Posts Tagged ‘Cebu Landmarks’
Thursday, September 27th, 2012
Spoil yourself in one of the best resorts in Cebu. Situated in 11.4 hectares of secluded grounds and yet only 30 minutes from Cebu City, the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is your best choice for escape and relaxation. Perfect for family or couples, this tropical colonial setting offers tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You will feel like you are in your own private estate. The property features lush tropical gardens and waterfalls surrounding the salt-water lagoon.
The resort was opened in late 1996 and has been updated since then. It has complete amenities that any traveler needs. The rooms are spacious at 46 square meters and furnished with plantation-style furnishings and equipped with modern facilities, all  with breathtaking views. The bathrooms have separate showers and soaking tubs. The fresh-water pool, the salt-water lagoon and the tennis courts are both a walk path away to be enjoyed at any time. A lot of water sports activities are available for the whole family within the resort. Some of the activities for every guest’s access are the island adventure tours, sunset cruises, scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing and kayaking. Guests can borrow the bicycles and go around the property or get on a “kalesa” (Filipino horse carriage) ride. There is also a target shooting, archery, wall-climbing and fitness center. A strict no tipping policy is enforced. This way, guests will not have influence on how one is treated than the other. The staff is very friendly, always wearing a smile and ready to help.
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa has 4 restaurants and all with unrivaled quality of food and service. All four of the bar and restaurants are designed differently and when you transfer from one to the other makes the guests feel they are bar hopping but within the resort. The food is amazing but the service is superb.
One of the best things that Plantation Bay Resort and Spa offers is their full-service spa which is the Mogambo Springs. The setting of the spa resembles an 18th Century Tokugawa Japanese Village that has its own thundering falls, creek and fog-like mist. You can float away your cares while getting the pores of your skin open up in a soothing hot spring or rejuvenate your body with a mineral bath. Enjoy the vigorous hydro-massage in the main waterfall basin. Then move on to the dry-heat sauna to sweat out the toxins. The Mogambo Springs is built with the same elegance theme as the whole resort with the full attention to detail. There are also facial and body treatments. They offer a variety of massages like the Thai massage and Hilot (traditional Filipino) massage. They also have the ultimate Mogambo Springs experience that is a packaged complete spa pampering treatment, like the pool massage, body scrub, foot therapy, facial treatment of your choice, aromatherapy with oil massage, nail care and paraffin treatment in their private room.
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is a quiet and relaxing experience like being transported into a different place, a stark contrast with the city of Cebu. Come and book now or locate the resort in the Quick Hotel Finder button.
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots, Plantation Bay, Spa Resort, Things to do in Cebu
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Friday, August 24th, 2012
 Welcome to Cebu, Philippines! Being this country is surrounded by bodies of water the endless supply of seafood is expected. The relationship of Cebuanos with food is like life itself. It is like feeding your soul with all the goodness of delicious seafood. Su-Tu-Kil is a nickname derivation from three methods of cooking in Cebu. In Visayan dialect, Su came from the word “sugba” which means to grill on charcoal, Tu came from the word “tula” which means to stew the food and season with spices and usually with “sampaloc” (tamarind) or lemon grass, and Kil came from the word “kilawin” which means to prepare it raw like in sushi, but immersed in white vinegar and mixed with ginger and aromatics while the fresh seafood is cooked slowly in the acid of the vinegar.
There are plenty of restaurants that cook Su-Tu-Kil. They are usually near the Mactan Shrine. It is a mere walking distance from the shrine. You can choose from a variety of these restaurants who can cook your seafood fresh in under an hour. This dining experience is definitely a must-try for first timers in Cebu. The restaurants are lined up in one place with all the fresh catch of the day laid out for customers to choose from.
 Prawns, crabs, lobsters, squids, different kinds of tropical fish and other large variety of sea creatures are the choices that can be prepared and cooked fresh. Some of the famous restaurants who are the forerunners of this kind of dining are Fredz SuTuKil and Manna SuTuKil. The prices of the food are usually determined by the weight of the seafood of your choice, but still depending on the market price of the day, then they just add cooking fee. Say for example a half-kilo of squid is Php 140 and a half-kilo of prawns is Php 340, and for those prices the restaurant’s fees are already added. Those are just examples, but you get the picture.
One can either choose to get it grilled, stewed or prepared fresh and cooked in vinegar as explained earlier. The famous stew is usually the “Sinigang” which is the Tamarind Soup mixed with vegetables. These restaurants can also cook other methods. Examples of which are fried calamares, baked scallops and sautéed chili crabs, and these methods of cooking can be done as per request. It depends on how you want to enjoy this experience, and may also get to choose where to sit, either inside an air conditioned floor or an open air dining, usually on the roof top.
