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Cebu City Dakbayan sa Sugbo Lungsod ng Cebú
—  City  —
Skyline of Cebu City.
Seal
Map of Cebu showing the location of Cebu City
Coordinates: 10°17′N 123°54′E / 10.283°N 123.9°E / 10.283; 123.9
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	Cebu (capital)
Districts	First (North) and Second (South) districts of Cebu City
Barangays/Barrios	80
Spanish colonial foundation	1565
Reincorporated city	February 24, 1937
Government
- Mayor	Tomas Osmeña
- Vice Mayor	Michael Rama
Area
- Total	291.2 km2 (112.4 sq mi)
Elevation	17.0 m (56 ft)
Population (2007)
- Total	798,809
- Density	2,743/km2 (7,104.3/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	32
Website	www.cebucity.gov.ph

Cebu City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cebú) is the capital city of Cebu and the second city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest city in the country.

The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant centre of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of about 798,809 people.

Cebu City is the centre of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City and an aquarium attraction are located.

History

A 19th-century map of Cebu City.

In the 16th century, Cebu City was an area part of the Rajahnate of Cebu with an Islamic, Hindu and Animist populations. On April 7, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon, the King of Cebu, who together with his wife and about 700 native islanders, were baptized by the Spaniards on April 14, 1521. Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippines for the crown of Spain, having been killed by Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Muslim king in Mactan Island on April 27, 1521 in the Battle of Mactan.

On April 27, 1565, Spain colonized the area with the arrival of Spanish explorers led by Miguel López de Legazpi, together with Augustinian Friar Andrés de Urdaneta, sailing from Mexico, arrived in Cebu. The Spaniards established settlements, trade flourished and renamed the city on January 1, 1571, from San Miguel (Saint Michael) to Villa del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús (Village of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). During this six year period of exploration and settlements by the Spaniards, Cebu City was the capital of the Spanish East Indies. In 1898, the city was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War. In 1901, the city was governed by the United States for a brief period, however it attained the status of a charter city in 1936 and was governed independently by Filipino politicians. Following the end of the Japanese occupation in World War II, the city gained independence from colonial rule in 1946.

Culture

Magellan's Cross Kiosk in the 1900s.

Cebu City is a significant cultural centre in the Philippines. The city's most famous landmark is Magellan's Cross. This cross, now housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the Philippines in 1521. It was encased in hollow tindalo wood in 1835 upon the order of the Augustinian Bishop Santos Gómez Marañon to prevent devotees from taking it home chip by chip. The same bishop restored the present template or kiosk, located at the present Magallanes street between the City Hall and Colegio del Santo Niño. Revered by Filipinos, the Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Christianity in the Philippines.

A few steps away from the Magellan's Cross is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Church of the Holy Child), an Augustinian church which was elevated to the rank of Basilica in 1965 during the 400th year celebrations of Christianity in the Philippines, held in Cebu. The church, which was the first to be established in the islands. It is built of hewn stone and features the country's oldest relic, the figure of the Santo Niño de Cebu (Holy Child of Cebu).

This religious event is celebrated on the islands cultural festivities known as the Sinulog festival, held every third Sunday of January which celebrates the festival of the Santo Niño, the patron saint of Cebu. The Sinulog is a dance ritual of pre-Hispanic indigenous origin. The dancer moves two steps forward and one step backward to the rhythmic sound of drums. This movement resembles somewhat the current (sulog) of the river. Thus, the Cebuanos called it Sinulog.

Procession during the Feast Day of the Santo Niño.

When the Spaniards arrived in Cebu, the Italian chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, sailing under convoy with the Magellan expedition, offered, as a baptismal gift, to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon and later named Juana, the figure of the Santo Niño. The natives likewise honored the Santo Niño de Cebu in their indigenous Sinulog ritual. The Sinulog ritual was preserved but limited to honoring the Santo Niño. Once the Santo Niño church was built in the 1500s, the Christian Malay people started performing the Sinulog ritual in front of the church, the devotees offering candles and indigenous dancers shouting "Viva Pit Señor!" (Hail Mister).

In the 1980s and 2000s, the city authorities of Cebu made the Sinulog Festival part and parcel of the religious feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú to its cultural event.

Government

Cebu provincial capitol building.

Cebu City is an independent and chartered city. Registered voters of the city cannot vote for provincial candidates unlike its nearby counterparts (Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay cities) that form part of Metro Cebu. It is the capital of the province mainly because the provincial capitol is located in it. There were proposals however during the time of Governor Emilio Mario Osmeña to establish an "administrative district" that would be independent from Cebu City. This would literally mean carving out Cebu City's Barangay Capitol where the provincial capitol and other provincial offices are located. The plan however didn't push through and was even followed by other proposals like the transfer of the capital to Balamban.

Cebu City is governed mainly by a city hall, composed of one mayor, one vice-mayor and sixteen councilors (eight representing the northern and eight representing the southern region). Each official is elected publicly to a three year term. The chief of the Association of Barangay Captains and the President of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation also managed in the city council. The day to day administration of the city is handled by a city administrator.

Tomas Osmeña is the mayor of Cebu City. He was elected in 1988 and re-elected in the 2004 Philippine elections. Michael Rama is the vice mayor.^[1][2]

Economy

Cebu City considered as one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines. About 80 percent of the island vessels operating in the country are also based there. Recently, the entry of business process outsourcing (BPO) firms such as call centres have contributed much to the growth of the local economy.

Geography

Cebu City has a land area of 291.2 square kilometres and about 55.9 square kilometres is classified as urban, while 235.2 square kilometres is classified as rural, although all barangays are classified as urban. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City is located. Further east across the Cebu Strait is the Island of Bohol.

The city is politically subdivided into 80 barangays or barrios. These are grouped into two congressional districts, with 46 barangays or barrios in the northern district and 34 barangays or barrios in the southern district.

Barangays

Cebu City is politically subdivided into 80 barangays.

Infrastructure

Mactan-Cebu International Airport

The Cebu Metropolitan Area has all the necessary infrastructures sufficient enough for its pace of urbanization. The city is readily accessible by air via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport located in Lapu-Lapu City which has direct international flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China, Palau, Malaysia, Taiwan, Qatar, South Korea and other domestic destinations. There are many international and cargo airlines flying to Cebu, such as Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Jeju Air, China Southern Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and FedEx, 2GO, Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines respectively. There are also direct transfer flights via the capital's Ninoy Aquino International Airport that readily connects the city to other destinations in the world. The city mostly gets its power from an interconnection grid with the Leyte Geothermal Power Plant which also powers the majority of the Visayas Islands. There are also coal-fired power plants though these have been controversial due to its impact to the environment. Another coal-fired power plant is nearing completion and is envisioned to make the city independent from the interconnection grid once completed. Distribution of electricity is provided by the Visayas Electric Company (VECO).

