there's a required curriculum for English classes & Pilipino as well. Most Lit are in Pilipino. Grammar in Pilipino is required as well. If that's true, Cebu could very well have been…what..another Asian country that speaks english too just like the Phil.
Hi Bob,
My wife speaks Surigaonon and Cebuano. She says she doesn't like speaking Tagalog and much prefers English to Tagalog.
If necessary she speaks basic conversational Tagalog but there are a lot of words she doesn't know. She has no interest to go anywhere outside of the Visayas or Mindanao ( except maybe Batanes for sight-seeing )when she's in the Philippines. I think many visayans feel the same way. Tagalog just isn't that important in their lives except if they want to get a job in Manila.
Hi Roy – We have a house in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte – north of the capital Laoag and north of the municipality of Bacarra.
Unfortunately, the house is there and I'm in the USA until later this summer when I'll be back home in Ilocos!
Mailiwak!
Forgot to mention signal 3 is flying for the typhoon!
Hi Michelle – So, Tagalog should be taught to everybody (or call it Pilipino if you wish), but also Bisaya should certainly not be taught to Tagalogs. Well, the people that made the decision that Tagalog would be the national language were the Tagalogs, so that is kind of unfair. When you force something on somebody, it usually leads to resistance.
Hi Roy – I did a little searching about the language thing in Cebu. Here is a document of interest, which is more than I knew on the subject.
You know… for literature more than 40 years old… Pilipino didn't even exist when it was written, so I think you mean that the work is in Tagalog, right?
Hi Randall – Yep, that is typical of Bisaya speakers to prefer English rather than Tagalog. Feyma is much the same too… she will readily speak English rather than Tagalog.
Hi, Paul. I had the chance to go to Pasuquin but I chose to stay in Laoag. I was the summer of…a long time ago and it was beastly hot. Going out was just torture.
I'd like to see Vigan & Pagudpud when I get the chance & perhaps during cooler months.
No Bob. Filipino is not the "old" Tagalog per se. And is even compared against Pilipino (with the P).
Compared to Tagalog, Filipino has more phonemes ("c", "f" "j" "q" "v" "x") and has a different sentence construction. It has more English "borrowings" and therefore welcomes "some english" ortography.
You know the term "force" connotes "resistance" so I would not use that. I would say that Filipinos should "embrace" what is theirs. Why is it that there seems to be no problem at all to embrace English when it is definitely far more foreign to Bisayans (than Filipino.)?
Shouldn't we Filipinos push for nationalism over regionalism?
FWIW my parents are Ilocanos.
Why Bisaya don't like Tagalog? Simply because they always mocking us by our accent… They look down Bisaya even in Tagalog movies or in any Pinoy television programs. Tagalog tends to be superior in all aspects…
Back when I was in third year high school here in Cavite National High School I had a transferee classmate from Cebu and she can't speak Tagalog but instead in English.
Hi Michelle – Pilipino is mostly Tagalog. I don't think there is much doubt about that.
When you say that Filipinos should "embrace what is theirs" I feel that is exactly what Cebuanos are doing! They embrace Cebuano, which is, in fact, their language!
Hi Philmor – Yeah, it's funny that the Tagalogs want Cebuanos to learn Pilipino (which is basically Tagalog), yet they mock Bisayans. Why would Bisayans want to embrace the language of people who mock them?
Hi Phil – I did have a great time. Not sure about hobnobbing, though! 😉
Hi Bruce – Sorry, I neglected to reply about the Davao Airport. The new airport here has nothing to do with the bombing at the old airport terminal. The new airport was already under construction before the bombing, and the bombing did not even damage the old terminal building. It happened outside, in an outdoor waiting area, and caused only fairly light damage anyway.
Of course, Bob. Like Ilocano is my language, but so is Filipino.
I definitely am in no way against Cebuanos sticking to Cebuano. But technically, Filipino is still the national language of even the Cebuanos.
This reminds me of when Obama said to the Republicans, "I will also be your President." ^_^ (Ooops maybe I shouldn't have gone there…?)
Hi Jong – I loved that "interview" – Thanks for sharing it! I wonder what Hatton would think!
