​Cebu may be famous for its magnificent white sand beaches and the lechon, but the island has more to offer to both local and international visitors. Cebu is also home to a couple of national parks that were established for the protection and sustainable utilization of our natural resources. One of these national parks is located in Carcar City, the Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park.

Carcar City 

Carcar City is well-known for its Spanish era heritage houses that have long piqued the interest of history and culture lovers. In addition, this city located around 50 kilometers south of Cebu City is also home to the famed Carcar lechon and chicharon. These two delicacies have tickled the taste buds of foodies all over the country. But, there more than meets the eye in Carcar City. It is also home to a number of resorts and a national park that was established in 1972, the Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park.

Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park

The Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park was established under Republic Act No. 6429 in 1972. It covers around 57.5 hectares, which include a watershed mountain reserve situated in the Mantalongon mountain range. The park is located in Barangay Guadalupe and is home to a hot spring, a freshwater pool, and a couple of caves.

​The park has attracted numerous adventure seekers who want to catch a glimpse of the beauty of nature at its best. The freshwater pool of the park is one of the popular destinations of locals, especially during summer. The water comes from an underground spring that is used as the source of water for Carcar City. Another popular destination of the park is the Mabugnao Mainit Cave, which locals refer to as Cave 3. The cave features huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling and is considered the highlight of the Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park.

Getting to the Mabugnao Mainit National Park

Your journey to Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal where you can get on a bus headed for Carcar City. Once you reach the city center, you can hire a motorcycle to bring you to the Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park.

​The Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park is one of the many national parks in the country. These national parks are protected areas aimed at the sustainable use of our natural resources. We should also do our own part in ensuring this when we visit the park. It is important for use to remember the motto of the Baltimore Grotto, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time."

Have you visited the Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit National Park in Carcar City already? Tell us about your adventure on the comments section below.

​Talisay City played a major role in the guerilla movement and eventual liberation of Cebu during World War 2. The place served as the center of guerilla intelligence operations during the war. One of its barangays also served as the landing site of the Americans when they returned to the Philippines in 1945. The Talisay Liberation Park commemorates this momentous event in the history of the country.

Talisay Landing

The Talisay landing on March 26, 1945 was preceded by a naval bombardment of the beaches along Tangke, Talisay to soften up Japanese positions.  After an hour, the first Landing Vehicle Tracked or LVTs carrying American soldiers made their way to the shore. However, they had to deal with Japanese mines that were laid along the beaches. These mines delayed landing operations for two hours as the beaches were cleared of these mines. 

After the American forces reached on the shores of Talisay, they quickly went to work in clearing the island of enemy forces. They were able to reach Cebu City on March 27 and seized Lahug Airport by March 28. The Go Chan Hill where the Eco-Tech Center is currently located was the site of the first major firefight of the Americans against the Japanese forces.  The Japanese were quickly neutralized by the Americans.

Liberation Park

The Liberation Park is located in Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City. It features seven larger-than-life statues that honor Filipino and American soldiers who gave their lives to free Cebu from the Japanese Army. Each of the statue cost PHP150,000 and is part of monument at the site where the American forces landed in the island. 

​The statues at the Liberation Park went through a major restoration in 2013 in preparation for the annual tribute to the liberation landing on March 26. The park was also declared as a national historical shrine since it marks the location of the landing of the American forces in Cebu. 

​The park is now one of the favorite hangouts of locals. Residents in the area are aware of the significance of the monument in the liberation of Cebu and the country as a whole. Each year, a reenactment of the Talisay landing is held at the site. Representatives of the American and Japanese governments normally join the event. World War 2 veterans are also recognized. 

​The Liberation Park in Talisay City serves as a reminder for us and the future generations of the sacrifices our forefathers to liberate the country from foreign invaders. It also shows the special bond the country has with the United States during one of the dark periods in the history of the Philippines.

Have you visited the Liberation Park in Talisay City already? Tell us about your visit on the comments section below.

Talisay City was once an estate of the Augustinians in 1648.  It was also a visita of nearby San Nicolas before it was converted into a municipality in 1834. The city is home to a number of tourist spots, including the Lagundi Reef, Igotan Cave, and Crocolandia. In addition to these attractions, the city is also home to a church that is more than a century old. This church is the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church.

Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church

Construction of the original Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church started in 1836 and it was completed twelve years later. But, its roof was destroyed by a typhoon in 1877. In 1880, another church was built in 1880 and was finished a year later. Similar to many churches on the island, the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church was made using coral stones. A convent once stood beside the church, but it was destroyed during World War 2 after the Americans bombed the place to flush out any Japanese soldiers hiding in the area. 

Greco-Roman Design

The Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church in Talisay City is one of the few churches in the country with a distinctive Greco-Roman design. One of the unique features of these churches is they have a recessed main entrance and pediment. In the case of the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church, the main entrance is positioned behind two belfries. While there are some churches in the country with a similar design, like an Augustinian church in Bacnotan, La Union and another one in San Luis, Pampanga, the church in Talisay City stands out since it has a covered porch connecting the two bell towers. The porch is supported by two columns. 

Archdiocesan Shrine 

The Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church was declared as an Archdiocesan Shrine by former Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal over a decade ago. According to the former archbishop, a parish church can be declared as a shrine if it meets some of the requirements for the declaration. One of these requirements is that the church should date back to “antiquity,” which means it should be quite old. 

Location of the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church

The Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church is located along Joe Rizal Street, Barangay Poblacion. It shows that the barangay was once the center of the city before the Talsay City Hall was transferred.  The old town hall is situated close to the church, which continues to attract churchgoers every Sunday and holy days of obligation among Roman Catholics.

​The Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church is one of the many churches in Cebu that have survived the rigors of time. While more work is required to ensure it will continue to be preserved, the church demonstrates the faith of the people of Talisay and Cebuanos as a whole.

​Have you visited the Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church in Talisay City already? Tell us about your visit on the comments section below.

​A coral reef is a diverse underwater ecosystem inhabited by different types of marine life. They are also referred to as the “rainforests of the sea.” There are a number of coral reefs surrounding the island of Cebu. While most of these coral reefs require you to travel far from the city, there is a coral reef located within the metro Cebu area, the Lagundi Reef.

Lagundi Reef

The Lagundi Reef is considered located along the coast of Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City. It is the most accessible reef from the Queen City of the South since it is only 1.5 kilometers away from the shore. The reef was discovered by a CMAS instructor in 1981. After Mr. Nator discovered the reef, he returned in 2004 after working overseas. The reef was given the name Lagundi by Councilor Shirley Belleza in 2006 and was later opened as a dive site a year after. 

​The Lagundi Reef is currently one of the most popular dive sites in the area. It is situated at the center of the Coral Triangle where new and developing marine species are still evolving. Some of these marine species are believed to have remained undiscovered up to this point.

​The reef continues to thrive even with the influx of coastal waste from the shore and the Mananga River. It has been resilient and efforts are being exerted to ensure it will be protected for future generations. There are a number of historical landmarks under the reef, including the cap of a US World War 2 admiral and an old church bell. 

Local Government

The local government of Talisay City has started to implement the provisions of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines to protect the Lagundi Reef. The local officials are tasked in ensuring marine sanctuaries within their locality are protected under Republic Act 8550. This move came after blast fishing in the area was reportedly being done in the area. Buoys and markers were set up close to the reef and volunteers were tasked to keep an eye over the reef.  

​The Lagundi Reef is just one of the many marine resources Cebu can boast of. Aside from being the home of different species of marine life, it also serves as a means of livelihood for locals since it has become a popular dive spot for local and foreign divers. In addition, it is also an underwater museum where you can see some remnants of the past quietly waiting to be discovered.

​Have you visited the Lagundi Reef in Talisay City already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Talisay City is one of the newer cities in the island of Cebu. It is known for the lechon, the site where American forces landed in the liberation of Cebu during World War 2, and Crocolandia. In addition to these attractions, Talisay City is also home to a natural attraction that has piqued the interest of nature lovers, the Igotan Cave.

Talisay City

The name of Talisay City comes from the magtalisay trees, which are abundant in the area. It was once the estate of the Augustinians before it was converted into a municipality in 1849. The place also served as the center for guerilla operations in Cebu during World War 2. Talisay became a city in 2000.

Igotan Cave

The Igotan Cave is located in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City. The cave is gradually becoming popular among locals and visitors to the city. It is popular for the small falls and pool, which are supposedly therapeutic. The water is clean, and taking a dip in the pool or staying under the falling water will likely be beneficial for you.

​Like many other caves in Cebu, the Igotan Cave also has its share of stories. Some of the caves in the island were formerly hiding places of rebels during the Spanish period while others say it served as the home of engkantos or mythical spirits. In the case of the Igotan Cave, it is associated with supernatural beings that have supposedly made it their home.

