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Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2014 > Mar
Activity > Community

Mar 2, 2014

Jeanne's Community Outreach Program

Location : Cebu City, Philippines

Community Outreach
Yoga teacher, musician and good friend, Jeanne Torrefranca has always been a yogi who takes yoga out of the mat - not just in demeanor and lifestyle, but in the service of others. I was still a resident of Dragonfly Yoga Studio when she embarked on her first feeding program. Luckily, I was invited to help out. We were four - Jeanne, Jason, Regina and myself (come to think of it, we're all yoga teachers).

Feeding Program
Jeanne would buy bread, peanut butter, napkins, juice drink and we'd all sleep-in to wake up early in the morning and start making peanut butter sandwiches. We'd drive around the city giving out sandwiches to homeless people who were still sleeping at the sidewalk at that time. When all is done, we take a break for a modest breakfast, chillout and resume our normal day.

Donation
In the second feeding, through Regina's contacts, a couple, PK and Lana, offered to be a part of the program, but gathered donations from their friends from abroad before coming over - nice! This is the first time donations were made for Jeanne's cause. The usual routine, we woke up early and distributed the sandwiches around the city.

School Supplies
Jeanne invited me again to participate in a yet different program - distributing school supplies to students in economically-challenged schools. The usual suspects met again (the four of us), packed the goodies and headed to Guadalupe, to a makeshift classroom in Maria Teresa Village, to distribute the goods to the delight of the surprised kids.

Charity Scams
As a backdrop, charities have become the new con-game. Big 'non-profit' corporations take out a tear-jerker campaign to 'help out' but once donations start pouring, only loose change reach the intended recipients. Mostly, the donations are used to pay 'expenses' - the CEO's new mansion, the Mercedes Benz, etc. Charities have become a fiercely competitive industry with participants jockeying up to be ahead of the game. Many horrible acts are done in the name of charity. Example?

trademark bullying - Komen, a charity for breast cancer using the catch line 'for the cure' has sued hundreds of charitable organizations that is using the word "cure" in their campaign. Of course, donations were used to pay for legal bills.
CEO salaries - charity CEO Nancy Brinker received $648,717 during her tenure, on top of five-star accommodations and private jet services
corruption - Kids Wish Network, a charity for dying children, has raised $125 million. $110 million went directly to solicitors and $4 million to the charity founder's personal bank account. Very little was actually spent to directly benefit the dying kids. Cancer Fund of America, which had raised $100 million for the benefit of cancer patients, only gave useless trinkets, paper plates, and napkins to their dying recipients.

The Real Deal
With Jeanne's charity program, I see the beginnings of what can be a grassroots charitable machinery that cuts-out the corporation, solicitors, agents and extend the goods peso-for-peso down to the last centavo to its intended recipient. It's the real deal (she even pays for the gas). Until a donation was received (the only one so far, handed down by the couple PK and Lana), Jeanne has been doing her charity efforts from her own pocket.

Ending Thoughts
Personally, the school supply-giving is a great charity idea. It invests in the future - the kids who will run the country when their time comes. I'm still a little conflicted though about the feeding progarm. Of course we want these homeless people off the streets. But giving them a sandwich only reinforces the predicament they are already in now. It gives them a fix for the first 3 hours, and they get hungry again and find themselves back on the street. However, until a more permanent solution is arrived at, this seems the most immediately effective remedy.

If you count your blessings, how much would a sandwich and some pencils amount to, specially if you know 100% of your money goes to the kids and the homeless? You can donate out of compassion, or even if only to show appreciation for the things you are grateful for.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Jeanne Torrefranca, Private Yoga Classes

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(Mar 4, 2014) Pechakucha is format where artists talk about their creatives using 20 pictures that slide every 20 seconds - a total of only 6.5 minutes. Long enough to get the message across and short enough to keep the audience engaged...more »»

Next Community story:

Coastal Cleanup with Plastic Free Bohol

(Sept 16, 2017) The coastal cleanup of Libaong Beach in Panglao as organized by Plastic Free Bohol yielded 73 sacks of garbage within a short strip of beach! There was a good turnout of eco-warriors for the 3 hour event. While not a long-term solution to the garbage problem, it was a much-needed shot-in-the-arm for the eco-system....more »»

Blogs about Jeanne

Cebu City Peoplescape Dec 4, 2022
Ashtanga Primary Series Yoga in Cebu May 5, 2017
3-Night Cebu Stopover Apr 6-9, 2017
Thank You Cebu, til the Next Time Oct 21, 2013 - May 15, 2014
Aqua Yoga with Jeanne Torrefranca at Dragonfly Pool May 4, 2014
SUP Yoga with Jeanne Torrefranca at Plantation Bay Mar 23, 2014
Jeanne's Community Outreach Program Mar 2, 2014
New Year Yoga at Dragonfly Yoga Studio Jan 1, 2014
Fab People: Jeanne Torrefranca (Yogini) Dec 25, 2013
Cebu Yoga Immersion Nov 14, 2013

Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

Cebu City to Bantayan Island

The best and fastest way is by Ceres Bus at the North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City. The bus takes 4.5 hours going north until it reaches Hagnaya Port. From there, you pay the ferry company separately. The bus boards the ferry until it reaches Sante Fe Port (1.5 hours) in Bantayan Island. From Santa Fe, the bus goes to Bantayan Poblacion and then to Madridejos.

Ceres Bus - PHP 260 (to Santa Fe), 4.5 hours to Hagnaya Port + 1.5 hours by ferry.

Schedule: according to the dispatcher, trips begin at 6 pm (this arrives Hagnaya around 10:30 pm but the first ferry leaves at 1 am...that's a 2.5-hour wait at the port), leaving every hour until 1 pm the following day (I speculate that 1 pm is the last trip to avoid rush hour traffic along Consolacion). This doesn't match the ferry schedule so the bus simply waits until a ferry departs. e.g. the 6 pm trip arrives 10:30 pm and waits for the 1 am ferry. The last trip, 1 pm, arrives 5:30 pm, in time for the ferry's last trip.

Bus arrives at terminal 30 mins before departure. Luggages are P150/pc if no passenger.

Alternatively, you can get off the bus at Hagnaya Port and take the ferry independently. There are 2 ferry companies:

Super Shuttle Ferry
PHP 359 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Island Shipping
PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Cebu City to Dumaguete

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor by Boat, via Tagbilaran

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)

(as of Jan 2023)

Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

This is also the slowest. The bus arrives Liloan Port around 12:30 am but the ferry leaves 2:30 am (2 hours of waiting time). The ferry trip is a slow 4 hours (this should only take 1.5 hours with Montenegro or Alesson), arriving Larena around 6:30 am. This 4 hour voyage offers no comfortable sleeping - you stay upright on your seat or sleep on the floor on a cardboard. The boat waiting/voyage takes 6 hours. Altogether, the entire trip takes 11.5 hours until the bus reaches Lazi.

Cebu City to Camotes Island

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City