THERE are plenty of regular haunts in Cebu that everyone knows about, from the five-star resorts in Mactan to the typical tourist spots in the city where everyone brings first-timers. Do yourself a favor and skip all the places where the tourists with the big hats and fanny packs and cameras around their necks hang out.
In no particular order, here’s a list of alternatives for your next visit to Cebu:
1. Zone 360 Restaurant and Bar
Beer monsters, rejoice! Ice-cold San Mig Light and Pilsen at only P40, and six bottles of ice-cold Red Horse for only P200 are specialties of this totally unpretentious casual resto-bar with good, fast service and an even better policy – if the beer’s not ice cold, it’s free!
Unlike the freezing technology for Beer Below Zero, the system for extremely cold beer here was developed by two homegrown buddies – Vincent Lazaro and Glenn Gucor – through their combined backgrounds in engineering and IT, and their genuine passion for drinking cold beer.
The bar chow is good, especially the Dynamite Roll, ham, cheese and chili pepper wrapped in spring roll wrapper. Other popular dishes include Sinigang na Lechon, maskara (deep-fried pork cheeks), and the sizzling balut, which is not for the faint of heart.
Zone 360 is at Grill Ave., Gen. Maxilom Ave. (in front of Mango Park Hotel). Call
+32 231-ZONE. Open Monday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m.
2. Second Chance
A venue for rebirth and a new beginning, Second Chance is not a place for sinners seeking redemption or a drug rehab clinic. It does, however, give new life to old leather. Bring in old shoes, wallets, bags, jackets, belts and any old leather items and pick them up in a few days distinctly restored. They can even change the flaking leatherette from your favorite pair of sandals to real leather.
Second Chance is at F. Ramos St. Call +32-2361673. Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-
7 p.m.
3. Jaime Chua’s farm
Located up in the mountains of Mawmawan, Busay, drive through the scenic trans-central highway, and follow the road to the right at the 15.5-km point (immediately after a “reduce speed” road sign), and see Jaime Chua’s gorgeous 1.7-hectare showcase of orchids, ornamental plants, water plants, birds of paradise and herbs. If you’ve reached Ayala Heights, make a U-ey, because you’ve gone too far.
Call Daisy at 0917-3245949 for inquiries.
4. Bodo’s Bamboo Bar
One of the best places to check out the amazing view of the Alcoy coastline, which has earned a reputation as the French Riviera of Cebu for its azure-blue sea, is over lunch at this German-Filipino couple-owned resort on a hill. The resort’s breezy restaurant offers panoramic views of the sea, including the neighboring island of Bohol, and serves international and Filipino dishes with the coldest beers.
Bodo’s Bamboo Bar is in Pasol, Alcoy. Call +32-4839119, 0905-3427189.
5. Pandanon Island
If you looked up the dictionary for the definition of “island paradise,” you’d find a photo of this island. Only a 45-minute pump-boat ride from Mactan – though it’s already considered part of Bohol – this 2-hectare stretch of white coral sand is the perfect place to worship the sea and sun. Bring your own volleyball, food and beer, and you can rent a hut to put your things in, and a grill to barbecue from an island cooperative. Cover is P150 a head, and proceeds go to the community of about 350 families and 2,000 people who reside on the western part of the island.
For more details, contact Getafe Councilor and Pandanon managing owner Tony Pet Ouano at 0917-6026756.
6. Kawasan Falls
Two and a half hours by car southwest of Cebu City, Kawasan Falls in Matutinao, south of Badian, is a beautiful three-tiered cascade of mountain freshwater. You have to be decently fit to explore the falls – it’s a 2-kilometer walk along a rocky, narrow path from the parking area, then about 50 uneven steps up to the waterfalls. The higher up the river valley, the more picturesque the sight and the wilder the scenery, with areas that require swimming up a gorge and scrambling up rocks. Enjoy a picnic lunch and a cool swim in the falls.
Book your trip with Alice Queblatin of Southwind Travel and Tours at +32-4172247 to 49 or at mall@southwind-online.net.
7. Unchuan farm
Officially known as Molave Wood Farms and Stables, this 38-hectare farm has practically everything – a natural spring that cascades like a small waterfall, a Japanese koi pond, a firing range and a mini-golf course. Animals include cows and carabaos, pigs with their own swimming pool, ostriches, pheasants, ducks, horses, geese, and sheep imported from Australia, which if likened to cows, are of wagyu standard.
While at the farm, grab a cone of their super fresh milk ice cream, made from cow or carabao milk, or buy their carabao cheese to bring home.
Unchuan farm is on the main road in Barili, southern Cebu. Contact Paquito Unchuan at 0917-3216545 for inquiries.
8. “40” The Band
It doesn’t matter that they’re better known as “40” The Band from way back, but are currently called Cuarenta, with only two original band members, Arnold Ang on guitar and Lyndon Banzon on bass guitar. Together with Henri Tradio and Randy Pages on guitar, Juel Zuleta on drums and Kaye Tradio on vocals, these guys are phenomenal. Catch them playing classic rock and blues covers of Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, AC/DC, Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zep at the laid-back hangout The Outpost on Nivel Hills.
