​As Metro Cebu continues to develop, more companies have started to relocate to the island. This resulted to the creation of jobs for the residents and people from neighboring islands. It has also benefited small businesses as they try to provide for the needs of the employees of these multinational companies.

​But this development also has its negative effect. The burgeoning population in the metro has brought about an issue on traffic. This is particularly true to the two bridges connecting mainland Cebu and Mactan Island. While the islands are already connected through two bridges, it appears that they cannot handle the volume of traffic passing through them. 

Third Bridge

To deal with this issue, two local government units in Cebu, together with the private sector, are planning to build another bridge spanning the Mactan Channel. The government recently broke ground for the third bridge with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in attendance. The formal groundbreaking for the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway was held on March 2, 2017. 

​The president said the Philippines may become “a nation of bridges” in the years to come. He added that he is happy that Cebu is developing like Manila since his father comes from the province. The new bridge is expected to change the demography and topography of Cebu, said the president.

The 8.25-kilometer project connecting Cebu with Cordova is composed of the Main Bridge, a Causeway, Viaduct and Toll Plaza. Construction will start in the middle of 2017 and the bridge is expected to be completed by 2020.

Public Private Partnership

The project is a public private partnership between the local governments of Cebu and Cordova with the support of the national government and the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp or MPTDC. Aside from easing traffic congestion in Metro Cebu, the project is also expected to create more job opportunities, enhance economic development and boost tourism, according to Mayor Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City.

The PHP28 billion project will also herald a road network in Cebu City. The Main Bridge will connect Shell Island in Cordova to the mouth of the Guadalupe River in Cebu City. It is not expected to become an obstruction to ships passing through the Mactan Channel and will be longer than the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Toll

MPTDC President Rodrigo Franco said a toll fee will be collected from motorists passing through the bridge. The toll fee will be based on the cost of the entire project. Initial proposals for the toll fee are between PHP82 and PHP89 for each vehicle. The bridge will also feature separate lanes for bicycles and motorcycles as well as provisions for pedestrians. 

​The plan for the third bridge spanning the Mactan Channel is good news for people who live or work in Mactan Island. Aside from easing traffic between the two islands, it will also pave the way for more jobs in Metro Cebu.

The Philippines is known for its colorful festivals that celebrate the feast day of the patron saint of a place. Food and drinks are in abundance during these festivals and people normally end up eating more than usual. Meat dishes of different kinds are normally served with the world famous Cebu lechon taking the spotlight on the table. But there is one town in Cebu where the vegetables reign supreme. 

Vegetable Basket of Cebu

The Utanon Festival of Dalaguete celebrates good harvest every February 9 and 10. The festival also celebrates the feast day of the patron saint of the town, San Guillermo. It is not surprising that vegetables are the focal point of the town festival since Dalaguete is considered as the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu.”

Dalakit Tree

The town of Dalaguete is located in the southeastern part of Cebu. The name of the town is based on the dalakit tree. During the ancient times, people used trees as landmarks where they gather for meetings, contests, and festivities, among others. There was one place in the area that became one of the sites of communal gatherings of residents. Since a huge dalakit tree stood at the site, people would tell each other “adto ta magkita sa dalakit” or “Let us meet up at the dalakit tree.” This became a common practice among residents of the area, which was unofficially called dalakit before the arrival of the Spaniards. This communal area became the site where a church was established and the town was later called Dalaguete.

Utanon Festival

The Utanon Festival of the town allows the residents of the town to show their appreciation for everything they received. It also is a way for them to look forward for a bountiful harvest in the future. The festival showcases the vegetables and crops through music and dancing during a parade in the town. It also promotes the vegetable industry of the province. 

Little Baguio of Cebu

While a tropical climate prevails in the town all year long, the mountain barangays of the town have a rather cold climate. In fact, Barangay Mantalongon is called the “Little Baguio of Cebu.” It is also considered as the “Summer Capital of Cebu” due to its cold weather. 

Getting to Dalaguete

You can start your journey to Dalaguete by taking a bus from the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. The trip to Dalaguete takes around three hours depending on the traffic.

