August 2007 Archives

By Marlon Ramos Southern Luzon Bureau CALAMBA CITY, Philippines--Two days after foreign and local tourists were stranded along the rock-strewn river while touring the famous Pagsanjan Falls, a technical team was formed Thursday to look into it and come up with corrective measures to avoid a repeat of the incident. Pagsanjan, Laguna Mayor Emilio Ramon Ejercito III said the technical team will be tasked primarily to ensure the safety of vacationers and boatmen visiting the majestic falls. The character actor-turned-politician said the team will be composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local environment office and municipal government of Pagsanjan. Officials from the provincial and local tourism offices were also asked to join the panel, the mayor said. He said he would also strengthen the capabilities of the disaster preparedness team of the municipality. “What we need right now is a scientific approach to avoid… accidents like what happened last Tuesday,” Ejercito told the Inquirer over the phone. Ejercito was referring to the incident wherein 38 foreign nationals and Filipinos were trapped among huge rocks on their way to the falls when a heavy downpour swelled the river along the boundary of Pagsanjan and Cavinti towns. After being stranded for at least six hours, the vacationers and boatmen were safely plucked from the area by rescuers composed of volunteers and personnel of the local police and military units. Although the tourists suffered only minor bruises and wounds, Ejecrcito has ordered the suspension of all boat trips going to the falls. The mayor, however, said he is set to lift the temporary suspension Friday. He then quickly allayed the fears of other tourists who want to experience the world-renowned “shooting the rapids” ride in Pagsanjan. “We want to inform both local and foreign visitors that it is still safe to take the boat rides to Pagsanjan Falls. We are doing everything to make the boat trips safer,” he said. Ejercito was apparently cautious of the would-be effect of the incident to the local economy of his town. He said that tours and boat rides to Pagsanjan Falls are one of the major sources of livelihood in the town. It is also a main source of revenues for the municipality, he added. From the P660 that tourists pay for a boat ride, the municipal government gets P15 as share. With an average of 260, 000 visitors annually, the local government earns at least P4 million yearly, Ejercito explained. He said the boat rides have also given job opportunities to residents employed at the 15 resorts and hotels around the falls. “You can just imagine how much we will lose if tourists suddenly stop coming to Pagsanjan,” he said.

By Jerome Aning Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--More tourists are expected to visit Intramuros, one of Manila’s enduring attractions, following the closure of entertainment establishments along the city’s Baywalk promenade area. Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said he would work closely with Mayor Alfredo Lim in developing Intramuros, site of historic landmarks as Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, as an alternative destination. Durano said he respected Lim’s decision closing restaurants and bars lining the Roxas Boulevard strip because of peace and order concerns. “Clearly, Mayor Lim has his own reasons for closing them, and his predecessor, Mayor Lito Atienza, had his reasons in putting them up as well. Every leader has his own vision and priorities,” Durano told reporters. The tourism secretary described the public reaction to the closure of the Baywalk shops as “generational. The seniors are glad because there’s no more traffic while the younger ones say they are sad because they had nowhere to go now.” Durano said other entertainment sites in Malate and Ermita districts were seeing the return of patrons who used to frequent Baywalk. “We appreciate Mayor Lim’s drive for peace and order because it’s making Intramuros more secure for the thousands of tourists that go there every year,” said Durano. Intramuros, also called the Walled City, is under the supervision of the DoT-attached agency, Intramuros Administration. The agency is eyeing a revival of the Muelle de Rio entertainment area, which would be a part of the Pasig riverbank boardwalk. Another DoT agency, the Philippine Tourism Authority, is constructing a sports complex outside the walls.