Hi Michelle – I really don't want to argue with you, you seem like a nice person! I will agree with you 100% that Pilipino is the language that the Tagalog politicians chose for the National Language, and told the Bisayan people to use. The Bisayans never chose the language, they were told they should use it, but you are absolutely correct that it is the national language.
Truth is, if we are in the 30's to the 40s, I would understand the opposition. Tagalog, like Bisaya is definitely puristic.
But it has long evolved into Filipino which in the process adapted the advances in modern times and modern life (i.e. computer, SMS) Even in the 60s, it would have been way too late and too bad a decision to start the process of birthing into a new language for the sake of amalgamating the hundreds of Filipino languages.
Besides, many believe that the birth of one unified language would have possibly caused the others to wither.
If it is any consolation, the Ilocanos, the Warays, the Kapampangans, the Bicolanos, the Ibanags, the Pangasinenses….even the Itas for that matter…. their national language is also Filipino.
BTW salamat Bob. I enjoyed the exchange of opinions.
Hi Michelle – I also appreciate the exchange. I don't feel the need to go into it any deeper, because I don't think that we will change each other's minds! 😆 Since I am not a Citizen of the Philippines, I really shouldn't have an opinion, but as a (new) Bisaya speaker, I do feel some attachment to the issue too. 😉
Thanks for not getting mad at me for arguing my side! 😉
Bob I agree with Feyma it is easier to speak english then tagalog 🙂 ..Phil
Hi Phil – I won't argue there!
my wife when she speaks to a tagalog person they start out 2 or 3 sentences in tagalog and then they start speaking english!my wife tells me that she rather speak english then tagalog!i have even heard people speak to her in tagalog in long conversation and she will answer back 90% of it in english.it goes both ways i think tagologs dont want to speak to cebuanos in tagalog either they slip into english almost everytime with my wife . she speaks tagalog but doesnt want too!she only makes friends with visayans ,she has no real friends from luzon,in the usa only mostly cebuanos and visayans!
When I spent some time with a Manila GF we had no communication problems in Manila, same thing when I stayed in Cebu with a local GF, there again no problems. When I settled down with one woman in Iligan again no problems with the language.
But, when I took the Iligana to travel from Davao through the Pines to Subic Bay ( my partner speaks some English and both Tagalog loosely and Bisaya fairlly well ) we had communication problems galore. I had to have my Aussie English understood to my partner then interpreted into Bisaya and then from Bisaya to Cebuano or Bisaya to tagalog and or English. I did find the best form of communication for any Pino was cash. Cash spoke all languages and dialects so we basically got to where we wanted to go easily.
But it left me thinking?? If Pinos cannot understand each other what hope has the country got?
Lucky the language of love is universal, no need for any translation lol.
Oh yeah forgot we were talking about Cebu. Great place. Recommend it.
Hi mike – Much the same with Feyma, before. When we first moved here from the States, Feyma hardly remembered how to speak Tagalog, although her Bisaya was still very good. If she would call somebody in Manila on the phone, she would always ask if they could just use English, because she was so uncomfortable with Tagalog after 10 years in the States. In the USA, her friends were almost all Bisaya speakers too, which helped her Tagalog go a bit rusty. I think that now her Tagalog is better, but she still prefers Bisaya when possible.
Hi Boss – What's the old saying? Money talks, BS walks? Ha ha… cash is a universal language, not just in the Philippines!
Hi Bob,
So you like Bo's Coffee. Me too, I'm a big fan of it. Everytime
I'm in Cebu I will drop by at Robinsons Mall on FuenteOsmena because there's a Bo's Coffee stand there. I was also very happy to find one this year in the airport in Manila. And the staff is wonderful.
Hi Bob, So you like Bo's Coffee. Me too, I'm a big fan of it. Everytime I'm in Cebu I drop by at Robinsons Mall because there a stand there of Bo. And this year I was very happy to find one at the airport in Manila. And the staff is wonderful.
Kind regards,
Hi Ronny – Well, to be honest, I don't really like coffee store coffee, although among coffee shops, Bo's is one of the better ones. You see, one of my hobbies is that I roast my own specialty coffee beans from all over the world. Coffee shops don't generally have that level of quality.
Hey Bob!
We enjoyed your review. My wife's family are Cebuanos and they are extremely proud of their culture and should be. In fact, many Fil-Am members in our area are from Cebu and most are either healthcare professionals, IT professionals, educators, business owners or retired. They have regular get-togethers and everyone is gracious, from seniors down to youngsters.
