Sinulog Festival: A cellphone holiday
With so many tourists and balikbayans right now in Cebu to join and celebrate the Fiesta of the Sr. Sto. Niño and since I have not yet fully recovered from my kidney transplant two months ago, allow me to take advantage in promoting the World War II book that we launched a year ago, entitled "War in Cebu" which was co-authored by foremost Cebuano author Resil Mojares, Prof. Jobers Bersales, and this writer.
Even now people still call me where they could get hold of this book, as they cannot find it at the National Book Store. I merely tell them to go to the University of San Carlos Library in Talamban where they have copies available. So watch the replay of how we crafted the book, "The War in Cebu" tonight on SkyCable's channel 53 at 8:00PM with replays on Wednesday and Saturday same time and channel. We also have replays on MyTV's channel 30 at 9:00PM Monday and at 7:00AM and 9:00PM on Wednesday and Friday.
* * *
For many times in the past, I just stayed home to watch the Sinulog Grand Parade on live TV provided by SkyCable because it was convenient. Yesterday, due to my medical circumstances where I cannot yet join crowds because I'm still on my recovery stage after my kidney transplant two months ago, this time I was "forced" to stay in my room. But I was happy to see all the events especially at the Cebu City Sports Center on Live TV via MyTV channel 30 that linked up with SkyCable.
Last Saturday's rains were really a bummer, I could tell that fewer people witnessed even the fluvial parade from Mandaue City to Cebu City, except for those hardy souls who in their total devotion to the Sr. Sto. Niño would brave the harshest rains. I just hope that these people do not get sick. But then we all believe that the Holy Child Jesus always protect us from the elements. The procession was always very solemn!
If at all, the biggest bummer was not the rain but the telco industry for switching off the cellsites to early too soon. Please don't get me wrong. People of my generation celebrated the Sinulog festival long before the cellphone was invented, we could live without a cellphone. Back then we used hand-held radios to communicate with friends. So for me, it was my "cellphone holiday!" But what I didn't like was that the telecom's switched the entire Metro Cebu cellsites rather than the areas where the Sinulog events are played out.
Worse, the shutdown affected the automatic teller machines. Many visitors from out of Cebu City who just kept their money in their ATM accounts because they were afraid of being robbed if they bring cash with them, ended up having no money at all because the ATM machines were also shut down. Clearly there was a serious lack of coordination with the telcos on this issue. Thanks to ATM machines, many of us no longer carry large amounts of cash when we travel to other places in this country. Worst of all, the credit machines in restaurants and hotels also could not work so they had to pay cash.
In short the problem people especially tourists faced was not a lack of communication but a logistical one. Just imagine a local tourist arriving from Mindanao armed with his ATM or credit card, checking in on his hotel only to learn that he can't pay his hotel bills up front? I'm sure that the folks at the telecom industry did not factor this in when they plan for the shutdown. I can only hope that the telecoms can do better for next year's Sinulog.
In the past, I usually go around the Mango Avenue area near my office and write my columns after lunch so I can give our readers a report on the Sinulog Grand Parade or any untoward incidents. But I apologize to my readers for I'm just in the comfort of my home and watching the Sinulog Grand Parade on MyTV Channel 30. Finally, you may have noticed that The Freeman today has shrunk in size and this column is shorter than it should be. I guess this will be the norm from now on. Pit Senyor!
- Latest