​The cave itself is not totally dark since lights were installed inside. But, you may have to bring flashlights of a head light if you want to explore the cave since the light is dim. The water in the cave may also be a source of water for the locals since there are some pipes inside.

Getting to the Cave

You can get to the Igotan Cave by getting on a jeepney marked 41D before getting off at Tabunok, Talisay. After getting off, you can take a short hike to Lagtang where you can hire a motorcycle to bring you to the jump-off point to the cave. The jump-off point is at a junction of the Mananga River where you have to cross a metal footbridge to go to the other side of the river. You can follow the trail to the cave from that point. You can also ask residents to point you to the right direction.

​The Igotan Cave in Talisay City is just one of the many relatively unknown tourist spots you can visit if you find yourself in Cebu. But, it is also important for us to do our part in ensuring the cave along with other natural tourist attractions are preserved so future generations can still enjoy them.

Have you visited the Igotan Cave already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​The Queen City of the South can be a treasure trove for history and culture enthusiast. The city is home to the oldest street along with the oldest triangular fortress in the country. Some of the oldest churches in the archipelago are also still standing in a number of towns and cities in the island. The city also has a number of museums where you can see some of the cultural treasures of the city. One of these museums is the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum.

Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum

The Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum was established by Jose R. Gullas, fondly called Sir Dodong. It was inaugurated on January 12, 2010 and is located at the building that used to house The Freeman newspaper. It formally opened its doors to the public on February 2, 2010.

​The museum is dedicated to the parents of the founder, Don Vicente and Inday Prining Gullas. It also serves as tribute to Cebuano music. The term “halad” is Cebuano for tribute. The memorabilia of Cebuano artists and composers are on display at the museum. These memorabilia include musical instruments, lyric sheets, and long-playing records, among others.

​The Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum features five galleries, including the Cebuano music gallery, Kinaiyang Sugbuanon or the Cebuano cultural traditions gallery, and the founder's gallery. It aims to pay tribute to the endearing legacies of the cultural heritage of Cebuanos as expressed through music. 

​The museum reflects the personal passion of Sir Dodong who used his personal funds for the museum.  Sir Dodong is hoping that the future generations will learn to appreciate the “vast treasures of our Cebuano heritage that have given life and meaning” in the songs enshrined at the museum. He also hopes that these priceless Cebuano legacies will be passed on to them. 

​In addition to viewing the items on display, visitors can also listen to old Cebuano music using modern devices. You can listen to popular Visayan songs on an MP3 player or a laptop. This section of the museum is typically crowded by visitors who want to relive the glorious musical past of Cebu.

Location and Entrance Fee

The Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum is located along D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City. The entrance fee of the museum is PHP10. It is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Tuesday to Saturday. You can also join the Gabii sa Kabilin since the museum has been a consistent participant of this annual event.

​The Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum is just one of the places in Cebu where the cultural heritage of the city is preserved for future generations. In this case, it focuses on the musical heritage of Cebuanos and other Visayan artists.

​Have you visited the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​When one talks about barbecue in Cebu, an image of Larsian’s normally comes to mind. But, there are a number of other options if you are looking for a good place offering barbecue in the Queen City of the South. We came up with a list of places offering barbecue in metro Cebu.

Ned Nanay’s Grill

Located a few blocks away from Larsian’s, Ned Nanay’s Grill is a barbecue place offering lip-smacking barbecue to its guests. The place first opened its doors to food lovers in Cebu in 1997 and is gradually becoming popular among Cebuanos and visitors to the city. Ned Nanay’s Grill is located at the corner of Don Mariano Cui and Jasmin Streets, Cebu City. The place is open from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM every day. 

Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar

Owned by famed basketball coach and former Cebu City councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar offers a variety of grilled items to its customers. While their specialty is the roasted baby back ribs, the place also offers roasted pork belly, grilled fish fillet, and roasted seashell meat. Yayoy’s Grill is located along Orchid Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City. The place is open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day.

Yakski Barbecue

Yakski Barbecue takes pride in offering mouth-watering barbecue using meat source from reputable suppliers. The place has become one of the more popular barbecue places in the city ever since they opened in 2009. Yakski Barbecue currently has three branches in metro Cebu: Capitol, IT Park, and Mactan. The main branch along Don Mariano Cui Street is open from 11:30 to 2:30 PM from Monday to Saturday and 5:30 PM to 12:00 AM from Monday to Sunday. The IT park branch is open from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM from Monday to Saturday and 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM on Sundays. The Mactan branch at Gaisano Saver’s Mart is open from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM every day.

