Natural wonders aplenty, historically-rich, amiable and talented people, Cebu is one of those places in the country with a most well-defined character, distinctively separating itself from the rest. When outsiders think of Cebu, they could think of either Sinulog festival or Catholicism or the Santo Niño or Magellan or Lapu-Lapu or white beaches or waterfalls or whalesharks or mangoes or danggit or singers. It is vibrant and poised to becoming a force to be reckoned with, if it isn't yet, in the world stage, not just the capital Manila.
However, I am saddened by the local government's utter ignorance of the mere value of Cebu, aesthetically-wise. It boggles the mind why nobody gets bothered by ugly dangling cables everywhere. I am lenient to seeing those in small towns, for there's not much cables anyway, not just yet. But in big cities such as Cebu, the main city, adjacent cities Mandaue and Talisay, and touristy Lapu-Lapu, electrical wires connected, in bundles, from post to post to houses or commercial buildings, aren't just an eyesore but a matter of public safety.
Anybody can get electrocuted if there's live wire awaiting an unknowing casualty, and there's high probability of it when an electrical post gets knocked down by, say, a typhoon, a recurring disaster 20 times over, yearly in the country.
Back to aesthetics, it's understandable any photographer scratches his head every time he takes pictures of landmarks, especially in cities. What could have been a picture perfect shot would be not without photobombing ugly wires suspended up in the air. The government just doesn't pay premium for the importance of landmarks at their purest facade.
I suggest to go for underground cables. It's safe and free the cities up of much repulsiveness. It's the only way to save Cebu from becoming a land of contrasts -- scenic natural wonders in the countryside but ugly aesthetics in cities. And we haven't even delved deep into Cebu's poor infrastructures, mind you.
Time will come when Cebu gets suffocated by its own ignorance of basic aesthetics and public safety.
In a not so distant time, small towns might follow suit, suffering the same unfortunate fate as their big sisters's.
In a not so distant time, small towns might follow suit, suffering the same unfortunate fate as their big sisters's.
