WTD in Cebu: Tourist Spots

Much Ado About Nothing. Spent the weekend at home after having a busy June schedule. I missed sleeping all day, and that was exactly what I did on a rainy Saturday. Since I don't really have much activity this weekend, I'll discuss most of the known places to visit in Cebu.

Let's start of with Magellan's Cross which is found in Cebu City near the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño/Sto. Niño Church. One of the contributions of our Spaniard colonizers is bringing Christianity to the Filipinos and we have embraced it ever since. We are symbolic people and as Catholics, Filipinos also have the love for catholic artifacts. Another artifact that you may find in the area is the sculpture of the Sto. Niño which was believed to be given by Magellan to a Cebuana local and which was spared from fire during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. A church was built where the icon was found and was later promoted to a Basilica.

In my many visits to Cebu, my latest trip was actually the first time I was able to set put at the Cebu Cathedral. I have always had the idea that the Basilica was also the Cathedral. The Cathedral is found just a few blocks away from the Basilica.

Another tourist spot that is just within the area is Fort San Pedro. It is considered the smallest and oldest triangular bastion fort in the country built to protect Cebu from Muslim Invaders. Two of it side faces the sea, which is now covered by new buildings.

Review: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort, Cebu

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort is located in Sumilon Island, Cebu. It is an island resort that could be reached from their port at Oslob, Cebu. The day tour is about Php 2000 inclusive of boat transfer, use of kayaks, snorkling gears, the pool and jacuzzi, a lunch buffet and a snack. If you plan to stay overnight, it would take about Php 7500 for two people and Php 1500 additional per head.

The Island is 3 hours south of Cebu City, you just need to follow the main road. On your way to the island, you could see many site and drop by many places such as the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Simala, were thousands of devotees visit everyday to ask for their wishes. You could also stop by the Municiplaity or Carcar that specializes on chicharon (deep fried pig skin). Once you reach Oslob, take Bluewater's boat to Sumilon Island.

The people are welcoming and accomodating, although I did not enjoy the food that much since some of them were hard to chew, but still was tasty. Lunch included about 4 viands, rice, noodles, fresh fruits and dessert. The buffet is set in the beachfront, just between the beach and the lagoon.

The island has basically two beachfronts that you could swim in, however, the white sandbar, which has the finer sand, is only accessible during low tides and the water is deeper compared to the eatern beach which is very rocky.

The inifinity pool is nice located just near the pavillion overlooking the ocean, the water falls in the bottom where jacuzzis are located. But during the time we visited, the motor was down so the jacuzzis were not running.

There are many other activies in the island that you could do, such as kayaking or canoeing, snorkling, trecking and many more. You could go to the lighthouse, visit caves and grottos when trekking.

Accomodation/Room: 8/10
Food Choices: 7/10
Food Taste: 7/10
Customer Service: 10/10
Overall: 8/10

(Sumilon Island from afar)

(Infinity Pool)

(Infinity Pool)

(Lagoon for Canoeing and Kayaking)

(Lagoon for Canoeing and Kayaking)

(Eastern Dock)

(Shifting White Sandbar)

(Eastern Beach)

(Sumilon Island Map)

MANILA SALES OFFICE				CEBU SALES OFFICE
	MS. MARGIE MUNSAYAC  Director of Sales				For Reservations call us at: Maribago Bluewater Resort
Address:				Address:
	Room 1120 Cityland/Herrara Towers 98 Herera Corner Valero Streets Salcedo Village, Makati City				Maribago, Buyong Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines
Telephone:				Telephone:
	(63-32) 817-5751				(63-32) 492-0100 (63-32) 232-5411 (63-32) 232-5412 to 14
Fax:				Fax:
	(63-2) 845-0680				(63-32) 492-0128 (63-32) 492-0129 (63-32) 231-0437
Email:				Email:
	margie@bluewater.com.ph				sumilon@bluewater.com.ph
Resort Address:
	Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort Sumilon Island, Oslob Cebu 6025  Philippines Telefax No. (63) (32) 481-0801 Email Address: sumilonreservations@bluewater.com.ph URL: www.bluewater.com.ph

Review: Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort

Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort is located in Malapascua Island, Cebu. It is one of the many reosrt s you could choose from when you are going to the island. The resort itself is secluded from the main resorts in the island, giving you a more private time. The resort is proud to be the first and complete dive facility in the area having its own accomodation and restaurant.

