Lebak Market: Lean and Clean

One of the cleanest public markets I have seen in these parts. The Lebak Public Market.

Lebak is a town in the province of Sultan Kudarat; among the most difficult-to-reach towns of the province owing mainly to its natural boundaries of high mountains on one side and the vast expanse of the Moro Gulf/Celebes Sea on the other. 

Recent road infrastructures however have made access to/from Lebak from/to various points in Mindanao considerably easier than before. Lebak is now connected to Cotabato City by a newly constructed concrete highway that passes through the mountain towns of Upi and South Upi in Maguindanao. Air-conditioned passenger vans now provide direct service between Lebak and the cities of Cotabato and Davao and the provincial capital town of Isulan.

Masskara Moment

How colorful is Bacolod City's Masskara Festival? This colorful. You have the whole mass of spectators - Bacolodnons and not - inching for space trying to watch and catch, with whatever gadgets they have, every tinge and hue of the festive masquerade as it traverses the main streets of the city.

Photo taken October 16, 2011. My first Masskara festival. Awesome.

Cebu City Public Library: Reborn

After more than two years of hullabaloo following the announcement of its closure in late 2008, Cebu City's Rizal Memorial Library and Museum is finally back. And with a vengeance.

Its 72-year old building which is a neoclassical architectural standout by itself has undergone a multi-million peso facelift and now houses 3 major learning spaces to serve the public -- the city public library on the ground floor, the city museum on the second, and a venue for cultural and historical functions on the third called Sinulog hall.

Now that's what we call investing for the future.