By Vicente Labro Inquirer CATBALOGAN CITY--They jumped, rolled, swaggered and crawled to the rhythm of the drums, unmindful of the heat of the midday sun. Wearing colorful costumes, with some of them dressed as mud crabs, these nearly 80 young people from Sta. Margarita, Samar performed the Alimango Festival that depicts the raising or gathering of mud crabs, the town’s main livelihood. The fast beat and outstanding performance of the festival dancers did not fail to wow the huge crowd and to get the nod of the festival competition judges, who unanimously voted it as the best street dancing group. The festival defeated other contenders like the Bagolan Festival of Paranas town (3rd place) and the Sapyawan Festival of Catbalogan (2nd place), which showcased the town’s coconut industry and fishing industry, respectively. The street dancing contest, dubbed Battle of Festivals, was among the activities held in the week-long celebration of Samar Day on Aug. 11 this year. Among the other activities were the Search for Mutya ng Samar, Agro-Industrial Fair, sports competition, and the Governor’s/Congressional/Mayors’ Night socials. Gov. Milagrosa Tan, her daughter, Rep. Sharee Tan (1st district, Samar), and Vice Gov. Jesus Redaja led provincial officials in welcoming the guests and visitors in this year’s 11th Samar Day celebration. Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, together with mayors from some of the other Samar towns as well as council members, were among those who joined the celebration that was held in the City of Catbalogan, the provincial capital, on Aug. 11. Sta. Margarita Mayor Alfredo Serrano said he was very happy with the outcome of the results of the contests because they did not only win the P50,000 prize for the street dancing contest but their giant mud crab-designed float also won for them another top prize of P50,000. “We also won in the best choreographer category,” he added. Unite Samar’s culture “We are trying to unite the culture of Samar and advertise it to the nation,” said Jover Laurio, tourism officer-designate, referring to the festival. Laurio disclosed that by September this year the province will join the Travel Mart where they will showcase not only the products of Samar but also the province’s tourist attractions like the caves, waterfalls, beaches and nature parks. The province started its celebration of the Samar Day on Aug. 11, 1977, although it was supposed to be 156 years old already. The Samar Historical Committee recommended to the provincial government that Samar Day be based on the Aug. 11, 1841 date when Queen Isabella III of Spain signed a Royal Decree establishing Samar as a military province separate from Leyte. Earlier, Samar Day was celebrated every Nov. 10, commemorating the election for the first time of local officials in the three newly created provinces in Samar Island. The Samar Division Act or Republic Act No. 4221, which was enacted on June 19, 1965, divided the then island province of Samar into the provinces of Western Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. Western Samar was later renamed by an act of Congress as Samar province. But during the martial law years, the celebration of Samar Day was held every Aug. 23, the day before Catbalogan, the ancient capital town of Samar that became a city just last July, holds its annual fiesta. On Aug. 24, the Catbaloganons once again celebrated the feast day of St. Bartholomew, by thanking their patron saint for all the bounties that came their way and probably by also praying to God to give a better year ahead for their beloved Samar, the country’s third largest island.

By Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--It is inevitable to feel homesick to some degree when traveling to unfamiliar places abroad. Fortunately for Filipinos in Paris, there’s a place that offers a touch of home, thanks to a young Filipina who has settled in this City of Lights. Dita Moraga, herself initially overwhelmed by the vastness of Europe, has found her heart and home in Hotel Gavarni in Paris, which is managed by husband Xavier Moraga. The couple met at the altar way before they tied the knot: Xavier was choirmaster, the Dumaguete lass the choir’s soloist. The two exchanged vows at the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church, where NBA champion Tony Parker and “Desperate Housewives’” star Eva Longoria recently got hitched. Cultural differences posed no problem to the Moragas’ union, thanks largely to Dita being well-traveled. Before she lived in Paris, she had stayed in Chicago for four years and in Holland for a year. “I can easily adapt to my surroundings,” says Dita, who now has two beautiful daughters with Xavier. Although she’s grown accustomed to the European lifestyle, Dita admits that she looks forward to her yearly visits to the Philippines and to the warm embrace of family and friends. The sense of family is present as well in her work as hotel gouvernante, says Dita. “More than just a team, our staff works as a family helping each other out.” Agrees longtime employee Luisito Navarro: “I’m not afraid to be under French supervision because they are very understanding. I was initially scared because I did not speak French and did not have legal papers. But now everything’s fine. I’ve acquired a residence card and raised my family here. I’ve brushed up on my French and have a good job.” Most of all, he adds, he feels really proud when guests compliment him on the hotel’s cleanliness and good service. Adds Eusebio Juyad: “Yes, regular guests treat us like family or friends… The French never fail to greet us or express their gratitude with a ‘merci beaucoup.’ ” For their part, the Filipino staff never fails to smile, observes Dita. “The workload can get exhausting, but it is normal,” she says. And Filipinos, despite adversity, always have something to smile about, she adds. Dita herself has a lot to smile about, most of them having to do with being part of a well-managed hotel. Conveniently located just steps away from the Eiffel Tower, Hotel Gavarni, which was originally built in 1907, was completely refurbished in 2001 but has retained its original red brick façade, stylish iron cast window bars and Art Nouveau touches. It now has 21 rooms with four luxury suites, each of them with a distinct theme. Modern amenities like a massage shower and Jacuzzi, Wi-Fi DSL, a flat screen LCD TV, satellite channels and a DVD player make each room a contemporary haven with world-class services to match. The result is a comforting mix of French sophistication and Filipino affection, a welcoming abode indeed for travelers who long for adventure while pining for the familiar. Hotel Gavarni is at 5 rue Gavarni 75116 Paris. Philip Abadicio

