When we talk about Cebu, we talk about the food, the tourist attractions, the laid-back lifestyle, and the Sinulog celebration. A common misconception about Cebu is that it is just all that. However, aside from its rich culture, scenic landscapes, and good food, Cebu is also a center for business and development in the south. There is no wonder why Cebuanos sometimes take offense on comments that seem to underestimate our beloved city. Note that when I refer to Cebu, I mostly mean Cebu City and Mandaue City which, for now, are the more developed cities in the province.
Just a few days ago, the results of the Philippine Bar Exams were released. 4 out of the top 10 passers came from Cebu. It was a proud moment for Cebuanos as it showcased academic excellence within the island. Not long after that, some articles and comments spread around social media that seem to question why students from the "provinces" are able to excel in the exam. This led to the Cebuanos taking offence to those comments. I can only imagine how the other "provinces" are feeling after reading those kinds of comments. But as a Cebuano, I may be able to share my opinion on how Cebu is doing well based on my observations.
Resources
Contrary to what others might think, Cebu is not just a province in the south. It is an urban community with abundance of many different resources as it is located at the center of the Philippines. People in Cebu have access to stable energy and internet access. Cebu is also home to many popular universities where people from the Visayas and Mindanao come to get their education. That means Cebu is not only able to cater to the education of its residents, it can also cater to neighbouring provinces as well. I have had many friends in college who come from different parts of the Philippines and found themselves staying in Cebu.
Moreover, with businesses and developments coming in, it becomes easier for people from neighbouring provinces to find jobs that are more relevant to their line of business. Year after year, more and more buildings are being built in Cebu and the job market is also growing especially in the BPO industry. Although developments are simultaneously happening in provinces like Iloilo and Davao, Cebu might have a more geographical advantage being at the middle of everything. I have also been to different parts of the country like Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Bohol, and Cagayan de Oro and they have also been developing and proving that they are not just "the provinces". With the technology that is available in the different parts of the country, the exchange of knowledge is no longer limited to the capital and the north.
Coffee shops
With the increase of BPO companies, there has also been a rise of 24-hour coffee shops. This is because BPO employees who work the night shift try to find that extra jolt of caffeine to wake them up for another busy night at the office. These coffee shops are also the best places for students to study because of the peaceful ambience. Of course, coffee shops can also be found anywhere else in the country and students everywhere study in them. What, I believe, sets Cebu apart is that it has a good balance of being an urban area and also has the calmness during the night. This means that businesses are still open at night while the streets are already calm and no longer able to distract the students as they study. If you go around coffee shops in Cebu during the night, there will always be at least one person reading a book or opening his notes from a mobile device. It also helps that these coffee shops have free wifi for them to google what needs to be researched.
It also helps that the city has opened the public library for 24 hours everyday. This helps students who cannot afford a tall hot Americano from the nearest Starbucks. Now, they also have a place to study too. I even see people studying in the gym sometimes because of the fast internet connection.
Food and Transportation
After hours of studying, students can also find a lot of affordable food everywhere in the city. There is the popular "silogan" where they can buy affordable yet delicious food. There are also mobile vendors who sell different kinds of street food that fill their stomachs. And I'm not even talking about the controversial street food from Netflix. I'm talking about siomai sa Tisa, barbecue sa Larsian, chicken proben, Chinese Ngohiong, and pungko-pungko. So if you're wondering what Cebuano students eat that make them smart, now you know.
Aside from that, transportation is also available even during the late hours of the night. Students are no longer worried of not being able to go home since there is always transportation available. Security is still an issue but, recently, police presence has increased throughout the city. The abundance of habal-habal drivers roaming around the city is also convenient for people who live in areas where there are a few jeepneys during the night.
Night Life
Another side to look at in Cebu is that the nightlife here is different from what it was 5 to 10 years ago. The usual hangout places have changed from bars and clubs to pastry stores and coffee shops. During my college days, people my age were always in bars every weekend. We used to drink beer and "tagay" in our favorite karaoke house outside the school. Now, the popular clubs have closed down over the years leaving only a few which Cebuanos only go to on special occasions. This leads to students having fewer distractions from their studies. Also, students become more inclined to studying because it becomes more fun when they study in big groups. Often times I am critical towards this but it is also hard to ignore that studying in coffee shops is the new "Cool" here in Cebu.
With all the things I have mentioned, ultimately it is up to the students' diligence and capacity to learn that determines the results of these exams. Their training and the guidance of their teachers also play a huge role in their success. However, it definitely helps to have a good peaceful environment where they can focus and also exchange ideas with their peers in studying. While it's annoying to find no vacant tables in the coffee shops, it's comforting to know that the city's or the country's future is in good hands.
Comments
Post a Comment