Cebu: Cebeautiful Places

I've been hearing about Cebu since forever, from Sibika at Kultura (History) class in elementary to my Cebuano immigrants relatives. And the day finally came, that I'll be able to take a step on the famous Queen of the South; my Lolo & Lola's hometown.

Arrival and Impressions...

It was February 10, 2012 I flied to Cebu from Davao with my family and friend. After arriving at Mactan Int'l Airport we took an airport cab going to Cebu City. Just a tip, the white taxis at the airport, are cheaper compared to the airport taxis as what my relative who's residing in Cebu said.


Cebu was just like Manila, busy people with tons of tall buildings, shopping malls, restaurants, name it.. Building construction & cranes are like mushrooms, they're everywhere.  Davao just don't have such things, but still I love Davao from the bottom to the top of my heart. Anyway, enough with the cliche I know didn't visit and read this blog just for some sentimental thing for my homeland. So, continue reading below for places to visits.

Places to Visit...

These four place of interest is just so nearby. It's just a few steps away from each other. Just take a jeep going to City Hall or Sto. Niño Church

Cebu City Hall...

Nothing really much spectacular about the city Hall just "for-the-glam" and "facebook" purposes that you have a picture with Cebu's City Hall. After all, a city hall is a great part of every city; it's one of every city's land mark.

Magellan's Cross...

So, finally the thing that I was just been reading about and seeing in the internet & TV I personally seen, touch & even smelt it (LOL). Magellan's Cross was built by some Portuguese guy named Magellan who's looking for herbs & spices. The cross' shelter wasn't really that big, it's just like small mausoleum with painting in the ceiling. Once you're there, you'll be approach by many old ladies selling candles. So, your question is how to get there from city hall? Simple, if you're facing the city hall; turn around; take a few steps and tanaa! You're in the most epic cross of the Philippines.

Sto. Niño...

I don't know what's this church famous for, I just know it's famous which make it to the list of a must visit place in Cebu City. There are sure are plenty of people going to this church. If there's description I would describe this church it would be, "that's-so-spannish-era". The typical church you can find a lot in Batangas. 

Cebu City Church...

This is what I'm talking about, the elegant gold thingy.

I just named it Cebu City Church because I didn't know the church's name. This church is just next to Sto. Niño Church. Just cross the road then there it is. It was a huge church, with a very nice sculptures & figures (rebolto I mean) that are like gleaming gold. I just love the art inside the church, so elegant. 

Plaza Independencia...

getting some break after a tiring walk

After visiting those churches, we're still looking for a place to go. We've asked the folks around the church but take note, if you're going to ask for direction don't just ask anyone; be careful in asking. We've been warned by the lady selling candles and other people we've asked regarding that thing. Cebuano's sure are very concern with their visitors.

Anyway, so we're looking for this museum that lady told us but for some reason we couldn't find the museum. We've been walking under the scorching Sun then we saw this Plaza and decided to roam around. It was so hot, there's just few place of shades to protect against the heat of the Sun.

Fort San Pedro...

Good thing there's a free umbrella but not to be taken home.

While we sitting at the Plaza we've spotted that there's another Spanish-era-building  and decided to check 'em. When we're in its entrance we just discovered it's Fort San Pedro. What's Fort San Pedro? It was the Spanish's defense building against the indigenous Cebuano. You can see old, old cannons, Spanish offices, wishing well, bolo, flags, etc. This place is a very historical place. 

Cebu Countryside...

In our second to the last day of Cebu we explored the southern country side of Cebu. You shouldn't just limit yourself in the city. Discover the calm & laid back life of Cebu. Our destination for the day is Simala Church & Carcar. We took a bus bound for Bato via Ceres Liner at the southern bus terminal.

On-the-way pictures...

Old churches are everywhere in Cebu

The place I've heard from one of my favorite Visayan song

Simala Church...

Well, the pictures says it all. Simala church is just really, really amazing. I must say, it's the most amazing church I've ever been. I didn't expect that the next church we'll gonna visit would be like a castle of Hogwarts. I thought it'll just be another Spanish old church build with old stones. The church is visited by devotees from different places, it's even visited by Manny Pacquiao. You can see a lot of thank you notes from various people for their answered prayers mostly from board exam passers.

How to get there...

From the highway you can see a that says, Cebu 2nd District that would be your cue to tell the driver to drop you off and you can also spot the signage na lead you to Simala Church ( I don't have the descent photo of it that's why I didn't bother to upload it). 