AA’s BBQ

Similar to many businesses in Cebu, AA’s BBQ started off as a small barbecue stand before it became a restaurant along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. The place offers a wide range of barbecued items for its guests. In addition, they also offer pochero, crispy squid, and fried bangus. AA’s BBQ already has eleven branches all around metro Cebu.  The Lahug branch of the restaurant is open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM every day.

Matias Barbecue 

Matias Barbecue is another place where Cebuanos go to whenever they want to satisfy their cravings for barbecue. The casual ambience of the place makes it an appealing option to people who simply want to go out for a bite to eat. Matias Barbecue is located along A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City.  The place is open from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM every day.

​Where do you normally satisfy your craving for barbecue in Cebu? Tell us about the place on the comments section below.

​The Camotes Islands features a number of magnificent beaches that have attracted the attention of beach lovers around the world. While many of these beaches are already well-known among local and foreign tourists, there are some places that have remained relatively-unknown to many. One of these beaches is located in Tulang Diot islet. 

Tulang Diot

Tulang Diot is a small islet that is a part of a place referred to as Tulang by the locals. Tulang is divided into two areas, Tulang Dako and Tulang Diot. Dako in Cebuano is big while diot means small. Tulang is a part of Barangay Esperanza, San Francisco, Pacijan Island. While Tulang Dako is a part of the main island, Tulang Diot is a small islet located off the coast of San Francisco. 

​The islet has a white sand beach that can rival some of the best beaches at the Camotes Islands. The waters off the islet are crystal clear and inviting to anyone who decides to visit the place. It also features a sand bar that becomes submerged when the tide is high. It basically disappears during some parts of the day.  When the tide is high it is advisable for swimming to be limited to adults since it may be too deep for children. 

​Aside from the beach, you may also want to visit the lighthouse on the islet. You can get a good view from the lighthouse. Some locals say there is a also a cave on the islet, but it is not being promoted among tourists. For the moment, there are no facilities for overnight stays at the islet. You can opt to stay in one of the resorts on Pacijan Island.  But, if you really want to stay the night, you should bring a tent and pay for the fee for staying the night on the islet. 

Getting to Tulang Diot

If you are planning to visit Tulang Diot, you should get on a bus bound for the Danao port at the Cebu North Bus Terminal. Once you reach the port, take a boat headed for the Consuelo Port in Pacijan Island. You can hire a motorcycle to bring you to Tulang Dako in San Francisco. Once you reach Tulang Dako, you will see a number of outrigger boats waiting for visitors to Tulang Diot, which is around five minutes away from Tulang Dako. 

​Even as many of the beaches in the Camotes Islands are ttypically crowded during the tourist season, there are still some places where you can take a dip without bumping into other people. Tulang Diot is one of these places where you can recharge your energies after an exhausting week at work.

​Cebuanos have taken to chicken wings like ducks to water. This is evident in the restaurants offering unlimited chicken wings that have sprouted like mushrooms all over the city. So, we came up with a list of five of these restaurants offering unlimited chicken wings in Metro Cebu.

Burrow Lounge

The Burrow Lounge is the most popular place where you can eat all the chicken wings you want. It is probably the place that started the trend of offering unlimited chicken wings to the Cebuano market. Their first branch is located at the ground floor of the Tsai Hotel along Wilson Street, Lahug, Cebu City. In fact, the place always has a crowd waiting outside the restaurant when dinner time comes. 

​The chicken wings at Burrow Lounge come in five flavors: Classic, Asian BBQ, Mild Teriyaki, Garlic Parmesan, and Chili. You can opt to have a plate of one flavor or you can mix it up. The unlimited chicken wings offer at the place is priced at PHP199, which already comes with unlimited rice. You can add PHP40 for a glass of bottomless iced tea. 

Paku by Chef Binux

Paku by Chef Binuz is a newly-opened restaurant offering its own version of chicken wings in the Cebuano market. Even though the place is a new player in the food market of Cebu, it is gradually gaining attention of food lover s in Cebu. The group behind the place is led by Chef Melvin Tezon or Chef Binux. 