By Maria R.M. Sison Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--“All things are possible to the one who believes, there is no doubt about it,” said Blessed Guerric of Igny. From late April to early May, my parents and I joined other participants from the Saint Bernard Parish in Los Angeles, California for a 14-day pilgrimage to Marian sites in Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and Spain. This would be the last pilgrimage for my dad; he soon became bedridden. My mom’s physical health is also on the decline; her ability to walk is restricted. But they both have faith that is constant and unwavering – I have no doubt that it was what made the pilgrimage possible for my 87- year old father and soon-to-be-80 mother. The eve before our departure, we were treated to a fabulous dinner with wine and flamenco entertainment. Nasmiah, our main tour guide who is tri-lingual, shared valuable information on the cultural, social and economic heritage of Spain. She christened our group after three of our priorities: pit stops, shopping and food. Fatima, Portugal We were very excited as my mom, some members of our tour group and I were here for the first time. After breakfast, we got in the big green-and-white bus named “Julia.” We passed by the original house of the three shepherd children Our Blessed Mother appeared to on May 1917. The siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto were then 8 and 6, respectively. Their cousin Lucia de Jesus was 9. We briefly saw a few of the relatives of these three visionaries. Rev. Gerald McSorley and Rev. Msgr. Patrick McNulty, pastor and pastor emeritus, were part of our group. They celebrated Masses, said prayers and blessed the gifts and souvenirs purchased throughout the trip. In the evening, we joined a candlelight procession. Braga and Santiago de Compostella, Spain The next day, we proceeded north to Braga, seat of the Primate of All Spain in medieval times. When I saw the remains of a tower structure, it entered my mind that the horse-riding Crusaders for the Christian faith could have passed this way. Upon arriving in Santiago de Compostella, the group viewed the Shrine of Saint James the Great, brother of the evangelist John. His tomb was moved here after his martyrdom, and the Cathedral, one of the popular pilgrimage spots, was founded and built on this site. The July 25 issue of the Magnificat says Saint James was present at most of the miracles performed by Christ, and that he was put to death by Herod around 42-44 AD, making him one of the first martyrs after Christ. Just as important as filling the soul is filling the body. The staple meal consisted of chicken, potatoes, bread and wine throughout our trip. Thankfully, my father speaks fluent Spanish and could be trusted to make suggestions on where to eat. (He has a special fondness for Spain; in his younger years, he trained here as a chemist making soaps and perfumes.) We ate tasty crabs and seafood with gusto at one seafood place he recommended. After filling ourselves, we found out that it was only the first course! The food servers were waiting for us to finish before they served another course of fish and rice in good-sized portions. We had a hearty laugh over that. Yummy goodies were available at corner shops. A particular favorite was a yema-like pastry. Next in Leon, we admiringly gazed at the architecture of the Gothic Cathedral in this capital of Christian Spain at the start of the Re-conquest. Light streamed through the cathedral and the interplay of light and color was grand. Then we went to Burgos whose most famous resident was El Cid, the national hero who was legendary for his chivalry. It was a privilege to visit the convent in Pontevedra where Lucia, the Fatima seer who became a nun, was graced with more apparitions by Our Lady, who asked that the first Saturday of every month be reserved for Our Lady of the Rosary. We were told that piles of letters and requests for healing and other intentions were brought to Lucia, to be included in her prayers or for her just to touch. This is a shining example of the power of faith. Your faith has made you well, said Christ to those he gives health of body or soul, Blessed Guerric had reflected. On our drive to the Spanish-French border, we saw lush greenery and sheep grazing in the pastures, calming and relaxing scenes. Our companions from different places, ages 30-84, sang along the way. All were filled with faith and compassion, willingly helping my parents and other senior members when needed. We also visited the monastery in Tolosa where St. Ignatius de Loyola was born. Lourdes, France Lourdes is one of the most visited sites worldwide. In the evening, the group joined the candlelight procession. A steady stream of people converged in the underground chapel where benediction for the sick was given. Lourdes is meant to be experienced. Describing it in words falls short of the immense goodwill it generates. The staff reportedly number in the hundreds; volunteers helping out are in the thousands. A trip to Lourdes is not complete without visiting the grotto. The lame who had been miraculously cured hung their crutches near the grotto. Another must-see site is the miraculous bath. My fellow pilgrims reported feeling lighter, refreshed after a dip. We went on a walking tour of the sanctuaries, including the local mill and the Body Mill, where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to Saint Bernadette. She had a rosary with six decades of beads instead of the usual five, said our guide. Then we attended a private Mass celebrated in the Basilica’s crypt. We all agreed that the opportunity to visit these places is a renewal of faith and walking through these solemn, religious and history-filled places, one of life’s rare and pleasant miracles. My father has had three transient ischemic attacks and multiple cerebral strokes that have led to his unsteady gait, diminished strength and sensation. We brought along a walker for him to use – our Spanish-speaking driver christened it taca taca and it became a marker of the whole pilgrimage. Doubts surfaced on whether my dad could participate in the long walks. But being a man with deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, he was so determined to finish the pilgrimage that all doubts were erased on whether he could endure all the walking. I had to assist both Mom and Dad, who both had difficulty walking. Sometimes Dad would lose his balance from stepping on the back of one shoe. I would carefully straighten the back of his shoes so he would not trip, recalling the words of John the Baptist who said he wasn’t fit to tie the sandal straps of the One who was to come. It was truly God’s grace that my dad celebrated his 87th birthday in Lourdes, France and Spain, two special places with deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. That my soon-to-be-80 mom and I were traveling with him was providential. Zaragoza, Montserrat, Toledo, Barcelona Our Lady of the Pillar, one of the world’s largest Marian shrines, can be found in Zaragoza, Spain. She is the patroness of all Hispanic nations. This was a site Our Lady visited before her Assumption, according to our guide. When St. James was evangelizing Spain, she was said to have appeared on a pillar. This pillar has been conserved and is said to emit a special fragrance. In Montserrat we made our way to the Benedictine Shrine of the Cherished Black Madonna, said to have been carved by the evangelist Saint Luke. We found exquisite handmade jewelry in Toledo. It’s anyone’s guess if the expression “Holy Toledo” by Robin, Batman’s ward, has some connection to this place. Next was a visit to Barcelona, the site of the 1992 Olympics where we passed by the athletes’ living quarters. We went to two places: the Antonio Gaudi Parc Guell and Church of the Holy Family. The Parc was meant to showcase Gaudi’s ideas on town planning. But he died before its completion. What we found was a parking entrance, two houses, a covered walkway and a long seat. The restoration of these structures has been limited since Gaudi did not leave any plans. He was however able to do the crypt and the Nativity facade. Madrid We took a morning flight to Madrid where the group visited the Prado Museum with its many cultural treasures. Then we proceeded to Avila where we visited the quarters of Santa Teresa. An interesting story - once while she was praying, a man asked her who she was. “I am Teresa of Avila,” she said. Then she asked the stranger the same question, and he replied: “I am Jesus of Teresa.” Through a pillar, a grotto, a relic or even the course of our daily routines, Our Lord and Lady continue to invite and call out to us, “Be it done unto you according to your faith.”

