The Home of Cebu

  Earning the moniker  "The Queen City of the South ", Cebu City is a seductive destination that emanates with rich cultural heritage. This handsome city packed with old colonial churches, polished museums and old fashioned edifices that stood the test of time, is a favourite of most foreign tourists in the Philippines. Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the Philippines and most, if not all architectural masterpieces left are bittersweet memories of the long epoch of Spanish colonial rule. Downtown Cebu is an impeccable destination for  tracing some pieces of its history as well as charming photo opportunities. Here are some places you can explore around downtown: FORT SAN PEDRO Triangular in shape, the smallest and oldest fort in the Philippines sits along the coast of downtown Cebu. Fort San Pedro construction began in 1565 to resist Moro raiders. It is home to the first Spanish settlement in the country --  Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus . CARBON MAR

AAA CLASS Alegre Beach Resort Calumboyan, Sogod, Cebu Tel. (63-32) 254-9800 Badian Island Resort & Spa Badian Island, Badian, Cebu Tel. (63-32) 475-1103 Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort Maribago, Lapu Lapu City Tel. (63-32) 232-5411 to14 Pulchra Barrio San Isidro, San Fernando Tel. (63-32) 232-0823 AA CLASS Cebu Beach Club Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City Tel. (63-32) 340-7994 Cebu White Sands At Maribago Beach Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City Tel. (63-32) 340-5960 to 63 Cordova Reef Village Resort Poblacion, cordova Tel. (63-32) 340-8991 Costabella Tropical Beach Resort Buyong, Lapu-Lapu City Tel. (63-32) 340- 5932 Island & Sun Beach Resort Hilutungan Island, Cordova Tel. (63-32) 492-4544 Tambuli Beach Club Buyong Beach, Lapu-Lapu City Tel. (63-32) 495-7726 A CLASS Casa Del Mar Resort Hotel Barangay Bancasan, San Remegio Tel. (63-

Lechon Festival One year, Talisay hosts a proud festival of its trademark lechon. Stuffed with herbs and spices, the roasted pig of Talisay City has crispy skin and meat so tasty that no sauce is needed except a dip of vinegar and crushed garlic. Local lechon makes jealously guard their recipes. Savor the mainstay of the Filipino banquet table. Find out why Talisay deserves to be the lechon capital of the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines - The family and townmates of reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup are preparing for the coronation night of the 60th Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday morning (Manila time). Officials of barangay Katangawan said they will set up projectors so more people can cheer on Supsup as they watch the live airing of the world's biggest beauty pageant via ABS-CBN. Supsup's father, Timoteo, has opted to stay in General Santos to watch his daughter's biggest night with his family and kababayans. Only his wife, Marcey, got the opportunity to accompany their only daughter to Brazil. Born on May 16, 1986, Supsup moved to General Santos with her family when she was 3 years old. She grew up with her father since her mother worked as an engineer abroad. Before studying in Manila, Supsup helped her father in the farm, feeding chickens and goats. In school, Supsup studied hard and enjoyed reading books. She wa

When going out to Cebu nightclubs, especially on the weekends, be sure to check out Mango Square. By day, it is a rather quiet small mall located on Mango Avenue near Fuente Circle and anchored by National Bookstore. On Friday and Saturday night a complete transformation takes place and the party crowd starts arriving. The music starts up and the mood is relaxed and friendly with a combination of Filipinos, foreigners, and tourists from all over the world hanging out and having a good time. There are several Cebu Nightclubs that open in the evening at Mango Square. Your time in Cebu would definitely not be complete if you didn't explore the nightclubs of Cebu. The music played is mainly pop, and if you like a fun and lively atmosphere then the nightlife here won't disappoint you. The prices of drinks and food are reasonable and you will feel comfortable hanging out and drinking an ice cold beer! Autoshop Bar, Juliana, and Pump are just a few of the n

The Cebu City Museum at Fuente Osmeña, which was opened to the public on March 16, 1992, houses some 100 paintings, 50 sculptures, antique chinaware, furniture, and woodcarvings. There are also a few archaeological finds. Patricia Perez, Chief of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee (CHAC) describes the Cebu City Museum as a place where mixed disciplines of the art converge. A modern sculpture by Eliseo Pepito meets you at the door beside a mega-size 15th century Chinese vat donated by Fred Labra. As you move around the museum, you run into landscapes, portraits of well-known Cebuano figures and personalities, floral renditions, and murals. Antique chinaware from Carcar from the personal collections of Eva Mesa and Luther Galicano are stacked in a 40-year-old cabinet owned by Matilde Palicte. The paintings of Professor Julian Jumalon are done with butterfly wings in the Lepido -mosaic style. Some of the works of Professor Julian Jumalon are exhibited. The pai

