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Next time you’re in
the area…
Sign up for an enriching experience and go on a
walking tour with these guys
IvanManDy – OldManilaWalks
Tel: +63 2 711 3823, +63 918 962 6452
Carlos Celdran
Tel: +63 2 484 4945, +63 920 909 2021
Ka BinoGuerrero
Tel: +63 932 815 1975
Taking locals by surprise
Carlos sees his work as part of a process of “taking ownership
of your city,” as he puts it: “I’m taking ownership of Manila,
ownership of Intramuros. If you [my guests] come up with
their own perspective on Philippine history, then my job
already has been done.”
Guides like Ka Bino Guerrero eagerly follow in Carlos’
footsteps. A self-confessed admirer of Carlos’ work, Ka Bino
uses Cebu’s historical district as his backdrop. The Pasiyo
sa Kabilin walking tour is Ka Bino’s latest project: “It’s a
walking tour with a
tartanilla
(
horse-drawn cart). We have
a route from Basilica de Santo Niño to the Cebu cathedral
and its museum, then to the Jesuit house, Cebu heritage
monument... they’re all very close to each other.”
Ka Bino has found that it’s Cebuanos who are often the
most surprised by what they see on his tours: “They’ve been
to Disneyland, they’ve been to the Louvre, but Cebu? Why
go around Cebu, it’s just there?” Ka Bino says. Colon Street,
a historic but run-down area in downtown Cebu, challenges
local preconceptions in particular: “A lot of Cebuanos would
not dare to take that walk, because Colon is supposedly full
of snatchers,” explains Ka Bino. “But by God’s grace, of all
the people I’ve brought there, nobody’s been robbed.”
For his Cebuano guests, Ka Bino has one plea: “Please
love Colon because nobody will love Colon for us.” He
continues with, “Same for people from Manila: they should
love Quiapo because nobody would love Quiapo for the
Manila people!”
Like Ivan Man Dy and Carlos Celdran, Ka Bino Guerrero
sees himself helping visitors take ownership of what they
see and to find something to love in a city they’ve long taken
for granted. The goal is to take back history from those who
wrote it long ago and make it their own.
Cebu Pacific flies to Manila and Cebu from across the
network.
S M A R T T R A V E L
Ka Bino helps
visitors take
ownership of what
they see and to find
something to love in
Cebu