​The natural wonders of Cebu have attracted the attention of tourists, both local and foreign. Due to this, Cebu is one of the top tourist destinations in the country.  Aside from the captivating beaches and exciting mountain resorts, Cebu is also home to numerous magnificent waterfalls, many of which have remained relatively unknown to people from other parts of the country and the world. One of these waterfalls is the Inambakan Falls in the southwestern town of Ginatilan

Inambakan Falls

The Inambakan Falls is just one of the waterfalls situated in the hometown of St. Pedro Calungsod. It is considered as one of the hidden treasures of the town. But the place does have some cottages where you can leave your bags while taking a dip at the pool under the falls.

​The waterfalls itself is around a hundred feet high and the catch basin has a depth of around eight feet. The Inambakan Falls is one of a few waterfalls in the island where the water loses contact of the rock wall near the point where it touches the basin. There is a small cave underneath the falls as well as large rock just behind the falls.

​For visitors who are not quite adept in swimming, it is advisable to stay a safe distance away from the falls. You should also wear a life vest if you decide to swim close to the falls. Just keep in mind that the force of the waterfall is quite strong.

Getting to the Inambakan Falls

You can get on a bus or van-for-hire headed for Ginatilan at the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. The trip to the town takes around four hours, depending on the traffic. After reaching the town, you can hop on a motorcycle-for-hire to the jump-off point of the waterfalls. Trekking to the waterfalls will take around thirty minutes. Walking towards the waterfalls will be a delight in itself since you get to see the beauty of nature. Similar to the trek to Kawasan Falls, you will also walk beside a river on the way to the Inambakan Falls.

​Since the Inambakan Falls is relatively unknown to outsiders, you can expect the place to be somewhat deserted if you go there. But this may change soon since it is gradually drawing the attention of nature lovers all over the island of Cebu.

​There was a time in the past when Cebuanos would watch the latest movies in standalone movie theaters. Friends, families and couples would meet up to watch a movie in these cinemas. While many of these standalone movie theaters have gone the way of the dinosaur, there are still a number that have stood the test of time. One of these movie theaters is Cine Oriente

A little bit of history

Cine Oriente was established in 1895 as a theater where Cebuanos would enjoy watching musical programs, stage plays, operas, and silent movies. During this time, it was called the Teatro Junquera. It also served as the venue for Gov. General William Howard Taft to speak before Cebuanos in 1901. 

Cine Oriente

The play “Ang Gugma sa Yutang Natawhan” of Vicente Sotto was also staged at the theater in 1902. In 1915, it was renamed Cine Oriente after it was purchased by Don Jose Avila, who later became the “Father of Cebu Cinema.” Cine Oriente was the foremost theater to show silent films in 1920. The musical drama Part-Talkie motion picture of Warner Bros “The Singing Fool” premiered at Cine Oriente in March 1930. This was the first time Cebuanos experienced a sound film in the Queen City of the South. 

​The theater was destroyed during the Second World War together with a good part of the city. But it was rebuilt in 1952 and Attorney Jesus Avila, the younger son of Don Jose, came into the picture (pun intended).  A fire in 1969 destroyed Cine Oriente again, but it was restored in 1971. 

Dolby Digital Surround Sound

The theater went through a major renovation and reopened with much fanfare in 1984. It went through another renovation in 1995 and the second theater gave way to the construction of a mall. Cine Oriente became the first movie theater to feature Dolby Digital Surround Sound in the Queen City of the South in 1996. 

Digital projectors offering high-definition quality viewing came to Cine Oriente after it went through another renovation in May 2013. The Colon Heritage Realty Corp. currently manages the Cine Oriente and currently offers the latest movies at an affordable price.

Cine Oriente today

While a lot of unpleasant stories have proliferated about the theater, the new management has made it a point to ensure the safety and comfort of moviegoers. Aside from the installation of the latest digital technology equipment, the management also equipped the theater with night vision cameras to ensure the safety of their patrons. The theater is also kept squeaky clean and security personnel keep watch 24 hours a day. The movie theater also has two cinemas with Cinema 1 accommodating 252 moviegoers while Cinema 2 can accommodate 188 movie patrons.

