THE fiesta in Parian has been celebrated yearly since June 24, 1614, when the parish was created, and through the times the parish was abolished. This year, the celebration came with a glimmer of hope of a grander fiesta come 2014.

Hermano Mayor of this year’s celebration was Louie Nacorda, president of the Cofradia de San Juan de Cebu. Parian chapel president Val Sandiego made sure everything would come out smoothly — the novena prayers, the procession, which ended with fireworks.

"Matod Pa Sa Lola ni Noy Kulas." Join the story-writing contest on Cebuano folklore and win prizes.

Val hosted a feast at the Yap-Sandiego heritage house, with Tourism Secretary Ace Durano as his main guest. At Casa Gorordo, Louie, together with Casa Gorordo management, Pepit Revilles whose home Casa Gorordo used to be, and Baby Brainard (even if she was in the US) co-hosted dinner. Val provided the Parianons with a cultural show and also had dancers at Casa Gorordo.

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The Kinsan Festival in Aloguinsan was reenacted again and this year, the people living in Sitio Bojo offered a boat ride along its scenic, mangrove-lined river. The ride, with guides from the place, is a serene experience. The guide tells of life along the river, where salt used to be made, where fisher folk land to their waiting families, where the birds’ nests are, complete with the identification of the kind of bird that built it, what bird is making its call, identifying the birds that may fly by, and the mangroves along the way.

He will also relate the story of the enchanted place where couples to be married used to place in a cave’s mouth, a list of their needs for the marriage feast, and these needs would be filled, a few days later, but the borrowed things would have to be returned.

Legend has it that a couple did not return the goods and in anger, the provider of the goods shut the entrance to the cave (and the entrance does look blocked over).

The ride is a relaxing experience and a gentle way of nature-trekking, thanks to the people of Bojo and the municipal government headed by Mayor Cynthia Morena, which funds the venture. Thanks, too, to Boboi Costas, project director, for a beautiful experience.

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Colleague Chinggay Utzurrum is all eager about a coming school reunion in Assumption, for which she and her classmates, including Cebu-based Terry Manguerra, have been meeting every so often, not just to plan for the event but also for “bonding” time.

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The hilltop home of Michel and Amparito Lhuillier in Maria Luisa is aptly named La Vista. A recent visitor to the place was Florentino Silayan Sr., chairman of Allied Metals Inc., which manufactured the kitchen equipment of the Lhuillier mansion.