The city is served by a domestic and international port which are handled by the Cebu Port Authority. Much of the city's waterfront is actually occupied by the port with around 3.5 kilometres of berthing space. The domestic port readily gives access to nearby islands and provinces. The city's central location makes it an ideal shipping hub. It is also home to more than 80% of the country's island vessels traveling in domestic routes mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao.

A skyline view in Cebu Business Park.

The South Road Properties (SRP)is a 300-hectare prime property development project on a reclaimed land located a few metres off the coast of Cebu's central business district. It is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC).^[3] Traversing the property is a 12 kilometres, four-lane highway known as the Cebu Coastal Road that provides the motorists with a good view of Cebu's south coast and the nearby island of Bohol.

Telecommunication facilities, broadband and wireless internet connections are available and are provided by some of the country's largest telecommunication companies.

In the 1990s the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill was constructed to ease garbage disposal within the city. It is however nearing its lifespan although the Provincial Government is planning to build two sanitary landfills to serve both the northern and southern parts of Metro Cebu including Cebu City. In June 2005, the city fully implemented the segregation of wastes as mandated by law.

Mass transportation throughout the city and the metropolitan itself is provided by jeepneys, buses and taxis. There were previous plans of setting up a mass railway system but it was deemed not feasible as of the moment due to the high construction cost that it will entail and the uncertainty of making the routes profitable.

Education

University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

University of San José Recoletos in Cebu City.

Cebu Normal University in Osmeña Boulevard.

Cebu City is one of three centres of education in the country, the other is being the Manila Metropolitan Area and Metropolitan Davao. It currently has nine large universities each with a number of college branches throughout the city and more than a dozen other schools specializing in various courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Nautical courses, Nursing, Law, Computer and IT and among others.

Among these schools is the oldest educational institution in the Philippines, the University of San Carlos. It has four colleges around the metropolitan area. Before gaining university status, it was originally called Colegio de San Ildefonso and was established in 1595 by the Jesuits. It is currently headed by the Society of the Divine Word.

The University of the Philippines, Visayas, located at Camputhaw in the district of Lahug in Cebu City currently has 8 courses and has plans of expansion and development.

Another catholic university in Cebu City is the University of San José - Recoletos which was established in 1947. It is currently headed by the Augustinian Recollects and has 2 different campuses within the city excluding a new campus outside the city located in the Municipality of Balamban.

Cebu Normal University was established in 1915 as a provincial normal school, a branch of the Philippine Normal School. It became an independent institution in 1924, a chartered college in 1976 and a university in 1998. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in Cebu City.

The Cebu Institute of Medicine is one of the five recognized Centers of Excellence in the Philippines, and recently adopted the Problem Based Learning (PBL) Method. Its over-all passing percentage in the Philippine Medical Board Examination is 95.37% from 1994-1998 and 100% in the August 2007 Examination.

One of the newest universities which is the Cebu Doctors' University (formerly Cebu Doctors' College) was granted university status on November 2004. It is the only school in the Philippines declared as a university without having basic education (pre-school - high school) curriculum and catering mainly to courses related to the health services field. It has just recently relocated to a nine-storey main building at the Cebu Boardwalk in neighboring Mandaue City thus closing its old campus near the then Cebu Doctors' Hospital (now Cebu Doctors' University Hospital).

The University of Cebu in Banilad opened in June 2002, first had a modern eight-storey building. With the projected increase in enrollment in SY 2004-2005, a nine-storey building was constructed in the same area. This is one of the colleges that the University of Cebu have. The University of Cebu's main college offers a variety of courses such as Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), HRM, Computer Engineering, BSED and others.

The Asian College of Technology, established in 1988 as the Asian Institute of Technology, is known for its best computer training. It has two campuses in the city, one located in Bulacao and the other along P. del Rosario St.

Also located in the city is the University of the Visayas (the first-ever university in the city and in the entire province) and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation in Lahug and Mabini.

Other noteworthy institutions in the city includes Velez College, Southwestern University and the Cebu Institute of Technology.

Many foreign students also travel to Cebu City to study. Most of them are Iranians and Nepalese who are studying medical courses. In recent years, many Koreans have come to Cebu to study English.

Cebu City has 68 public elementary schools, 23 national high schools and 28 night high schools. These night high schools are operated by the city government.

Tourism

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, site of the 1998 ASEAN Tourism Forum.

Tourism continues to contribute much to the city's economy, not just of the city itself, but to the entire province. Because of this, the city hosted the 1998 ASEAN Tourism Forum. The city also hosted the East Asian Tourism Forum on August 2002, in which the province of Cebu is a member and signatory.

On early 2007, Cebu Plaza hotel was formally reopened under a new name, Marco Polo Plaza, after more than two years of closure. The hotel complex was formerly occupied by Cebu Plaza which was the first deluxe hotel in the province. It opened in the early 1980s and was viewed by some as a symbol of the province's economic growth.

There are a number of significant Spanish colonial buildings in Cebu City, including the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo Museum and Magellan's Cross.^[4]

There are a number of shopping centres in the city, the most popular of which are the SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, Robinsons Plaza and Gaisano Malls. There are also other smaller shopping centres and stand-alone department stores. Throughout the years however, the establishment of large shopping centres offers some sort of a town centre environment which have become popular. Recent development and expansion of existing shopping centres have also given the shoppers a new variety of choices in the city such as SM Cebu's "Northwing", a multi-level annex building with multilevel parking and Ayala Center Cebu's "Leisure Oasis", a development that consists of redefining Cebu's shopping experience through the newly re-designed Ayala Shopping complex. There is also the Carbon Market, a farmer's market in the city.

Away from the city, is the Cebu Taoist Temple, a Buddist temple situated in Beverly Hills. The Taoist Temple gives a commanding view of Cebu City and the nearby cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. Views of Cebu City can also be seen from villages and gated communities located on the mountains.

The Cebu Reggae Festival is a popular Filipino Reggae and Roots music festival, it now has become one of the Philippines's largest annual Reggae Festivals, in Cebu City. The city also has a sport institution, the Cebu City Sports Complex which exhibits sporting and festival events.