Carcar City....

The famous Carcar Chicharon

Carcar City is a small city famous for its mouth-watering "chicharon" & "lechon". Just imagining it makes me feel hungry. My lil sister even said, "Can I just live in here? I love their chicharon". She sure is so in love with the chicharon. Near the bus terminal there are number of chicharon vendors in-lined. The chicharons are sold per kilo.

How to get there...

If you're from Cebu City you can take the same bus as we did at the South Terminal then ask the driver to drop you off at Carcar. Or in our case, from Simala Church we took a pedicab to the highway then took a multicab bound for Carcar. The travel time would took about 15-20mins.

Mantayupan Falls...

As we are on our way to Simala Church, I was looking at the bus window & taking pictures when I saw the sign going to Barili. Then I've remembered the Mantayupan Falls I've read when I was surfing the internet which is located at, guess where; Barili. I really did insisted to visit the falls right after Carcar, even I'm not really pretty much sure where's the falls located at Barili. We went there with no maps, no idea how far, just balls/guts. Hahaha. And I'm glad we did go there even if we didn't able to take soak & shower on the falls because of brown mode of water due to rainfall. I would recommend going there, it's a nice place but during a sunny weather.

Upper falls

Brown water, I know. Rainfall sucks, but the falls is really amazing.

How to get there...

From Carcar, you can take a multicab or bus to Barili. The multicab terminal is just near signage, fronting pharmacy; Mercury Drug I think. It'll be about 30 mins. drive before reaching the Barili proper. Then when you're in the Barili, at the Barili public market to be specific you can hire a motorcycle or "habal-habal" to take you to Mantayupan Falls. It'll just be about 5-10mins before reaching the falls. You may also want to inform the driver to fetch you at a set time or wait for you because there are no motorcyle at the falls.

Going back to Cebu City, you can take a bus to Cebu City from Barili at the bus station of course. There are airconditioned & non-airconditioned buses bound to Cebu. But if you're such an unlucky guy, that there are no more buses directly going to Cebu City you can take a double-ride bus; Barili-Carcar & Carcar-Cebu City.

So, that's it folks. Hope somehow my blog be a compass/help in your future trip to Cebu. Watch out for my next blog entry. ;)

Splash of Amihan sa Dahican, Mati City

Sleeping Dinosaur over view before reaching downtown Mati City

So, I've been hearing a lot buzz of Dahican's wave of Mati City and that made me and my gang to put Dahican in our a must-visit-place list. And after so many postponed and failed trip plans after another then finally I'm able to take my step in the Laland of Mati. I went there not only once but twice...in one week. That's why I had this VERY saturated tan (bet cha Hollywood would be so jealous with me. hahaha). Anyway, 'nuff been said let's go talk about Mati.

Laid-back Amihan sa Dahican...

Laid-back hut which its second flr. serves as a home for Amihan boys and ground flr. serves as a mini bar where you can chill and buy yourself a ice-cold beer or a bottle of nectar of god, Coke.

Somewhere in the tip of Mati City there lies a laid-back heaven called, Amihan sa Dahican; where everything is simple. No hassle, no entrance free, no corkages (yeah, I hate this too), no fancy resort; just you, the beach, the people and the Tan-giver Sun. Upon reaching the place there are only two words I can think of, free & easy. Free because as I was looking at the children playing in the waves with their skim boards it seems like they're free from all the complicated things in the city, the traffic, pollution, flood and God knows what else . They're free goofing around without minding the time just surf, wait for great waves then surf again until meal time. And for the word easy because people there live in an easy life with their tropical huts. Luxury is the very last thing I can describe the place after the word hell (coz it's a living paradise baby!).

 wacky picture with Amihan Boys 

The area was run by Amihan Boys, a skim & surfing team led by "Kuya Jun". They're the one maintaining the cleanliness of the area. Early in the morning you can see the Amihan boys busy cooking, cleaning the area and other stuff. You can also approach them if you have concern within the scope of Amihan sa Dahican. I should know, 'cause they helped me find my lost slippers.

The beach...

Clean beach shore & Cool-blue water of Amihan sa Dahican, Mati City

If you'll gonna ask me about the beach quality, I would say awesome. Amihan sa Dahican has a pretty descent stretch of  white-sand and a very cool lovely water. Though it's a open-to-public beach the area's cleanliness is really good. I would say it's one of the finest beach I've ever been so far. And another thing I love about the Amihan sa Dahican is the people. My experience would be not that fun without the very warm and accommodating people their. Though, we just knew them for a day but they certainly left us a very fun memories indeed.

