My Cebu Adventures

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." -J.R.R. Tolkien   Proclaimed as the best pig he had ever tasted, Anthony Bourdain has propelled Cebu's most favorite food staple into world recognition. Known for its crispy skin and succulent flesh dripping in pig fat, there has never been any doubt that Cebu's lechon is the best roast pig rendition you will find anywhere in the Philippines--or even the world. A ubiquitous presence during momentous occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations and even fiestas, the lechon remains to be the star of every Filipino's dinner table that without it, a feast would feel sorely lacking. In fact, it has been shown that tourists, travelers and most notably foreign bloggers would visit Cebu and book cheap Cebu hotels just to sample a taste of this world-renowned dish--much like Anthony Bourdain did. However, Cebuanos are known to be rather passionate about th...

"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...

“Travel is like love, mostly because it is a heightened state of awareness in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.”-Pico Iyer Proclaimed and hailed as the Queen City of the South, Cebu has a unique and subtle charm that would enticingly invite locals and tourists alike into the city. Known for its eclectic fusion of city and island living, Cebu has a lot in store apart from Lechon, the city’s claim to fame. The Queen City of the South is also known for its lush, powder white sand beaches and world-class resorts. Unfortunately, while most of these resorts do promise you a luxurious stay, the exorbitant price tag might deter you from booking a reservation with them. Fortunately, Cebu has a myriad of hotels and resorts that would not have you breaking the bank just for a weekend of relaxation. If you wish to book a lavish stay sans the expensive rates, there ...

“The most dangerous risk of all—the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” –Randy Komisa r Considering that Cebu City is known to be the Queen City of the South, it is highly likely that Mactan (or more popularly known as Lapu Lapu is overlooked). Apart from being the first city one sees upon landing at the Mactan International Airport, Mactan has a lot to offer in terms of adventure and activities. Known to be the lush island of beaches and seafood, Mactan is often greeted by a deluge of foreign tourists during the summer season. Much like most summer capitals in the country, it offers a fair share of watersport activities from jet skiing, diving, snorkeling parasailing to island hopping. If ever you have the chance to visit this vibrant island, never neglect to experience for yourself a brief taste of what the island life in Mactan truly is and immerse yourself in the beauty of its picturesque beac...

“Life is not meant to be lived caged within walls and mindsets. The only way to break free from the shackles of monotony is to travel. Bon Voyage.” –Author Unknown Known as the Queen City of the South, Cebu is a multicultural city with a lot to offer in terms of activities and destinations. As it is considered a melting pot of several Visayan cultures, you can expect to come across a zany set of individuals. In the same sense, you can expect Cebuanos to be an incredibly diverse bunch. English is widely spoken, so in this regard, visitors from overseas would not have such a hard time communicating with locals should they need to ask for directions and the like. Moreover, the people of Cebu City are generally warm and welcoming and although there is much left to be desired in terms of traffic flow, the City makes up for it by providing a myriad of transportation options (Uber, Grab and Angkas are available in the city). If you have ever planned on visiting the Queen City o...

“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...