The theater also became the venue for a film festival for Cebuano filmmakers in 2014. Dubbed the “Lilas Binisaya (Visayan Movie) Film Festival, the event allowed Cebuano filmmakers to showcase their best short films in the Queen City of the South. The winner got a cash prize of PHP10,000 and a one-year scholarship at the  Film and Media Arts Conservatory (FMAC).

​Even with the proliferation of movie-streaming websites and competition from movie theaters in the major malls in the Queen City of the South, Cine Oriente continues to keep its tradition of offering the latest movies at a reasonable price in the Cebuano market. Cine Oriente is located at the corner of Legaspi Street and Colon Street.

Have you watched a movie at the Cine Oriente recently? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​While the whale sharks take the center stage when one goes to Oslob, this town in the southern part of Cebu also has something else to offer. The town has its own festival in honor of the patroness of the town, the Immaculate Concepcion. The Toslob Festival of Oslob has a rather interesting history since it started off as a festival in one of the barangays of the town.

Sadsad Festival

Originally named the Sadsad Festival, it started off as a festival in Barangay Poblacion. During this time, the festival was in honor of the patron of the barangay, San Roque, and was celebrated in March, the feast day of the saint. When the barangay captain became mayor, the barangay festival became the official festival of the town of Oslob. The celebration was also moved to December, which is the feast day of the Immaculate Concepcion. 

Sadsadayon Festival

The festival was later renamed the Sadsadayon Festival. The name comes from two Visayan words, “sadsad,” meaning dance and “dayon,” which means welcome. The term was used to highlight the hospitality and welcoming nature of the Oslobanons. It also shows that the Oslobanons continue to practice good values and traditions.

Toslob Festival

The Toslob Festival of Oslob features a ritual dance depicting how the town got its name. According to a story, during the Spanish era, two guardia civils or civil guards passed a couple on their way to the town. The two were soaking boiled bananas in vinegar and salt before eating them. When the Spaniards asked them for the name of the town, the couple thought the Spaniards were asking what they were doing. In response, they told the civil guards “toslob,” which means to soak. Due to this, the Spaniards thought the name of the town was Toslob, which eventually became Oslob.

​Contingents from different barangays in the town participate in the ritual dance competition of the festival. They parade across the town and eventually gather close to the Immaculate Concepcion Church.  The Toslob Festival of Oslob is celebrated every 8th of December, which is the feast day of the Immaculate Concepcion.

​Have you witnessed the Toslob Festival of Oslob already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

​When one talks about batchoy in Cebu, longtime residents of the Queen City of the South only have one store in mind, Carlo’s Batchoy. Carlo’s Batchoy was one place people go to have a bowl of steaming hot batchoy. The place drew in crowds from different walks of life, all of them have one thing in mind: to enjoy a bowl of original La Paz batchoy.

Different Variants and Sizes

The place offers different variants and sizes of the batchoy. There’s the Special Batchoy, Beef Batchoy, Spicy Batchoy and Super Batchoy. Their Spicy Batchoy comes in three levels of spiciness, which is great for people who like spicy food. In addition to the batchoy, Carlo’s Batchoy also offers breakfast meals, including the Pork Tocino, Longganisa, Corned Beef and Tapa. 

Meat and Vegetables

Vegetable-lovers will not be left out since the place also has a number of vegetable dishes on their menu, including Bicol Express and Chop Suey.  Carlo’s Batchoy also offers different types of pork dishes, such as Sweet and Sour Pork, Sizzling Sisig, Pork Chop, Lechon Kawali, and Crispy Pork.

Seafood Offering

The seafood items at the place include Calamares, Camaron Rebusado, Sizzling Shrimp, and Crispy Fish Fillet, among others. The soup items at the restaurant are not limited to the batchoy since they also offer Pochero, Hototay, Sotanghon Soup, and Siningang Pork. Families who want to have a meal at Carlo’s Batchoy can opt to have the Family Meal offerings of the place. They can opt to have the Chicken Family Meal, Crispy Pork Family Meal, or the Pancit Canton Meal. Prices of the menu items at Carlo’s Batchoy start at PHP55 up to PHP369 for the Sizzling Pochero.

​Way back decades ago, Carlo’s Batchoy was located across the Boulevard. It has expanded since then and has branches all around Metro Cebu. The branch along Osmeña Boulevard is now located at the former Boulevard, which is already a mixed-use commercial area.

