CEBU: Historical Highlights

  I was 3 years old when I last went to Cebu, so the city tour was first on my itinerary. We were accompanied by our relatives from the Cupin clan, making our tour more fun and productive. Our first stop was the Mactan shrine just a few kms from Be Resorts. There is no entrance fee to this park so you could just walk in  to ecplore tha place.

Magellan Shrine

         This is what you'll first see when you enter. the Magellan  Shrine. This was built sometime in 1866 to give honor to the Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.They believed this was the exact point where Magellan was killed in the year 1521

 

        On a covered area just across Magellan's Shrine is a painting illustrating  the Battle of Mactan. In front of the painting is another commemorative marker and written on it is "Here on April 27,1521 Lapu-Lapu and his men repulsed the spanish invaders, killing their leader, Ferdinand Magellan. Thus Lapu-Lapu became the first Filipino to have repelled European aggression"

Lapu-Lapu Shrine

          A few steps from the Magellan Shrine is the Lapu-lapu Shrine. A statue of Rajah Lapu- lapu who at that time was the native chieftain of Mactan Island. He was said to be the one who defeated Magellan during the battle. Though one tour guide told us that there have been rumors that Ferdinand Magellan was not killed by Lapu - lapu himself but by one of his men.Yet since he was the team leader the credit was given. After that historic event there were no more stories written about Lapu-lapu

           In the Area you'll be able to buy souvineirs & Pasalubongs like handmade bracelets, refrigerator magnets,keychains,Shirts and many more. Nearby is where you can try Cebu's "Sutukil" which stands for Sugba, Tula and Kilaw. Sugba means grilling, Tula means stewing or simmering in broth while Kilaw means eating food.

 

      Next stop was the Heritage of Cebu Statue. This was built by Eduardo Castrillo to commemorate the history of Cebu starting with the Epic Battle of Mactan where Lapu - Lapu killed Magellan. The statue is made from concrete, bronze,brass and steel. Depicted in the statue are the scenes of rajah Humabon's Baptism.Sto Nino Procession & The Battle of Mactan. There is no entrance fee for this. there is a caretaker that would explain to you everything and open the gate for you.

 

    Just a few steps from the Heritage of Cebu Monument is the Yap San Diego House. It is believed to be one of the oldest houses in Cebu. Owned by a Chinese Merchant Don Juan Yap, later on his daughter Maria married Don Mariano San Diego. This was built sometime between 1675 - 1700 and is currently taken care by Maria's great grandson Val San Diego. This home has such ancestral value everything was well preserved and you can really see how thee way of life was at those times.

 

  If Manila has Intramuros Cebu has Fort San Pedro, which was  a military defense structure built during the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Inside our different Museums where you can see models of the ships. There is also one where you can see all postage stamps from the earlier years. There are also relics of the spanish flags & outfits found as remains from battles . There are also paintings of the former leaders and photos of how cebu looked like back in the days. This place will just give you a quick flashback of our history.

    Usually this places are included in your City tour or if you have relatives or friends in Cebu might as well just ask them if they can tour you around that way it'll be more fun.

The Journey to Bagong Gang Top 8

          Early this year I tried my luck in the entertainment industry lining up in VTRs and Castings, Attending workshops and different trainings fot the skill and talent. One of my acting mentors Direk Lir Dela Cruz once told us in a class that you have to not just wait for the industry to discover you, but also make an effort to let the industry know that you exist. Attend auditions, show them your best and dont lose hope. That same day i tried getting in touch with people i know and asked if there were any auditions on going for me to attend. One of that is Bubble Gang's Audition as they search for the Bagong Gang. It took me hours waiting in line with several rounds of screenings including the acting part. About months after and i heard no news about the result of my audition i did nott really expect i would get in anymore. Until that one day I was enjoying my cup of tea with my "brother" in a cafe in school I recieved a text from my manager that I am included and called for taping in the Top 25 search for the New Recruits.

                  It was then the biggest achievement i had in a span of time auditioning and attending castings. I went on set to get a glimpse of how things do roll in the set of bubble gang.We were put in to blend with the regular cast members of the show . I was assigned to be in boy pick up and one of the Gags segment of the show. Finally with this episode we were  named as casted in the official top 25 hopefuls to be judge and eventually be included in the top 10.

Credits to Bubble Gang Official Facebook Page

                After about 2 months and i really didnt bother anymore if i got in or not because its been toolong already since my last call back. I was in line at a VTR at rainbow casting with my bestfriend that time when i recieved a text from the person who contacted me for bubble gang saying that i got called back for Taping as part of Top 10! I was pretty aware my heart sorta jumped with joy and my body became weak because i couldn't believe it. I was number i think 86 in line almost the whole day during that audition and i was finally part of the Top 10 out of all the auditionees. Being in top 10 will entitle us to being introudced as a semi regular cast member of the gang.