Sister Cities

References

External links

• Republic of the Philippines: Cebu City Government Official website
• Cebu Provincial Capitol - Cebu City, Cebu Philippines

Coordinates: 10°17′0″N 123°54′0″E / 10.283333°N 123.9°E / 10.283333; 123.9

From Wikitravel

Cebu is a city on Cebu Island in the Philippines. It is known as the Queen City of the South. It is one of the most popular destinations in all of the Philippines for foreign tourists. It is the largest sea port in the nation, the second largest Air hub and the second largest city in the country. It is the fastest growing large city in the nation with an annual growth of over 5% per year.

The new skyline of Cebu, as modern hotels, offices and malls replace old run down buildings.

Interest

Cebu is a booming metropolitan area with all the conveniences of a modern city. At the same time, it boasts of natural resources like countless of white sand beaches (both commercial and untouched), as well as historical sites that reflect its cosmopolitan past: from the birth of Christianity in Asia, to early commercial trade with Mexico and China, to vestiges of the American colonization of the Philippines. (see historical places below)

You must have an ongoing flight ticket or a visa in your passport when flying to the Philippines as your carrier will not allow you to board without one. In practice, this may not actually be true.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA: CEB) (ICAO: RPVM), [1]. This international and domestic airport is a modern alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. There are numerous direct daily flights to and from Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and scheduled flights to Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. Aside from this, the airport serves several seasonal charter flights to Russia, China, the United States, and other nations.

Mactan Cebu International is also the main domestic hub outside Manila with a variety of flights around the Philippine archipelago such as Manila, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Clark (just near Angeles City), Siargao (Surigao), Zamboanga, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Camiguin, General Santos, and Tacloban, among others.

Passport control and baggage handling is fairly fast and efficient. The airport is on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu city. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the actual city of Cebu. From the Airport you will need to hire a taxi. If you are staying at one of the nicer hotels they usually can send a free van to pick you up at airport. If you forgot to ask for this you may find that the van of your hotel is there to pick someone else up and you can hitch a ride if there is room. Facilities and amenities at the airport include a shopping center, duty-free shop, souvenir shops, cafés, business centers, food shops, communication facilities, banking facilities, car rentals, hotel and resort reservations, and beauty and health services.

Visitors from North America, Europe, Middle East, and the rest of the world may fly first to Singapore or Hong Kong or Seoul or Kuala Lumpur or Doha to catch a flight to Cebu. If you don't mind braving the horrendous traffic and the cacophonic noise of Manila, you will get a faster connection to Cebu, for there are more than 20 flights daily between the two cities or almost two flights every hour. There are also flights to Cebu from Clark International airport, from which there are further flights on discount airlines to Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore and other points.

The cheapest airlines to travel on are Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, South East Asia Airlines (SEAir) and ZestAir. Other airlines that service Cebu include SilkAir.

By boat

Cebu City's domestic port is the country's busiest. Cebu City is home to almost 80 percent of the country's passenger vessels. The country's largest shipping lines, namely WG&A, Sulpicio Lines, Trans-Asia, George & Peter Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Lines, are headquartered in Cebu.

Large passenger ferries with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 passengers ply the more distant routes such as Manila, Davao, Butuan City, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. Medium-sized vessels such as the roll-on/roll-off (roro) types ply nearer destinations while fast ferries transport passengers to and from neighboring islands in two hours or less depending on the destination.

Get around

The simplest way to get around is by hopping on a taxi. Almost all of the taxis that you will find in Cebu are metered taxis. A typical trip can cost about 60-70PhP or slightly more than a U.S. dollar if one goes by the meter. Currently, flag down rate is at 30PhP and 2.50PhP per succeeding 200 meters and 2.50PhP per waiting time of two minutes. Drivers however may bargain if they notice that you are a tourist, hence the cost of the trip may double in price. However, you have the option not to agree and may report such to local authorities. If you know the name of the building, establishment, area or street you wish you reach, this is still the fastest way to get to your destination. Most drivers know where almost everything is. If they don't, then simply flag down another one. If the driver is pleasant then it is nice to pay 10-20 pesos extra for nice service and a bit more if he loads or unloads your bags. Most drivers do not have, or will tell you they do not have change, so be ready with 50's and 20's if you are going on short trips.

It is best to avoid the "Private" taxis. They take advantage of tourists and they charge 5-10 times the price that should be paid. You will find these taxis at the some of the nicer hotels, they are called "Hotel" taxis and are usually owned by the hotel to make extra money, they will charge you 500 for something that should cost 60. Some hotels make it very hard for other taxis to pick you up at their hotel and you may need to walk outside to save money. Another place that uses private taxis is the airport. The arrivals terminal only allows taxis that have a special airport permit that costs thousands of pesos per month, but these taxis get to charge you a much higher price. If you want to avoid them simply ask a porter for help and ask for a metered taxi, you go up a ramp and there are a large number of metered taxis waiting for you. You can also wend your way upstairs to departures where there are lots of metered taxis dropping off. Fare down town to Ayala or SM Malls should be around 150 pesos on the meter. You may be told "500" by the driver. Just grab the door handle and say "what, you don't have a meter?" Don't travel unless the meter is used.

Alternatively, if you opt for more adventure, then do as the locals and catch a colorful jeepney. Simply ask around for which route to take. They are available 24 hours and cover most of the nooks and crannies of the city. Airport to Lapu Lapu City (LLC) costs about 7 pesos while across the bridge to Mandaue or Cebu City costs more than 10 pesos.

Buses are also available but these tend to ply exclusively along the north-south route.

An empty Basilica del Santo Niño.

There are historical and famous places in Cebu City you must see.