​When was the last time you visited Carlo’s Batchoy and relive your glory days in the Queen City of the South? Tell us about your memories about the place on the comments section below.

​The Queen City of the South is home to a number of hole-in-the-wall eating places that have gradually made a name for themselves in the market. Some of these places include Burgaholic, King of Chicken, and Lumpia ni Senyang. These places have one thing in common: they offer great-tasting food at a reasonable price. There is another hole-in-the-wall eating place located right smack in the middle of the city, Row’s Batchoy House

Authentic Batchoy

Row’s Batchoy House is a hole-in-the-wall eatery offering authentic batchoy. Batchoy is a traditional Ilonggo dish that originally came from the La Paz district of Iloilo. It is made of pork offal, miki, scallions, golden brown garlic, a raw egg, and crushed chicharon. The recipe used at the place came from Iloilo itself. Customers can choose to have the Regular or Special batchoy while big groups may want to have the Super batchoy, which is served in a large bowl. 

​The menu of the place is not limited to this delectable dish from Iloilo. Row’s Batchoy House also serves pork and chicken barbecue, beef steak, chopsuey, and pancit canton to its customers.

The Place

The place itself is located at the ground floor of the house owned by the family of Romero Vergara, a well-known stylist and makeup artist. Normalita, the sister of Vergara, manages the place. The decorations add to the character of the place, which offers a rather homey ambience for its customers. 

​Row’s Batchoy House is located along F. Ramos Street, close to the Ramos Public Market. The place caters to people from all walks of life. It is not uncommon to see foreigners having a sip of the steaming hot soup of batchoy with locals at the place. For inquiries, you can get in touch with them through 0918-233-2456.

​Have you tasted the authentic batchoy of Row’s Batchoy House already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.


Editor's note: Also check out this review from The Garlic Rice Show on Row's Batchoy House:

​Cebu is home to the Sinulog, which is considered as the grandest of all festivals in the country. People from all over the country and the world flock to Cebu every third weekend of January to witness the Sinulog grand parade as the city dances to the beat of the drums. But the annual Sinulog Festival is not the only festival in the island. In fact, a number of towns in the island have their own festivals to celebrate a significant event in their locality. One of these festivals is the Sarok Festival in Consolacion.

Adlaw sa Consolacion

The Sarok Festival celebrates the foundation of the town of Consolacion. It is the main highlight of the celebration and features a street dancing competition among primary and secondary schools of the municipality.  The Sarok Festival was first celebrated in 1996 and was initially scheduled to be held on February 14. But this was changed after a resolution was passed to make it coincide with the “Adlaw sa Consolacion” celebration or the foundation day of the town.

Sarok

The term “sarok” refers to a head cover made from thin woven bamboo strips and banana leaves. It was first used by farmers in the 1920s to provide protection from the elements. The use of the sarok was necessary since the town was mainly made up of agricultural land and the main source of income of the residents is farming. Sarok-making is also a major industry in barangay Tolotolo. Most of the sarok makers live in this barangay, which is 20 minutes away from the main road. 

Sarok Festival

The Miligoy de Cebu, a published Filipino folk dance from the area, served as the inspiration of the musical concept for the Sarok Festival. Attractive costumes are worn by the participants with the sarok as the main prop for their presentation. Aside from celebrating the foundation day of the town, the Sarok Festival also encourages the preservation of the history and culture of the town.

​Have you witnessed the Sarok Festival already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

The Queen City of the South is home to a hodgepodge of nationalities due to its ideal location in the country. Aside from being the gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao, this little island in the middle of the archipelago also offers a good opportunity for visitors to show off their culture to Filipinos. And one of the best ways to do this is to give locals a taste of their food. 

​Sulbing Dessert Cafe

Cebu is home to a number of Korean shops offering the best-tasting food from the Land of the Morning Calm. One of these shops is the Sulbing Dessert Café. The main specialty of the café is the subling, which is the Korean version of the halo-halo. It is a well-loved Korean dessert made of ice shavings and different toppings.