Most of the restaurants have been in business cooking fresh seafood for 15-20 years already. They can definitely grill any type of seafood to perfect tenderness. If you are looking for authentic Cebuano food, you have to try Su-Tu-Kil. It’s a Filipino type of cuisine that one should never miss during their trip to Cebu, Philippines. Bon appetit!
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots, Things to do in Cebu
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Thursday, August 16th, 2012
Mabuhay! Welcome to Cebu City, Philippines! Besides being a popular destination in the country, Cebu is also known as the Queen City of the South Philippines which is located in the Central Visayas, in Region 7. Cebu City is the second largest city in the country. Home to centuries old churches and historical markers like the Magellans’ Cross that dated back in the 15th century, best diving sites in Asia like the one in Malapascua Island where a lot of Thresher Sharks can be seen, an array of mountains, caves, forests and beautiful beaches like in Badian Island, and concurrently, it is a highly urbanized city with malls, business centers and international hotels that are all within an hour’s travel to each other.
The weather is generally hot and humid and temperature stays at 25-32 degrees Celsius (78-90 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round. The temperature goes up to 28-38 degrees Celsius during the summer that starts from April and ends in June. Amihan Season (High Season) where the wind, usually hot and humid goes northeasterly to easterly with little to no rainfall starts from September to May. Habagat Season (Low Season) where the cool wind goes south-westerly with moderate to heavy rainfall starts from May to September. Amihan or Habagat can start a month later sometimes, so it would be October to June for Amihan and vice versa for Habagat.
Cebu Island has an international airport located in Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City which is 20 minutes from Cebu City proper. It is less congested than Ninoy Aquino International Aiport in Manila. Numerous direct flights to and from Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and scheduled flights to Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Taiwan and China can be booked. Additionally, seasonal chartered flights can be booked to and from countries such as, Russia, China, United States and other nations. Visitors from North America, Europe and the Middle East would need a lay-over on the South East Asian countries listed above to get to Mactan International Airport. The terminal fee for international entry is PhP 700 per passenger and PhP 200 per passenger for domestic.
There are different modes of transportation you can use around the city, but most tourists opt for taxi cabs. Make sure that you ask for a metered rate especially if you do not know your way around the city. If you are confident to have a little adventure, try the colorful jeepneys. There is no tourist information center at every corner so it is advisable to ask your hotel’s front desk on which jeepney routes to take to your destination before embarking outside rather than asking random strangers, although, sometimes it helps to ask. Most Cebuanos can speak and understand English, so that would be a common language that can guarantee to get your message across.
Make sure that you always have smaller denominations of the Philippine peso (PhP), as cabbies always most of the time say they don’t have a change for PhP 500 bill, and unfortunately can force you to just let them to keep the change. The Philippine Peso come in 1 PhP coin, 5 PhP coin, 10 PhP coin, 20 PhP bill, 50 PhP bill, 100 hP bill, 200 PhP bill, 500 PhP bill and the biggest, 1,000 PhP bill. There are tons of ATM machines around the city, but safest to use local banks such as BPI, Metrobank, RCBC, BDO and some foreign banks like HSBC and Citibank. These banks are also the safest and cheaper than in the airport for money change. However, it is important to get your money changed to PhP before getting out of the airport for your transportation fares. If you are a frequent traveler, you would know that additional fees apply for overseas bank transactions and sometimes your bank from your country might need to be pre-alerted that you are travelling to the Philippines so they can release money to you when you use the ATM machines here. Western Unions are available in many locations in Cebu City for money transfer transactions, too. Please don’t forget to bring your passport I.D., as they will not accept other forms of identification except your passport if you are a foreigner.
For shopping, there is SM City Cebu, a four-level shopping haven with a movie theater and over 200 shops and restaurants. And also Ayala Center mall that is a large department store, with two Supermarkets, Movie Theater and a lot more international restaurants. The cab fare from the airport to these malls should only run about PhP 150-200. The city offers so many popular tourist spots around and just about an hour travel away. For example, Taoist Temple and Tops are some places to go visit.
To visit the neighboring islands that have all the beautiful beaches like Bantayan Island, or other nature sight-seeing activities like in Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary and all other exciting places for adventures, you can rent a car or take a cab to the nearest port to where a boat will bring you to which island. Renting a car usually means that you will have a driver to bring you to your destination and back if you prefer, although, the usual rent-a-car concept where you will drive the car yourself is also available.