The salvaro of Cebu are basically coconut crackers that are characterized by being flat and oval in shape. Additionally, these biscuits are indeed very thin (wafer-thin!) and also very crispy. Because of their coconut flavour, they are made to be more unique and distinct from other delicacies and products of Cebu. The main ingredients of salvaro are the enriched wheat flour, sugar, sodium bicarbonate, shredded coconut, and shortening. It is also known to be a very healthy and nutritious delight for all. There are several famous brands and manufacturers of salvaro you can find here in Cebu, including Gene’s Salvaro de Cebu and Pinky’s Salvaro. You might want to check these out. It is basically coconut crackers on flat oval and very thin biscuits. It is wafer-thin and very crispy. It has a unique taste due to its coconut flavor.

Casa Gorordo Museum is one of the well known museums among the museums in Cebu and it's also known to be a special project of Don Ramon Aboitiz. This museum is located in the mid of the Parian district which is also known to be among the old streets in Cebu. This museum is basically named after Msgr. Juan Gorordo, the owner of the house and the first bishop. The house was turned into a museum only after Don Ramon came to own it in 1980.Don Ramon Abolitz foundation, Inc presently runs the museum and it's constructed purely with tugas (molave), narra, and bayong (mahogany) accessories. This two storey building is a reflection of the 1860 architecture and the specific lifestyle of the owner. The patio on the ground floor is also the waiting room for guests and its furniture is partially made of bamboo but a gallinera stands out more prominently. The basement for food storage is located near the patio. Among the various artifacts one finds the 18th and 19t

MAGELLAN’s MARKER Location: Punta Engaño Lapulapu City About 20 kms. From Cebu City. Encouraged by the success of Christianizing the people of Cebu, Magellan crossed the channel to Mactan Island in an effort to spread the faith. Before he reached the shores, he was killed by the chieftain of the island, Lapulapu and his men during the battle for supremacy and freedom on April 27, 1521. Efforts to retrieve the body of Magellan were futile inspite of the offer to trade jewelries and spices for the dead body. This marker was erected in 1866 to mark the spot where the great explorer died. One of the oldest monuments in the province, the Magellan monument in Barangay Mactan (Lapu-Lapu City) traces its origin to December 4, 1840, when Spanish Governor-General Francisco Alcala approved the plan to construct a monument in Punta Engaño, Mactan, in honor of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese “discoverer” of the Philippines. The actual circumstances of its construction, however, are n

COLON STREET Known as the oldest street in the Philippines, Colon Street was built by the Spaniards during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Named after Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus), it is the heart of downtown Cebu, a glittering area by night lined with movie houses, restaurants, department stores, and other business establishments. Developed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the place became the center for commercial activities in downtown Cebu. Through the years, Colon remained the lifeline of trade and commerce in colonial Cebu. It was in Colon where the first business establishments and offices where built and flourished in Cebu. It was also the place where most happenings took place such as social and cultural events. The street similarly has become a witness to the rise and fall of Cebu’s economic and political competence over the years. Labeled as the center of commerce and trade, many universities were built near or along Colon Street such as University of C

Plaza Independencia Plaza Independencia is strategically located between Fort San Pedro and the building that used to be the Gobierno Provincial in the downtown area of Cebu. The plaza is a popular hangout for many living or working around the area. It is one huge garden filled with trees, ornamental plants and flowers. There is also a public skating rink and a kiosk at the center of the circular skating rink. An obelisk dedicated to the memory of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi ,the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines, is planted at the very heart of the plaza. Plaza Independencia is the most historically significant plaza in Cebu. Its land and age-old acacia trees are witness to the many phases and stories of Cebu’s rich history. In the early 1600s, it was called Plaza de Armas. When it was widened later on and expanded to reach nearby properties of the Cathedral of Cebu, it was called Plaza Mayor. Later in the Spanish rule, it was further landscaped and developed

