10 Things I Love About Cebu City
By edelweiz on 26th September, 2008
My recent Cebu trip was truly memorable. I saw new places, met new people and had fun with friends. It was a short yet blissful weekend. Below I listed the 10 things I love about Cebu City in no particular order:
1. Dining Places. Cebu is the only city in the Philippines I know with dining places almost everywhere I look. May they be small eateries, burger joints, pizza parlors, ice cream houses, bars, grills, coffee shops or themed restaurants, Cebu has them all. The good thing about these dining places? They’re very affordable and the food is something to rave about.
2. Traffic. In Cebu, traffic is a minor problem. Getting to the airport or to any destination in the city, especially for people on the go, is always calculated. The chance that you end up late for your appointment is very low. It must be due to the small population which translates to less number of vehicles or the good traffic management in the city. Or both.
Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org
3. Free Wifi. Almost every establishment in the Queen City of the South has free wifi. I always get thrilled at the idea that even if I’m traveling, I can still get connected to friends and family with just a click of the mouse. Knowing that I won’t get charged for surfing the net is always a sweet surprise. Our favorite free wifi zone is Mr. Coffee-Paseo Branch located at Paseo Center, Mabolo, Cebu City.
4. People. I don’t know with you but I love Cebuanos. They always reserve a smile for everyone. May you be strangers to them or not, they always take time to smile and if you’re fortunate, they will approach you and start a conversation. They are warm and hospitable, traits that are very Pinoy.
5. Night life. Cebu is one of the cities in the country that never sleep. People here get cooler and more awesome as dusk approaches. There are hundreds of establishments that cater to people looking for a place to have a good time: hotels, restaurants, bars, bistros, KTVs, spas, clubs and even casinos. You can never go wrong with any of these places. You just have to make sure what kind of fun you’re looking for. For me, it’s always clean fun. It won’t hurt also if you’ll be aware of your surroundings. Just like in any cities in the world, Cebu may have some bad elements lurking in the corner. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
6. The North Wing, SM City Cebu. Built just a few years ago as an extension of the ubiquitous SM, the North Wing is a posh place where you can dine, stroll around and shop. It has a cool line of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and high-end shops. I find the place spacious and relaxing.
7. Beaches. I’ve only been to two (Tambuli Beach Club and the other I can’t recall now) but I have heard and read a lot of good things about Cebu beaches. Cebu waters are not as pristine as Bohol’s or Palawan’s, but they have a unique charm that draws the attention and piques the curiosity of travelers, both local and international.
8. Overlooking Sites. It’s always a great experience to view the city from above. If you will take a tour of the city by land, you’ll be amazed that Cebu has several overlooking sites that can take your breath away. Try visiting Mountain View Park, Philippine Taoist Temple, Tops and some restaurants situated on hilltops and you’ll figure out what I mean. Schedule it at night for a full effect.
9. Churches. Cebu is the first province in the Philippines that had been Christianized during the Spanish years. Given that, it’s no wonder why it has a lot of churches. The famous of them is the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City where Cebu’s patron saint is kept. Other interesting churches include Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Mt. Carmel Church and Sacred Heart Parish. I‘m a Protestant but when I’m with Edwin, I get to visit Catholic churches and hear mass. Aside from the physical structure, it feels good to see old relics and people praying to their heart’s content inside Catholic churches.
10. Food and food prices. Filipinos are arguably one of the most food loving people in the world. We simply have a penchant for anything edible. In fact, in a Filipino kitchen, nothing is ever wasted. In Cebu, you won’t go hungry. Dining places that offer good food at relatively low prices abound in the city. Visit Larsian-Fuente Branch (an open-air grill house), The Burger Joint and Port Restaurant in Lahug for examples. Get more recommendations from friends to have a good gastronomic experience that’s affordable and enjoyable at the same time.
All that and more are the things that make Cebu close to my heart. If you’re a Cebuano or a traveler who’s been to Cebu a couple of times, what keeps you coming back to the city?
1. Dining Places. Cebu is the only city in the Philippines I know with dining places almost everywhere I look. May they be small eateries, burger joints, pizza parlors, ice cream houses, bars, grills, coffee shops or themed restaurants, Cebu has them all. The good thing about these dining places? They’re very affordable and the food is something to rave about.
2. Traffic. In Cebu, traffic is a minor problem. Getting to the airport or to any destination in the city, especially for people on the go, is always calculated. The chance that you end up late for your appointment is very low. It must be due to the small population which translates to less number of vehicles or the good traffic management in the city. Or both.