• Basilica of Santo Niño (Basilica del Santo Niño (Basilica of the Holy Child)), Osmeña Boulevard, ☎ +63.32.2556697, [2]. A large and venerable church that traces its history to the founding of the convent of the Santo Niño de Cebu in 1565. It contains a statue of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) that regarded as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. The statue was presented by Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana during the baptism of King Humabon and his wife Queen Juana on April 14, 1521. The natives of Cebu were formally Christianized by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Father Andres de Urdaneta on April 27, 1565. However, as they found the natives hostile, the village was set on fire. Later on, in a burnt-out house, a soldier named Juan Camus found the statue untouched. This was proclaimed a miracle. The statue, adorned with gold and precious stones, is in a glass case to the left of the altar. The church sees a constant stream of devotees praying at pews in the sanctuary and in front of statues of saints. The Basilica del Santo Niño Museum (open Tue-Sun 08:00-11:45, 13:30-16:45) contains the vestments used to dress the Santo Niño and jewellery offered to the Santo Niño for use during his feast on the third Sunday of January. Free.  edit
• Casa Gorordo Museum, 35 Lopez Jaena Street, ☎ +63.32.2555630 (chp@rafi.org.ph, fax: +63.32.2555630), [3]. Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00. A well-preserved Spanish colonial mansion constructed largely of wood, set in a pleasant, manicured garden. The lower floor has a collection of old tools, and an air-conditioned room that has changing displays such as art exhibitions. The more interesting upstairs level was the former living quarters of the Gorordo family. It features lovely carved wooden furniture and a wide patio. The kitchen is particularly interesting, as it contains a traditional dirt stove, a wooden food safe, and a traditional dish drying rack fitted to the outside of the window. Adults: 70 PhP.  edit
• Cebu Parkmall and Cebu International Convention Center
• Cebu Provincial Museum (Museo Sugbo), (a short taxi ride from Fort San Pedro). The museum is housed in the former Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, but don't worry as its interior is newly renovated. It contains artefacts relating to the history of Cebu. Unfortunately it is in a rather unlikely location; not many tourists visit the area as it is largely undeveloped with overrun buildings nearby. Nonetheless, it is only a short taxi ride from Fort San Pedro.  edit
• Colon Street. Brave the cacophanous traffic to see the oldest street in the Philippines with some nice worn-out classical buildings dating back to the American Era. At night, this street transforms into a market with good buys everywhere. Be wary of pickpockets though.  edit
• Fort San Pedro (Fuerza de San Pedro). The smallest Spanish outpost in the Philippines during the colonial era. It has a small museum showcasing the wreckage and treasures from the sunken San Diego galleon from Mexico. The area, which used to be scenic, is unusually chaotic due to the construction of the subway section of the coastal road linking Southern Cebu to the North Reclamation Area.  edit
• Fort Santiago
• Fuente Osmeña
• Heritage of Cebu, (eastern end of Colon Street). A massive and particularly detailed monument showcasing the heritage of Cebu from the old Spanish to the American colonial era.  edit
• Lapu-Lapu Monument, Lapu-Lapu, Mactan Island. Lapu-Lapu was a local hero who fought and killed Ferdinand Magellan during the historic Mactan Landing in 1521. A small marker to Magellan is nearby. A few minutes' walk away is Shangri-La Mactan Hotel Resort and Spa, which is a tourist spot in its own right. The compound is a large park where visitors (even if they don't stay in the hotel) can roam the huge reception and its environs. Check out the beach, the chapel, the spa and the various restaurants.  edit
• Life-size statues of popes, Stations of the Cross and Mysteries of the Holy Rosary in Danao City.
• Magellan's Cross, Plaza Sugbo, off Magallanes Street (between the Colegio de Santo Niño (south of the Basilica of Santo Niño) and Cebu City Hall - if you approach the Basilica from Osmeña Boulevard, walk through the courtyard of the Basilica and the Colegio to reach the Plaza). An octagonal building decorated with murals containing a large wooden cross that commemorates the Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan who planted a wooden cross upon converting the original inhabitants to Christianity. A plaque states that the visible wooden cross contains the original cross, but some historians say the original cross was reduced to firewood by local inhabitants when the Magellan fleet headed elsewhere. Take time to appreciate the various candle sellers who dance around during worship and while selling the candles.  edit
• Mount Manghilaw
• Santa Rosa Falls
• Taoist Temple. Visit the temple for a unique look at the island's Chinese heritage. The Chinese make up a significant part of the population, with much of the locals having full, half or part Chinese ancestry.  edit
• Tops Skyline Garden

Do

Witness the Amazing Filipino Culture - What would a vacation be without seeing the Culture. Get the " True Philippine Experience " at Cebu's Famous Cultural Center. Witness Filipino Native Foods, Decorations, Building, Arts and Crafts, Cultural Dances from all Three Regions of the Philippines. See traditional dress, costumes. See artifacts and witness traditional Filipino living, homes, cooking, guitar making, attire. See the history, culture, traditions, and talent that has made the Filipino people survive for many years. Eat watch the show, have fun, drink, and meet the talented and friendly people of the Philippines. More info at http://thejunglerestaurant.weebly.com

• Cebu City is well known for two spacious and modern malls outside Manila. SM City Cebu and the Ayala Center Cebu are the most famous and luxurious shopping centers at the heart of the city. Boutique shops, mini-malls, themed malls, fine and alfresco dining include ParkMall, Banilad Town Center, among others.

• Fuente Rotunda is an especially scenic spot at nights. Many locals hangout here inside the park premises near the fountain. A variety of shops, fastfood chains, a mall, eateries, and restaurants surround the area. Be sure to bring a camera to take a shot where the old style province meets the vibrant and sophisticated urban lifestyle.

• Fuenta Rotunda is the arguably the center of the city with roads stretching out into different parts of the city. One road leads to General Maxilom Avenue, where most of the Cebu night life exists. Disco bars, coffee shops, comedy bars line this busy avenue with bars opening at around 8PM. They usually close when the last customer leaves.

• Another stretch from Fuenta Rotunda is the Osmena Blvd. With bars, restaurants, and coffeeshops leading all the way to the Provincial Capitol, which is particularly scenic at night. The Provincial Capitol is by far the largest provincial Capitol building anywhere in the entire archipelago. Its original design is a miniature of the White House and was built during the American Era.

• Just in one of the roads near Fuenta is Larsian Barbeque. The locals here love and eat and the barbeque in this place is one of the best and the cheapest around the city. The barbeque portions are small so you have enough space to store dessert. Try various kinds of barbequed local delicacies not for the faint of heart: innards, coagulated blood, squid, hotdogs aside from the usual pork and chicken varieties.

• Head to Ice Castle, one of the local favorite Halo-halo shops. Halo Halo is a local desert that comes from the Filipino word 'halo' which means 'mix'. With shaved ice, ube (purple yam), leche flan (creme caramel), corn kernels, corn flakes, gelatin, shaved coconuts and practically anything are mixed together and topped with a scoop of ice cream or more.

• Just adjacent Robinson's Mall is the Crown Regency Cebu which is the tallest building in the city. Adventure seekers may head to the top floor to experience a breathtaking view of this modern city and its environs. You may also opt to join in the Xtreme Rides that literally puts you on the edge of the city, or you may walk around the edge of the building (don't worry, safety cables are attached) to experience this once in a lifetime experience. All of these you can enjoy for a small fee.