Crocolandia Crocolandia is another must-visit destination in the province of Cebu. The mini-zoo/park, which is the first of its kind in the region, is located in Biasong, Talisay City. It was founded in 2001, by The Crocolandia Foundation Inc., which is a non-profit, non-stock private organization focused on nature and wildlife conservation. The park provides a habitat for endangered and endemic animals. It is now home to varieties of mammals, birds and reptiles. A huge majority of its animal population is made up of different species of crocodiles, which obviously accounts for its name. In fact, the park’s most famous resident is a six-meter long saltwater crocodile named after our very own hero, Lapu-Lapu. Crocolandia, in its mission to educate, also features a museum and a library. For further amusement, the park also has several gardens and fishponds, a souvenir shop, and a playground. You can also dine at the Crocolandia Grill whenever you feel the need to replenish lo

Dried Mangoes From the name itself, it is mango that is sun dried and ripe. But, well, Cebu’s dried mango is not your usual and ordinary dried mango. Cebu’s dried mango is most famous for its distinctive taste that will surely leave you craving for more. Cebu’s mangoes have a sweet yet sour taste.  The ripe dried mangoes are also packed perfect for snacks. Dried mangoes are excellent fat-free alternatives to sugary snacks.  With its sweet and non-acidic zest, this dried fruit product is rich in vitamins and made from the best handpicked mangoes of Cebu.  Each bite is guaranteed to be tasty, chewy and full of flavor. These fruit snacks are perfect for every occasion.  You can serve them as appetizers or desserts in dinners.  You can even bring them to outdoor excursions and outings.  These chewy nibbles are perfect whether you are at work, at play, or simply at home.

Bibingka   The bibingka is a rice cake popular in the Philippines and made of basic ingredients consisting of rice flour, sugar, butter and coconut milk. Cooking bibingka involves placing burning coals on top of and under the bibingka mold while placed on a clay pot. The bibingka has a spreading of butter or margarine, topped with sprinkled sugar and grated coconut. Young banana leaves heated over a small flame would wrap or line the bottom of the bibingka when sold to customers. Although a popular street food, it is usually in demand with locals and even tourists during the Christmas season when it is one of the delicacies sold by vendors outside the churches after the traditional night mass or Simbang Gabi held from December 16 to 24. There are many versions of bibingka in Cebu but the most famous is the bibingka of Mandaue City because this type uses manually pounded rice instead of the commercially available rice flour. The Mandaue bibingka consists of pounde

Ampao Carcar, Cebu is known for a lot of things from having the most gifted artists in the nation, along with having the best delicacies ever to reach your taste buds. You may know it for its amazing chicarons (pork rines) but it is also known for its sweet, sweet ampao. Of course, I bet Rachael Ray would choke into guessing as to how this delicacy is made. Ampao is the Philippine version of the rice crispies. It began in the early 1900s and became popular in the 1940s. It is just basically cooked rice that is dried out in the sun so that it becomes crispy. Along with this sweet, white treat, you can find a piece of peanut or two. The emphasis of the peanut is to bring out that natural ampao flavor, and helps make it a treat that everyone loves. It would take time to make sweet ampao and is very much unlikely compared to a 15-minute meal by Rachael Ray. Nonetheless, the ampao gives us a more direct taste and also a bit of nostalgic moments that will bring us back a few

The rosquillos are cookies that originated from the Municipality of Liloan, Cebu. The cookies are circular in shape with flower-like edges and a ring shaped hole in the center. The rosquillos is a distinctive snack unique to Cebu and is a favorite snack of local Cebuanos and expatriate Cebuanos in the United States. The late Philippine president Sergio Osmeña Sr. reputedly gave the name of rosquillos from the Spanish word rosca, meaning ringlet. Margarita “Titay” T. Frasco created the rosquillos in 1907 in the town of Liloan.  She later founded Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos and Delicacies Inc., the pioneer and premier company producing delicious and fine quality rosquillos in Cebu. Descendants of her family presently run the company which also produces other native snacks. Titay’s Rosquillos supplies and delivers its products to supermarkets in Cebu City and has several retail outlets in the city. The packaging of the rosquillos states that the cookies are made of flour, eggs,

Moalboal Located in the southwest of Cebu city with a couple of hours drive. Moalboal have numerous magnificent diving sites to offer. These dive site offers sea adventurers the opportunity to have a good view to the variety of coral life and marine life. Dive sites here are ideal for photography. Fan corals and gorgonians are everywhere as are sponges, crinoids and shells. Divers will also encounter Reef fishes like sweetlips, tangs, gobies and lionfish. You will also encounter large pelagics including shark, barracuda, tuna, manta rays and groupers. Dive sites in MoalBoal also have superb drop-offs overhangs all around. Some of the spectacular and enchanting dive sites in Moalboal are Ronda Bay, Tuble Reef, Tongo Point, Lambug, Pescador Island and etc.

