hsmeilop Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 Cebu occupies a distinctive position in Philippine travel: it is the country's oldest continuously-organised tourism destination. The province holds the first Spanish landing (Magellan, Mactan, 1521); the country's oldest continuously-inhabited Spanish colonial settlement (Cebu City, 1565); the founding-site of Philippine Christianity (the Santo Niño de Cebú image, gifted at that first encounter, remains the country's most-venerated religious icon); and, in the modern tourism era, the country's second-largest international-arrivals airport (Mactan-Cebu International, opened its Terminal 2 in 2018 and now handles substantive international traffic from Asia and beyond). The province stretches 225 kilometres north-south along a narrow limestone spine, offering a substantive twelve-cluster island-hopping-length register from Bantayan and Malapascua at the northern extreme, through Cebu City's historic urban core, through Mactan's resort belt, to Moalboal, Oslob, and Camotes at the southern reach — a scale that no other single Philippine province matches for organised depth. This is the pinned parent for the affluent Cebu-plus-Visayas visitor. The Cebu Position The province's tourism identity rests on three unusual advantages, in combination unmatched elsewhere in the country: First, geographic scale within organised infrastructure. Cebu Island stretches approximately 225 kilometres north-south. Every point on the island is connected by a well-maintained highway system (the trans-Cebu Coastal Road plus the SRP expressway skirting Cebu City). Substantive-week visitors can build multi-town itineraries without inter-island flights. Second, direct international access. Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) — with its award-winning Terminal 2 designed by Integrated Design Associates + Budji Layug + Kenneth Cobonpue — is one of Southeast Asia's most-architecturally-distinguished secondary international airports and serves direct flights from Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, and multiple Chinese cities. Affluent international visitors can skip Manila entirely for a substantive Visayas trip. Third, historical density. The 1521 Magellan-Lapu-Lapu encounter, the 1565 Legazpi-Urdaneta return, the Santo Niño de Cebú devotional tradition, the Sinulog Festival (the country's second-largest religious festival by attendance), and the substantive Spanish colonial-heritage core in Cebu City's downtown — no other Philippine province concentrates this much substantive history in this much reachable geography. For the affluent visitor building the substantive Cebu-plus-Visayas circuit, Cebu functions as the substantive base city + island-hopping-length destination in its own right. The natural pairing is Bohol (see Bohol Travel Guide, accessed by 2-hour ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran). The Eight Cebu Destinations The province's affluent-visitor canon organises around eight destinations, ordered here by ranked visitor priority. The Marquee Cebu City: Sinulog Festival, Magellan's Cross & Historic Downtown — the country's oldest continuously-inhabited Spanish colonial settlement (1565), home to Magellan's Cross (1521), the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (housing the country's most-venerated religious icon), Fort San Pedro, and the Sinulog Festival (third Sunday of January). Mactan Island: Resort Cluster & Battle of Mactan Historical Site — the resort-cluster island connected to Cebu mainland by two bridges. Home to Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the country's substantive resort-cluster (approximately 40+ international-brand and boutique resorts), and the Battle of Mactan historical site where Ferdinand Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu's warriors on 27 April 1521. The Diving Marquee (Northern Cebu) Malapascua Island: Thresher Sharks & Monad Shoal Diving — the small island off northern Cebu, home to the world's only reliable daybreak thresher-shark encounter (Alopias pelagicus) at the Monad Shoal cleaning station. The Southern Coast Moalboal: Sardine Run & Pescador Island Diving — the western Cebu coastal town home to the