• Go to Tops, which literally sits at the top of the Mt Busay for an unobstructed view of the entire city at night. A few shops and restaurants stand along the way for a short stop. While you can hire a taxi for a whopping 500+ pesos, the best way to experience Tops is by mountain bike. This is a world class climb and on any given day, cebu's bikers are humping the 45 minute to 1 hr trek filled with switchbacks and views better than you see actually at the very top. Ask your hotel where you can rent a mountain bike. They will have to ask around a bit, but it's worth it.

• Waterfront Hotel Lahug/Mactan Airport is a five star hotel with a very notable castle-like structure that dwarfs the city. It has several boutique shops, award winning restaurants all aptly priced for a five hotel. It also has a Duty Free Boutique Shop and a Duty Free Grocery and Appliance Center, quite similar to the one at SM Northwing but with a more classy ambiance. It also houses a branch of Casino Filipino where you can gamble your life away.

• Head to Cebu's old quarters in Carlock Street and try riding a horse drawn carriage called a tartanilla. Remember to negotiate with the driver before taking a ride.

• The island gets especially busy on the third Sunday of January due to the Sinulog Festival. It is the local way of honouring the Child Jesus. Main thoroughfares around the city are blocked for an all-day and all-night loud and colourful street party. Don't forget your dancing shoes!

• Try riding in the most colorful and most popular mode of transportation in the country: the jeepney. Unlike in Metro Manila, Cebu jeepneys are far more colourful with drivers having a little more respect to their passengers. (They simply don't start driving until all passengers have either seated or disembarked completely. Manila jeeps tend to run even if your one foot is still on the street.) Cebu jeeps also have numbers or route numbers, unlike in Manila. You won't have to read every jeep's routes if you have seen their numbers. Fares start at P7.00; or 12 US cents.

• The Marcelo Fernan Bridge or Second Mactan Bridge offers some interesting views of the city at night, and is even picturesque from below. Arrange for a taxi to take you there.

• Spend a day at paradise in one of Mactan's numerous beaches, or Olango Wildlife Sanctuary which is just a short boat ride away. (Well, it might not be a good idea to go there if Avian Flu measures are in force.) Actually, one would be hard-pressed to call any beach in Mactan a "paradise"...that is unless you enjoy fenced off, for-pay, mostly man-made muddy swim holes. Two ironies are at work on Mactan. Number #1: If you really like beaches, you are only about 90 minutes from great beaches , world class beaches...like the ones you see on postcards from the philippines, so why are you not there? Number #2: most people who enjoy Mactan absolutely hate the sun and water...and instead are somehow living it up on someone else's dime, bought a package deal back in korea without knowing any better, or are cebu city workers who take some pleasure telling co-workers and friends they were at the so and so 3 star hotel for the weekend...with plenty of cellphone shots to prove it.

• Try visiting Crocolandia for witnessing different sizes of crocodiles, snakes, deers and birds. In order to get there, you'll have to ride a jeepney that travels to Talisay (Php12.00 from City Link to Talisay). Just ask the driver if he/she is familiar with Crocolandia, usually you will be dropped at the Eskenita. From there you have to ride a "trisikad" where its fare would cost you only Php5.00. The entrance fee of Crocolandia is only Php80.00

Buy

Cebu City has many shopping malls - the biggest being SM City Cebu, which is a four-level shopping mall with a huge department store, supermarket, movie theater and over 200 shops and restaurants. A more upscale shopping mall is the Ayala Mall, it also has a large department store, two supermarkets and a movie theater, and it offers more restaurants and stores that appeal to tourists. These are modern buildings with lots of western goods in addition to local stores. There are other, older and smaller malls dotted all over the city, such as Country Mall, Robinson's Mall, e-Mall, Mango Square and Cebu Parkmall. In addition to this there are many stores and places to stop. One nice place is the Colon part of the Old Downtown.

If you need to fix something there are hardware stores in all of the malls. Cebu Home and Builders Center along AS Fortuna-Mandaue, Mactan (near old bridge) and Cebu Parkmall is the home depot style that carries the most complete line for finishing and building materials. There is a large warehouse store called Makro, located near SM that offers good prices on goods in bulk. Another great place to buy household goods on the cheap is White Gold, also near SM. For furniture the two best places to go is Sun Gold and Mandaue Foam, just remember to ask for at least 10-20% off the price. If you want to buy groceries just like you would get at home the two supermarkets located in Ayala Mall are by far the best choice. You may opt for SM Supermarket in SM City or for best value go to SaveMore Supermarket in Mactan Marina Mall, e-mall and it's largest branch in VisMin at Cebu Parkmall.

• Fully Booked, Level 2, The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park, ☎ +63.32.4171007, 4171400 (fb_cebu@fullybookedonline.com), [4]. A modern Borders-like bookshop with a good selection of imported fiction and non-fiction books, and a smaller collection of books about the Philippines. There is an in-shop cafe.  edit
• National Book Store, AYALA CENTER: Second Level, Ayala Center Cebu, Archbishop Reyes Avenue; MANGO CEBU: Ground Floor, Mango Plaza, General Maxilom Avenue (corner with J. Osmeña Street); SM CITY CEBU: Upper Ground Floor, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, ☎ AYALA CENTER: +63.32.2314006, 2314090; MANGO CENTER: +63.32.2554832, 2554644; SM CITY CEBU: +63.32.2315496, 2315498 (info@nationalbookstore.com.ph, fax: AYALA CENTER: +63.32.231.3858; MANGO CENTER: +63.32.2547334; SM CITY CEBU: +63.32.2315497), [5]. AYALA CENTER and SM CITY CEBU: 10:00-21:00; MANGO CENTER: Mon-Sat 09:00-20:00, Sun 09:00-19:00. Visit this chain of bookshops located in Ayala Center Cebu, Mango Cebu and SM City Cebu for good deals on local and foreign books, academic texts and stationery.  edit

Eat

The great thing about Cebu is that, while being an island paradise, on the one hand, it's also a sophisticated city, with a wide range of pretty decent restaurants to choose from.

Cebu has Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Continental, Fusion, and of course local Restaurants. It also has International Cuisine like American, Spanish, Thai and Indian. For tourists the two best areas to find great restaurants are Ayala Mall and IT Park. Ayala Center Cebu recently opened a modern extension called The Terraces with an abundance of food choices adjacent to Marriott Hotel. It also has two grocery stores with large sections of food imported from the rest of the world. The IT Park has over 20 great restaurants and most of them are open 24 hours a day. Both of these eating areas offer free Wi-Fi.