By Niño Mark M. Sablan, 2bU! Correspondent Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--There was something mystical and gentle about dolphins—plus I’d never seen one—so when I went to Eskaya Beach Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol, several months ago and was informed that dolphin-watching was part of the itinerary, I was extremely delighted. Eager and excited (and armed with sandwiches, an MP3 player and a digital camera), I woke up extra early to join our group in a little motorboat for what I expected would be an intimate time with the dolphins. It took us almost an hour before we spotted our first school of dolphins and the moment I laid eyes on them, I felt like a kid seeing his first, well, dolphin. It was just pretty disappointing how, when we tried to zoom close for a better view, they would suddenly stay underwater. I guess the sound of our motor (15 motors actually, since there were 14 other motorboats with us during that morning) scared them. So for an hour or so, the typical scene was a school of dolphins would surface, all 15 motorboats would try to get as close as possible and then the dolphins would disappear. Another group would surface somewhere and the whole process would be repeated. At the end of the day though, I was a satisfied little boy. A couple of months after my Bohol trip, I flew to Cebu and was billeted at the Badian Island Resort and Spa. They offered dolphin-watching as one of their recommended activities but after pretty much having enough of dolphins during my recent Bohol trip, I decided not to go for it anymore. However, I strangely ended up joining them. For their dolphin-watching activity, Badian surprised me with their spacious yacht equipped with tables and chairs, binoculars, a comfort room and lots of pansit and sandwiches. Just like my previous quest for dolphins, this one took a while before we spotted some Flippers. After approximately 30 minutes, we saw our first batch of dashing dolphins darting out and in the water. I was saying wow every 10 seconds for about 30 minutes already when I realized how pretty close the dolphins were to our yacht—so much closer as opposed to how they were during my previous dolphin-watching experience. And then something even better and more wow-inducing happened. A good number of dolphins positioned themselves in front of our fast yacht, and sort of joined the ride. They swam with us and kept up with our speed, jumping out of the water from time to time. It was as if they were putting on a show. They knew we were watching—enjoying, actually—and they just went on and on and on entertaining us with their tagging-along and little jumps. This continued for a couple more hours. And then we finally had to go back to the resort for lunch and other activities. Seeing dolphins up close for the very first time was definitely an exciting experience and I want to do it again very soon. Come to think of it, I now want to jump into the water and go swim with the dolphins next. For more information on Badian Island Resort and Spa, visit www.badianhotel.com E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com