year-round sardine-run phenomenon at Panagsama Beach (millions of Sardinella forming shimmering baitballs a short swim from shore) plus the Pescador Island marine sanctuary drop-off. Oslob: Whale Sharks & the Ethics Debate — the southeastern Cebu town where whale-shark tourism operates on a daily hand-feeding model that has drawn substantive international conservation criticism. Included here with full context on the ethical debate and the Donsol Butanding alternative. The Quiet Islands Bantayan Island: Quiet White-Sand & Sugar Beach (Sta. Fe) — the northern Cebu quiet-white-sand island, home to Sugar Beach at Sta. Fe. The country's alternative white-sand-beach destination for the return-visitor register. Camotes Islands: Three-Island Boutique Register (Poro, Pacijan, Ponson) — the three-island group east of Cebu (Poro, Pacijan, Ponson) delivering the substantive quiet-island alternative to Bantayan or Malapascua. The Family Extension Cebu Safari & Adventure Park (Carmen) — the country's largest zoological and adventure park, sitting in the Carmen highlands approximately 90 minutes from Cebu City. Also indexed under Philippine Attractions. Who Goes Where — the affluent Cebu matrix Affluent visitor register Recommended Cebu structure First-time Cebu visitor (4-5 days) Mactan resort base + Cebu City historic day + Moalboal or Oslob southern day-trip Substantive week (7-10 days) Mactan base + Cebu City + Moalboal 2-day + Malapascua 2-day thresher-diving Diving-specialist Malapascua 3-4 days (thresher) + Moalboal 3-4 days (sardine run + Pescador) Beach-and-quiet register Bantayan 3-4 days + Camotes Islands 2-3 days Cultural-heritage register Cebu City historic core (Sinulog if January) + Basilica del Santo Niño + Fort San Pedro Ultra-luxury Shangri-La Mactan / Anya Resort Tagaytay-Cebu / Solea Mactan / Mövenpick Mactan Extended-family register Cebu Safari & Adventure Park + Mactan resort base + island-hopping day-trip Combined Visayas circuit Cebu + Bohol (2-hour ferry to Tagbilaran) — see Bohol Travel Guide Getting There By air, international to Cebu — Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), Terminal 2 designed by Budji Layug + Kenneth Cobonpue (Filipino design collective) + Integrated Design Associates. Direct services from Seoul (multiple daily), Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, and multiple Chinese cities. By air, Manila to Cebu — Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia operate multiple hourly services (~1h15m). The country's most-frequently-served domestic route. MCIA to Mactan resort cluster — 10-30 minutes depending on which resort. MCIA to Cebu City — approximately 30-45 minutes across the Mactan Channel Bridge. Cebu City to Moalboal / Oslob — approximately 3 hours south by van. Cebu City to Malapascua base (Maya Port) — approximately 4 hours north by van + 30-minute ferry. Cebu City to Bantayan base (Hagnaya Port) — approximately 3.5 hours north by van + 1-hour ferry. Cebu City to Camotes (Danao Port) — approximately 1 hour north by van + 1.5-hour ferry. Cebu to Bohol (Tagbilaran) — 2-hour fastcraft ferry (OceanJet, SuperCat) from Cebu City Pier 1. When to Visit December-May — the dry-season window; affluent-visitor optimal months. Third Sunday of January — Sinulog Festival; the country's second-largest religious festival by attendance. Substantive advance hotel-booking essential (fills 6-12 months out). June-November — the wet season; some segments (Bantayan and Malapascua ferry crossings) can be weather-affected. Cebu benefits from typhoon-shadow protection compared to Luzon. Sister Cluster Cross-References Destination-side siblings Palawan Travel Guide: El Nido–Coron Itineraries & Trip Planning Cordillera Travel: Multi-Stop Itineraries & Region Overview Bohol Travel Guide: Panglao Beaches, Balicasag Diving & Chocolate Hills Bicol Travel Guide: Mayon Volcano, Whale Sharks & Caramoan Mindanao Travel Guide: Davao, Siargao & Camiguin Itineraries Property-side siblings Best Philippine Beaches: Most Beautiful Philippine Wellness & Spa Retreats: Medical Sanctuaries & Day Spas Metro Manila Hotels: Luxurious Philippine Casinos and Integrated Resorts Philippine Attractions, Theme Parks & Heritage Philippine Provincial Malls Metro Manila