On the other hand, SM City Cebu also opened an extension to the main mall called SM Northwing with more than 10 choices of local and international cuisines waiting to be discovered.

Street-food abounds in Cebu and is amazingly cheap. You can buy all sorts of Philippine delicacies from the many street stalls scattered around Cebu City. Traditional Marinated Sweet Pork or Chicken Barbeque on sticks is a must-try, along with "Halo-Halo", a refreshing mix of grated ice, sweet beans, tropical fruits and ice cream.

• Cielo, 2nd Level, The Forum, Archbishop Reyes, 412-9887, cielocebu@gmail.com Open daily, except Mon., 11AM-2PM and 6:00PM-12:00AM. Lounge is open till sunrise on weekends. Cielo is an authentic Italian Restaurant with a contemporary bar and lounge, the interior and music is quite reminiscent of NY City. Specialties include gourmet pizzas, pasta, osso buco, scallopini ala marsala and traditional Italian desserts such as bread pudding, panna cotta, tartufo.

• The Jungle Restaurant and Entertainment -Mactan Island - Native Filipino Style Foods, served in a Native basket with a banana leaf. International foods also available, Japanese, Korean, European, Western. Plus the Filipino / International Cultural Show which comes with your meal. Enjoy a great meal and watch dances from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, India, Hawaii. Plus the best is the FIRE DANCERS. For more info and pictures and video please visit [6]

• La Buona Forchetta da Paolo Ristorante Pizzeria at the Advent Business Center (139 Acacia St, Kamputhaw) is popular among foreign residents for offering authentic Italian cuisine at reasonable prices. Equally noteworthy Italian restaurants are La Tegola (with outlets in Busay and Banilad) and Brescia (Salinas Drive, Lahug), which also has a wide range of imported wines.

• Se Bens Authentic Cebu Lechon / Bens Lechon We accept orders for Manila, Aviation Approved Packing. Please Call 09173232888, 032-4204320 for your Orders. Popular for its Native Cebu Lechon has branches in Savemore in Mactan Marina Mall, Airport Road Going to the Cebu International Airport Opens Daily and in Savemore at Parkmall Mandaue. And its newly open Lechon and Grille located across SM City Cebu on the Cebu Famous STK Food Street offers Su Tu Kil "STK" Sugba Tuwa and Kinilaw, offering Sinugbang Panga, tuna belly, squid and the famous Bisaya Chicken, we has of our Pochero or Bulalo, Caldertang Kambing along with other Filipino dishes for locals, local tourists and foreign tourists. Everyone is welcomed to enjoy the Filipino Foods together with Cebuano Hospitality to complete your visit to Cebu. Please call for directions and reservations at 032 4129799 or email to sebenslechon@gmail.com. See Yeah!!!

• Golden Cowrie in Salinas Drive and SM Mall are without doubt the best native food in the city at reasonable price.

• Giuseppe's in Marie Luisa Drive, Banilad has the best authentic pizza in the province. The rest of the menu at this excellent Italian restaurant is good if not a little expensive.

• Gustavian's near Giuseppe's for steaks, euro-continental, and a pub theme. Also in Ayala terraces. Pretty good deli too.

• Spice Fusion in Banilad Town Centre and a new branch in SM offer a wide selection of SE Asian food. Possibly the most satisfying restaurant in town. Hard to find a bad dish on the entire menu

• Yakiniku at the end of Crossroads mall in Lahug. Like korean style table dining with charcoal and highest quality meat? This is the place.

• Hola Espanol for that perfect Spanish cuisine while in the Philippines. Try their Paella Negra, and other paella varieties.

• CNT Lechon for the authentic and the best Cebu Lechon (roast suckling pig). Their restaurant branch is alfresco and is located outside SM City Cebu. Remember what Filipinos say all the time: The best lechon is from Cebu. The best lechon in Cebu is from CNT. So this is simply the best of the best! It is also possible to bring back some piece (or whole!) of the finest lechon to friends and family as far as Hong Kong by asking the personnel to provide you a take out box for a nominal fee.

• Jo's Chicken Inato for that delectable inasal or Chicken barbeque, a local favorite.

• Alberto's Pizza, opposite Vicente Sotto Hospital in B. Rodriguez Avenue, offers a good and rather affordable locally made thin crust pizza.

• Ang Manok ni Senor Pedro specializes in Lechon Manok or roasted chicken which is a local favorite.

• Joule's chicken--in Talamban across from the blue gym. No markings at all, look for the smoke on your left and motorbikes on your right, and long lines at the window. There are thousands of places in Cebu to get roast chicken (lechon manok), but Joule's is by far the best. Secret is the stuffing of garlic, lemongrass, and spring onion, the well seasoned salty skin, and the crispiness you can only find in a place that does the volume Joule's does everyday. One of a kind place. Take it to go and you will never buy chicken anyplace else.

• Chika-an, Cafe Laguna, Lighthouse Restaurant, Gerry's Grill, La Mesa Grill have quite similar themes: Filipino cuisine, with varying budget levels. The first three being quite pricey but good; the other two being priced like almost all usual restaurants.

• TGIF: in Ayala terraces. Yes its the American chain that started humbly on 1st avenue and 64th street and went all the way around the world. For whatever reason, it is nearly impossible to get an edible burger in all of Cebu. Locals see burgers as snacks, not meals...true, but why can you get them in Subic or Manila? Anyway, unless you make your own burgers at home, Friday's seems like the best place to get a burger in town given its pedigree. But beware, for the first few weeks of their grand opening, it was the real thing, that is, US beef that actually held shape and could be cooked to order. As soon as things got stabilized, no pun intended, the beef quality reverted to the native style --- soft, smelly, more cardboard than meat. No wonder burgers are not popular here. Someone please save us. Shocking to live in a town where the best burger might actually be from Mcdonald's!

• Moon Cafe for that Mexican chimichangga, very well priced with a traditional Mexican ambiance. There is virtually nothing authentic about Moon's menu nor does it even come close street cart in Chicago or San francisco or Baja or Oaxaca for that matter. It is the ambiance yes, the beer tubes, and some nice touches. Don't come hungry unless you settle on the ubiquitous sizzling platters.

The more adventurous can choose from numerous franchises that offer local Cebuano fare: Goodah-Gud, Neo-Neo, Tsibogs, Ang Manok ni Senor Pedro(to name a few). The first three, Goodah-Gud, Tsibogs and Neo-Neo, have an almost identical theme - you can choose from a selection of fresh seafood and meat which can be cooked any way you like (that is, grilled, steamed, baked, etc.). A popular term for a combination of dishes is called Su-Tu-Kil, short for "sugba" (grilled), "tula" (soup-based/with broth), and "kilaw" (raw, soaked/pickled in vinegar).