Cebu’s Lechon   If it’s all about food we’re going to talk about, then Cebu is a no-stranger when it comes to that topic. Cebu is not only famous for its stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes and great people perfectly blended by the modernization, but also for food uniqueness; the lechon, or roast. There are actually three kinds of lechon: the lechon baboy (roasted pig), lechon manok (chicken) and the quite rare lechon baka (roasted cow). The lechon baka is relatively rare since, rather than the whole cow, the hind leg/s is the only part available. In Cebu, and in some parts of the Philippines, the default name of “lechon” is branded on the whole-roasted pig since it is mostly the first choice to be order in several major occasions like weddings, feasts and birthdays. Today, the places of Carcar and Talisay are considered the most prominent lechon producers. Even parties handled by wealthy people in Manila are bound to make orders in Cebu just to get the most

Before bread, pancakes, and even cereal invaded the Cebu and Visayan breakfast tables, there was puto and sikwate. Puto in Cebu is steamed sticky rice which is gradually mixed with coconut milk while being cooked. To taste, sugar, small amounts of salt, and ginger are added. Sikwate, on the other hand, is hot choco drink from chocolate tablets called tabliya made of dried and pulverized cacao seeds. Sometimes, the puto was occasionally paired with ripe mango which is also a very abundant fruit in Cebu (one of the popular local delicacies are dried mangoes). Now don’t be confused, puto may also be referred as puto maya wrapped in banana leaves because in some other parts in the Philippines, puto can be steamed ground rice or puto mamon which does not include rice. Puto and sikwate is not very common nowadays in Cebu homes anymore. However, there are still a handful few who remain to be patrons of the traditional breakfast. In the Visayas they often call the hot treat painit

Biko served on banana leaves The Cebuano biko is a sticky rice cake made from sweetened coconut milk, sugar and bits of ginger topped with caramelized coconut cream. “Latik” is the local term for the curdled coconut cream. The caramelized latik gives the brown color for the biko and is either served on a plate or wrapped in banana leaves. Some Cebuano versions of the biko have calamansi rind in it. The cool and soothing effect of the ginger in the biko neutralizes its sweet taste. Since the biko is very sticky, I have to eat it slowly so I can savor every bite of its delicious taste.

The ginataan is one of popular Filipino desserts or snacks served during birthdays and other special events in the country. However, they are especially cooked and eaten during the Holy Week in Cebu and other Visayan islands on Good Friday, when most of the locals are fasting or abstaining from eating any meat. I have eaten both the binignit and biko several times already and I can definitely recommend both of them for people who want to eat their dessert slowly just like me. The binignit is the Cebuano version of the Filipino soup dessert of ginataan. The ginataan is a soup consisting of a thick mixture of tubers such as taro, purple yam, sweet potato, as well as bananas, jack fruit, sago, tapioca pearls and sugar, cooked in coconut milk and thickened with milled glutinous rice. The binignit is served and eaten hot especially during the cold, rainy season. But it is also served cold and chilled during the hot summer season. The Cebuano binignit is a soup traditionally mad

Cebu, in Philippines has become a popular tourist destination in recent times. The island is a lush tropical island with many attractions for the visitors. One of the must see attractions is the Taoist Temple. This temple is situated in the affluent and sophisticated residential suburb of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is located in the north of downtown Cebu. Cebu has around fifteen percent cent Chinese in her populations and this temple can be said to a contribution of the island's Chinese community. The Taoist temple is dedicated to Taoism. Taoism is an ancient religion of China. It is based on the teachings of Lao Tze , one of the noted ancient Chinese philosophers. Taoist devotees follow their rituals on two days, Wednesdays and Sundays. They assiduously climb the ninety-nine steps of the temple to light incense sticks. Having the fortune read by the monks has also become a ritual. The temple was built in 1972 AD, the Taoist Temple is very elaborate and gari

