Cebu has always been elusive to me since my NBCYF years. Last year, I jettisoned the idea though I had booked the trip because I was out of the country. Then last December 31, a piso fare promo from Ceb was available and I said to myself that I will go to Cebu in 2012 by hook or by crook. It also greeted the strange summer season with rains. On my travel day, the weather though was rather sunny and it was a big relief, too.
My travel buddy must have been John, but he welshed on his promise to be with me on this trip. The bright side of it was his offer of assuming responsibilty of my lodging and sky adventures at Crown Regency Hotel. Weather and lack of finances did not spoil my first trip of the year by taking a short cut via Legazpi. That was a huge savings on airfare and terminal fees. My tripod was also worthy of praise for making my photo ops possible.
Our aircraft alighted at Mactan-Cebu International Airport around 3:55 pm and I exited the terminal straight away and hailed a white taxi. I shunned the yellow cab for it is a little bit pricier. From the airport in Lapu-lapu City, I directed the driver to take me to UCCP Bradford or to Cebu Guest House along Mango Avenue. He brought me to Bradford, Jones Avenue, now Osmena Avenue, the heart of Cebu City. I was thankful that it was within striking distance to Crown Regency Hotel and Fuente Osmena point.
CENDET is the name of the guest house owned by our national church. The place was just a little inferior to a hotel, with a/c and comfy room, refectory, computer, etc. Perfect choice for me considering the points of interest to visit. Apart from that, I was accorded a 10% discount on my accommodation being a UCCP member.
Friday, my second day, was spent for the city tour and that night, the sky adventure!
Everyone was suggesting that I should take a taxi for the tour. Taxi fare in Cebu is high. No one to split with the expenses on transport, so I decided a DIY, by commuting only. It was cheap spending less than PHP 100.00 from Jones en route to Sto. Nino Basilica to Magellan Cross to Fort San Pedro ( walking distance) to Lapu-lapu Shrine and the Taoist temple round trip.
A high mass was celebrated inside and outside. Yes it was crowded. Took limited pictures inside and outside. Nothing so special in the Basilica, but few steps away was the revered Magellan Cross with highly commercialized candles sold by the chanting sellers offering hollowed prayers, I believe. I caught one chiding a tourist who remarked that the candles are sold at an exorbitant price just to gain Divine favor, so to speak.
On the other side is the Cebu City Hall. From there, I took a three minute gait going to Fort San Pedro with an entrance fee of PHP 30.00. The fort was very much alike Fort Cornwallis in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. This fort is smaller but looks better than the latter.
I then rode a jeepney to Highway, Mandaue City, transferred to another jeepney going to Lapu-lapu Shrine in Lapu-lapu City. The shrine is beautiful and well-maintained.
Beside the shrine is the must-try "SUTUKIL" of Cebu. That time my mouth was so dry and my tummy empty. There was no other restaurant available so I queried what SUTUKIL was. I have to pick any sea foods of my choice and it will be prepared and served in three cookings. "SU" for Sugba, "TU" for Tinua and "KIL" for Kinilaw/kilawin. I ordered a pink Lapu-lapu of about 600 grams plus a divisible cooking charge of PHP 160.00/kilo. It was good, but not an etraordinary one. Here you buy the experience and that is fair enough.
Beside the shrine is the must-try "SUTUKIL" of Cebu. That time my mouth was so dry and my tummy empty. There was no other restaurant available so I queried what SUTUKIL was. I have to pick any sea foods of my choice and it will be prepared and served in three cookings. "SU" for Sugba, "TU" for Tinua and "KIL" for Kinilaw/kilawin. I ordered a pink Lapu-lapu of about 600 grams plus a divisible cooking charge of PHP 160.00/kilo. It was good, but not an etraordinary one. Here you buy the experience and that is fair enough.
Past 2 pm, I headed back to Cebu City via SM City, and another jeepney ride to Lahug. My last stop was at the Chinese temples one at the threshold of Beverly Hills, then to the Taoist temple with lots of embarrassing restrictions. A guard snarled at me when I planted my tripod on the base of the staircase. Still I ventured around for photos and to relish the panoramic view of Cebu City from the elevated temple. Exhausted and sunburnt, I returned to the guest house and rested for an hour.
After freshening up, I walked going to Crown Regency Hotel Tower I. I availed of their irresistible night promo at PHP 950.00 that included two rides: Sky Walk adventure, Cebu's first and the Edge Coaster, the World's first and only ride of its kind, 4D movie and an international buffet meal at Sparkz Resto on the 36th level. Separately, each ride is priced at PHP 550.00, same is true with the 4D movie, but PHP 750.00 for the buffet meal. Yippee, great savings!
Fear assailed me at first, but it is the thought that is scary, not the actual ride. Imagine yourself hanging on the outer rim of the 37th level of the hotel for the Sky walk and on the 38th level for the Edge Coaster ride. I enjoyed the sky walk more since my guide was with me talking at length and with the catchy spectacular view of the city with steady and flickering lights. It's a 100% natural high feeling, so to speak.
The Edge Coaster ride followed next. This one's scarier. In here, I was all alone and darkness has covered the sky. Your position while seated on the Edge Coaster will all depend on how you tilt the coaster forwards or backwards in frequency. Both rides took a single revolution. A certificate was issued after each ride. The photos are unreasonably high at PHP 230.00 each. No soft copies are given away. You have to pay only the ones you like.
Two rides in a row made me hungry. I guzzled every available food on the smörgåsbord of Sparkz Resto but the number of dishes is too much for a small stomach like mine. I was glutted for sure and the best way to digest a full belly was to watch a 4D Movie, voilà, The Lost Paradise! It was my first 4D movie experience. Oh what an experience! When the elephant in the movie, sprayed water, we, too, got wet and our seats collapsed in simulation with the show. All "firsts" here. I just love it. It was indeed a memorable Friday for me.
I dropped the idea of heading out to Malapascua, Bantayan or Camotes Islands due to time constraints and traveling alone won't be fun at all. My Saturday was utilized for souvenir shopping at SM and Metro Gaisano and rounded out the day with a visit on foot at the residence of former President Sergio Osmena, then to Funte Osmena Circle where kilometer 1 from the South begins, like the Luneta.
On Sunday, rain poured, almost robbing me of the chance to worship at UCCP Bradford and there I partook the Holy Communion. Thanks to the inn-keeper who lent me her umbrella. Late breakfast ensued at Jollibee before I checked out at CENDET and the guard on duty gladly called up a taxi that ferried me back to Mactan Airport in Lapu-lapu City.
Thank you, Lord for the three day respite. Happy rainy summer everyone! :)
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