By Rosa Villanueva Inquirer SIX months after graduating from college, something totally unexpected happened: I burned out. I was not only having problems with my boss, I was also unhappy working with preschoolers. It got so bad that my boss not only refused to sign my regularization papers, she also suggested that I take a week off. An entire week? What was I supposed to do? I had never had a week off since I entered college! I was a shiftee who, in spite of having 30 or more units from her old course uncredited to her second course, managed to graduate on time. This meant that when I wasn’t in a class or doing something for a class, I was enrolling in one. This, coupled with parents who’d rather work than go on vacation, meant I had no idea what to do with a week off from work. My mom then suggested an out-of-town trip through the Super Ferry. At the time, my family had just started selling Super Ferry tickets, but no one had actually experienced riding one. She thought it would be nice if someone from our family could actually verify how the “Super Ferry Experience” was like. Since I had seven days off, I picked the farthest destination: Davao. I don’t know if it was my youth coupled with my sense of adventure, or I just didn’t really think about it, but two days later I was on my way to Davao City. The itinerary: spend three days in the boat going there, enjoy six hours going around the city, and spend another three days traveling back to Manila. Clearly, I had no idea what the next six days had in store for me. Not a breeze In the beginning, I felt pretty confident that the entire experience would be a breeze. Considering the only thing I knew about traveling by boat I had learned from watching episodes of “The Love Boat,” I had visions of parties, fun activities, swimming, and tables heaped with food. And, since I’ve been a certified bookworm from the day I learned to read, I knew I could turn on my unsociable self and hole up inside my cabin with my book any time things got boring (since I had nothing to do) or scary (being alone, at the time, was horribly scary for me). Unfortunately, five minutes after the boat left the shore, I realized I had done the unthinkable: I left my book at home. I made a beeline for the ship’s store, hoping against all hope they’d have some form of reading material. Think I was lucky? I wasn’t, although the guy promised to scrounge around the boat for something for me. I tried entertaining myself by going around the boat, looking out from the deck as we passed by Mindoro and the lovely dolphins that accompanied us as we went on our way. Obviously alone and probably looking quite desperate by this time, a petite girl approached me and struck up a conversation. I found out she was a missionary and was on her way to Bacolod before leaving the country to do some missionary work in Cambodia. Her company for the next couple of hours helped me while away the time. It wasn’t long, however, before she had disembarked and I was, once more, left to my own devices. New friends The first meal time spent without my new friend was difficult. I hate being alone so I usually try to entertain myself by reading a book while eating. Since my friend at the ship’s store still hadn’t found a book for me, I searched the dining room for a friendly looking group and it was then I met a biracial couple, a middle-aged Filipina and her middle-aged Caucasian husband who declared, five minutes into the meal, that the various spices he was putting on his food wasn’t drugs and that Filipino food, in his opinion, was quite bland. (Of course I wanted to argue with him that there’s nothing blander than American food but I wasn’t about ready to offend my new friends.) Once I got the hang of approaching total strangers, and once some of the crew realized I was alone, all my mealtimes were spent in the company of various people. Once I was invited to dine at the Captain’s table and another time, I ate with some of the members of the “hotel” crew. On my second evening aboard, the men who took care of the ship’s engineering requirements invited me to hang out at the “disco” (the mess hall gets converted into a huge ballroom at night) with them and I danced with men of all ages: from someone who was barely a couple of years older than I was to someone who had kids older than me. The ship’s captain also invited me to join them on the deck and taught me how to steer the ship. For a little more than an hour, I was in charge of steering the ship (they claimed it was the most horrible hour, with lots of people probably getting seasick and throwing up). When I wasn’t “working,” I’d pepper the various men and women of the crew with my questions, from how does it feel to be on a ship for days on end to whether or not they’d consider me joining them onboard permanently. In Davao then back All too soon we were in Davao. Not having made any arrangements with anyone, I asked the First Mate if he’d consider taking me around the city before I had to get back onboard five hours later. There, he brought me to the mall (I finally bought myself books to read) and to the market (to buy a crate of pomelo for my mom). He also asked the driver to go around the city a bit. After a quick dinner, we were back onboard and it was not long before I was waving goodbye to Davao’s pretty lights. Now that I was armed with my books, the trip back was pretty uneventful. I reverted to my old, unsociable self, spending most of my time in bed just reading. On the last day, all I had left to do was say goodbye to my new-found friends, promised to keep in touch, and stepped back onto dry land where everything wasn’t bolted down and where I got friends, books, and a whole myriad of entertainment to keep me preoccupied. Nine years later, I still think of this trip with the fondest of thoughts. Never, in six short days, have I done so many new things: first boat ride, first meal with absolute strangers, first time to see Visayas and Mindanao, and first (and, needless to say, last) time to steer a passenger ship. I know that since then, I have had many other firsts in my life. Nothing though would beat the amazing adventure I took at the age of 21. P.S. Whenever I tell this story, my friends’ reaction would be of disbelief. I don’t blame them. After all, I don’t have any pictures to show for it (this was way before digital cameras were staple travel gear). All I have is this ratty old Davao City shirt I bought from Island Souvenirs which, in retrospect, I could’ve bought from SM Southmall.

