Back to Cebu: Life Coaching and Jeanne

Location : S Hotel & Residence, Cebu City, Philippines

Coming to Cebu
I was still enjoying my stay in Bohol but had to cut it short for Cebu. I had a few reasons for coming back to Cebu - I had to see my dentist, I had to conduct a meditation/life coaching session for Judith and I wanted to see Jeanne who was going through a transition.

S Hotel & Residence
S Hotel & Residences
After a gruelling 5-hour boat trip from Ubay, Bohol and boarding a jeep with my bulky backpack, frontpack, dive fins and a gallon of bahalina, it was pure bliss to be checking-in at one of Cebu's newest hotel, S Hotel & Residences. The place is white-themed, reminding me of the White Temple of Chiang Rai. I had a 180° view of the (city) with my corner room. On my comfy bed inside this luxurious room plus all the amenities (wifi, cabel tv, climate control, water kettle, working table), I didn't feel like going out anymore. I can always go back to normal Cebu day-to-day after I check-out!

Jeanne
Yoga Teacher
Now nestled in a different shire, it was good to see Jeanne bouncing back with vigor. As unpleasant as what she went through, I saw it as part of her clutter-clearing process - it had to happen to make way for all the wonderful things I see ahead of her. Now that she is unleashed, it's time to shift into higher gear to make things happen - things that should have been initiated much earlier. Jeanne and I already envisioned our R.I.P. Cafe (pun intended), BAKIT List, Roast and Glaze Pechakucha Nights and our eventual Dragonfly yoga retreat shala. The rallying cry for now is, BRING IT ON!

Ferd
It was a good thing Ferd, my high school buddy, was still in town. We hooked up on a few occasions with friends I've introduced him to - Jeanne, Nandinii, Theosophical Society crew, etc. Over beer and food, we continue our high school fun - he brings out the not-so-serious side of me. He even treated me to the new Spider Man movie - the worst movie I've seen in decades! Good thing he paid for it :) On my last 2 days in Cebu, I even crashed at his place.

Doc Jean
Part of my coming to Cebu was to have friend and yogini dentist, Doc Jean, finalize dental treatment. My time on her dentist's couch is our bonding time where we update each other on what's up and share insights. I hope we find coffee time at some point. She is lovely as she is generous. Thank you Doc Jean!

Chu Un Temple Thursday Meditation
It must have been 2 years since my last participation. Now that I'm in Cebu again, it was a good idea to pay the place a visit and say Hello to the familiar faces and meet new ones. Erwin and Regel were still moderating the session. The 30-min (?) meditation and the tea ceremony were still in place. Except for Lovorn and Jeanne, everyone was new to me. The topic was karma. It got interesting. First karma was presented as a function of intention. But as it got complicated, it would seem that good intention alone is not the result of karma. Actions and results also play a part. At the end of the day, karma became more confusing. But it was a lively discussion.

Cebu Yoga Studio - AJ, Pranayama, Fly Yoga and Muay Thai
Enroute to my pizza dinner, I stopped by Cebu Yoga to say Hi to a good friend, yogini, Muay Thai fighter, wake boarder and dragon boat paddler, AJ. Turns out, she was conducting a yoga workshop. She asked if I could do an impromptu talk on pranayama - the yogic exercise of breath control. I went beyond by citing life experience as a digital nomad and how it all ties up with the limbs of yoga. When people hear of such unique lifestyle choice for the first time and meet someone who actually lives it, it becomes thought provoking.

It didn't stop there. After the talk, AJ conducted a fly yoga session to which I joined. As a first-timer, it wasn't easy, despite my 17-year yoga experience. Yoga on a suspended hammock is very different from yoga on the mat.

The session was followed by Muay Thai to which I joined again, on the elbow-to-the-face section. I have always loved martial arts. From Karate as a high schooler, to Boxing when I was a university student, to a 3-month Muay Thai stint when I was in Canada. I tried them all and loved it as my body ached for it. Joining that session brought me back to those adrenaline years when it felt good being a warrior. But now, the first thought of being on the ring again is, "dental work is expensive...and I have no budget for it".

Dr. Nestor Alonso II
PhilStar Global: Author
It didn't seem right to leave Cebu without at least a coffee meetup with Doc Alonzo, Cebu's renowned food critic, whom I met during a food tasting event at the Palm Grass Hotel. He reciprocated by inviting me instead to vodka and pizza at Pizzeria Michaelangelo in Banilad. He seems to be a regular at the place with the staff according him the deferential treatment (he actually works for the owner). He keeps a few bottles for his private stock and recommended I try his strawberry-flavored vodka. I had 3 full glasses that added color to my lenses. His wit, life experience and candor made the evening fun with a lot of laughs. He was kind enough to drop me off my next event for the evening - the weekly Theosophical Society meeting. Thank you, Doc Alonzo!

Theosophical Society Meeting
A few days earlier, I was asked by Lovorn to be the moderator for the Saturday meeting. I welcomed the idea and thought about having the concept of family as the topic of conversation. This topic has been bounced around lately and it felt compelling as it is polarizing. What is family? Is it genetics? Or is it relationship? What if the relationship is now propped by co-dependency? Is it still viable? And up to what level of abuse should you sustain before you walk out of family? I'd been told that blood is thicker than water but money is thicker than blood. Indeed, family talk is fertile ground.

Unfortunately, I realized I already said yes to Doc Alonzo's pizza invite and although I could still squeeze it in, timelines would be too tight. I still managed to catch up at the meeting where TS president, Lovorn, was discussing Anthony de Mello's book, Awareness. The pressing question was, "even with good action, how much of that is good intention and how much of that is ego?" Ferd and Jeanne were there - 2 friends who complete the scene for me.

Ending Thoughts
My purpose in coming to Cebu have all been met - Jeanne is in a good place, my dental work is done and Judith won the Philippine Open Dance Festival.

With my Moalboal proposal being accepted by a resort and me receiving an invite from a Moalboal yogini for a collab-event, it was the telltale sign for me to leave Cebu.

Again, Cebu unveiled another layer of its dimension. Always, I am privileged to manifest other people's desires and grateful to manifest my own. Daghang salamat, Cebu!

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

Next story:

Life Coaching For A Competition Dancer

(July 5, 2017) A competition dancer in Cebu asked around the yoga community who could help her meditate to develop stillness of the mind to gain competitive advantage in the upcoming major dance contest in Manila. My name popped-up 3 times from different sources. I received a message from her when I was in Bohol asking me to come to Cebu to hold that space for her. I said yes...more »»

Revisiting Moalboal

(Jul 10-16, 2017) Moalboal is a special place for many reasons. It's only 3 hours away from Cebu City, it's not as densely crowded as Boracay, fine white sand beach, abysmal depths to 300m, intense coral reef, tourist hub where it's easy to find resorts, restos and bars, and its signature feature - the sardine bowl...more »»

More on Cebu City:

Cebu City Google Map

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 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.

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More on Cebu Province:

»» next story: Life Coaching for a Competition Dancer
»» next Traveling story: Revisiting Moalboal
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