NERBAC-Cebu One-Stop Business Registering and Licensing

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We're aggressively promoting the services of NERBAC-Cebu. Cebu NERBAC is being made as a pilot project by the government for fast business registering and licensing.

Created through the Republic Act 7470, NERBAC is an all-in-one center that houses all concerned agencies in the government in processing all regulatory requirements in starting a business and provides investments information on Central Visayas.

I hope businessmen will support this government move and have their businesses registered at the NERBAC-Cebu to reduce graft and corruption.

Maranao

Maranao is the term used for the people of Lanao, a predominantly Muslim region in the Philippine island of Mindanao.

They are famous for their artworks, sophisticated weaving, wood and metal craft, and their epic literature.

The word Maranao, also spelled Maranaw, means "People of the Lake", referring to the indigenous people who inhabited the lands around Lake Lanao whose principal town is Marawi City.

Maranaos are the tenth largest Filipino ethnic group. The Maranaos primarily live in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, and many are settlers in zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Maguindanao and in many southern Philippine islands from Basilan exending to Tawi-Tawi. Small communities of Maranaos, mostly traders, can be found in all major towns of the Philippines.

Maranaos number about 1,142,000. They are the descendants of Muslim Malays who came to the Philippines. Their royals have varied influsions of Arabic, Malayan, Indonesian, as well as Chinese blood.

The Maranaos also are one of the ethnic groups in the Philippines who are fair-skinned, probably attributable to Arab and Chinese admixtures.

The language of the Maranao people is also called Maranao. It is a language spoken by approximately 800,000 people living in areas near Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. The language can be traced from the Southern Philippine sub-branch of the Western Austronesian language family, and is closely related to the Illanun language spoken in Sabah and Malaysia. It is also close to Maguindanaon, the language spoken in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga del Sur provinces.

The vast majority of Maranaos are Muslims. A few, especially those living in the hills around Lake Lanao practice Islam diluted with traces of pre-Islamic traditions.

The native Maranao has a fascinating culture that revolves around the kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.

In 2005, the Darangen Epic of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao was selected by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of teh Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. (wiki)

Buklog Festival

The Buklog is one of the religious rituals and ceremonies held in Zamboanga del Sur by the Subanens, a group that derives its name from suba (river) because of a preference to settle near rivers and mountain streams.

For centuries, the Subanen have held staunchly to this ancient ritual to honor the spirits, particularly the malengma (spirit of the waters), mamanwa (spirit of the forest), and manising palingkitan (spirits of the mountain), on which they rely for an abundant harvest and protection from misfortune. This is held regularly to reaffirmed the community's profound gratitude for the continuous blessings.

The Buklog, which also stands for ceremonial platform, is a thanksgiving festival of the Subanen. The buklog is erected using eight sturdy tanguile and white lauan trunks as foundation. It stands eight to 10 feet high using wooden trunks 10 to 18 feet long. With the foundation in place, the workers place wood trunks side by side to form a platform. They worked one or two chanting prayers as they haul one trunk after another. The chanting is performed to ward off evil spirits. The platform has to be strong enough to bear the weight of the festival's participants but at the same time pliable to move up and down without breaking. In the middle of the platform, a pole is inserted and set right above a hollow log three meters long, which is laid horizontally on the ground beneath the structure. The intention is for the pole to strike the log and produce a resonating sound.

The festival requires months of preparation and entails a large amount of money for the purchase of more than a dozen chickens, five hogs, and 10 sacks of rice as offering to the spirits.

An announcement of an upcoming Buklog is made weeks earlier through the continuous sounding of the agung or gagong. The rhythmic booming of the gong located atop a hill can reach settlements hundreds of kilometers away.

On the day of the festival, households would then travel by foot along mountain trails until they reach the venue of the festival.

Three days before the festival, community elders perform a ritual invoking permission from the spirits to gather the materials needed for the festival. Trees like white lauan, baktikan, bagasuso, babalud and tanguile are used to construct the buklog.

