​Cebuanos are known to be a budget-conscious bunch. While they enjoy the best things life has to offer, they are normally very practical when it comes to spending. This is quite apparent with the number of budget-friendly stores all over the city. These stores can be found in just about anywhere in the Queen City of the South. 

There is actually one place in Cebu where people can find a line of stalls where residents and visitors can buy apparel, shoes and other items at very reasonable prices. The name of the place is “Tabo sa Banay.” The place is similar to Divisoria in Manila but at a smaller scale. 

​The items you can find at the Tabo sa Banay are similar to the ones available in major malls around the city. The difference is the price. A pair of jeans priced at PHP1,000 at a mall can be bought at around PHP400 at the Tabo sa Banay. There are even instances when you would find signature items at the place. All you need s a little patience and some knowledge on what brands to look out for. 

​You can also get these items at lower prices if you are a good negotiator. You can probably get another PHP50 off the price of the items. And if you are a good enough haggler, you may even get a much bigger discount, especially if you buy more than one or two of a similar item.  While many of the items available at the Tabo sa Banay are secondhand items, there are also some instances when you can find brand-new items at the place. 

Tips when going to the Tabo sa Banay

• The place is situated along a street parallel to Osmeña Boulevard close to Gaisano Metro Colon. From Gaisano Metro Colon, you have to walk to the next corner where Best Buy Mart is located and walk into the side street where some fruit stands are located.  The Tabo sa Banay is located along Balintawak Street, which is right behind the Best Buy Mart building.
• The Tabo sa Banay is not the best place for you to show off some bling. Do not bring any expensive jewelry when going to the place to avoid attracting the attention of snatchers and pickpockets. 
• Just bring enough cash for the things you need to buy at the place. A budget of PHP1,000 or even PHP500 can go a long way at the Tabo sa Banay.
• Know how to haggle. If you are good at the art of haggling, you will definitely find the best deals at the Tabo sa Banay.

​The Tabo sa Banay is just one of the places residents and visitors can find the best bang for their buck. There may be other places in Colon and even the Carbon area, but the Tabo sa Banay is much easier to find due to the landmarks one can find around the place. 

Have you been to the Tabo sa Banay already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

Café Elysa was one of the go-to places of many Cebuanos who wanted a taste of authentic Cebuano food at a reasonable price. While the place was located somewhere in the downtown area, you can immediately see how popular the place was in its heyday. A good number of cars would park outside despite its limited parking space. After Café Elysa closed down, food-loving Cebuanos searched for the next best thing in the culinary landscape of the Queen City of the South. 

​It seems the owner of Café Elysa heard the cries of Cebuanos for great-tasting food without breaking the bank.  Cocina de la Casa was born out of the passion for dining. Together with some friends, chef and sommelier Stephen Aznar converted an old house along Morales Street into a quaint restaurant offering international cuisine. The notably chic ambience of the place was made through the efforts of Ina Ronquillo Aboitiz and Margette Garcia-Sarmiento. 

​The menu offerings of Cocina de la Casa include the Oriental Spring Rolls with Sweet and Spicy Sauce, Cream of Salmon Pasta, Chicken Liver Pate with Cointreau on Toast and Indian Style Beef Triangles. Guests may also want to have a piece of the Pork Belly Chicharon with Asian dip or the Moroccan Braised Lamb Shank with Couscous to tickle their palate. A number of heirloom dishes from the mom of Margette have become a part of the menu, including Nena’s Tripeless Callos, the Lomo de Bacalao with Japanese Rice Pork, Sofrito with Garlic Rice and Hocks with Chorizo. 

​Salad lovers can try the Organic Garden Salad and Prawn and Pomelo Salad of the restaurant. Guests can top off their gastronomic experience with the dessert offerings of Cocina de la Casa. These desserts include the Crema de Mang, Fresh Cream and Mango Cream Cheese Pie. 

​Cocina de la Casa is located behind Harold’s Hotel along Morales Street, Cebu City. Have you checked out the Cocina de la Casa already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

​Some of the best resorts in the island of Cebu are situated within and around the Queen City of the South. These resorts cater to visitors from other parts of the country and the world. But there are also some resorts located far from the center of business and tourism of the island. One of these resorts is Eden Resort, which is located in the southern town of Santander.