The place is owned by a Dutch who married a local resident. They, according to the staff, are friendly and treat their staff members as family. The resort is more than 10 years old and mostly is visited by foreigners.

The rooms rates are reasonable, ranging from Php 1000 (electric fan) to Php 5000 (super deluxe). Click here for complete price list. The rooms are spacious although most of them are located behind the restaurant giving you minimal view of the ocean, but you could always stay on the hammocks that are placed on the shoreline of the place, shaded by the big coconut tress.

The food is great, not really outstanding but tastes good. There are lots of varieties you could choose from (from local delicacies around the country, to international cuisines). You could eat at the bar which is just infront on the ocean so you would be able to see a wonderful view while you eat.

The resort does have complete facilities for diving and if you are not yet certified, you could take their open water course that cost Php 17,000. There are many dive spots around the whole island and the resort takes you to the best dive spots, some spots are only available during certain times. But if you are not into diving, you could tour around the island via boat (for around Php 1350) and go snorkling (snorkling googles rented separately) where you could see sea urchins, starfishes and various types of fishes.

Customer service is outstanding. The staff are very accomodating and friendly. No complaints about their service, they are prompt and takes good care of you from beginning to end.

Accomodation/Room: 8/10
Food Choices: 10/10
Food Taste: 8/10
Customer Service: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

(Exotic Beachfront)

(The Bar/Restaurant)

(Rooms)

Malapascua Exotic Island Dive & Beach Resort
P.O. Box 1200
6000 Cebu City
Philippines

Website: http://www.malapascua.net/
Email: info@malapascua.net
Phone: (+63) 32-4370983
Fax: (+63) 32-4370984
Mobile: (+63) 917-3276689

Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malapascua Island is located on the northern part of Cebu. The island is famous for its dive spots where you could see various kinds of fishes and some sunken vehicles. Some of the fishes only come out on certain times of the day, so if you want to see them, you can wait. Each spot around the island has its own different types of sights to see. The waters are really high during high tides and really low during low tides, and you would be able to spot starfishes and sea urchins. It is more enjoyable to swim during the high tides because the water is deeper and there is not a lot of sea urchins that you can step on, although the water is a bit wavy.

(Malapascua beachfront)

If you're not into diving, or not certified to do so, one of the activities you could do in the island is to tour the island via motorcycles or locally called habal-habals. The residents of the island are honest, friendly and welcoming people. The habal-habals would go through the neighborhood and you get to see how the residents of the island live. One site to go to is the island's solar powered lighthouse that operates automatically, no one mans the place and is rarely guarded by people thus the path to the top is mostly covered by plants but still passable. Other sights include a place the locals call small beach, Pilar Pilapil's beach house, and Bantigue Cove.

(Malapascua Lighthouse)

(Other beachfronts in the island)

(Sunset at Malapascua)

Malapascua is approximately 4 hours from Cebu City, give or take.  From Cebu city, you could hire a van/car (Php 2500-3500) to take you to Maya port in Daang Bantayan, or you could also take the public bus from Cebu city that costs about Php 100. Once you get to Maya Port, you would need to take a boat ride to Malapascua, that would normally cost Php 50 each, or Php 1200 on a special trip. There are many resorts i the island that you could stay in. Below are links of some of the resorts you could choose from.

Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort

http://www.malapascua.net/

Blue Water Malapascua Beach Resort

http://www.malapascuabeachresort.com/

Hippocampus Beach Resort 

http://www.hippocampus-online.com/

Cocobana Beach Resort

http://www.cocobana.ch/

Bantigue Cove Malapascua Beach Resort & Dive Shop

http://www.bantiguecove.com/