Of Cebu and storms

“You are in the eye of the storm,” my journalism teacher used to warn me whenever I encounter unfortunate events. I didn’t really understand what that meant every time she said it. Even so, she added that one could always get out of the storm.

Apparently, the word storm is a life metaphor for problem, conflict or a difficult undertaking. It could be very destructive but just like any phenomenon, it goes away and the challenge is to rise again.

storm clouds hovering over UP Cebu

As of this writing, super “Pablo” is somewhere between Visayas and Mindanao threatening the islands with its heavy rainfall and strong winds. Public storm signals were raised and residents were advised to evacuate coastal areas.

But despite the threat, I can say that Cebu is ready for any storm, literally or metaphorically.

Cebuanos have faced difficult challenges – killings, robberies, political rivalries, poverty, hunger. The rains kept on pouring hard but the Cebuanos showed strength, still standing up after every challenge.

What is it in a Cebuano? There is a long list of how we are as a people, of how, as part of the Philippine race, we managed to help keep the country afloat.

Cebu is a colorful place. According to marine biologist and notable host Jude Bacalso, Cebu is where the lines of business and leisure meet. It is home to the world-class guitars and sweet mangoes.

Cebuanos are incomparable. In times of storms, we stick together like a sturdy tree. We have kept our humility throughout the years being the birthplace of Catholicism in the country. The first war in the history of the Filipinos was done at the shores of Mactan, Cebu.

We have the best hotels and resorts that tourists from different parts of the globe frequent. In fact, Cebu was nominated as one of the best cities in the world. It is a place of intellect, culture and history.

The Bisaya was portrayed as “bakya” before. But it cannot be denied that the Cebuanos are world class. Just recently, we pulled of a national event, the National Thanksgiving Mass for the new Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod, who is Bisaya.

My professor believed in me when she said I could survive the storm and I managed to. The Cebuanos are a strong people who can survive any storm.

**First published in The Freeman Newspaper on December 5, 2012