The word “sadsad”,in the local dialect, means dance. This is where the Sadsad festival got its name. The Sadsad festival is held in honor of the patroness, the Immaculate Concepcion. It was started in Barangay Poblacion but was later elevated as the town festival when the barangay captain became the mayor of the town. It was originally in honor of barangay Poblacion’s patron saint, San Roque, that was honored by the said festivity. When Brgy. Poblacion’s barangay captain became Mayor of the town, he elevated the barangay festival inot the official town festival and changes its celebration from March (San Roque’s feast day) to December (Immaculate Concepcion’s feast day). This year, the Festival’s name was changed from Sadsad Festival to Sadsadayon Festival. It comes from the two segments, Sadsad and dayon. Sadsad, which means dance, has been retained. Dayon came from two visayan words, “dayon” and “padayon”. Dayon, meaning welcome, was used because Oslobanons are known fr

The Mantawi Festival is a yearly event celebrated every May 7 in Mandaue City, Cebu. The festival is a celebration of Mandaue’s rich cultural and historical heritage and its importance today as a commercial and industrial center in Cebu. Local historians say that the name Mantawi is a species of indigenous vine or tree that abundantly grew in a cove in the shores of Cebu when the explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521. The Spaniards eventually built a settlement on the site of the cove that later became the village of Tipolo, which today is one of the barangays in Mandaue. Tipolo is the location of the first dry-docking facility in the country that serviced the galleons that carried the Philippines’ trade with other countries during the Galleon Trade from the 16th century to the early 19th century. The local government of Mandaue conceptualized the Mantawi festival in 2002 to commemorate the historical value and economic significance of the founding of Mandaue to the h

The Tagbo Festival is one of the main festivals of Cebu. AsiaRooms.com gives complete information on Tagbo Festival, Cebu. This festival is celebrated in the month of January and it is observed to honor the Santo Nino de Poro (the patron saint). This festival has an important significance in the sense that it highlights the birth of a town. Merry – making and enjoyment are an integral part of this festival and the local residents as well as the tourists make it a point to be in Cebu in the month of January, so that they are able to witness this festival. Month’s ahead of this festival the inhabitants of Cebu gear up for this festival and begin to concentrate on the arrangements associated with this festival and leaves no stones unturned to celebrate this occasion in the best possible way. The Tagbo Festival is celebrated in the Poro Camotes Island, Cebu. This island, which is situated in the east of Cebu, is made up of three sub islands. It is the home to picturesque landsca

The name Sinanggi-yaw is taken from two old Cebuano words, Sinanggi meaning abundance of harvested agricultural products of our farmers and Sayaw meaning dance. Through street dancing and field presentation, performers shall dance merrily bringing all the Sinanggi-performance focused on three aspects: planting, harvesting and thanksgiving. The Sinanggiayaw is held on the 4th of October in the town of Dumanjug, province of Cebu.

Fuente Osmena, Cebu city is named after the Cebu’s Grand Old Man, President Sergio S. Osmena, Sr. who happened to be the second president of Philippine Commonwealth. Fuente Osmena Circle is located along Jones Avenue and General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City. Inside the Fuente Osmena Circle is a big fountain that stands along Fuente Osmena Rotunda. (Huge Christmas tree is standing in Fuente Osmena fronting the downtown area) The Beautiful Fuente Osmena Park served as a witness to Cebu’s gatherings and event including the Sinulog Festival which is celebrated every third sunday of January. Fuente Osmena has been the pride of Cebuanos.Tops Situated 2,000 above sea level on the cool hills of Busay, it is an excellent sight-seeing spot which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and the islands of Mactan and Olango. Open kiosks are available for daytime picnics and instant evening parties.

The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is one of the most popular tourist spots to be visited in the paradisiacal island of Cebu. Regardless of age, the Sanctuary is a great place for the whole family to enjoy a fun outing. This unique and amazing butterfly haven is actually home to a nature reserve where the butterflies dwell, a museum and an art gallery. Crowds of tourists as well as locals stream into the Sanctuary each day to catch sight of these colourful creatures. Founded by a passionate artist by the name of Julian Jumalon in 1974, the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary provides a unique home to the butterflies as they are not contained within an enclosure, but are able to fly freely in the area. Comprising of approximately 50 different types of rare and exotic butterflies, on any given day, the average visitor is sure to spot at least 10 to 15 of these butterfly types. In the park area, there are also over 100 different types of plant species that serve as food for the butterf