• Postrio Bakery and Cafe [7] - Cebu-based bakeshop and cafe
• Red Ribbon Bakeshop [8] - Nationwide bakeshop owned by the Jollibee corporation with several outlets in Cebu
• Chedz Designer Cakes [9] - Cebu-based bakeshop specializing in designer birthday and wedding cakes
• Goldilocks [10] - Nationwide bakeshop with outlets in Cebu
• La Marea - Cebu-based bakeshops specializing in cakes
• Leonas Cakes and Pastries [11] - Cebu-based dessert and pastry shop with several outlets in Cebu. Try their Banana Walnut Cake! It's simply the best!
• Dessert Factory [12] - Dessert restaurant in Ayala Center Cebu
• Cebu La Fortuna Bakery. Try their masi, a Chinese Filipino sweet product of crush nuts and sugar wrapped in rice paste. This is their only excellent product; the others may not be worth much for a try.
• 10 Dove Street-- in the village of Santo Nino. The pwner converted a garage like structure into a cheap, sandwich bistro. Real star are her fantastic cakes, very fresh, served by the slice from old-fashioned cake platters..not Euro, not Filipino...totally homemade.

Drink

Mango Avenue and Mango Square is where the bulk of the nightlife is located. The typical venues are nightclubs, bars and KTV's. There is also a variety of strip clubs lined up on Mango Avenue leading up to Mango Square. There are also dispersed strip clubs and local-frequented bars off the beaten track. Ask a local taxi driver of their whereabouts.

Juliana's, a large dance club in Mango Square, is crowded every night of the week. A local beer will cost you only PHP45. The more expensive drinks are around PHP280. Excellent bar staff. This establishment is especially popular with young Japanese and Korean tourists

Se Bens Authentic Cebu Lechon offers the Authentic Cebu Lechon Tastes and Quality with other pulutan menus with your favorite beer along with its Native Filipino short orders such as Pochero or Bolalo on its newly open restaurant and grille. Visit Se Bens to experience the Cebuano Hospitality.

Waterfront Hotel and Casino Cebu - Gamble away your kid's college fund and drink all night in this 5-star hotel and entertainment center.

Crossroads is an array of shops and restaurants that offer an alternative nightlife to IT Park which is just nearby.

• The Jungle Restaurant and Entertainment Mactan Island - Also offer's a full Bar. We carry over 175 different cocktails, shooter, shots, liquors, sprits, shakes, juices, beers. Imported and Local. Have your drinks after dinner and laugh, scream, participate in the most exciting and fun International Cultural Performances you will find anywhere. The ONLY place on Mactan Island that offer's such a varitey of different shows. For more info and pictures and videos visit [13]

• Bodo’s Bamboo Bar Resort, Pasol, Alcoy 6023 Cebu Philippines, ☎ +63 32 4839119, [14]. Resort in the south of the island built on a heightened plateau of approx 1 hectare. Due to the heightened location a breeze constantly blows throughout in the whole resort. Best rates on official website start at Php1,340.00.  edit

• Gran Prix Econotel Cebu, 3rd Floor Coast Pacific Business Center Corner F. Ramos St and General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines, ☎ (032) 254 9169, (032) 253 3072, [15]. Best rates on official website start at Php 999.00.  edit

• Sugbutel Bed & Bath, S Osmena Street, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, ☎ (032) 232-8888, [16]. checkin: 2 PM; checkout: 12 Noon. Located within 3 - 5 minute walk from SM City Cebu Mall complex. Affordable hostel accommodation with airconditioned accommodation area with free wifi internet access, 24 hour security with CCTV cameras, 24 hour back-up generator and entertainment area with wide screen LCD TV. Php250.00 (approximately US$6) /person/night.  edit

• LJD Dormitory, 0363 Tudtudstreet Nasville Nasipit Talamban, Cebu City, ☎ (032) 345-4486, [17]. checkin: 6 AM; checkout: 5AM. LJD Dorm is in the heart of Cebu City at the fringe of the universities, business and commercial district is close to several restaurants, parks and malls. The amenities are flexible depending on the needs of the clients and tenants. Catering, loading, computer services, game and sports facilities are also available. Php500.00 (approximately US$11) /unit/night.  edit

• Cebuview Tourist Inn, 200 Sanciangko Street, ☎ (032) 254-8333 / fax 254-9777. located in the seedy downtown area, near all jeepney routes. not safe, has bad reputation,pimps at entrance. 640 pesos.  edit

• Casa Rosario, 101 F. Ramon Aboitiz Street, ☎ +63-32-253-5134, [18]. Simple hotel. High speed internet is available in some rooms. Best rates on official website start at US$18.  edit

• Century Hotel, Corner Colon and Pelaez St., ☎ +63-32-2551341 to 1347; 2551652 (fax: +63-32-2551600). checkin: may 26; checkout: may 27. Budget hotel. All roomswith cable tv, hot water and air-con. Single rooms go for PHP385.00 ($US8), PHP440.00(with cable); double economy for PHP444.00 ($US9); double standard for PHP484.00 ($US10), PHP539.00(with cable); Double deluxe for PHP594.00; twin for PHP627.00; family for PHP737.00, and suite rooms for PHP902.00 ($US19).. (,1 day) edit

• Golden Valley Hotel, 155 Pelaez Street, ☎ +63-32-253-8660 (fax: +63-32-253-8482), [19]. New hotel in the downtown area. Best rates on official website start at PHP750 (US$15).  edit

• Hotel de Mercedes, 7 Pelaez Street, ☎ +63-32-253-1105 (fax: +63-32-253-3880), [20]. Best rates on official website start at US$15.  edit

• Kiwi Lodge, 1060 G Tud Tud Street, Mabolo, ☎ (06332) 232 9550 (fax: (06332) 232 9550), [21]. Family run hotel owned, built, and operated by the Dunlop family since 1998. Centrally located in the city between Ayala and SM mall, the two largest malls in Cebu, and the Pier for those Island forays, as well as midtown and historical downtown areas, about 5 mins from the bar nightlife and only 30 mins to the Airport. Best rates on official website start at US$20.  edit

• Stakili Estaca Beach Garden Resort, Km. 23 Estaca, Compostela Cebu, ☎ +63-32-425-8188 (fax: +63-32-425-8062), [22]. Set on a beach line that stretches up to 1.2 kilometers and covered by tall palms, balete trees and other tropical greens, the Stakili has forty rooms of varying sizes. Best rates on official website start at US$15.  edit