A day before the festival, another ritual, the Gempang, is held near the bank of a stream. This is a water ritual held to appease the spirits and protect the community and their land from any ills.

As part of the ritual, a pig is slaughtered near the waterline and its blood is taken downstream. This is symbolic that any bad omen had been thrown away. Then, the pig is roasted without salt and its meat cut into pieces as an offering. Two young chickens are also killed to please the gods.

The Subanens also believe in drawing up a boundary to prevent evil spirits from entering their territory. A thin branch is tied between two posts to indicate that boundary. The branch is hung with strips of folded palm leaves and a chunk of pork.

Holding bunches of folded palm leaves, the chieftain performs a dance ritual around the area. He then dips the leaves in the stream and directs it towards the people as an act of blessing and protection.

The dance ritual is done simultaneously with an assistant trailing him, burning incense and sounding a porcelain bowl with a stick made of fragrant wood. The incense is said to invoke the good spirits and the tinkling sound of the bowl, to guide the spirits towards their direction.

This sequence is done seven times in a counter-clockwise movement around the area and back again seven times clockwise to seal the circle. The ritual progressed with the sound of the agung in the background. (TMT)

Chocolate Hills

Considered one of the wonders of the natural world, the legendary Chocolate Hills has more than a thousand cone-shape hills which turn green during rainy season and brown during summer.

Located in the town of Carmen, 55 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, the Chocolate Hills are undoubtedly the most famous tourist attraction in Bohol. Among the 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, which abound in Central Bohol, two have been developed into a resort.

On top of these hills is a complex that offers accommodation, conference rooms, restaurants, and a view deck. The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in the island province of Bohol in the Philippines.

The hills are scattered throughout the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. What makes them intriguing is their mostly uniform molehill shape and size ranging from 30 to 50 meters high. The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving the hills their name.

A popular local myth for the hills' origin states that two giants fought with stones and sand against each other over a period of several days. A more romantic tale is that of Arogo, a strong and young giant who fell in love with Aloya, a mortal girl. She died within the palm of the giant's hand and the tears that fell supposedly turned into the hills.

Up to this day, geologists have not reached concensus on how they where formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay.

In 1988, the government of the Philippines declared the Chocolate Hills a National Geological Monument. Currently two hills have been developed for tourism, one in Carmen, the very interior of Bohol, and the more recent one in Sagbayan, known as Sagbayan Peak. (DOT)

St. Benedict's Monastery and Lady of Manaoag Prayer Center in Carmen

St. Benedict's Monastery, as its name indicates, has St. Benedict, the great father and founder of monasticism, as it's Patron Saint.

The monastery started with very humble and pure origins.

Three monks of South Indian origin were sent from Rome by the Abbot General Rt. Dev. Andrea Pantaloni, OSB to begin a monastery in Cebu, Central Visayas, Philippines, more precisely in the town of Carmen.

The monks were invited by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu. The three monks from Kerala, India are: Rev. Frs. Thomas Thekkumthottam OSB, Bernard Devasia Kallakavunkal OSB and Joseph John Manjadyil OSB.

They reached Carmen in February 10, 1999, which is the feast day of St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict.

The monks organized medical and dental camps monthly for the poor people of the mountain barangays. Many doctors and hospitals from Cebu City helped them in this. They organized gift programs for poor families with the help of businessmen and rich families of the city.

Slowly the monastery began to be a center of activity. Counseling, Confession, Healing Prayer and consoling the afflicted became a major activity of the monks.

A center for Reflexology foot therapy and free clinic was opened with 15 of the local people trained as therapists. The monks started the Holy Rosary for the people daily in the evening at 4:30 p.m.

In 2003, Our Lady of Manaoag Rosary Center was blessed by Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu. The Rosary Center is a big building almost like the church and it contains 20 life-size paintings of the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. This is probably the only one of its kind in the world.