3. Free Wifi. Almost every establishment in the Queen City of the South has free wifi. I always get thrilled at the idea that even if I’m traveling, I can still get connected to friends and family with just a click of the mouse. Knowing that I won’t get charged for surfing the net is always a sweet surprise. Our favorite free wifi zone is Mr. Coffee-Paseo Branch located at Paseo Center, Mabolo, Cebu City.
4. People. I don’t know with you but I love Cebuanos. They always reserve a smile for everyone. May you be strangers to them or not, they always take time to smile and if you’re fortunate, they will approach you and start a conversation. They are warm and hospitable, traits that are very Pinoy.
5. Night life. Cebu is one of the cities in the country that never sleep. People here get cooler and more awesome as dusk approaches. There are hundreds of establishments that cater to people looking for a place to have a good time: hotels, restaurants, bars, bistros, KTVs, spas, clubs and even casinos. You can never go wrong with any of these places. You just have to make sure what kind of fun you’re looking for. For me, it’s always clean fun. It won’t hurt also if you’ll be aware of your surroundings. Just like in any cities in the world, Cebu may have some bad elements lurking in the corner. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
6. The North Wing, SM City Cebu. Built just a few years ago as an extension of the ubiquitous SM, the North Wing is a posh place where you can dine, stroll around and shop. It has a cool line of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and high-end shops. I find the place spacious and relaxing.
7. Beaches. I’ve only been to two (Tambuli Beach Club and the other I can’t recall now) but I have heard and read a lot of good things about Cebu beaches. Cebu waters are not as pristine as Bohol’s or Palawan’s, but they have a unique charm that draws the attention and piques the curiosity of travelers, both local and international.
8. Overlooking Sites. It’s always a great experience to view the city from above. If you will take a tour of the city by land, you’ll be amazed that Cebu has several overlooking sites that can take your breath away. Try visiting Mountain View Park, Philippine Taoist Temple, Tops and some restaurants situated on hilltops and you’ll figure out what I mean. Schedule it at night for a full effect.
9. Churches. Cebu is the first province in the Philippines that had been Christianized during the Spanish years. Given that, it’s no wonder why it has a lot of churches. The famous of them is the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City where Cebu’s patron saint is kept. Other interesting churches include Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Mt. Carmel Church and Sacred Heart Parish. I‘m a Protestant but when I’m with Edwin, I get to visit Catholic churches and hear mass. Aside from the physical structure, it feels good to see old relics and people praying to their heart’s content inside Catholic churches.
10. Food and food prices. Filipinos are arguably one of the most food loving people in the world. We simply have a penchant for anything edible. In fact, in a Filipino kitchen, nothing is ever wasted. In Cebu, you won’t go hungry. Dining places that offer good food at relatively low prices abound in the city. Visit Larsian-Fuente Branch (an open-air grill house), The Burger Joint and Port Restaurant in Lahug for examples. Get more recommendations from friends to have a good gastronomic experience that’s affordable and enjoyable at the same time.
All that and more are the things that make Cebu close to my heart. If you’re a Cebuano or a traveler who’s been to Cebu a couple of times, what keeps you coming back to the city?
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Para palang Singapore yang Cebu, anywhere you look puro pagkain saka free wifi
kaya nagiging tambayan ang mga cafe e lol!
@manilenya: korek ka jan! hehe.
this is really great .. it really talks the best of cebu
@john: thanks for appreciating my little effort to share what i love best about cebu city.
maybe I should plan a trip down there… as long got beer and nite life, should be fun, somemore got wife, can blog as I tour…cheers!
@kennhyn: go ahead, you’re surely rebel in the experience.
I was born and halfly raised in Cebu, and I have to say – it is one of the best cities in the Philippines. You can never go wrong in Cebu – warm and happy people, nice places to visit, and great food. The best talaga!
@anonymous: yeah right. that’s why we always make it a point to visit cebu even once a year.
I <3 Cebu too! =) galing ako djan last January…
syanga, have you tried the cebu version of litson-baboy?
@metalpig: yup,the best ang Cebu lechon! malinamnam at di na kailangan ng sarsa.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post. Cebu is the best.
Based on my quick assessment and observation of the City, Cebu is Metro Manila minus the mayhem. There is road traffic and, yes it is also chaotic but it is not insane.
However, like all budding economies, the City has it's share of poverty, beggars, snatchers and prostitutes.
Cebu City isn’t Metro Manila, but that doesn’t make it a place I’d want to be spending out my holiday – with exception to the Sinulog festival of course.