Discovering Cebu, the Philippines' Second City

[Heena Adwani]

mustafaerden



In addition to being the core of the Philippines' second metro area (pop.923,000, metro 2.8 million), Cebu City is the hub of the Visayas, the grouping of islands around the middle of the vast archipelago that makes up this country (it's a flight of an hour 15 minutes from Manila). Colourful, confident, and in a constant flurry of activity, underneath it still has a Zenlike composure. As the site of the first Spanish settlement in the archipelago (1565), it has a long history, including Spanish colonial sites as well as colorful temples and ancestral houses. That, plus the proximity to many islands, beaches, hotel and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites that makes it the gateway to the central and southern Philippines, means Cebu City is very defiitely worth including on your Filipino agenda. Here are a few highlights:

Top Attractions of Cebu City

 

Basilica del Santo Niño

The Basilica of the Holy Child is amongst the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines, founded in 1565 (though the present building dates from 1739); is named in honor of a figure of the Christ Child presented to the local ruler on the occasion of his baptism into Christianity; and is considered the mother church of Catholicism in this country. There's also a modern annex to receive the pilgrims this church attractions, and in its basement is an interesting museum. The basilica especially a sight all decked out during the Sinulog Festival on the third Sunday in January.

Cebu Taoist Temple

Built in 1972 by the city's considerable Chinese community, on a hill about 900 feet above sea level, it's a beautiful oasis of peace, tranquility, and spirituality, with great views out over Cebu City. Try your luck with the block of wood while you’re here; drop two blocks of wood and if both the blocks are face up, you get to make a wish.

Museo Sugbo

An eleven-year-old museum housed in the 150-year-old former city jail, its exhibitions take visitors through various phases of Philippine history, from the Stone Age to the revolution of 1898 and into the 20th century. There's also an art gallery here.

Diving/Snorkeling

Cebu has been blessed with amazing sea life and crystal clear waters. The surrounding islands of Malapascua and Moalboal offer crystal clear waters and amazing sea life, and exploring them is one of the highlights of any visit.

Festivals/Events

As mentioned above, Sinulog is the third Sunday in January, and is one of the city's biggest annual events, with all-day/all-night celebrations that have everybody out on the streets letting their hair down. Another January event worth noting is Tagbo, in honor of the Holy Child of Poro. Later, the Haladaya Festival is celebrated on with street dancing and festivities on the seventh day for a week beginning on Easter Sunday, and June 1-12 the Tartanilla Festival celebrates the heritage of horse-drawn carriages as a means of transportation and ends on Filipino Independence Day.

When to Visit

The weather of Cebu is predominantly divided into dry season and wet season, For beach-bummers, the best time to revel in the islands’ beautiful beaches would be from March to May. The rainy season begins in July, bringing torrential downpours that can at times inhibit movement, but typhoon activity is relatively minor compared with other parts of the Philippines, so the months of June to October are best avoided.

Getting To and Around Cebu City

Cebu’s international airport is at Mactan and is well connected and modern. There are a number of daily flights to the rest of Asia like Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, China etc. The airport is situated at a distance of 25 kilometers from the city center. You can hire a cab from the airport that will take you to your preferred destination; alternatively, visitors also have the cheaper albeit a lot more inconvenient options for hiring a Jeepney or traveling by ferry. Cebu is one of the biggest ports in the Philippines, so ferry service is available from Manila, Butuan, Zamboanga, and elsewhere.

Once you're here, taxis are plentiful, and you should always insist on a metered fare, as negotiated fares will almost always be higher. Alternatively, jeepneys are shared taxis that are extremely popular as a means of transport in the Philippines. They are colorful and quirky and traveling in them would help visitors capture the spirit of Cebu beautifully. They are basically like small buses that ply on almost every street in Cebu. You can board a jeepney when it's parked at a stop or by flagging one down as they drive past. Buses are also convenient and cheap.


Other helpful links:

Cebu City itineraries
Hotels near Cebu South Bus Terminal