​A number of dive sites are accessible from the resort, which envisioned itself of providing western standards to its guests while it was under construction. And it appears it is living up to its vision. The resort received 116 excellent ratings from travelers on the website of TripAdvisor. A good number of travelers complimented the place for their infinity pool. It was even described by one traveler as a “hidden paradise down south of Cebu.” Some guests also praised the great view from the rooms of the resort. 

​Aside from its infinity pool and excellent view, the Eden Resort also offers a number of adventure activities for its guests, including ocean kayaking, mountain biking and off-road motorcycling. Since the resort is located close to some dive sites, it also offers scuba diving activities for its guests.  The Eden Resort also offers snorkeling activities to its guests. 

​The restaurant at the Eden Resort also offers a mouth-watering menu for its guests. The menu includes an assortment of main dishes, sandwiches and pasta dishes. The place also offers pizza, salads and dessert items that can tickle the palate of the guests of the resort.

​Since the Eden Resort only has ten rooms, its staff can easily provide personalized service to its guests. All the rooms have a 180-degree view of the ocean. Room rates at the Eden Resort start at PHP 2,800 for the budget room. The double room and twin room of the resort are priced at PHP 4,800 while the suite costs PHP 7,800.

​The excellent view from the rooms, notable facilities and accommodating staff of the Eden Resort in Santander definitely makes it a little piece of paradise in the south.

“Food is Essential to life, therefore make it good.” -  S. Truett Cathy

The words of S. Truett Cathy holds true even up to today. And this is particularly true when it comes to the Abaseria Deli Café. Tucked away deep within a residential area in Mabolo, the restaurant does not only offer good food but a unique ambience that piques the curiosity of any foodie in the city.

The menu of the Abaseria Deli Café features a wide selection of Filipino food from all over the archipelago. Lechon kawali, humba Filipino and chicken pork adobo are among the specialties of the restaurant. In addition, the place also offers pinakbet, chili adobong talong, adobong kangkong and baked ginger ribs. 

​Seafood lovers will likely be delighted with the menu offerings of the place. Seafood dishes at the Abeseria Deli Café include the adobong bangus belly, crispy fried Lapu-Lapu, grilled prawns and grilled squid. The place also has different variations of their rice, including garlic rice, kimchi rice and the Abaseria fried rice. Salad lovers are also in luck as the place also has a number of salad dishes to choose from.

​Aside from the food, the ambience is also quite unique. The place is decorated with eye-catching art pieces and nice-looking decorations. Guests will also appreciate the space available for them since Abaseria Deli Café uses long tables in the dining area.  

American travel website, Trip Advisor, gave Abaseria Deli Café a Certificate of Excellence in 2016 after the place consistently earned great reviews from travelers. Twenty-seven travelers gave the restaurant an excellent rating with one traveler calling the place “a hidden jewel.” Another traveler had an “outstanding experience” at the Abaseria Deli Café.

​The Abaseria Deli Café is indeed a hidden jewel offering an outstanding dining experience for its guests. Aside from the great food, the place also provides a unique, homey ambience to anyone wanting to satisfy their appetite.  The Abaseria Deli Café is located at along President Quirino Street, Villa Aurora Subdivision, Kasambagan Cebu City. The place is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Saturday and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays.

A wall filled with murals on a café gives you an idea about the guests the shop wants to attract. The Sprockets Café aims to become a creative hub for artists, writers, photographers and young people who want to have a place of their own. The owners envision making the café a venue for young people to chill out and unwind after a busy day at the office. The ambience at the café demonstrates this vision as it gives guests a place where they can relax and let their hair down.

The Sprockets Café currently has two branches: the Baseline Residences branch and Talamban branch across USC –TC. The café offers a good variety of food and drinks for its guests. Aside from the usual café fare of coffee and milk tea, Sprockets Café also has a number of delectable appetizers on its menu.  

​In addition, the café also offers items that are not normally offered in a regular coffee shop, including quesadillas and spaghetti chorizo. Rice meals are also available for guests looking to satisfy their hungry stomachs. The rice meals available at the Sprockets Café include a 2-piece chicken with rice, fish fingers with rice and Buffalo wings with rice.

