Beaches are the in-thing for the summer. With temperatures rising, people have flocked to the beaches in the islands of Cebu and Mactan to cool off. But, there is actually one place you can cool off away from the crowded beaches these days, and it has one feature that you may not typically find in the province, a wave pool.

Yes, folks, a wave pool. And it’s located on top of a mountain. The Hidden Valley Wave Pool Resort is located in the mountains of Pinamungajan and its main attraction is its wave pool, which is a first in the entire island of Cebu. Located in the western side of Cebu facing the island of Negros, the municipality of Pinamungajan is known for its beautiful beaches, mysterious caves, magnificent waterfalls, and, of course, the first wave pool in the province of Cebu.

The wave pool at the Hidden Valley Resort in Barangay Lamac, Pinamungajan first opened its doors to the public in December 2014. And since then, droves of people have visited the place during the weekends, initially out of curiosity, and later to simply have fun in the wave pool.

The waves are created by an air blower powered by a generator and come in twenty to thirty-minute intervals. Pool users can expect the waves to come after a boat horn blares out a warning. When this happens, teens and adults typically run out to meet the waves.  The wave pool is big enough to accommodate around 800 people at the same time. 

The pool itself has two main areas, the mountain side area measuring around 1,800 meters where the waves would come crashing in and the “ocean” area where the waves would subside. Entrance to the wave pool is PHP 100. It should be noted that the wave generator is only turned on when at least ten people are in the pool. There is also a separate entrance fee of PHP 50 for the mountain resort, which is located adjacent to the wave pool resort.

The place also has cottages you can rent during your stay. Cottage rentals are between PHP 600 and PHP 2,000. They also charge a fee for food brought into the resort depending on the volume and type of food. The resort also has a grilling station that you can use to cook your food. And for those who find it cumbersome to bring their own food, the place has a food stall selling a variety of food items. 

You will have to hop on a bus headed for Toledo City if you want to go to the Hidden Valley Wave Pool Resort. If it is your first time, make sure to tell the bus conductor that you are headed to the Hidden Valley Wave Pool Resort so he can tell you when you get to the place where you can take a ride on a motorcycle-for-hire to the resort itself.  Travel time will be around two hours both for the bus ride and the motorcycle ride to the resort. 

Since beaches these days are getting crowded with vacation-goers and students waiting for classes to start, you may want to try exploring the waves in the mountains of Pinamungajan. We never know, you may take a liking for the Hidden Valley Wave Pool Resort and make it one of your summer destinations in the future.

It’s getting hot in here, and I wanna go to the beach. 

Even though its a few more weeks before the end of summer, it seems we’re are up for hotter days before the end of May. According to the Philippine Astronomical, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA, summer is expected to end by the end of the month and temperatures can reach up to 35 degrees Celsius, which is higher than its peak of 33 degrees Celsius last March 28. 

Due to this, people have been look for ways to find respite from the searing heat. Some have increased their water intake from a minimum of eight glasses per day to 10 to 12 glasses per day. Others have trooped to the air-conditioned confines of the big malls in the city while there are some who have opted to spend their hot summer weekend at to the beach. However, many of the beaches close to the city may be crowded since it is the school break after all. 

But, if you are looking for a place away from the crowds at a reasonable price, you can simply hop on a bus headed north and check out the beaches in the northern municipality of Catmon. Catmon is a town located in between the towns of Carmen and Sogod. It faces the Camotes Sea and is home to the second highest peak of Cebu    , Mount Kapayas or the Tore Peak. Catmon is also home to a number of beaches that can give big-name resorts in Mactan a run for their money.

The Recuerdo Beach Resort is a simple yet relaxing place to stay in when one wants to tale a dip in the beaches of Catmon. Aside from open cottages for day use, the resort also offers facilities for overnight stays. For visitors opting for the day use of the resort, they can come in as early as 6:00 AM and leave as late as 6:00 PM. 

Entrance fee for guests who are not renting a cottage is at PHP 20 while guests renting a cottage pay only PHP 5. Rental for the open half-cottage is PHP 250 while the open whole cottage is at PHP 500. Since rates may change without prior notice, you can call up the resort through (+6332) 430-9033 for inquiries.

The Huna Huna Cliff Resort is not your typical beach resort since you will have the feeling of being transported to a place in the middle of the Mediterranean. The resort has a Spanish-Mediterranean design offering magnificent views of the Camotes Sea. The resort offers a relaxing ambiance allowing you to think about the meaning of and everything else in between. The term “huna huna” means to think, which may be something you are inclined to do while staying in their rooms with a cliff-side view of the sea.

​The resort has six air-conditioned rooms located adjacent to the sea and six non-air-conditioned rooms situated on top of a cliff. Room rates are PHP 2,000 for the air-conditioned rooms and PHP 1,000 to PHP 1,500 for the non- air-conditioned rooms. Room rates are inclusive of breakfast for two persons. All rooms have their own private verandah where guests can sit back and relax while enjoying the calming sounds of the waves at night. The resort has an entrance fee of PHP 75, which includes the free use of the cottages. You can get in touch with them through (+63) 917-371-9741.