​The chicken wing flavors offered at the place include the creemy-cheeze, lemon pepper, hot wings, teriyaki, sweet and sour, mango wasabi chicken, and BBQ. The price of their unlimited chicken wings offer is PHP199. This already includes unlimited rice. Paku by Chef Binux is located at The Gallery along Pope John Paul Street, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Papart’s Diner and Cafe

Papart’s Diner and Café is well-known among many food-loving Cebuanos. It was one of the first restaurants to offer the tuslob-buwa in a restaurant setting. But, aside from offering this interesting Cebuano dish, the place also offers unlimited chicken wings to its customers. 

​The chicken wings at Papart’s come in eight flavors: Hot Arcadia, Calamansi, Choco Curry, Creamy Cheese, Garlic Butter, Sour Cheese, Mexican BBQ, Sour Cream, Sweet & Sour, Honey Soy Garlic, and Japanese Teriyaki. The price of the unlimited chicken wings at the place is at PHP198. It already comes with unlimited rice and bottomless iced tea. Papart’s Diner and Café is located at the second floor of the Maroo Arcade building along Mantawe Avenue, Mandaue City. It is right across Parkmall.

Backyard Smoque Unlimited BBQ

Many of the chicken wings offered by different restaurants in the city are fried and flavored. But, Backyard Smoque Unlimited BBQ offers something different. The name of the place says it all, they offer barbecued chicken wings. It is mainly a restaurant offering barbecued items, and one of their promotions is unlimited barbecued chicken wings.

​While the chicken wings of Backyard Smoque Unlimited BBQ only come in one flavor, they also offer unlimited pork, chorizo, and other barbecue items. The price for the unlimited barbecued chicken wings at the place is at PHP168 for lunch and PHP188 for dinner. Backyard Smoque Unlimited BBQ is located along Villalon Drive, East Capitol, Cebu City.

​Wingers Unlimited offers five flavors for their unlimited chicken wings. These flavors are Plain or Classic, Barbecue, Garlic Pepper, Buffalo, and Sweet Mustard. The price of the unlimited chicken wings at the restaurant is at PHP199, which already includes unlimited rice. Wingers Unlimited is located at the alfresco areas of Mango Square, General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City.

​Have you visited any of these places offering unlimited chicken wings already? Tell us about your visit on the comments section below.

​One of the biggest contributions of the Spaniards in the country is Christianity. The Philippines is currently the biggest Christian-dominated country in Asia. This influence is evident n the churches in the different towns and cities in Cebu. Some of these churches also house a museum where various religious artifacts are displayed. One of these museums is the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu. 

Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu

The Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu or simply the Cebu Cathedral Museum is situated right across the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.  It houses numerous religious artifacts from the Spanish period. The museum opened in November 2006 and is managed by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church.

​The building where the museum is housed was built in the 19th century. It is one of the few structures in Cebu that survived the Second World War. The structure was built during the time of Bishop Santos Gomez Maranon. Bishop Maranon was known to be a builder of churches and was the bishop behind the construction of the churches in Naga and Oslob. He also built the convent in Sibonga and the bell tower of the church in Argao. 

Museum Galleries 

The Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu has six galleries displaying different religious items and artifacts.  The first gallery contains illustrations and pictures of the growth of Catholicism in Cebu. The second gallery features the memorabilia of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal. The third gallery shows how the Spaniards built the churches in Cebu. The fourth gallery shows several statues of saints. The fifth gallery contains different items used in a Roman Catholic Mass, including chalices and priestly vestments, among others. The sixth gallery features a sample of the bedroom of a priest. 

The building was initially used as the convent of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before it became a school building of the University of San Carlos. The structure was later converted into a cooperative store. When the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral was being renovated, the building served as a temporary chapel. 

​A garden at the back of the structure is used as a venue for events religious events. It also serves as a venue for garden weddings along with garden wedding receptions. The museum was one of the stops during the annual Gabii sa Kabilin of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. 

Getting to the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu

To get to the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu, you should get on a jeepney headed for the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. These jeepneys include those marked 02B, 04H, and 17C, among others. If you are coming from Mandaue or Mabolo area, you can get on a jeepney marked 21A. These jeepneys pass either along the side or in front of the cathedral. The museum is located on the left side of the cathedral. 

​The Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu is one of the few museums that will pique the interest of culture and history enthusiasts. It also demonstrates the rich religious heritage of the people of Cebu.

Have you visited the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.