My Cebu Adventures

"Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors--it is how you combine them that sets you apart." -Wolfgang Puck Cebu's food scene has always been well-known and loved for its diversity and uniqueness. In fact, one might even say that Cebuano cuisine is just as colorful and vibrant as its annual Sinulog parade. While Cebu's world-renowned lechon is known to be the most popular and famous Cebuano food staple, there is quite a lot of food that are distinctly Cebuano not only by nature, but origin as well. You might have been eating these food fares all your life without realizing that what you are munching on is actually a derivative of Cebuano cuisine and gastronomy. It is also interesting to note that Cebuano's are incredibly passionate about their food--so passionate that they take a lot of pride in serving food that is not only bursting in distinct Cebuano flavor, but unpar...

“Celebrations infuse life with passion and purpose. They summon the human spirit.” –Terrence E. Deal  Ever since the inception of Cebu’s yearly fiesta celebration called Sinulog back in the year 1980, Cebuanos were then known to be the individuals with the longest Christmas celebration. Typically held on the third Sunday of January every year, Sinulog is taken from the Cebuano word Sulog which means like water current movement. Consequently, this is a ubiquitous dance movement among Sinulog contingents during their dance numbers consisting of steps forward and one step backward done to the sound of the drums. More importantly, Sinulog is celebrated to honor the fiesta senior known as Santo Nino, the miraculous child Jesus and the magnet of love. With this in mind, Cebuanos can expect an influx of both foreign and local visitors every January. As this is the grandest of all festivals in the country, it would be inevitable to individuals and revelers who wish to witness the ...

“Sulog is a Cebuano word which means—like water current movement” –Author Unknown  Among all the places in the world, Cebu City celebrates the most extended Christmas. Much like other Filipinos, the festivities commence at the start of the ber months where they can already routinely hear Christmas songs blaring from mall radios. However, while the Christmas celebrations and festivities cease on the feast of the three kings on January 6 (or twelfth of January at the latest for most), Cebuanos have another festival on January to look forward to. Enter Sinulog, an iconic Cebuano festival that has been celebrated since the eighties and has now become the Philippines’ biggest and most popular festival. Every year, Cebu experiences an influx of tourists and local visitors alike by the droves—all of which who are looking to experience the world renown festival. Whether they wish to pay homage to Cebu’s patron saint (and the reason for the festival) or just want to party Sinulog-s...

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals” –Siddarth Katragadda  Sinulog, Cebu’s grandest festival, has always been known to be the Philippines’ biggest and grandest festival. Established about thirty-eight years ago, the Sinulog festival is a cultural event held every third Sunday of January and is the center of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines. Heralded as one of the popular festivals in the Philippines, Sinulog is more prominently known to tourists and foreigners for its colourful street parties. However, visitors should know that beyond the rip-roaring parties, wild and crazy events and raucous concerts, Sinulog is first and foremost a religious and cultural honoring of Cebu’s patron saint, Santo Niño. If you wish to experience Cebu in all of its glory, it is best if you visited during the Sinulog Festival season as you are bound to make momentous memories you would soon reminisce about. So, if you are looking for a slice of culture...