By Behn Cervantes
Inquirer

I FIRST visited China in 1971, when Chairman Mao was very much in power. I went back in 1984, then in 1987.

I had long heard about magical Guilin and asked if we could visit it. Alas, it was not on the itinerary! So, it remained a dream.

Inspiration

This year, I finally visited fabled Guilin--the inspiration for countless Chinese paintings, poems and songs. Yes, the visit was a dream fulfilled:

After viewing the city's sights, we took a four-hour river tour that allowed us to admire some of the place's starkly dramatic and beautiful mountain peaks. --An unforgettable experience!

Ambassador Jes Yabes, my Shanghai host, urged Guandong's Consul General Alex Chua to tell Tony Lin, our guide, to secure tickets to the much-publicized "Dreamlike Lijang--a Legend Portraying Guilin's Scenery."

That night, Tony brought us to a huge hall, where thousands of domestic and foreign tourists lined up to watch the show.

As expected, the lights were a show in themselves. Performers executed numbers that combined dance and acrobatics. However, it was obvious that the creative director-choreographer had raised acrobatics and gymnastics to a higher and more artistic level.

Body suppleness was combined with precision, daring, and ballet movements that were awe-inspiring. Some stunts also took our breath away, and were rewarded by the audience's wild applause.

The ensemble displayed incredible skill and artistry. The agile and energetic performers took constant risks--any miscalculation would have resulted in frightful accidents!

However, because of the cast's discipline, training and precision, everything went well. Still, no matter how much you enjoyed the show, you were relieved when it was over!

Observations

Naturally, Jes, Alex, Tony and I exchanged observations--we were all highly elated by a show that was visually and aurally exciting! I thanked Jes for insisting we see it. Since the house was filled to the rafters, it took time for us to reach the lobby. The cast was there to greet the audience!

"They're so young!," I exclaimed. Indeed, the wonderful, agile, daring and artistic cast of this Guilin spectacle was mostly made up of teenagers--and a kid who was no more than 8 years old! "Naturally," explained a more pragmatic Jes, "who else would be so nimble, lithe and flexible?"

I will forever remember this talented set of young dancer-acrobats and gymnasts with awe and deep admiration. They made my Guilin visit even more memorable!