​The Sprockets Café is just one of the uniquely-themed coffee shops that have sprouted around the city in recent years.  The food, drinks, and overall ambience of the place definitely brings it closer to its vision of encouraging creativity among its guests. Have you been to the Sprockets Café already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

There is something magical about an infinity pool in the way the water seems to merge into the ocean or landscape in the background. The visual effect caused by the water as it flows over the edge gives an impression that it does not have any boundaries. They are also called zero edge pools or vanishing edge pools. 

Late last year we featured a list of some notable infinity pools in Cebu.  Well, the Queen City of the South has more infinity pools than what was listed before. The following is another list of remarkable infinity pools found in the island of Cebu.

Kandaya Resort

The Kandaya Resorts is among the newest resort to open its doors in one of the best islands in the world. Located in the northern town of Daanbantayan, the resort takes its name from an ancient tribal chieftain in the town, Datu Daya. The infinity pool of the resort faces out into the sea, giving guests a relaxing view as they while away their time after a week at work.

Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan

The Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan is a high-end resort offering world-class facilities and amenities to guests. The resort is located in Mactan Island and is 15 minutes away from the Mactan International Airport. Similar to other resorts in the island, the infinity pool of the Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan faces out into the sea. 

Eden Resort

Located in the southern tip of Cebu, the Eden Resort offers a personalized service to its guests. The resort is situated in the town of Santander and offers a host of activities to its guests, including kayaking, mountain biking and diving. The infinity pool of the Eden Resort overlooks the seas off the southern coast of Cebu.

Be Resort

The Be Resort Mactan considers itself as a trendy travel destination offering a stylish architecture and modern interiors. Located along the beaches of Punta Engaño, the resort provides guests an escape from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. The remarkable infinity pool of the Be Resort Mactan faces its equally magnificent beach front.

Sky Water Park

The Sky Water Park is a water park and resort located on the roof deck of J Center Mall in Mandaue City. The water park features a water playground, Jacuzzi and water house with water elements. The water park also features an infinity pool overlooking the city giving guests a panoramic view of Metro Cebu.

Terracotta Manor

​The Terracotta Manor is located on the mountains of Cebu. The place is situated 500 meters above sea level and is surrounded by lush vegetation. A picturesque view of the mountains of Bonbon Cebu greets guests as they relax at the infinity pool of the manor.

​The Queen City of the South has always been one of the destinations of Japanese tourists. Aside from enjoying the magnificent beaches, citizens of the land of the Rising Sun come to Cebu to learn English. One of these students initially came to Cebu to learn the English language. But he not only learned the language, he also learned to love the island of Cebu and its people. He loved it so much that he decided to put up a café with the aim of giving back something to the residents of the city.

​Due to this, the Kawaii Café was born. Shunki Matsushima worked with Aldan Cristino to conceptualize and eventually open the café on August 18, 2016. With the aim of letting customers “Enjoy the cute Japanese experience here at Kawaii Cafe" the café stands out as among the few kawaii-themed cafes in the city. Guests can even dress up in Japanese or anime costumes available in the café. The Kawaii Café also shows Japanese movies, both anime and live-action.

​The Kawaii Café offers the typical menu items of a café . . . plus more. In addition to the coffee, flavored soda, tea and smoothies, the place also offers not-so-typical coffee shop items like onion rings, Yakisoba, ramen, curry rice, and Gyudan, among others.  

​Since the owner is Japanese, guests can expect to have a taste of authentic Japanese food and drinks at the café. Some food items also take on the kawaii theme of the café.  Prices of the food and drinks at the Kawaii Café start at PHP60.

​The ambience in the café is also unique as it brings guests to Japan in the middle of the Queen City of the South. In addition, the owner also brought some of the festivals in Japan to Cebu.  

​The Kawaii Café is located along P. Del Rosario Street, Cebu City. It is situated right across the main campus of the University of San Carlos. It is open from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily. Have you checked out the Kawaii Café already? How was your experience? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Board games have been part of the culture of many countries around the world. History shows that these games were played since the ancient times with the Senet of ancient Egypt as among the oldest board games to be played by man. Fast forward to the present, board games are still being played and are one of the pastimes of many people. The market for board games may not be as big as the market for video games but studies have shown that some board games are therapeutic and can contribute to the improvement of some skills among children.

