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Proudly South!

White-sand beaches, guitars, dried mangoes, hanging rice, big smiles and night outs at its finest. No need to look far for Cebu is the very place to be! But the Queen City of the South has more to offer than its famous tourist landmarks and scrumptious delicacies; Cebu is offering a new direction, a new life and a new you.

It’s been almost two years since I step in this urbanized city in an island down south and that two-years-and-counting stay in Cebu changed my persona. Honestly, I used to think that Metro Manila was the center of everything; gatherings, business and major events in the country and provinces are just somehow part of the marketing strategies of a certain industry to grow and be famous but I stand corrected. Cebu is livelier not just by night of loud events and big gatherings but livelier with all the support given by the Cebuanos. I suddenly remembered a concert I once attended and before they moved on the guest band which is a manila-based band, several local acts performed. Me, being a huge fan of that band and the like patiently waited for the main act while majority of the crowd rocked the night away with the local bands. This also came to several musicians I know. Some of them preferred international acts than Manila-based bands because they said that it is unfair that the mainstream music industry belongs to the metro up north. But this time, it is totally different. A friend of mine once told me that when it comes to song writing, yes he concede, saying people from the north are better like the Eraserheads, APO Hiking Society, Ryan Cayabyab and the like but still, nothing beats the talents that we have here in the south. And proving that statement is as easy as wandering around the metro, seeing different bands with different genres showcasing their talents. Witnessing the rise to fame of different local bands we have here, the establishing of a new genre which is the BisRock and having our own music industry here in the south bloom are some of the things that we Cebuanos can be really be proud of.

Going further, last February 29, another proud product of Cebu was witnessed. The multi-award-winning indie film, “Confessional” finally went back to its roots. The cinema lobby was jam-packed with film makers, writers, photographers, musicians, and art enthusiasts and supporters swarm over SM Cinema 1 to see the much awaited film that grabbed 7 out of 14 awards in Cinema 1 Originals 2007 which by the way, are all major awards. Goosebumps went all over my body as the film ended and music from our very own artists was played. It makes me proud of being a Cebuana.

Being a Cebuana?! Yes, definitely! I am a pure Cebuana with my parents are natives of Cebu who are just based in Manila, and I am proud of it and never revert to my old Manila-girl lifestyle. Yes, there is really a hidden resentment that we Cebuanos have for those, Manileños, and I think it is because of the strong sense of pride that we have here for those discriminating, sorry for the word, city-monkeys, HA! After a year of staying here in Cebu, I once asked a fellow Manileña who is also studying in the same institution as I am, with the same batch but with different program on why until this instance, she’s still speaking in Tagalog. “Gusto ko kasi ma-maintain yung Tagalog ko,” she said. Then, I looked at her with annoyance and said: “Nya? Nganong ganahan man ka ma-maintain imong pagka-tagalog?! Naa ka sa Cebu, day, mao nang kinahanglan nimo magbinisaya.” And after that, well, she continued her language but at least, my opinion as a Cebuana was already registered in her head. Yes, I admit I was once in that stage but with the eagerness to learn Bisaya and the pride of being in this place help a lot in getting through that well, scratchy stage.

Colorful festivals, breath-taking sceneries, strong faith, warm and hospitable Cebuanos, great talent from the south and being unique; that is something we can be really proud of. So again, looking for guitars, dried mangoes, hanging rice, and pungko-pungko? Cebu is not just the very place to be but it is the only place to be!

Rachel Mae A. Sarmiento
2nd year Mass Communication
University of the Philippines – Cebu College