These paintings are the imitation of the 15 th and 16 th century paintings from Europe, done by two artists from Cebu. About two thousand people were present for the blessing of the Rosary Center. Within one year, over 40,000 pilgrims visited this place of pilgrimage.

Side by side with the Rosary Center, a huge Sto. Nino, in cement was also built near the church. This Sto. Nino is a twelve feet statue on a twelve feet base and is supposed the biggest anywhere. This also attracts pilgrims to visit this place especially those devotees of St. Nino.

According to the history of the Philippines, Magellan the Spanish Navigator brought a small statue of Sto. Nino or Child Jesus to Cebu and slowly the whole of Cebu and later the whole of Philippines became Catholic.

Today, the Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia and second biggest after Mexico in the world. Around 75% of the 84 million population is Catholic.

Near the Rosary Center are two other smaller shrines. The first is the lovely little Oratory of Beato Pedro Calungsod. Pedro Calungsod is the only Cebuano Saint, beatified by Pope John Paul in 2000.


Pedro was a young man from Cebu, missionary, catechist, migrant, lay minister, who was martyred in the island of Guam in the Pacific in the 16 th century. In this Oratory, many cancer patients claim to have been healed. Under the Oratory is the grotto of Saint Benedict, a small little haven of silence, so conducive to prayer and contemplation.

All these places of prayer and pilgrimage were built by the generous support of the hundred sick people who were here and pilgrims who flocked here for prayer.

These institutions are located in a panoramic natural landscape, surrounded by high hills and creeks, which create a unique impression of Mother Nature's beauty and human labor.

Just facing the church is the famous bat cave of Carmen, which is a major tourist attraction. Millions of rice-bats come out of this cave in the Philippines where millions of rice-bats, which is rare indeed, can be seen together and so well. This cave was once featured in the National Geographic Channel.

As the number of young men wanting to follow the monastic way of life increased, the need for building up a bigger monastery was felt. So with the help of hundreds of benefactors, the present monastic building was completed.

The monastery is a very simple but elegant architectural poem built amidst the green mountains and blue sky, with the mountain line gradually receding into a thin basin of sea front.


Today this remote village has become a spot on the world map of pilgrimage.

The monks have toiled hard and prayed in the past six (6) years to transform this place and the people according to the motto of the Holy Father St. Benedict “Ora et Labora” ie. Pray and Work.

At present, the strength of the monastery is eleven monks and 25 postulant members. (benedictinesil.org)

Lake Sebu

For anyone who seeks peace of mind, the tranquility of the countryside and the fresh mountain air in Lake Sebu, some 45 minutes away from Koronadal, South Cotabato is the answer.

Lake Sebu irrigates the fertile Allah Valley and is home to two peoples: the T'boli, a highland tribe famous for their colorful costumes, woven work, intricate beadwork, and brass ornaments, and the Tasadays, a cave-dwelling people.

Situated almost 3000 feet above sea level, the mountain climate is cool and the air is fresh. It is surrounded on all sides by hills and forests.

Occasionally, one can still see T'boli women wearing their thickly woven traditional attire during ceremonies. The traditional weaving of the t'nalak (fabric made of abaca fiber) is still around. But what makes people go and visit Lake Sebu is the flavor of the fresh tilapia, caught from the lake to the grill, the taste is almost heavenly.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recently chosen Lake Sebu town as among the focal areas for the country's ecotourism development program and as a world-class tourist destination over the next decade..

Lake Sebu watershed forest reserve, which covers the entire municipality, would be developed as among the country's major ecotourism destinations in Southeast Asia by the year 2012.

The 92,450-hectare town of Lake Sebu was recognized as one of the most important watershed areas in the country and was proclaimed as a Protected Landscape on September 24, 1985.(psdn)

Cebu Business Park

The Cebu Business Park (CBP) is an integrated development emerging as the premiere business district in Southern Philippines.

