Destination: Cebu

A long popular Philippine destination is Metro Cebu, in Cebu province of the Philippine Visayas region. Cebu is known as the Queen City of the South and, following the province’s worldwide tourist campaign a few years ago, the island of Cebu is still thought by many foreigners to be an independent south sea island country, rather than part of the Philippines. However, the truth is that the province’s major metropolitan city, called Metro Cebu is now the second largest city in the Philippines, and certainly the most popular tourist destination in the Visayas.

Travel to and from Metro Cebu is extremely easy because as well as having the country’s largest seaport, with ferries and ships large and small plying between various provinces and islands – and of course Manila, Cebu also boasts the largest air hub outside Manila. The City’s International airport on Mactan Island (Mactan-Cebu International Airport), has regular international flights from Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong, scheduled flights to Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China as well as seasonal charter flights to Russia and the United States.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is also a major domestic hub, with flights to and from a huge number of destinations all over the Philippine archipelago.

Metro Cebu is an amalgamation of four cities (Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay), as well as the Municipality of Cordova. Like all big cities, Cebu offers a wide spectrum of entertainment and a host of international cuisines. There are any number of high- and medium-end dining establishments, and at the budget end of the scale small food houses (carinderias) abound, but note that while a meal can cost as little as P35 at a carinderia, the food is designed to please local palates, and Filipinos prefer to eat their food lukewarm in small portions.

Cebu City and nearby Mactan Island appear to offer the most choice for accommodation. The full range is available, everything from deluxe five star hotels and up market resorts to amazingly inexpensive budget rooms. Remember that if the establishment is called a pension or apartelle, prices are generally lower, but also be aware that at the budget end of the scale, rooms can be very small and extremely spartan compared to western style hotels. Another fact of note if you are traveling from overseas to Cebu or Mactan Island is that any establishment that is called a ‘motel’ generally has rooms booked by the hour for short romantic interludes, rather than overnight stays by drivers.

Mactan Island is a flat, semi-desolate island made up of mainly volcanic rock. However, the Islands poor beaches were transformation when the island was chosen as the site of Cebu Airport. Cash was pored in and world-class resorts were developed on the eastern side of the island facing the Bohol Strait. For many of these resorts, as money really seemed to be no object, ship loads of sand was imported to create impressive artificial beaches and lagoons. Today, Mactan Island is decidedly up-market with resorts and facilities with tariffs that reflect this luxury status, notable such establishments include Plantation Bay and Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort at the top end of the scale.

Cebu is particularly renowned for its status from the start of the Philippine Spanish colonial era, and Cebu City and its surrounds abound with historic places. Probably the most well know is the famous Basilica del Santo Niño and close by Magellan’s Cross. Also close by is the tiny, but well preserved Fort San Pedro (Fuerza de San Pedro). This, the smallest Spanish outpost in the Philippines during the colonial era, contains a museum and is a popular picnic spot away from the hustle and bustle of Cebu city’s traffic.

Due to the annual festival, probably the best know attraction on Mactan Island is the Lapu-Lapu Monument. Lapu-Lapu was a local hero who fought and killed explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 – Magellan, who is best remembered in the west for ‘discovering’ the Philippines is also remembered in a much smaller monument close by.

Cebu has a thriving nightlife and is well known for the quality of its live bands. Styles of music are mainly jazz, soul, Latin, Filipino and disco. Be warned that many live entertainment, disco and nightclub venues in Cebu and on Mactan Island will often charge an admission price or enforce a minimum, consumable cover charge.

Be advised that when floorshows are presented, an extra charge sometimes applies, as do table charges if located close to the floor show. Customers sign for drinks and are expected to settle when leaving, so make sure you keep a steady eye on what you are spending! In many Karaoke, dancer and girly bars, they often offer private VIP rooms, where customers pay a set price and remain until that amount is consumed. Dress codes are very liberal, but be aware that doormen do have discretionary powers.

For fun in the sun, many water sports are available all along the coastline around Metro Cebu, but mainly on Mactan Island, with windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing, hobiecats and diving all very popular.