While in Cebu, it is not customary to include a tip, but it would be nice if you can leave at least 10% tip for good service. However, some restaurants already include service charge on your bill so make sure to read your bill carefully before leaving money behind. As a matter of fact, if there is no clear signage in visible areas or a note on the menu that a service charge is included it would not be rude to ask if that is automatically charged to your bill prior to ordering rather than be forced to pay a service charge if you don’t want to.
The Philippines is a third-world country, but is a very forward country in terms of communication and data and not so lagging behind with the bigger industrialized nations of the developed world. In fact, as far as cellphone use is concerned, this country is definitely in the industry’s front. The Philippines is the texting capital of the world. Texting has boomed here long before it was popular in the US and numerous mobile phone applications are invented here. Grab any SIM card from any of the local 3G or 4G networks like SMART, GLOBE or SUN and just get electronic loads for usage credit. Local phone calls are PhP 7 – PhP 10 per minute and SMS texts are PhP 1- PhP 2 each. There are numerous load stands or you can buy phone cards for load that come in PhP 100 or PhP 300 usually, this is best and cheaper way to connect between families visiting together instead of accumulating expensive international roaming charges. You can ask your hotel desks as they may have electronic loads available for purchasing.
Please note that the metric system is used in most trade and legal transactions and standard electricity is 220 Volts A/C, although 110 Volts A/C is also used especially in major hotels. Also, most large stores, restaurants, hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express, Visas and MasterCard. Traveler’s checks preferably American Express is accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted.
As with any trip, you should take standard safety precautions. Don’t leave your belongings unattended, avoid flashing wads of cash, and don’t wear or carry jewelry. If you can get a safety deposit box in your hotel, it is advisable to leave your precious personal effects and important documents behind. Cebu is a safe place, but it would not hurt to be aware at all times.
I hope you enjoy your stay and take as many pictures you like to post on your Facebook page. Visit our General Information page for more detailed information and feel free to look at the other blogs about tourist destinations here in Cebu.
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots
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Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
“Tops” is a hectare area of concrete viewing deck 2,000 meters above sea level. It sits on a mountain in Busay about half an hour away from central district of Cebu City, Philippines. You can reach this place via a rental car or a taxi cab, but the price is pretty steep with this mode of transportation. There is ample parking for vehicles, so no need to worry where to leave your rental vehicle. If you can navigate yourself around Cebu City and get there at the foot of the mountain, you can take a motorcycle. Motorcycle drivers are already standing by to bring people up the hill and back. The motorcycle ride is captivating as you feel like you are soaring above the city because you can already catch glimpses of the panoramic view on your bumpy way up. Some say Tops is an hour hike from the base of the mountain. Hiking may not be advisable if you are under time constraint and just simply take the motorcycles standing by to take you up there. Please do note that there is an entrance fee per person and no discount considered for children.
The area is mostly concrete with interesting circle stone architecture. It has a bar for beers and snacks. It also has a souvenir shop. The price is doubled and if you are on a budget, you can bring your own snacks and drinks instead. There are areas for dining and picnic. The setting is serene and romantic in the evening perfect for couples. Also definitely a good family place for picnic or little gathering. “Tops” offers a panoramic view of the whole city of Cebu City and Mactan Island with the cool fresh air welcoming you. It promises a lot of perfect photo opportunities once you are there. Some people say it is best to go during Sunrise or either Sunset as the view is fantastic. The view is magnificent during the night time where you see the city lit up in thousands of little bright lights like jewelries embracing the black velvet night. Some families even stay overnight and camp to see the stars at night, too. It could get really chilly up there and you should have light sweater or hoodie handy.
The Tops experience is definitely not to be missed. It is a worthwhile alternative between your beach-days while in Cebu City, Philippines. Plan your day ahead, maybe come for Sunset and stay overnight to catch the Sunrise, too. For however you will plan your visit at Tops, it will surely be unforgettable. Don’t forget to bring your camera.
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots
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Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
If you are around the area and have a few hours to spare during your visit in Cebu City, Philippines, then why not use it leisurely shopping and roaming in the city’s elegant, world class mall and food strip at The Terraces in Ayala Center Malls, Cebu City. The Terraces, unveiled on October 30, 2008 is a redevelopment that transformed what used to be a simple lagoon area to a food and beverage strip with the signature Ayala-landscaping and orchestrated water features. It is within The Ayala Center Malls, a 9-hectare area shopping haven located at Cebu Business Park in Cebu City. The Terraces has a really cool ambiance that everyone will surely enjoy. It has a well-landscaped garden and oceanic fountains that are very soothing to the eyes. The greeneries are very relaxing, a perfect place to unwind after a hectic day. There are 4 comfortable theaters within the area. The Terraces is developed into a friendly and somewhat like a freedom park for all kinds of people. Anyone is free to go there and just unwind, or rest from all the uneasiness of the world and even just to meet new people.
