I stayed with my friend J for a couple of days on Holy Week when I was in Cebu. J woke me up early on Maundy Thursday and we took a 15-minute ride on her husband's motorbike to get to the new bridge in Consolacion. This 1.25-kilometer offshore bridge over Cansaga Bay provides a faster link between the sea and airports to the northern towns of Cebu.
The above photo is looking towards Mandaue City. On the left side of the bridge is a locally-owned shipyard.
By the banks of Cansaga Bay and under the bridge was a makeshift fish market where local fishermen bring their morning catch. Fish and other seafood were sold on bamboo tables under a half dozen of huts. It was Holy Week and J and her family, like most Cebuanos, observe the no-meat tradition. We were hoping to buy shrimps and crabs for lunch. It was about 7 am when we got here, and I thought we were early. I later learned that most of the action here happens before sunrise. Most of the seafoods were sold out and fishermen were already taking a break, some were taking a nap, and eating breakfast.
Luckily, there was still some fresh catch coming in and we were able to bring home shrimps, crabs, oysters and shellfish.
This reminds me of the early morning walks with my grandmother when I was a kid. My grandparents' house was about a kilometer away from the sea, and Lola (that's how we called our grandmother) would take us kids to the shores early in the morning to wait for fishermen to bring in their catch. And while our grandmother was negotiating with the fisherman, we were busy choosing small squids, shrimps and anchovies for ceviche. And the fishermen didn't charge us for our ceviche ingredients. Ah, it was a gentler time.
Cansaga Bay is an inlet where the mouth of Mactan Channel and Camotes Sea meet.
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