Fine sand of Amihan sa Dahican, Mati City

Activities to do...

Surfing... 

This activity is one of the highlight activities in Amihan and easier than skimming...at least for me. In fact, lots of surfing enthusiasts visited Amihan for its famous waves. Don't know how to surf? You can have a surfing lesson. If you are afraid to stumbled down and being laugh at, well worry no more my friend  if there's a place where being stumbled over and over again isn't considered as embarrassing thing rather fun it's Amihan sa Dahican. You can flip with the surfing board as much as you want without someone's laughing at you. Trust me, I had my fair share of flips.

Winston (instructor) giving me words of wisdom for basic surfing

Waiting for waves

My first stand on a surfing board after a number of stumbles

If you don't really wanna stumbled-down you can just have a pic with the surf board for facebook purposes

Skimming...

If there's a very common activity in the area that is skimming. You can see lots of kiddos playing in the waves with their skim boards. This thing is harder than it looks, it gives me a hard time trying to reach the waves. But hell yeah! That was really fun, even the stumbling part.

Bayogyog of Amihan Boys showing some of his champ moves

Kids waiting for great waves

Boating...

If you're a type of person who enjoy paddling rather than standing on top of a board you can also boating. You can enjoy looking at the turquoise clear water.  If you'll gonna ask me how much is the boating, well i dunno we just had it for free 'cause we're kind a "feeling-close" with the Amihan boys.

She availed the free boat ride as well as the free planned boat flip from Winston

How to get there...

You can take a bus/van from Davao City at Ecoland Terminal bound for Mati City. It would take 4-5 hrs. for bus or 3-4 hrs. for van. The fare would range from Php 200-250.00 per way. After reaching Mati City downtown you can hire a motorcycle to take you in Amihan sa Dahican. But if you're in a private car it'll just take about 2-2.5 hrs and if you're riding a Hilux/Fuego pick up the gas would likely to cost around Php 2,000.00 round trip.

On our way in the middle of foggy Tagum way @5am

The classic jump shot picture @Welcome sign of Davao Oriental

 Signage of Amihan sa Dahican Entrance

Where to Sleep for Overnight Stay....

If you're staying overnight at Amihan sa Dahican, you can just rent a tent (good for 3-4 person) for Php 200.00. All you have to do is just approach the Amihan Boys from the hut and also don't worry if don't know how to assemble a tent they'll do it for you. 

Words to Live by...

Weekdays & Weekends

If you want a peaceful and serene beach moment at Dahican I would advise you to come on weekdays and the beach is all yours. But if you don't mind having a number of people with ya at the beach, you can come on a weekend.

Season of Waves...

The best time for to witness and experience the Jr. Tsunami waves of Amihan sa Dahican is during October-March.





Buying foodies...

Looking for some juicy meat

If you guys are planning to have some seafood as your meal for Dahican trip I would suggest to buy the fishes in Mati Public Market 'cause it's a lot more cheaper compared in Davao City. The market is located somewhere in the back of ER Mall or you can ask the folks in Mati for direction.

Buying veggies @ Mati Public Market

Cooking...

If you don't have a portable stove you can just buy some charcoal at the market and ask Amihan Boys to use their dirty kitchen. They would much willin' to be your hero in making fire, if you're kind a dummy in making fire out of charcoal like me.



Drinking & Surfing/Skimming...

Surf/Skim first before gettin' drunk because doing such thing/s under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. You gotta wait until you're sober before you can be on the board. And that's the reason  why we just spent the whole afternoon goofing at the beach with the kids 'cause we're not allowed to surf/skim due to some alcohol influence issue.


Comfort Room/Showering...

The only CR/Shower room in the place

There's just only one comfort/shower room in the area so better expect a long queue. But then again, I gotta tip for ya. You can go to the near resort called Botona and availed their shower their for free, though it'll take about 5-10mins walk. Don't worry it's an open beach you can just spot the shower near the shore; just make it quick. ;)

Photos...

Candid shot at the shore

Sunrise @ 6:00am

Epic jump shot of Dagul of Amihan Boys

Kuya Jun goofing around with us

Playin' around with Amihan boys...yes, that's me.

Night Jammin' at the Shore