With regard to the country's oldest city (and the region on an improving scale), it not only benefits from remittances, but commerce, easy accessibility to higher education (especially in healthcare and technology), and the trend is to earn advanced degrees. That's only scratching the surface.
Western-style businesses and real estate acquisitions are on the rise because living standards are improving and large portions of incomes earned abroad are being deposited in banks like PNB worldwide where pesos are adding up fast. A middle-to-upper middle class is quietly forming, in my opinion, and when the mass migration back to the Philippines begins, modern homes and condos will be waiting. Look at Ayala Land. They're building everywhere.
But, enough about Cebu. LOL. 🙂
Davao City was just recognized by BusinessWeek as a city that could benefit from outsourcing and some interesting factors were listed in support of the snippet: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/05/0504_outs…
I'm convinced the next 10 years will be nothing short of AMAZING for many areas of the Philippines. Be prepared for growing pains and higher prices if the growth reaches your area sooner than later.
I only hope progress in the country doesn't lead to "foreigner" backlash.
Junior
Hi Junior – Thanks for a great comment, with lots of good information. I agree with you that many parts of the Philippines are on the brink of a boom. The only thing we have to hope for is that the politicians don't screw it up by getting greedy, I think that is the biggest potential downside. Thanks also for the link to the Businessweek feature, very interesting!
Hi bob,
I totally agree, If the bisaya speaker would rather speak english than tagalog, many tagalog speaker would rather speak english than bisaya. 🙂
My mother is originally from cebu (cordoba to be exact) and they moved to manila when she was like 3 y/o, I believe we still have some relatives living in cebu (first and second degree cousin) my mother speaks bisaya fluently but none of the children including me can speak the language. I find it very difficult to remember the words or sometimes the word is the same with tagalog but with different meaning, not to mention it is hard to imitate the "strong" bisayan accent plus the way the sentences are constructed seems to be "scrambled" in my view, which leads to misunderstanding.
philippines has many dialects and languages, and the best way to communicate with them is to use the common language that everyone can speak and understand… and that is the English language.
have you heard the joke about the egg crossing the bulacan and pampanga bridge?
hi philmor,
you should not be embarrassed of your accent, have you heard the kiwi's accent? or the strong irish accent" you'd be surprised, there are some words that is almost identical to a bisaya speaking an English with a strong accent.
if somebody mocked or teased you of your accent, just tell them you are from NZ or from ireland.. 🙂
Hi dans – I haven't heard about the joke regarding the egg crossing the bridge. What's that all about?
I didn't know that your mother is Cebuana. You are right that while there are a few common words, the difference between Cebuano and Tagalog are great. I used to think there were lots of similarities, until I learned some Bisaya and still couldn't understand the Tagalog TV shows at all! 😆
Hey Bob since I am pretty far back in the woods .They all sound alike to me 🙂 My Jess can talk to them at any speed she wants,the faster her mouth moves the father back I stand .Be it in Cagayan De Oro ,Cebu or Manila ..You can get windburned from it 🙂 ( fast talker )..when we got to a taxi the driver ask me where my party was going .That was the only English I heard until we got out and he said "Goodbye Sir" ..my wife was specking Bisaya and her sister was specking tagalog and they understood each other including the driver he was from CDO …that's how Jess explained it to me ..But she got me thru the city ,and we had a good time there in manila..Now I know why she was so at ease talking to people in Cebu …..
Hi Phil – Sounds like Jess has the languages down!
Wow, Bob, I'm soooo glad I stumbled across your site. My wife is Filipina and I love the Filipino people and culture. Looking forward to sharing a SMB with you! Here's to a long and great friendship!
Bud
P.S. I've got a lot of "Learn Tagalog" videos on YouTube where you can see me speaking Tagalog :=) http://Tagalog101.info
P.S.S. How do I upload a profile photo?
Hi Bud – Nice to meet you! I don't drink, so you can have the SMB, and I'll have a Coke Light, but for sure let's get together! You can teach me a little Tagalog, and I'll teach you Bisaya! 😆 I'm not sure where you live, but since you're speaking Tagalog, it must be somewhere up north, I guess. Thanks for visiting!
