Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 5

Cebu - Factories, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We arrive in Cebu excited to see what this metropolitan area of 3.5 million-plus has to offer. Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the country and the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern parts of the archipelago. The tropical island attracts international attention for its white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, casinos, and in our case, furniture designers. Cebu is the largest exporter of furniture in the Philippines and home to hundreds of furniture factories (the majority of them are foreign based).

Another product Cebu is known for is its guitar. We visited Alegre Guitars in Lapu-Lapu City to check out their factory and showroom to see some examples of their finely crafted, handmade guitars.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 5

Cedu - Mangroves and bamboo huts, originally uploaded by suvajack.

These houses on the sea are the traditional dwellings of some of the old local tribes. Most coastal tribes made there livings on the water; some would either sleep on their boats or opted for more stable accommodations on water houses such as these. The simple dwellings are constructed a little like that of a nipa hut but serves a much different purpose as of a place out of the sun to rest and attach a boat while drying out the catch of the day. This particular house is constructed in shallow sea waters protected behind mangroves. Mangroves are trees that grow in the saline coastal habitats of the tropics and subtropics, creating a unique eco-system teaming with sea life.