The Terraces offers a wide choice of restaurants and coffee shops. The best thing is that they are all next to each other. The Terraces in Ayala Center is a foodie’s heaven in the heart of Cebu City, Philippines. Some places that are notably good according to reviews are Siam Thai Cuisine, Golden Cowry/Hukad, Casa Verde, The Gustavian, Moon Café, Café Laguna, Canvas Bistro and for desserts, Gelatissimo, Bo’s Coffee and many more. You can also find the usual franchise like Don Henricos, Shakey’s, Teriyaki Boy, and TGI Friday’s and etc. For gourmet coffee shops there is The Coffee Bean, Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Figaro and Seattle’s Best. Enjoy a high end, classy and trendy dining at The Terraces in Ayala Center Malls Cebu City, Philippines.
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Tags: Ayala Center, Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Shopping and Dining
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Monday, March 5th, 2012
Cebu is full of history. Mostly of the Spanish heritage that Cebuanos have inherited resulting from the 300 years of Spanish settlement. As Cebu became a colony of Spain, traces upon traces of that era remained. One evident collection is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, a 16th century old Roman Catholic Church, known to be the oldest church in the Philippines. It was built purportedly on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño, a sculpture depicting the Holy Child Jesus done in the style of Flanders found by Spanish explorers of Legazpi Expedition of 1565. The image was allegedly preserved in a burnt wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition. Since then, Santo Niño become the most popular symbol of Cebu and has acquired a huge number of devotees over the centuries.
The Augustinians regarded the finding as an omen of good things to come. Thereupon the Augustinians established their first house. It was 28th of April, 1565. On 8th of May, Legazpi and his men drew up plans for the urbanization of Cebu and a site was allotted for a church and convent dedicated to Saint Augustine. A chapel of wood and nipa was hastily built and with appropriate ceremonies the image was enthroned in the chapel. The adjacent convent served as an infirmary and rest house for other Augustinians working in the Visayas and up to the present still a residence for priests. Unfortunately, this chapel burned the following year.
In 1605 another church was built of similar material. It was finished in 1626 but burnt after two years. Fr. Juan Medina started a church of stone in 1628. But in 1729, it says that the church was in danger of collapsing and had to be replaced. Demolition of the old church began in 1731. However, the following year work was stopped because of the inferior quality of the brick used which deteriorated quickly. On 29th of February, 1735, foundations for the present church were begun. The new church was built of coral blocks quarried from Panay and Capiz, and molave wood from Talisay and Pitalo in Cebu. The church was completed not until later than 1739.
During Sinulog Festival, women selling candles can be seen swaying and dancing while holding aloft a handful of candles in front of the church. This is a sacred dance in honor of the Santo Niño, called sinulog, after the Visayan word “suug” meaning water current. A museum inside the Basilica showcases the history of Christianity in Cebu. Antique objects are on display, including century-old furniture, priestly vestments and the Santo Nino’s old cloaks donated by individuals over the centuries. A visit to Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is another historical tour that you do not want to miss. Book with us now and travel back in time and turn your Cebu vacation into an illuminating experience.
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Tags: Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots
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Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Christianity, among other things, was Spain’s greatest contribution to this part of the world. Magellan’s expedition is one of the most daring first expeditions in history. Magellan’s Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to come to the Philippines in 1521. The planting of the cross is to signify an important event about the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith in what is now Cebu, the island which he first called Archipelago de San Lazaro because it was discovered on the date of the festivity of Saint Lazaro. Christianity was then introduced to this native leader, Rajah Humabon and his family and to all his subordinates and were all consequently baptized thereafter. The Shrine of Magellan’s Cross stood just beside the Basilica del Santo Niño.
Magellan is a Portuguese navigator working for the King of Spain in search of the Spice Islands, now part of Indonesia and also known as Maluku or Moluccas islands. He was the first man to circumnavigate the world and has successfully done and proved what no man in his time ever did and tried–to reach the East by sailing West. Sadly, Magellan met his death under the hands of another Visayan chief, Lapu-Lapu, when he went to the nearby island of Mactan. Mactan is also part of today’s Metropolitan Cebu. There, both the statues of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu proudly stand to commemorate the tragic meeting of east and west. It took another 45 years (1565) before Cebu was visited again by another European. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, under orders from King Philip of Spain, came and made Cebu the first capital of the Spanish colony known as Las Islas Filipinas.
