Carabao Sundial: An Art and Timepiece

CEBU, Philippines - For almost four decades now, the carabao sundial erected by Don Bosco students has been a symbolic landmark in the agro-industrial complex of Victorias Milling Company (VMC), Inc. in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. It is an imposing figure made of varnished copper about 15 feet high beside the St. Joseph the Worker Church inside the sugar firm’s compound.

It was in 1975 when a project was tossed to Don Bosco Physics classes by the VMC management. The challenge was for a project to be useful to the community and, at the same time, stand as a piece of art. Without much ado, Shalom ’76, a religious club composed of 12 senior Don Bosco boys, accepted the challenge.

A member was immediately dispatched to U.P. Diliman in Quezon City to study the structure of the university’s sundial while others made separate researches for the project.

After hard work and thorough study, a V-form design symbolizing Victorias was fashioned. However, the figure was later changed, and then emerged a bust of a carabao to portray a hardworking community and the strong Philippine labor. Then evolved a young man holding a cane stalk, representing the youth and the product VMC and Victorias has been known to the world.

The group presented the project to top VMC management and a P11, 000 budget was approved.On March 20, 1976, just before their graduation, Shalom ’76, headed by Hezekiah Katalbas with Fr. Demetrio Carmona, SDB, as class adviser, completed the project.

Now, the carabao sundial stands as a rare structure that speaks of the students’ craftsmanship. “Time wasted is existence; used is life,” are words to live by that its makers inscribed on the structure of art and time.

The 1st Cebu International Travel Festival 2014

  Big discounts on airline fares, irresistible hotel and resort deals, domestic and international travel packages and more await everyone at the 1st Cebu International Travel Festival (ITF) 2014, which runs until today, July13, at the Activity Center of Ayala Center Cebu. With the theme “Endless Wonders, Endless Possibilities,” the event gathers travel and tourism establishments in one venue, to showcase available products and services to travel enthusiasts.

It is a lifestyle bazaar event intended to encourage travel by offering discounted travel deals. Over 60 companies and establishments from all over the Philippines and abroad are participating. Attractive tour packages are presented at the booths of iTravel, iExplore Tours and Services, Enhance Visa Service, Inc., Hana Tour Cebu Inc., Travelite Travel and Tours, Sky Horizon Tours and Events, Batanes Travel and Tours, Divaishnavi Travel and Tours, Southwind Travel and Tours, First United Travel Inc., Worldwide Travel & Tours Inc., Comfort and Leisure, Grand Hope Inc., and Star Cruise, among many other event participants.

The participating hotels and resorts include Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, Marriott Hotel, Pacific Pensionne, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Cebu White Sands, and Montebello Hotel, Coron Westown Resort, Wellcome Hotel, Nandana Boracay, Microtel by Wyndham, Balinsasayaw Resort, Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa, Dakak Resort and Properties, The Bellevue Resort Bohol, Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa, El Nido Resorts, South Palms Resort Panglao and Two Seasons Resort boots.  For their part, Skyjet Airline, Air Asia Zest and Philippine Airline are offering  fantastic airfare deals.

ITF 2014 is endorsed by the Department of Tourism.  Part of the event  proceeds will go to the Balik Balay Project of the Cebu City Tourism Commission, to provide habitable dwelling to Typhoon Yolanda survivors in the remote island of Pilar, Camotes, Cebu. 

Inquiries may be phoned in at (032) 231 5342 loc. 324.