Malls: Most Loved Drivable Beaches Near Manila Your turn. Multi-visit Cebu regulars — Mactan resort favourites (Shangri-La, Movenpick, Solea, Crimson comparisons). Cebu City historic-district walking-tour reports. Basilica Minore del Santo Niño devotional visits. Sinulog Festival experiences. Malapascua thresher-shark daybreak reports. Moalboal sardine-run swim observations. Bantayan Sugar Beach vs. other white-sand Philippine beach comparisons. Camotes three-island itineraries. Oslob whale-shark ethical-debate positions. Combined Cebu-Bohol Visayas circuit reports. Cebu Safari extended-family visits. Share your visits. — Bizman 3 Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) End of Runway EB V2.0 aka The Great Shangri-la EB Well there I was, stuck in traffic in my fan-only cooled volkswagen. On my way to the End Of Runway EB. My left calf was aching already from the stop and go traffic when I get a call from Cebucitylocal. There has been a slight change of plans. I was to proceed to Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort. The EB will be held there! WOW!!! Another of CCl's surprise I suppose. Anyway, I Left pretty early knowing that the traffic will be bad. I got to the lobby around 7pm. Called up CCL in his room and waited in lobby. Idly looking at all those foreign women wearing those... Ahhh my mind wandered for a bit there. Haaayyy.... Anyway... CCL met me in the lobby after 5 minutes. He was trying to contact DarkAngel and Loving Soul. The two went snorkeling in Shangrila's manicured white sand beach. So when I met them, there will still kinda wet. I was introduced to them and to two other women (non mtc members. so don't ask.). DA and LS went up to their rooms to change. I was texting Pardonme to attend the EB. As usual, he was still at work. Making reports, he said. But he said that he will be joining us later. After twenty minutes, DA and LS finally came down to meet us. We proceeded to Paparazzi, one of Shangrila's restaurant. WOW!!!! FOOD!!! As we were pretty hungry by that time, we attacked the buffet table. I started from the left side of the room, working my way the the right. The food selection was GOOD!!!!! Dark Sister arrived around 930pm. DA picked them up from the lobby. Then they joined us for dinner. DS was with another girl. DA called up a local friend in Cebu. Which turns out to be Kit the Motormouth friend of mine! Small world. The started on the buffet table. Few minutes after 10PM, Pardonme arrived. Around 11pm, we adjourned from Paparazzi and decided to go to the End of Runway for drinks. But I still had to bring DS and friend to another hotel. CCL went with me, LS and Pardonme in his car. (Which, btw got banged up pretty much last week. ). DA and Kit in his jeep. Then we were off!! When we dropped off DS and her friend in the other hotel, they gave CCL a bottle of wine. We passed by a Shell Select station to get some supplies. Then proceeded to the End of Runway. CCL decided to drink the wine with BBQ and "puso". But there was no corkscrew to open the bottle. So I drove CCL and Kit to Anton's near the Yacht Club to have it opened up. When we got there, we were invited by the manager to drink in their newly renovated restaurant. Me and Kit went back to get the others. We drank the wine. CCL was low batt already so Pardonme took him back to Shangrila. DA and Kit went to look at his yacht. So it was just me and LS talking for about twenty minutes. By that time I have finished most of the wine. Pardonme returned. Kit and DA returned. And we called it a day. End of EB 1:30AM, there abouts. p.s. Anton's is having a promo starting 25th-30th of September. All their beer for P1. That's right one peso beer. One peso ice tea. If you can drink it, it's one peso. Edited September 25, 2004 by hsmeilop 1 Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 28, 2004 Author Share Posted September 28, 2004 THANK YOU FOR THE WARM RECEPTION OF YOUR SISTERS... DA and LovingSoul... Bakit di kayo nag live oath? hehehe Assignment to hsmeilop: 1. A Cebuano Version of the PP oath... 2. Kit should be made a member ehehehe... 3. Live oath in Cebuano should be done soon! Peace Bro.. PM me the PP oath. I'll try translating it. Ask DA to convince Kit to join MTC and PP. But that guy either is working or out in his yacht fishing. and if you could get him to shut up for a minute! :evil: Quote Link to comment