To find out their schedule of gigs, call Arnold Ang at 0928-5209932.
9. Dive instructor
John Melendres
Learn to dive with Cebu’s best dive instructor who has been giving safe and fun lessons since 1998. Parents trust their young kids with John because he puts safety first, and is primarily concerned with your experience underwater, not his own. Patient and uncompromising, John is the best person to go to for your Padi Open Water license. The whole course takes a minimum of three days, and at P12,500, already includes your license, dive manuals and gear, and four dives to Mactan’s best dive spots like Nalusuan, Gilutungan, Talima, Dakit and Tingo. If you’re lucky, you’ll see great barracudas and eagle rays at Dakit, just along the shores of Mactan, or thresher sharks at Tingo, which is only a 10-minute boat ride away from Mactan.
Contact John Melendres at 0917-6218911 or at johnmelendres@gmail.com.
10. 10 Dove St.
Marisol Verallo serves amazing value-for-money meals in a tasteful, cozy 25-seater café, just outside her house. For P185, you can have your choice of salad, soup, sandwich and cake from a pretty extensive menu. For small parties, you can book the entire café and choose from well-priced set menus. Better known as the person to call for sweet treats, Marisol’s classic Chocolate Decadence cake, made from Belgian chocolates, and bite-size Harvard Squares have had a cult following for over a decade. Her newer mango creations, such as Mango Avocado Cake, Mango Ube Cake and Mango Pandan Cake, are also sublime.
10 Dove Street is in Sto. Niño Village, Banilad, Cebu City. Call +32-3460618. Open Monday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
11. Café Georg
This café is not a secret at all, and in fact, I think everybody in Cebu frequents this joint –it’s always packed for lunch and dinner, but it’s a must-stop for a meal in the city for the simple reason that the food is always consistently good and the price is right. Bunny Ludo-Alcordo has done an excellent job with the comfort-food menu, offering something for everyone. The pastas are super, especially the mushroom asparagus pasta, tomato and basil pasta, and the aglio olio, and the cakes make fighting for the last piece on the plate well worth it.
Café Georg is at Banilad. Call +32-2340887.
12. Yu residence
This private residence in Barili is a beautiful old house, which originally served as the town’s municipal hall, and is now the weekend home of the Yu family. The Old-World elegance of the house, with its well-maintained wooden staircase, antique vases, mirrors and other home accents, gives you a glimpse of what life was like for the well-to-do then.
To arrange for a tour or have a meal served at the house, contact Alice Queblatin of Southwind Travel and Tours at +32-4172247 to 49 or at mall@southwind-online.net.
13. ‘Chicharon’ and St. Catherine’s Church in Carcar
A trip to the South will lead you to Cebu’s second oldest church, Carcar church, with its twin bell towers made with Muslim-style minarets. St. Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of Carcar, is honored with a statue on church grounds. At the rotunda of the town, witness a flurry of activity with vendors selling the locally made ampaw or rice puffs, as well as the very unholy chicharon, pork rind deep-fried in boiling lard.
14. Badian Island
About two and a half hours from the city by car and an additional five minutes by boat –
or by special request, less than 30 minutes from the airport by helicopter, this island beach destination at the southwest coast of Cebu is stunningly beautiful, luxurious and ultra private. Their website describes the white sands as “whisk[ing] you out into an inspiring world between heaven and ocean,” and they are not exaggerating. The well-appointed all-suite resort offers generously large rooms with secluded balconies, and the Thalasso Pool Villa comes with a private seawater pool overlooking Badian Bay and the mountains of Cebu.
Call Badian Island Resort and Spa at +32-4751102 to 1106 or visit badianhotel.com.
15. Crocolandia
About a half-hour drive from Cebu’s city center is a well-maintained nature conservation center in Talisay, which houses birds, lizards, snakes, civets, ostriches, eagles and other rare animals, including crocodiles. The park’s most famous resident is Lapu-Lapu, a six-meter long saltwater crocodile. Watch the crowd’s reaction when the park attendants feed it whole chickens – you can see a lightbulb go on in everybody’s head with a better understanding of the sign “Do not extend your hands beyond the rails.”
Crocolandia is at Biasong, Talisay. Call +32-2731842. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
16. Montenegro Sylvannas
Indulge in this much-loved sweet treat – a light and creamy cashew pastry with butter cream filling – by the lady who has been baking them since the ’70s. Known as the best in town, Nena Montenegro’s sylvannas make excellent household snacks, party desserts or gifts at P370 for 24 pieces or P230 for 15 pieces.
To order, call +32-2322902. Pick up your order at #20 Dr. Tojong St. (just a stone’s throw away from Ayala).
17. Guitar shops
Known for its guitar-making industry, Cebu’s guitars, especially the ones from Maribago, Mactan, are considered top brass by guitar enthusiasts. Visit backyard factories in Maribago and catch guitar makers turning out quality handcrafted guitars of all sizes. One of the coolest scenes along the factories is a backpacker with a massive backpack on her back with a bottle of water on one bag pocket, and a newly bought guitar on the other side of the bag.