        Before we went to taping our first episode as the Top 10 Bagong Gang Members. We attended a 2 day Intensive acting workshop with Director Leo Martinez. We head theatrical Activities, RSPI excercises for us to be able to use in acting for the different challenges that we will face as we all attempt to do Comedy. Also we were divided to Compete in 2 Teams. Team A where I was together with Joyce Ching, Juancho Trivino, Rhoel Mendoza & Jan Manual. Team B was composed of Maricris Garcia, Denise Barbacena, Arny Ross, RJ Padilla and Abel Estanislao.

              The First Challenge was a non elimination round so all of us still remained to take the next challenge. We were reintroduced as the Final 10 of the Bagong Gang Search.The 2 teams performed only one script on stage in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. We Were given comments on the good points in our performances and also things we need to improve for the next challenges.

Learning my script as i played YayaKikay:)

              The Second Challenge for Bagong gang was all about characterization. Still as 2 teams we were given one script. Some of us had long lines, some only had one line, some didnt have any line.That was the challenge though for us to portray our character well irregardless of the amount of lines that we are going to say. Before we had our take Direk Uro was also nice to give us tips and pointers too while he taught our blockings for the scene.

             In the Third Challenge we were given a chance to act with a bubble gang regular guest Paolo Contis. Still as 2 Teams we were given the same script and this was all about how we will work as a team, supporting each other's character as we act with a regular comedian of the show. In Comedy it was all about how you would deliver your lines and emotion, how you would put in a beat to make it comic.  When this epsode aired what we werent expecting was an elimination. We were not informed during our taping that someone is going to be crossed out from the list. for our Team it was a fellow theater actor and Mr.Pogi Finalist Rhoel Mendoza who was eliminated and for Team B it was a singer Maricris Garcia who was eliminated. It was shocking to know that the last shoot was already the last time well be complete and its gonna be just the 8 of us remaining.

                   The Next episode was a ceasefire, no elimination as we were individually introduced again as we move on in the competition, We werent competing as a team anymore. There I told a short story of how i got into showbiz & Why Bubble Gang's Bagong Gang. Well im technically considered a newbie in show bussiness. I started out in a small role as Gladys in Maynila's Love Rebound since that time i had the idea to Audition. After that episode i was given a chance and did a few cameos in several Teleseryes including ABS CBN's Hit Noontime show Be Careful with My Heart as Maya's Classmate in her training school as a flight attendant. It was around February that I started to Audition and around March or April when i got my first Lead Role in Seventh Stage Production's Three Rats as Nita. The Theater Company is known to train Star Magic's Artist including Xian LIm who played a role int he Last Oedipus Production before he got his role in my binondo girl. It was a pressure since My Role as NIta is far from the ordinary things i do and I was told that it was first It was last portrayed by the known actress Tetchie Agbayani. I was to stage in a show together with their in house Theater Actors Marc Alcala & Vince Ricafrente, PBB Teens Alec Dungo, Jai Agpangan, My Leading Men were Yves Flores & Cosmopolitan Model Mehran Khaledi. In the journey I also got my Lead Roles in independent films as Jen in Magbalik and in my first Full Length Comedy Film Pangkoy ong as Cassandra. If having experience in Comedy was the question i was honest to tell them that i am proud to do a role in a comedy indie film. Then We were asked Why bubble gang? If you watched that episode you will be hearing me saying that Bubble gang really relieved my stress from sleepless nights as when i was a student. So now that i am given the opportunity i would also like to lighten up the mood of the viewers with me acting as to how the stars made me feel better when i was the one watching.

Photo Credits to Arbie Victorino via Facebook

                 After they reintroduced the Top 8 Bagong Gang Contenders, we were all back in the competition. We were given the Challenge on how we will deliver comedy and experience both roles of a script. We were given one script composing of two characters and as a pair we portrayed and switched roles. Sad to say I wasnt Lucky to continue after this episode as I got crossed out in the competition together with Jan Manual. Even if i was removed from the competition I am still happy that I was part of the segment Bagong Gang as i was also able to learn a lot in my field. Comedy isnt easy to do, youll often find some artist saying that its easier to make people cry than to make people laugh. This is still not the end for me as i will just go back to chasing my dream and looking for more opportunities to show everyone what ive got and prove myself to many. I will still Act, in theater, indie films, and even model i hope if given a chance. I will still continue to share my passion for the line of arts. You can still catch me or get in touch with me in my next projects and get updated through facebook. I wish all the Bagong Gang Contenders left all the best of luck and Thank You for all the lessons and experience. Until we meet again! Being in Top8 was a really great achievement ,it may not be my time yet but i know god has better plans for me ,its just so Worth it. Please do continue to Support me in my next projects!:)

XOXO

Nicole