​The café itself has a simple design with the products on display for customers to see. Aside from the sulbing, the Sulbing Dessert Café also offers fruit teas, fruits ade, smoothies, frappes and coffee. The café has different types of Fresh Fruit Sulbing, including Mango, Pineapple and Strawberry.  They also offer different types of sulbing good for two people, including Oreo, Mango Cheese, Injeoumi, Coffee, Milk Red Bean, and Affogato, among others. The café also offers different types of toasts, including Injeoumi Toast and Sweet Potato Toast.

​Prices

The price of the Fruit Tea at the café is at PHP140 while the Fruit Ade is priced at PHP160. The Smoothies cost PHP140 each while the Frappes start at PHP 145 for the Caramel up to PHP160 for the Cookies and Cream. The coffee offerings at the Sulbing Dessert Café are priced between PHP90 for the Espresso and PHP140 for the Caramel Latte. The Fresh Fruit Sulbing cost PHP300 for the Mango Sulbing up to PHP400 for the Strawberry Sulbing while the toast is priced between PHP120 for the Injeoumi Toast and PHP170 for the Real Choco Toast. On the other hand, the Sulbing offerings that are good for two people is priced from PHP200 for the Oreo Sulbing up to PHP400 for the Blueberry Sulbing.

Location

The Sulbing Dessert Café is located at the ground floor of Gaisano Country Mall, Banilad, Cebu City. They are open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day.

​The Sulbing Dessert Café is just one of the many Korean establishments catering to the growing Korean community in Cebu. The place also gives Cebuanos an insight and taste of the food offered in the Land of the Morning Calm. 

​Cebu has a number of places where you can spend the weekend to unwind. But many of these places are located far from the city. What if there is an oasis within the city where you can have a break from the stress and anxiety at work. Well, there is one place where you can loosen up and a have a bottle of your favorite brew without having to travel outside the city.

​The Ring Resthouse is an oasis for hardworking Cebuanos who simply want to have a place where they can relax and chill out. Situated in Sitio Chikosan, Banika, Lower South Hills, Tisa, the place is less than 30 minutes away from the center of the city. The place is perfect for family gatherings, school reunions, or team outings. It is also ideal for people who simply want to have a place where they can have a break from life in the city. 

Amenities

The Ring Resthouse features a pool for adults and kids, cottages, mini bar and rooms where guests can stay the night. The resthouse also has a magnificent view of the city, which is even more wonderful to look at when the sun sets over the horizon. The rooms at the place are air-conditioned and feature a queen size bed, refrigerator and television.  For music lovers, the soundproof karaoke room of the place is a perfect place to practice their vocal chords. The Ring Resthouse also has a barbecue grill and a shower area close to the swimming pools. The swimming at the place is open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. 

Rates

The entrance fee to the Ring Resthouse is at PHP110 for adults and PHP60 for children. The cottages can be rented at PHP350 from Monday to Friday and PHP500 for the weekend. Room rates at the Ring Resthouse is PHP1,900++, which is inclusive of breakfast, entrance fee and pool use for three people. A PHP200 fee is collected for each extra person in the room. Each room is limited to six persons.  Rental for the karaoke room is at PHP200 per hour. The Ring Resthouse has a limited number of cottages and these on a first-come, first-served basis.

​Corkage is also charged for drinks brought into the Ring Resthouse. The corkage for softdrinks and beer is at PHP100 and PHP150, respectively. Corkage for liquors is at PHP200. Guests can bring food without having to pay for any corkage.

Things to Remember

Similar to other resorts, the Ring Resthouse also has a number of house rules to ensure the stay of their guests is as enjoyable and safe as possible. These house rules include the following:

Getting to the Ring Resthouse

Guests have two options in going to the place if they do not have their own vehicle. They can take a taxi and inform the driver to proceed to Chikosan at lower South Hills, Tisa. They should pass by the Siomai sa Tisa store, Tisa Public Market and the Mang Tinapay store before they reach the place. If guest prefer taking a jeepney, they can ride one passing through Katipunan Street and get off at the Siomai sa Tisa store. From the store, guests can take a tricycle ride to Chikosan.

​The Ring Resthouse is a welcome oasis in the middle of the city. It is an ideal place for Cebuanos to enjoy their weekend without having to travel far from the city.