Best Summer Destination: CEBU!

(On the picture you can see: Ayala Center Cebu's The Terraces, and at the background, several towering high rise buildings)

First because, Cebu's where business meets pleasure! You can do business, any type of business for that matter and still choose to have fun over the weekend. Doing business in Cebu on a weekday, and over the weekend you want to take a trek out to Bohol? Yes you can! Bohol is just a 2 hour trip on a fast craft and less than ten minutes on an airplane! Second, Cebu generally has it's own tourist community. Many of Cebu's fine restaurants and shoppes are aimed to please the foreign tongue. Cebu is home to several restaurants and delicatessens which offers a much close to home experience. But this is where Cebu gets its advantage, fourth, Cebu is the IT hub of Asia it is home to many call centers and where there are call centers technology follows.

Tourism side so I've lifted a text verbatim from wikipedia about why you must visit Cebu. "Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main centre of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas. The United Kingdom based Condé Nast Traveler Magazine named Cebu the seventh best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007,[1] eighth best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, seventh in 2004 and fourth in 2009."

Cebu was found when Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe and landed on the Philippine shores This story is the most recognizable story and well founded story as it is written and the documents of the travels of Magellan remains in archives today. But to truly understand how Cebu was founded we have to look farther back in time.

In the ancient days in the Philippines even before the coming of Magellan Cebu has already been loved as a business hub in Asia by traders of different nationalities. Zubu (Cebu) as it was fondly known with was the drop off point for different goods up for barter or exchange. Cebu has been well known for this through out Philippine prehistory.

In 1521, the onset of Spanish colonization, Magellan tried his best to conquer the people of Cebu but he failed. Cebu was strongly defended by the First Filipino Hero of the Philippines, Lapu-lapu. The battle between Magellan and Lapu-lapu resulted to the death of the former. And up to now his body remains on the Island of Mactan. This setback cost the Spanish King precious time before they finally conquered Cebu. In 1565, was the second coming of the Spaniards, headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a diplomat. He was able to convince the Cebuano natives to give him a piece of land to build his Fort and somehow they did. And on this date my friend August 6, 1565 was the founding of the province of Cebu. His piece of land which he named Villas de San Miguel, was renamed into Ciudad del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus after the finding of the Child Jesus in a burning hut.

The picture shows one of the sunsets here in Cebu. I think if he didn't know there was gold in the Philippines, this would have captivated his thoughts and persuaded him to stay here in Cebu.

How bout you?

Cebu City is the capital of the Island, this city is home to several titles, Queen City of the South and IT Hub of Asia to mention some. Cebu City is my place of birth and this is where I currently am living. You will learn later on another module why Cebu City is famous.

Photo lifted from (lifted from wikipedia )

Condominiums have become the one of the biggest industries in Cebu. Most of the high rise buildings that you see below are condominiums within city limits. Another big business of Cebu are Hotels, and there are lots of them in Cebu from Five Star to Three Star, Beach Side Hotels to Middle of the Urban Jungle Hotels and more. IT, though Information Technology in the Philippines is quite behind from the leading industrialized country, IT in the Philippines is slowly reinventing itself and making itself more available to its users.

As seen above, this was the back of the governor's palace in the 1930's. Now the seat of the Governor of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. From this palace rules the most powerful person in the entire province of Cebu. Now here's the Provincial Capitol at the present day just as it was completed in 1938.

Cebu is much of a unique and different place from other places in the Philippines. Unlike other places in the Philippines, Cebu is a place where business meets pleasure. Cebu is quite a large metropolis but a few minutes ride out of the business metropolis, you can actually find areas for rest and relaxation. To start with you can go and take a diving lesson in Mactan, or take the plunge in one of its white sand beaches. Since Cebu is a big place to be in I'll give you the best places to visit.

Route Taoist temple to Plaza Independencia

The Taoist Temple - every person needs to unwind and find himself somewhere. The temple is open to everyone, except those who have eaten meat for that day.