Hi, Bob. Thank you for this very informative blog entry on Cebu! Just what I needed. My Swiss husband and I are planning to go to Cebu sometime in August.
I had been there way back in 1992, and I really liked the city.
Hi Jayred – If you haven't been to Cebu in 17 years, you are in for some serious surprises! Be prepared! Some good, and some bad!
Bob;
Rebecca's nephew is just starting kindergarten and he is really resisting the mandatory introduction to Tagalog. His native languages are Ybanag and Ilocano, and the teachers up in Abulug have real problems getting the kids to learn Tagalog, and to a lesser extent, English. Father Carlos runs the local Catholic school and he is always telling me about the perpetual struggle to get the kids to learn Tagalog… The parents also resist this and it makes a difficult situation. He is most concerned about the learning English… It is such a vital skill to have in order to get ahead in life (like it or not, that's just how it is).
Hi John – I would agree that learning English is more important than learning Tagalog. For a kid in Cebu or in Abulug, really how much is learning Tagalog going to help his life? Basically none. How much can learning English help him succeed? A great deal if he learns it well. Now, I know that what I just said will hurt some people's Philippine nationalism and their pride, but I believe it is the truth.
Bob:
Hurt feelings or not, it's the truth. There's nothing wrong with learning Tagalog, and there is a unifying purpose behind making it mandatory, but English has truly become the lingua franca of virtually every industry in the world.
We sent around 500 English primers up to Abulug last year from the British School in Abu Dhabi. One of the real challenges is the fact that books in English are very expensive in the provinces (At 100 pesos for an elementary text, that's a big expense up there…most people struggle to afford the texts when one book can be a day's wages).
The other hurdle is the lack of native English speakers there. When you don't use a language, you tend to forget it. Most of the adults around the kids only remember bits and pieces of English, so there is little reinforcement at home of what was learned in school (They usually only use Tagalog marginally more). I know the teachers have largely made some classrooms "English only". Becky used to be punished in school (a swat on the bum) if she was caught speaking Ybanag in school.She actually learned English (and later, Arabic in the Middle East), by watching TV shows years after leaving school (They didn't own a TV until the late 1980's), more than in school. I'm not sure if they still do that, but I would think it would hamper, rather than encourage, learning a language.
Hi John – Wow, you contributed 500 books in Abulug schools! That's a great effort, John, you should be proud of yourself.
The BBQ Grills you mentioned have me interested. In my shallow, petty life….a cold beer (or 6) and a hot grill with steaks is life's greatest pleasure. Fooey on gas grills though. I am and will stay a true Charcoal or hardwood griller. My ceder smoked Salmon will make you cry. Peace,
Eric
Hi Eric – I'm with you on the charcoal, and I particularly like coconut charcoal that you find here. The coconut charcoal tends to give the meat a bit of a sweet flavor, and it is excellent. Gas makes for easy grilling, but it can't touch the charcoal for flavor!
Ouch Bob!
I honestly have accepted it since I was young that Philippine pride is barely there. From the color of the skin, to what we wear, to what we watch and sometimes, even what we eat. And for the longest time, in what we speak…
And then I got here, and wow I am suddenly "pretty and cool". American women pay to achieve a tan like mine and my "pango" nose is suddenly "cute". But I have never encountered an American who wished he was born in and a citizen of another country.
If there is one thing I love about the US (right next to Jeff and my kids) it is the AMERICAN PRIDE. And I truly believe that it got the Americans to their highest achieved status, the highest IMO among the human race (so far) because I believe your citizens understood and took to heart that "UNITED YOU STAND, DIVIDED YOU FALL".
When the "Star Spangled Banner" is played, I am always in awe. I feel I know your history and the battles you've fought and the beliefs you firmly stand by.
I feel even when the country is not in its best situation, America manages not only to survive, but to actually prevail! And I truly believe it is because in times like the 9/11 attack, the America stood AS ONE. Did you not look to each other as if you knew each other, you understood each other, you spoke the same language and and you spoke for the same purpose.
Of course, I take offense Bob. That you an American would say that for a kid in Cebu or Abulug, Philippine nationalism is not going to help his life. Because I believe it can. And it can even help his future grand children. And his grand children's grand children.