• Westpoint Inn, 297 Don Gil Garcia St., ☎ +63-32-254-3433 (fax: ++63-32-254-4524), [23]. Simple budget hotel. Best rates on official website start at US$13.  edit

• San Remigio Beach Club [24] Address: Prime Movers Cmpd., Bacalla Subd., Holy Name St., Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines 6000. Phone Number: (+63) 32 231-0382 , (+63) 32 422-4070 , (+63) 32 231-7075. Price: P1,500.00

• Alpa City Suites Hotel, Hernan Cortes and F. Cabahug Streets (Ayala Access Road), ☎ (+63-32) 238 1668 or 422 7171, [25]. Daily and monthly packages available. Best rates on official website start at PHP3,600.00.  edit

• Alta Cebu Resort, Tugbungan, Pilipog, Cordova, Cebu 6017, ☎ (6332) 496-7881 / 496-7812 / 496-7399, [26]. 3 from Lapu Lapu City, 4 miles from Mactan International airport. Best rates on official website start at US$49.  edit

• Rajah Park Hotel, Fuente Osmeña, ☎ +63-32-412-3337 (fax: +63-32-412-4899), [27]. The eight-story Hotel with 89 standard and deluxe accommodations. Most of the rooms have a view of Fuente Circle park. $35 for the basic to $100 for a huge suite.  edit

• SDR Serviced Apartments, Mactan Island, ☎ +63-32-238-3929 (fax: +63-32-340-7902), [28]. SDR Serviced Apartments is just 3 minutes from the airport. All apartments have kitchen and cooking facilities. Smallest rooms are 36.5sqm. Nightly rate is from only $3 for the studio. Also have 2 bedroom loft apartments 65.74 sqm. Include free Wi-Fi (4mb), cable TV, DVD Player and a large referigerater with freezer.  edit

• Casa del Mar Golf Resort, Brgy. Maño, Bancasan, San Remigio, [29]. Golf and dive hotel. From US$63.  edit

• Castle Peak, F. Cabahug cor. Pres. Quezon St, Villa Aurora Mabolo, [30]. Rates: 1. Standard- 1188/2. Superior- 1388/3. Deluxe- 1688/4. Executive suite- 1888/5. Castle Peak suite-2488/extra bed-400.  edit

• Cebu Grand Hotel, Cebu Capitol Complex, North Escario St., ☎ ++63-32-254-6331 (fax: +63-32-254-6363), [31]. 99 rooms. Best rates on official website start at US$36.  edit

• Cebu Midtown Hotel, Fuente Osmeña, ☎ +63-32-253-9711 (fax: +63-32-253-9763), [32]. Ten storey hotel withs 200 rooms and views of the city. Best rates on official website start at US$39.  edit

• Costabella Beach Resort, Buyong, Mactan Island, ☎ +63-32-231-4244 (fax: +63-32-231-4415), [33]. Best rates on official website start at US$70.  edit

• Crown Regency Residences, V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe, ☎ +63-32-255-7541 to 48 (fax: +63-32-255-5060), [34]. From US$32.  edit

• Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Osmeña Blvd, ☎ +63-32-4187777 (fax: +63-32-4187161), [35]. From S$80.  edit

• Nalusuan Island Cebu Resort and Marine Sanctuary, Olango Reef, Cordova, Mactan, Cebu, Philippines, ☎ +63-32-492-4388 (fax: +63-32-425-8062), [36]. Aqua sports activities like wave runners, jet skiing, scuba diving, and water skiing here. From US$30.   edit

• The Golden Peak Hotel and Suites, ☎ (63-32) 233-9770 (sales@goldenpeakhotel.com, fax: (63-32) 231-5611), [37]. Located at the center of Cebu's commercial and financial district. Walking distance to major commercial and shopping areas and 30 minutes to Mactan International Airport. 140 guestrooms and suites with satellite cable TV, bath tub, aircon, telephone with IDD and NDD facility. Rates start at PHP 1900.  edit

• Alegre Beach Resort, Calumboyan, Sogod, Island of Cebu, Philippines, ☎ 63 (0) 32 2556388, [38]. Located along the northern part of Cebu. From US$ 190.00.  edit

• Crown Regency Suites Mactan, Maximo Patalinhug Jr. Avenue, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, ☎ +63-32-341-4586 to 94 (fax: +63-32-341-4595), [39]. From US$85.  edit

• Cordova Reef Village Resort, ☎ (6332) 2381878 / 2363343 / 2363344 / 4968079, [40]. Resort is surrounded by Camotes Sea in the east and Bohol Strait. It is located at the coastal town of Cordova. From US$ 150.00.  edit

• Island and Sun Beach Resort, ☎ (6332) 2381878 / 2363343 / 2363344 / 4968079, [41]. On Hilutungan Island, Cordova. 25 rooms 25 villas all air-conditioned with cable tv, refrigirator, bathub, private toilet and hot and cold water. From US$188.  edit

• The Resort Club at Hilton Cebu, ☎ (+6332) 492-7788, [42]. Room Rate starts at $250.  edit

• Singapore, 505 Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City 1634, Taguig City, Metro Manila, ☎ +63.2.856.9922 (singemb_mnl@sgmfa.gov.sg), [43]. M-F 08:00-17:00. Singapore nationals may register online with the Embassy at [44].  edit

• The island of Cebu is made up of various cities, small municipalities and towns. The most prominent, and perhaps, well visited are the three main cities in the island: Cebu City (the capital of the island), Mandaue City, and Lapu Lapu City (where the airport is located).

A day trip to the northern and southern municipalities and towns are recommended if you are looking for unspoiled beaches (and if you are trying to get away from the populated and commercial beaches of Mactan island). Hop on a car and head to the towns of Moalboal, Danao, Liloan, Bantayan, Minglanilla, and many more to experience the best beaches in the country.

When traveling to the south of Cebu, forget about driving along choked South Expressway. Head the South Coastal Road for a scenic drive down south. The South Coastal Road cuts travel time from the city to the Hispanic town of Carcar by almost an hour. And oh, on a clear day, you can see the mountains of Bohol island on the horizon.

• The Mactan Cebu International Airport has two terminals situated next to each other under one terminal building. If you arrive by car, you will arrive at the International Departures first before the Domestic Departures area. Expect to pay P200 for domestic flights and P550 for international flights.

• A day trip to Bohol, Ormoc is possible with a variety of fast passenger ferries that service the islands.