DarkAngel Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 Sorry I only got the chance to go online now. I got sick after coming home from Cebu. Call it a "withdrawal syndrome." I fell in love with the place and I miss it to pieces. Yung mga pictures po i-a-upload ko tomorrow at the latest. Meron kasing isa diyan gustong ipa-blur ang BUONG KATAWAN. Parang madaling gawin ano? Upload ko siya after I edit the pics. I'll also make a brief travel note on Cebu. Baka dun sa Travelogue thread ko ilalagay kung papayag na si Chito. hsmeilop - it was such an honor and pleasure to have finally met the man behind the handle. Thank you very much for being so accommodating, so fun, so friendly, so supportive. Thank you for not running out of the hotel when you saw me in a bathing suit. Di ba ako mukhang dugong na naka-balot sa blue na tela? Thank you for bringing Dark Sister and her friend to the Days Hotel. It's such a small world no? Barkada mo pala yung kumpareng Kit ko. Kit's the ninong of my youngest son. pardonme - It's really great that I've finally met you. Hataw din ang humor mo! Kahit late ka, ok lang yun... sayang nga lang hindi mo naabutan yung buffet... inubos na ni hsmeilop eh peace, hs! LovingSouL - mare, kakaloka ang Cebu stay natin. Hindi ko alam kung saan ilulugar katawan ko. There was simply just too many things we wanted to do, and too little time. Patingin ng pics mo ha! and of course, to cebucitylocal - who made it all happen. Thank you for showing me around Cebu and guiding me. Thank you for my welcome food (lechon & puso). You are right. Cebu is just simply beautiful. I miss the sights and sounds of Cebu. I miss the peace and simplicity. I also miss Anton's grilled white marlin Sali ako sa PANGETZZZ AMAZING RACE: CEBU EDITION ha! Maski i-challenge ninyo akong patahimikin si Kit payag ako! :boo: Quote Link to comment
Guest LovingSouL Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 natawa ako all along sa mga sinabi mo mare! hmmm..mahirap i blur yung buong katawan ng isang ursula? bwahahahaha! naku, artistahin siguro yung nag pa pablur na yun kung patatahimikin is Kit ang challenge.... naku! walang mananalo miss you na mare.....kulang...bitin! di nakapag shopping ng husto..pero salamat sa tip..... tback na mura! bwahahaha! Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 29, 2004 Author Share Posted September 29, 2004 Hahahaha gandang challenge yan DA. Sige I will tell Raintribe to make that a challenge for you. Bwahahaha... Kulang pa ba shopping spree nyo? Bakit? Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 29, 2004 Author Share Posted September 29, 2004 May withdrawal symptoms ka pa ba DA? Quote Link to comment
Guest ONEknightSTAND Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 PM me the PP oath. I'll try translating it. Ask DA to convince Kit to join MTC and PP. But that guy either is working or out in his yacht fishing. and if you could get him to shut up for a minute! :evil: Brother hsmeilop... You took the oath... You should know the oath... hehehe So kit talks a lot huh? hehehe If he can translate that into posting... He will enjoy MTC Quote Link to comment
pardonme Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 DA hehehe hataw ba? di pa nga ako nagsisimula Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 29, 2004 Author Share Posted September 29, 2004 good morning cebu!!! Quote Link to comment
a_ngel Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 musta Cebu, Rain, will you be in Cebu by December? Pakuyog ko anang shopping sa ukay bi. Quote Link to comment
Chito Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 lyssa! di naman ako taga-cebu, nagbabasa lang ako dito Hello sa iyo Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 hehehe si CCL yung nagboost ng tourism sa cebu. hehehe Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 i'm just tagging along for the ride. Quote Link to comment
hsmeilop Posted October 1, 2004 Author Share Posted October 1, 2004 DarkAngel: Wala pa ba yung pictures? Quote Link to comment
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