It is the only masterplanned business subdivision that integrates the natural environment in a business setting.

The Cebu Business Park is located approximately three kilometers from residential subdivisions in the north, and fifteen kilometers from Mactan International Airport.

The provincial government's office is only a kilometer away while downtown is two kilometers away.50 hectares of prime investment opportunities.

An impressive development showcasing the highest standards of quality and rational growth. State-of-the-art office and residential buildings set amidst refreshing expanses of greenery and wide, concrete avenues.

Cebu Business Park (CBP) is a 50-hectare integrated development with fully landscaped greenstrips, 9 hectares for mixed use superblock, residential block, hotel block, tree nursery and fire station. It is strategically located at the heart of Cebu City.

Features include:
Underground utilities
Sewage treatment facility
Water reservoir deepwells
Drainage system
30-meter wide main roads
Ample surface parking area
Wide open spaces full of greenery

CBP today is building up fast. Completed projects that are owned by Cebu Holdings, Inc. include the Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Holdings Center, Ayala Life - FGU Center Cebu, Park Tower One, Park Tower Two and Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

Buildings of other lot owners include First Abacus Financial Center, Keppel Center and Pag-Ibig WTCI Tower and City Sports Club - Cebu. (cebubusinesspark)

Lake Danao

Located in Ormoc City, 125 kilometers from Tacloban City, it is 2,100 feet above sea level and 3 kilometers long.

The violin-shaped Lake Danao is hemmed by cloud-capped-mountain ranges of undetermined depth. Wild animals roam its surrounding forest, making it a hunter’s paradise. The lake is said to be the habitat of the giant eel.

Lake Danao has been identified as one of the two major eco-tourism destinations in Region 8, the other being the Sohoton Caves in Basey.

The lake remains a key tourist destination despite the absence of organized tour packages especially during hot summer days when its cool mountain climate becomes its allure.

On school days, students are seen visiting the place in busloads. On weekends, local nature lovers look forward to Lake Danao as a favorite getaway. (ormoc.gov)

San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent

Reputed to be the biggest and among the oldest in the country, it has been declared a historical landmark by the Philippine Historical Commision.
The San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent are two separate 19th century structures that stand on two separate lots on an elevated part of Lazi town of Siquijor province.

Seven municipal roads and several century-old acacia trees surround these prominent wood and masonry structures.

The Lazi Church which measures almost 85 meters in length is laid out in a cruciform plan oriented in an east-west direction, with the west end and its transept and apse on the east end. A baptistry and a three-tiered octagonal belltower adjoins the north wall.

The belltower is accessible through the choir loft. The church is mainly a masonry structure with indications of wattle-and-daub construction (the tabique), and sack masonry construction using rubble stone fillings and square-cut coral stone masonry facings joined by lime mortars.

There are indications of wall-embedded round timber posts suggestive of the timber framework. The roof is made of corrugated galvanized iron with gables made of vertical wood boards all on timber framework.

The Lazi Convent, measuring 42 meters by 38 meters, is laid out in an L-shape. The two-storey convent has its lower part made of square-cut coral stone masonry, and its upper part of wood. The steep hipped roof is made of corrugated galvanized iron on timber framework.

Traces of previous alterations exist and are discernable. In some parts of the church walls were interventions made using reinforced concrete, cracks filled up and architectural surfaces replastered with cement. The alterations were associated with the repairs made through the decades ( 1930’s, 1950’s, and the 1980’s).

Also, through the years new structures and services were integrated to serve the new requirements of the occupants. The new additions were the toilets and candle-offering area in the church; and the toilets, a pre-school building and a playground within the convent premises. (Siquijor Heritage Foundation)

Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park

Commune with birds and other wildlife at the protected mangrove forest that is the Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park.

It is a 400-hectare forest which is a natural habitat and nesting place of birds and other wildlife.

The park is located in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

It is accessible by boat and then a walking distance through a 5,968 bamboo-split boardwalk.