You might say there are other ways to show nationalism. And that is true. But what really is more nationalistic than being able to understand each other as citizens of one nation? I believe that's the only way we as a nation can get unstuck and move forward, and maybe upward.
The main issue really is that one language took the position over many others. Why should we let politics, (yet again and among so many other political issues) bury us Filipinos in the past?
Think 2009. Without going back, if you were to decide how to settle this issue, what would you do? Would you suggest that we just learn English as the country's primary language and use it when we talk among ourselves?
There has got to be one. And there is one. And I don't think it should be English.
John, you are right, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG with learning Tagalog. But make that FILIPINO. They refuse to call it Filipino only for political reasons.
Hi Michelle – I am proud to be American, but I also feel that Filipinos should be equally proud of their country. No problems there. As far as the language issue goes… well, I've already shared my feelings on that, and I think they are well known. I choose not to argue it any further, but rather let others discuss it, if they choose. If a person wants to learn Tagalog (or if you prefer, Filipino or Pilipino, which is actually just Tagalog), that's fine by me, but I also feel it should not be forced on them.
Anyway, it is not up to me to decide these things. I just wish the best for the Philippines.
Hey Bob,
I liked what I read. I have same sentiments about Cebu. In fact, I was born in Bohol from a Boholano mother and a Cebuano father.
I only started touring the city just recently although before, I use to pass by Mactan and Manadaue on connecting trips to Tagbilaran.
Since December of 2008, I've been to Cebu 3 times already and will go back this July for more and probably more in the future. I'm liking the city. It's been 12 years since I moved to Manila from Bohol and discovering Cebu city made me think of relocating (I'm hoping to find work in Cebu hehe).
And yes, it's nice to be in a place where you speak your native language. I can speak fluent Cebuano so every time I visit Cebu and any other place that speaks the language, I always opt to use it. It feels good.
Last December, we stayed at Pacific Pensionne. A nice place indeed.
See my photos here: mrwhitepatch.multiply.com
Regards,
Ver
I THINK REASON WHY TAGALOG BECAME NATIONAL LANGUAGE WAS DUE TO PRES. MANUEL QUEZON WHO WAS FRM QUEZON PROV. HE WAS THE PRES. WHEN PINAS WAS EMERGING AS A NATION UNDER THE KANO WAY BACK IN THE 30S.
Hey Dans, this was why I was so at home in NZ – I can switch back to my Bisaya accent – no problim. Yis!! 🙂
Hey Bob.
Interesting piece of writing there.
I would like to know, Who taught you how to speak Cebuano and What first interested you in the Philippines? How did you sort of know about it?
Me myself, am trying to learn to speak Cebuano. I'm being taught by my Philippina mother.
What are your thoughts or opinion on all the foreigners coming to the Philippines now? It makes me almost angry because i hate to see the Philippines just growing out of all the things i love about it. Do you know what I mean? I just don't want it to become highly Westernized with all these foreign restaurants and gadgets and things. I would be so happy for the Philippines to keep the things that make it unique and so different to other countries. I was so happy coming to the Philippines just last month, not one of my first visits too, Because, Philippines is just so different to any other country i always hear about. The feeling of family and happiness is just so alive there, and even the places with more unfortunate people, they are just as happy. And in my opinion, personally, i think that us Westerners should be disapointed in ourselves, for always wanting more and not feeling greatful or happy. The Philippinos are always happy and loving and so bright, even the ones with only little things! Living in that joy-filled environment is such a great feeling. I fear that with all the foreigners coming in that it will totally destroy what i really love about the Philippines. I would hate to have that taken away, as i feel it would destroy a part of me. I don't wish for the Philippines to be like any other country, as its so special to me and my life. It means so much to me and whenever i see some foreigner chatting up some philippina just makes me so angry! i just feel like telling them to piss off because we dont need any more foreigners lol! But thankfully i have a bit more decency to say something like that.
I know that lots of the reason, or maybe all or most of the reason for all the foreigners is because of all the Philippina women. And though my mother would have been like that too, marrying a foreigner, i feel like the circumstances and situations were/are totally different. It makes me feel horrible to walk into a internet cafe there, and just see tons of women webcaming to foreigners. Im sure eveyone wants to marry some rich guy and fall and love and have a rich and glamorous life but i know that few of these women get the real "love" that actually is. But dont get me wrong, i understand how these men must be almost like saviours to some of these women, but it just makes me annoyed and almost sick that its just becoming so advertised and available, like so common and treated like its just something normal. Love shouldnt be pushed around like that.. I think at least half the men new to philippina women dont know what they are getting themselves into.
