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(Written July 25, 2009)
I half-slept through the night, watching over my mother who is being confined in the hospital. She was admitted two nights ago; we still don’t know yet her illness. But last night, as well as in the past week, she had quite high fever, cough, no strength, throat constrictions, UTI, and she couldn’t sleep. These symptoms may or may not sound serious, but then, I am no doctor. After being admitted to North General Hospital, my mother already had lipid panel, x-ray, and 2D-Echo. We hope it is nothing serious, although she could walk around now and her fever’s down already.
My mother still couldn’t sleep and I remarked that it must be because she had so many things in mind. Within my very small family (that would include her, me, my dad, and sister), we are okay, content, and secure. The problem is, we are all worriers.
After my aunt died earlier this year, my aunt’s family has been experiencing several financial and emotional problems. And to stop ourselves from worrying too much, we help them in ways we can, including buying their multi-cab just so they won’t have to sell it cheap to others but just enough price to us.
In addition, other relatives (one of my mother’s living brothers, for instance) have been hounded by financial problems as well. It’s frustrating on my part that we have to help an able person who is either too lazy or thinks too much about being sick when he is still far from retirement age. We don’t have very nice relatives, although very few have been surprisingly helpful.
These and more family scenarios on love lost, lonely children, and revenge make up, in my opinion, one good drama movie. Our amazingly linked lives are really good sources of ideas for stories. In fact, some of them have inspired some scenes in my working novel, Plucked Strings, which tackles the possibility of love between two people who belong to the same social class but lead extremely opposite lives and personalities.
Then again, I understand privacy. There are just some things we don’t, can’t, or shouldn’t disclose to the world for the world to take against us. In the past, I have experienced that and the experience has not been pleasant. I am being careful now about sharing tidbits of my life to acquaintances, friends, and co-workers.
Life is good. I have a contented and secured one, a blessing in itself. When unpleasant things happen, my idealistic defenses would kick in. But I keep telling myself that while life is good, it is unfair. One will never know when good or bad times will hit you. He can not prepare for something that is unknown; just strengthen his coping mechanisms.
And here I am, musing over these things, grateful that my mother is getting well, so that we will soon get out of here. (I don’t like hospitals and doctors. My parents lived for the past 18 years or so being dependent on them. When my sister was younger and sicker, she had to be in and out of a hospital. Last year, my grandmother, uncle, and aunt consecutively died in a hospital. I missed all three of them, especially my lola. If asked, I believe more in natural processes than prescribed drugs for treatment. I acknowledge the competency of some doctors but since life is unfair, I also recognize the presence of some money-scheming doctors, no matter how self-righteous they may seem.)
Bottomline is, no doctor or hospital can extend our lives. It is a fact of life that we easily get sick as we grow older. But while life is unfair–filled with unpleasant relatives we could not choose–we have daily chances to see and live the good part of it.
-By Nancy R. Cudis
At dawn, I dreamed of mutants. It was dawn because I already slept an hour or so past midnight. So anyway, these mutants–they could be superheroes, for that matter, since they were a good lot trying to fight an evil flying lady of darkness. When I say a good lot, they were plenty of them–flying women, shapeshifters, men with ‘insect-like’ powers, those that creates magnetic force fields or something, you name it. It was a pretty fun dream–I would have, without a doubt, prefer it over still horrible images of decomposed bodies of children and secretive smiles of serial killers (I was watching ‘Bones’ last night).
In my dream (I’m shifting now to present tense since this would sound like a movie review), there are two ‘flying’ sisters who are as opposite as night and day. They are literally born with black and white robes, suddenly all full-grown, like butterflies. The one with a black robe wants to play (or cast evil, in that sense) with the people of the Earth. I must point out, though, that this whole scenario happens somewhere in a mountainous forest with dirt paths as roads (must be in Africa) and the people are no people at all. They have powers, only that the evil sister didn’t know that. The good one, stereotypically wearing the white robe, is aware, on the other hand, so she covenes all these mutants, including me, my best friend, and a couple of other friends (Mel, you should read this) to force some sense on the evil sister and get her to realize that the world is no playground for her power testing. We are living in a hut protected by a force field, courtesy of one of my friends. A war ensues, I remember. But…
Like almost all the other dreams I have, the latest one was cut short by loud voices in our kitchen and the church choir (one of our neighbors is a chapel belonging to a different Catholic denomination).
It was just as well…So that I can choose the ending. Of course, it would have to be world peace.