The Governor's Palace - it's an old American built edifice that up to now stands and is also the seat of the Provincial Governor behind it is the Palace of Justice. So it's a nice stop hitting two birds with one stone.

The Rizal City Library and Museum (i think...) - this is where the oldest of the old books in the city can be found.

Fuente area - The Fuente circle is made up of quite a lot of modern attraction but nonetheless there are a few that stands out from the rest. The giant Christmas tree erected every Christmas season, and the fountain itself.

Crown Regency Tower - a walking distance from the Fuente Circle is the Crown Regency Tower. This 41 story tower offers rides that for the Cebuanos are exhilirating. A MUST TRY!

Osmeña Museum - You would meet your next museum. This museum is quite different the things here come from the old things and house of the late President Sergio Osmeña.

Open Field, Schools and Universities

On the Right side you would find the...

Abellana National School and the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Asian College of Technology
University of Cebu

On the Left you would find...

Cebu Normal University
University of San Carlos
both of these universities has museums of their own.

Straight ahead you will find the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño famous for the religious festival the Sinulog every January.

Go further and you will reach plaza independencia and behind the plaza lies one more surprise it's for you to discover though...

The Taoist Temple

The Taoist temple was built by the substantial and affluent members of the Chinese Community in 1972. You can also find the Taoist Temple in one of the most expensive areas in the City of Cebu, The Beverly Hills Subdivision. With an elevation of 300 Meters one can truly enjoy a breath taking view of the City.



The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

This is the seat of the Archbishop of Cebu. Damaged by World War II, the Cathedral was rebuilt sometime in the 1950's. The Cathedral is now another wonderful place to visit as it is the site for many grand wedding ceremonies in Cebu. The Cathedral has once more undergone new changes, this time it's facade has been turned into a beautiful park at the same time car park.



People flock to this basilica as it is the home of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). Many pilgrims come to this place as they have dedicated themselves as devotees of the Holy Child. The very first Chuch that housed the image of the Niño was built out of Nipa. some hardwood and earth on April 28, 1565 after the finding of the Holy image.

There are several Universities in Cebu but I will be giving you three of the most popular and historical universities. They will be the University of San Carlos, Cebu Normal University and Cebu Doctors' University.

Cebu Normal University on the other hand was established in 1915 as a normal school by the Americans. The school was closed during the second world was as it was used by the Japanese Imperial Army as their headquarters. CNU now hosts a collection of items in its museum coming from the World war II, but the administration building itself is as good as a war relic itself.



The University of San Carlos is Asia's oldest School it started out as Colegio de San Ildefonso. First established in 1595 or some 40 years after the second landing of the Spaniards in the Philippines headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The school is now under the management of the Society of the Divine Word. This university boasts of a pre-historic Cebu museum and i recommend that if you come then you must see it.



Cebu doctors University is the first medical university in the Philippines. Founded on 1975 and granted university status in 2005. This school offers a host of medical related courses.

Thinking about a place to stay in Cebu??? Choose among the ones mentioned above or some that you have come across on the net. Cebu is quite unique. There are what you call beach resorts located a few minutes outside the city and there are those that are located within the city. I have listed down most of my favorite hotels in the picture. Choose which one you like best and look for it in the list below.

SORRY... STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!

Behind the urban clutter is what we call organized chaos, coined by one of my mentors. We see nature as an organized chaos, leaves fallen to the ground may look dirty and more or less has no purpose. Take a step back and see beyond the chaotic arrangement and you see that each leaf has become a part of of a picturesque view adding to the shifting shades of hues and color in the forest. Thus behind the clutter of every concrete jungle and metropolis lies a growth of plants and trees and sites which adds beauty to its surroundings. We've got a lot of them here in Cebu outside of this bustling city lies areas only for the nature lover to explore and here are some of them...

CHECK OUT MY TRAVELOG ENTRY "I Can Only Imagine" for our trek and fun in Mantayupan Falls, Barili, Cebu