I love the philippines and would hate to see it get anymore foreigner filled than it already is. I love telling all my friends about stories from there, stories they have never heard of before. I just feel so happy there and it gives me such a great feeling. I dont mean to be selfish and say i want the philippines all to myself, (it would be amazing if i could though haha). But i just dread the thought that it will become more foreigner filled.
Hope this comment hasnt bored you or wasted your time, but my thoughts are very strong on this subject! And ive tried to make is as short as possible.
Thanks.
– A.S.
Hi A.S. – Personally, I don't think it is right to feel that foreigners should not be allowed to be here. You said that your Mom married a foreigner. Why is it OK for her but not others? Why are you allowed to judge that "it is different in her case"? What about other foreigners who are married to Filipinas or Filipinos, should they be allowed to come here?
Personally, I think it is up to the individual. If the person is respectful and polite, why not welcome him?
Is it possible to delete my last post. I dont want it there anymore.
Bob,
An impressive dialogue you have going on here, I love it, can't ask for more than that.
Coming from a limited knowledge my understanding was, Tagalog was the National language and the rest were dialects.
I just don't know enough about the goings on in the Philippines but am trying to learn more. Bob, I'm really impressed with your knowledge, I get the sense you know more than the natives. I agree
with you, what's wrong with an elective course.
with all due respect to you madam, I guess you have miss understood the definition of both dialect and language..as everyone knows ” PILIPINO” is our national language. In that thought, if it is considered as NATIONAL LANGUAGE, it follows that there are regional and local languages. Dialect as the dictionary defined it , is a variation of verbal communication from the original language (e.g 1 .)Tagalog- language : bulacan tagalog, cavite tagalog, and Batangas tagalog are dialects
2) Cebuano : is a language : dumaguete, cebuano, siquijor cebuano, dapitan,dipolog,cagayan de oro, davao and other places in Mindanao that uses mainly in cebuano language but there are some variations are called Dialects
Please refer to below definition
a : a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and constituting together with them a single language b : one of two or more cognate languages c : a variety of a language used by the members of a group d : a variety of language whose identity is fixed by a factor other than geography
How long did it take you to learn bisaya?
Hi Audrey – I started studying Bisaya in August 2007. I am still taking lessons weekly. I can carry on a good conversation, although I would not say that I am fluent, or know the language completely. I would say that after 3 months, I could talk to people, and understand much of what they said. It’s a never ending journey, studying a new language, I think.
Hi Bob,
Just came across your site and I got stuck reading here even if I have an ongoing experiment here to finish. Haha. Bout of homesickness I guess. A Cebuano here in Japan studying.
And what I can say is that I’m blown away by your depth of understanding about our language situation. And that you even understand it more than my own countrymen(and women). Some of the credit also goes to your linguist teacher, I guess. Hehe.
I don’t hate Tagalogs and Manilenyos, and I do speak fluent Tagalog (and yes I do think Filipino is just the Manila form of Tagalog) and my GF is Tagalog. However, a few of them can really understand what it all looks like from the Cebuano POV. It all boils down to miseducation I guess (like most people think Cebuano is a dialect, and that Tagalog was chosen as the basis because it was the most widely spoken at that time). The mistake from almost 9 decades back still has its repercussions today.
About learning Filipino (which is still Tagalog really) in the classroom, it is sad that Cebuano (or Ilocano, Ilonggo etc) are not learned and taught in school. Why can’t we learn about our own language? I can write formally in Tagalog much better than I can in Cebuano as a result, and I find it sad because I am just starting to write in Cebuano a few years back. I really don’t know why they should be the one to complain when we are the aggrieved party here. But enough about that I guess, because that would cover a really long discussion. Hehe.
As for the old world feel, I hope the plan to rehabilitate the old Cebu downtown would push through, and make it more conducive for walking and tourism.
Hi Jonathan – Nice to meet you, than you for stopping by my site and for reading! And, for leaving a comment too!
I agree with you that Tagalog should not be forced in the classroom in areas where Tagalog is not the language of choice.