The Cebuano entrepreneurs’ optimism is so contagious such that several media practitioners who kept interviewing them are into constant excited talks about dreams of putting up their respective businesses.
One business reporter wants to put up a trading firm in the future, supplying marine products to seafood restaurants in Cebu. Another wants to put up a scrap buying business. And there is another one who could not decide yet whether to invest on a restaurant or a coffee shop. Listening to them and to the entrepreneurs is slowly convincing me that anything is possible.
For my part, I hope to continue my father’s beverage distribution and his sari-sari store with my sister’s help. My sister dreams of her own bakeshop while I would like to have a modest commercial complex with my bookstore and Internet cafe in it.
I could not foresee myself forever employed and dependent on just enough salary every 15 days. I want to be financially independent. Contrary to public perception about mass communication graduates hating Math, I like budgeting, financial management, people management, customer service—some important aspects that are part of any business.
My daily exposure to the business community in Cebu as a business writer is pumping my desire to be my own employer. I know I will. I could imagine it. The very image makes me happy.
-By Nancy R. Cudis
I have not heard of Danao, Bohol until last week when I carried only a handbag of belongings and hop on a ro-ro to join other Manila and Cebu reporters on a journey we didn’t quite know what to expect.
A day earlier, I received the itinerary of the overnight (business) trip from the Department of Tourism. The trip was meant to cover the launching of the two-year old Danao Adventure Park, a 60-heactare P25-million development project of the Municipality of Danao, Bohol.
I thought it was mere launching graced by Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano and we, media, will get to rest after a series of interviews with the stakeholders present and enjoy the scenery—still quite raw and undisturbed, except for the adventure facilities—at our pace. Looking back, I regretted not to have brought my rubber shoes so that I could try out wall climbing and caving.
To prevent myself from becoming dramatically sad, I made a mental note to go back to the eco-tourism, adventure, and educational site. With my family. And my rubber shoes.
Anyway, the moment we arrived, I immediately felt excited, happy, and sad at the same time–excited because the place was great, hot, and wide; happy because a local government unit (LGU) actually took the initiative to start the project through a P15-million loan from the World Bank; and sad because I have not yet heard of such similar eco-adventure site in Cebu that is developed by an LGU. Maybe there is that I am ignorant of.
I have heard of privately-owned Kan-irag Nature Park in Busay but not yet about a site with similar scope as the Danao Adventure Park.
In Camarines Sur (CamSur) where I spent four days a couple of months ago, I envied so much the CamSur Watersports Complex featuring wakeboarding, among others. It was a huge government project right outside CamSur’s Provincial Government. My first thought upon seeing it was, “Why is there no such thing like this in Cebu?”
This was the same thought that hounded me when I arrived at the Danao Adventure Park. I must admit that Cebu’s political landscape crossed my mind as among the possible answers to my question. But instead of dwelling further, trying to grope for more could-be reasons, I put on my helmet and vest and allowed myself to be thrown away from one cliff to another.
This, as the zipline operator shouted, “Bombs away, bombs away!”
I instantly forgot about the life-threatening command because what I saw below was a totally refreshing and beautiful Eden.
Below is a copy of the published business stories I wrote about the tourism facility for Sun.Star Cebu:
Bohol town earns P1M a month from adventure tourism park
Sun.Star Cebu <> Monday, July 13, 2009
BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THERE is huge revenue potential in eco-tourism projects.
The newly inaugurated Danao Adventure Park in Danao, Bohol is proof of this. The park earns about P1 million a month since January 2009 when it started operating a zip line facility.
The Danao Adventure Park had an annual revenue target of P3 million.
“We have not earned and seen this much money before,” Danao, Bohol Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga told reporters during the park’s launch last July 9.
The P25-million Danao Adventure Park—a 60-hectare eco-tourism, adventure and education facility—is co-managed by the Municipality of Danao and several people’s organizations.
Danao, Bohol is a fourth class municipality with about 20,000 residents. It is located 72 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and 35 kilometers from Tubigon, Bohol.
The local government applied for loan from the World Bank in 2006 to develop the park. The town received a soft loan amounting to more P15 million, which was used to finance the park’s development.
The facility soft-opened in the middle of 2007, offering eco-tourism activities, such as root climbing and spelunking.
When the Office of the President donated P1 million for the establishment of a zip line facility that the park termed as “suislide,” the park’s revenues went up. For the zip line alone, the park earned P300,000 on the first month and P1 million every month in the next four months.
The facility’s cable equipment was supplied by Minda-nao-based Asolo Cable and Wires.