The market for board games is also gaining ground in Cebu. In fact, a café opened specifically made for board game enthusiasts. The Vault Board Game Café is located at the Greenery along Pope John Paul II Avenue (formerly San Jose dela Montana Avenue) in Mabolo, Cebu City.

​The Vault Board Game Café has a considerable number of board games guests can choose from.  Guests can play with the board games that range from classics, like Word Factory and Monopoly, to more popular ones, like Carcasonne and Ticket to Ride. Game teachers are also available to help guests who may not be familiar with the board games at the place.  On a good night, one can see the tables filled with family or friends playing a game or two. 

​Since it is a café, the place also offers a good variety of food and drinks. They have a number of appetizers, sandwiches and main dishes. Appetizers include Calamares, Nachos with Tomato Salsa & Melted Cheese, and Fish and Chips. On the other hand, guests can get a Chili Dog, New Yorker or the Sloppy Joe, which are all served with fries. The main dishes include the Fisherman’s Bowl, Teriyaki Bowl and Bibimbop. 

​To quench one’s thirst, the café has a good selection of hot and cold drinks. Hot drinks include the usual fare for coffee shops like the Americano, Espresso and Tea. For cold drinks, guests can have iced Americano, Cold Brewed Coffee or Iced Mocha. The price range for the food is between PHP185 for the Chili Dog or New Yorker and PHP260 for the Fisherman’s Bowl.  Drink prices start at PHP30 for their bottled water up to PHP140 for the N2 or a nitrogen-infused cold brewed coffee.

​
The Vault Board Game Café is located at the ground floor of The Greenery in Mabolo. It is open from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM from Tuesday to Thursday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Sundays. Have you checked out the Vault Board Game Café already? What board games did you play? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Star Wars fans now have a place they can call their own, the Amidala Café. Named after the princess-turned-queen-turned-senator who would become the mother of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, Amidala Café is a Star wars-themed café that opened over years ago. 

​The façade itself gives guests the idea that they are set to fly off on to a galaxy far, far away. The interior has numerous reminders that the café is not an ordinary café. Various Star Wars decorations can be found in just about every corner of the place. You can see Star Wars action figures as well as posters and pictures from the different episodes of the movie all over the café. The café is quite cozy and has a limited seating space. Despite this, people still flock into the place.

​Aside from its unique ambience, the food and drinks are also out-of-this-world, so to say. Amidala Café offers a good choice of food items for guests who want to experience something different. The drinks are well presented and overflowing . . . literally.  In addition to the typical coffee shop menu items, Amidala Café also offers Gourmet & Fruit Chillers, Espresso Chillers and Iced Coffee Chillers. They also have a number of sandwiches guests can choose from, including the Classic BLT and Saber Burgers. The price of the food and drinks at the café are quite reasonable and the serving is rather generous and is good enough for two people.  So, you are basically buying food and drinks for two for each order.

​In addition to serving food and drinks, Star Wars collectibles and merchandise are also available at the café. The Amidala Café is open from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM during weekends. It is located at the Maria Christina Arcade along Maria Christina Street.

​The Cebu Provincial Capitol building is among the oldest structures in the country.  It was erected during the American occupation and was designed by the late Juan Marcos Arellano. It sustained some damage during the Second World War but was quickly restored. It served the seat of government of the Province of Cebu and was declared a National Historical Landmark on July 9, 2008.

​On the other hand, the Fuente Osmeña Circle was inaugurated at around the Cebu Provincial Capitol building was planned. The circle was named after one of the favorite sons of Cebu the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. The circle is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Queen City of the South and is the venue of parties during the Christmas and Sinulog season. It is also where the M Lhuillier Tree of Hope is set up every year. 

​Longtime Cebu residents would agree that this part of Osmeña Boulevard is a very memorable place. Foodstreet, the Boulevard, Carlo’s Batchoy, Dunkin Donuts and Manila Foodshoppe are some of the places that come to mind when they think about the road between the Cebu Provincial Capitol building and the circle. 

​Many of these establishments were replaced by new structures while others were redesigned to keep up with the times. While structures have continued to exist even up to now, they were either spruced up or renovated. Check out the pictures and see if you can still recognize this part of the Queen City of the South.

​​All images are courtesy of Peter Parcon.