The Shrine of Magellan’s cross has become a symbol of hope and refuge for some if not all Christian travelers from all walks of life who happened to reach this place for some personal odyssey or retreat, and perhaps for some very important reasons of faith. Book with us now for Cebu accommodations and don’t miss to have a tour at Magellan’s Cross for a worthwhile historical visit.
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots, Magellan's Cross
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Friday, February 3rd, 2012
A visit to Cebu is never complete without a stop at the popular tourist destination, The Taoist Temple located in the heart of the city in Lahug. The Cebu Taoist Temple is perched on top of the northern hills of Beverly Hills Subdivision, a gated community of mansions. The temple is about 300 meters above sea level; and its architecture is functional and austere by Chinese standards. This serene shrine is a sanctuary for those who practice Taoism, an ancient belief based on the wisdom of a Chinese philosopher Lao Tze. Taoism is a philosophy deeply rooted in contemporary China, an unavoidable part of modern Chinese life. The Temple is also a symbol of the city’s large and prosperous ethnic Chinese population. Photography within the temple’s prayer halls is disallowed as it signifies disrespect to the spirits. Instructions are provided at the entrance if you are a beginner who wants to try out the devotees’ prayer ritual. Silence must be observed, as it is a religious shrine.
You can walk along the Great Wall within the temple, which is the small version of the Great Wall of China. It is best to bring water as the walk could get tiring. Perhaps you can climb the 99 steps, an exhausting exercise, but very much worth it at the top where you can see the view overlooking the neighboring islands and Cebu City itself. The temple also shows the most stunning sunsets from high atop the hill. You can light up joss sticks and offer a prayer to the gods to grant your wishes. Lastly, more than the fascinating view, you can also have your fortune read by the tellers inside the shrine. The Taoist Temple has been categorized as a place for oblation and sacrifice, an altar for praying and offering, a cubby for religious service, and a garden for visitors. Undoubtedly, the simple brilliance of the temple is an experience worth the visit.
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots, Taoist Temple
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Monday, October 24th, 2011
Cebu – The Queen City of the South is famous for their palatable delicacies, tranquil beaches, distinct religion and renowned landmarks and destinations. These prominent destinations entice both local and foreign travelers.
If you want historical places to visit you may have a trip to Magellan’s Cross. This famous landmark is a 485 year-old cross that stands at a small chapel located across Cebu City Hall and along Magallanes Street. The easiest way to go to the area is to take a cab and all drivers know where it is. Nearby you may pay a visit to Santo Nino Basilica – the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines built in the 16th century. The church is frequented by a large number of tourists, devotees, pilgrims, and regular churchgoers.
Most of the tourists come over during the Sinulog Festival, one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The main festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus, who used to be the patron saint of the whole province of Cebu. It is essentially a dance ritual which remembers the pagan past of Filipinos and their acceptance of Christianity.
The Taoist Temple is a typical Chinese structure constructed in 1972 by the large Chinese community of Cebu. Built about 300 meters above sea level, this temple champions Taoism. Every Wednesday and Sunday, Taoist devotees perform religious rites, climbing about 99 steps of the temple to light incense and have their fortunes soothsaid by a monk. Located at Beverly Hills, this temple has a roof decorated in typical Pagoda manner and has a magnificent entrance that will remind you of the Great Wall of China. The top of the temple provides an amazing vista of the surrounding landscape.
Fort San Pedro at Pier Area was originally built by the Spaniards to defend themselves from the foreign invaders, but now this has transformed into a museum that cradles the artifacts (porcelain pieces, lockets, coins, fragments of swords, cannon etc), collected from the old Spanish Galleon known as San Diego, from the deep seas of Fortune Island off the cost of Nasugbo, Batangas.
For thrill seekers, try the Sky Experience Adventure famed by Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, the tallest hotel tower in the Philippines, located at Fuente Osmeña. The hotel offers height exhilaration and superb experience. You may pick from various activities that can give gratification: Edge Coaster, Sky Walk Extreme, 4D Theater, Sky Observatory Cliff Hanger and Sky Lift.
Definitely, Cebu is a must see destination and must land a spot in your Bucket List!
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Tags: Cebu, Cebu Activities, Cebu Landmarks, Cebu Tourist Spots, Heritage Trails, Magellan's Cross, Sky Experience Adventure
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