Danao Adventure Park offers 15 activities, including organic farm visitation, historical tour, river kayaking, river trekking, wall climbing, river tubing, village tour, bouldering, rappelling, sky ride, camping and caving.
Most of the visitors, Gonzaga noted, are locals—mostly from Cebu.
“We want to continue targeting the domestic market because it is more reliable than the foreign market, which is vulnerable to several (incidents) like the influenza A(H1N1) virus,” he said. The park, however, received foreign tourists from Cebu.
As the park plans to come up with four new activities every year and intensify its marketing promotions, it is eyeing to be declared as an economic zone.
The park generates employment for the sedate town. It employs 60 people.
Gonzaga said the park adopts the “Danao First” policy, which means its staff and supplies come from the town to support the local economy.
Future attractions in the park include eco-lodge project, a campsite, a 1.5 kilometer zip line, and a sanctuary for Dagohoy, the legendary Boholano who led the longest revolt against the Spaniards.
The Danao Adventure Park received P600,000 from Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Herrera for the development of the eco-lodge. Rep. Edgar Chatto (Bohol, 1st district) also promised P1 million for the Dagohoy sanctuary.
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DOT chief urges LGUs to invest in tourism projects, develop sites
Sun.Star Cebu <> Monday, July 11, 2009
BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter
DANAO, Bohol – Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano urged local government units (LGUs) to put up tourism-related facilities that would spur economic activity in their areas.
Given the presence of local and foreign funding institutions—as well as the government and industry support—LGUs have “no excuse” not to invest in tourism-related facilities that would “jumpstart” their economies, he said.
But he lamented the “lack of appreciation” for the impact of tourism on a community, even at the municipal level, which hinders LGU officials from transforming their resources into tourist attractions.
“Other (leaders), especially those well-traveled, are aware and appreciative of how tourism has helped other countries. Tourism (there) becomes a sustainable way of life that involves the whole community,” Durano said.
He went to Barangay Magtangtang in Danao, Bohol last Thursday to inaugurate the P25-million Danao Adventure Park.
The 60-hectare tourism development is a project of the Municipality of Danao, Bohol—a fourth class municipality located 75 kilometers from capital Tagbilaran City. The park combines extreme, adventure and eco-tourism activities.
Loans
“Danao, Bohol is an example of an LGU with a tourism project. Any LGU could do it. It is a matter of planning and managing your finances before developing a tourist facility,” Durano said.
He said LGUs can avail themselves of loans from financial institutions, like the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
On the other hand, he said, big tourism investments can enjoy tax incentives once they are proclaimed economic zones.
Danao Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga said the local government received financial assistance from the World Bank, Provincial Government and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to develop the Danao Adventure Park. His office is also “seriously considering” having the park declared as an economic zone.
Durano said Danao, Bohol is a beneficiary of a DOT grant through the agency’s Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Ecotourism Livelihood Grant Program.
“Local leadership is indispensable. This is why we now have a policy in DOT where the initiative comes from LGUs. There is high exponential success rate if a project is initiated by LGUs,” he said.
He noted that Danao, Bohol was “not even within the radar of DOT” but its project caught the attention of the National Government and the tourism department.
“With the right leadership, planning and implementation, (an LGU) would be able to attract (additional) funding and create new sources of income for the people and the municipality,” he said during the inauguration of the park.
He cited tourism-related projects by government, including the CamSur Watersports Complex in Camarines Sur and the Pagsanjan Rapids in Laguna.
“In this country, tourism can work anywhere. The success rate of a government-initiated tourism project is when the LGU no longer needs help from DOT,” he said.
Durano also called on LGUs to support the direction of the DOT, which is pushing for more eco-tourism development.
“With our natural environment, our nature-based products are really popular among tourists. Let us look at our natural and cultural assets. Don’t try to be something you are not,” he said.
July 8, 2009
I missed posting my first blog entry today after I signed up for the National Blog Posting Month yesterday. I was hoping I could make blogging a daily habit such that it would be utterly synonymous to (my) wearing eyeglasses most of the time. You know…just to get my skills honed and get away from routine news writing that is making me awfully creative in sentence structure and structured storytelling…
Oh, well…
You see, I treat blogging as a diary I never really experienced or savored when I was a kid. Now, here is an opportunity of getting my “everyday personals” online to share to everybody. Well, not too personal, I should say. My life is not an open book for everyone to read. Nevertheless, blogging is an influential starting point to get me to explore my literary and artistic side and, I think, to get me exposed to new learning in a much, much dynamic and smarter planet.
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