KM 47 or Hinagdanan Beach is the perfect beach for families or groups of friends who want to enjoy a day in the beach without forking out a huge amount of money. The beach is located at the bottom of a roadside cliff in Barangay Binungculan and is exactly 47 kilometers away from Cebu City, hence the name. When the beach initially opened in 1957, it was hardly accessible from the road. The owners of the property gradually chiseled the stairs connecting the beach to the road. While the beach area is rather small compared to other beaches in the island, the water is crystal clear.

The entrance fee to the beach is PHP 20 and cottages are available for rent at PHP 200. The place has no signage as the owners may have wanted to maintain the natural beauty of the place by limiting commercial activities. The place also has a suitable parking space for people bringing a vehicle as well as an area for cooking.

These are just some of the places you can consider visiting if you are planning to go to the beach before the end of the summer.  Have you visited any of these beaches? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

The rich cultural history of Cebu is evident in a number of heritage locations in the island. Cebu is the home to the oldest fort, oldest street and oldest church in the country.  Since the Queen City of the South does not have a grand museum to showcase its culture and history, a number of smaller museum were established in different parts of the city. The Casa Gorordo Museum is just one of these many small museums in the Queen City of the South. 

Casa Gorordo was the former home of the first Filipino bishop assigned in Cebu, Juan Gorordo. Alejandro Reynes y Rosales built the structure in the middle of the 19th century before it was purchased by a Spanish merchant named Juan Isidro de Gorordo in 1863. Four generations of the family lived in the house, including the bishop. After the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation acquired the property in 1980, the house was restored and converted into a museum.

The museum showcases how a typical Filipino home looked like in the 19th century. On display are paintings, religious relics, and antique furniture, among others. The Guest Room of the former Gorordo home features a four-poster bed with a canopy. A traditional 19th century kitchen is also showcased in the museum. It shows some of the items found in the house when it was still being used as the residence of the Gorordo family. 

Similar to other old structures, Casa Gorordo also has its share of ghost stories. Ghostly apparitions of one of the sisters of the bishop were reported in the past. The apparition typically appears at the courtship area of the property, in front of the chapel.

The National Historical Institute through Board Resolution No. 4 dated September 21st 1991 declared Casa Gorordo as National Historical Landmark. Casa Gorordo is located along Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City. It is within walking distance from the Cebu Heritage Monument and the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.

The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The entrance fee is PHP 10 for children, PHP 15 for college students, PHP 40 for adults and PHP 70 for foreigners. The Casa Gorordo Museum gives local and foreign tourists a glimpse of the rich cultural history of Cebu.

Casa Gorordo will once again join the annual “Gabii Sa Kabilin” or Night of Heritage organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Culture & Heritage unit. The event will be held on the night of May 27 and will cover 41 destinations in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay. The 10th annual Gabii Sa Kabilin will start at 6 PM and last until midnight. Ticket price is at PHP 150.

One of the destinations when one goes island hopping off Mactan Island is actually a part of the Province of Bohol. Pandanon Island is a small island located between Cebu and Bohol. Its immaculately clean water and white sand are temptingly alluring. The island has a small community living on one side of the island. 

The island features a number of picturesque views good enough for a photo shoot. The small chapel on the island can also serve as the backdrop of a pre-nup pictorial. A seemingly unfinished structure featuring Roman columns also offers opportunities for picture-taking.

Pandanon Island is a great place for swimming, sunbathing and other summer activities. The island also has facilities for playing volleyball. The beach is also wide enough for a short game of beach football. There are some has some basic facilities on the island, including a cooking area, cottages and a changing area.  The island does not offer any facilities for an overnight stay. The entrance fee to the island is PHP 150 per person.

If you want to go to Pandanon Island, you will have to hire a boat to bring you there. The trip to Pandanon Island typically takes around one hour. A number of travel agencies offer packages for anyone who wants to spend a day in the island. Rates can range from PHP 1,350 per person up to PHP 5,950 per person depending on the number of people in the group. These packages typically include the entrance fee, set meal, as well as pick up and drop off at your preferred location. Some packages include stopovers in other islands close to Mactan Island.

To maximize your stay in Pandanon Island, it is advisable to go there early in the morning. Since the island has cooking facilities, you can also bring charcoal and the food you want to cook on the island.

With just a few weeks to go before the end of summer, you may want to consider taking a trip to Pandanon Island and check out this small piece of paradise in the middle of the islands of Cebu and Bohol.

“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.” - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

While Filipino food does not share the prominence as some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, it does offer a distinctive taste that can rival the best in Asia, if not, the world. The same is true with Cebuano food, which offers a flavor unique to the island itself. There are a number of well-known food items made by Cebuanos and loved by Cebuanos all around the world. If you tried all 13 items on the following list, you can consider yourself as a true-blue Cebuano foodie.

Seafood has always held a special place in the heart of Cebuanos. This is evident in the number of different ways they prepare seafood: Sugba or grilling, Tuwa or stewing and Kilaw or mixing with vinegar. These three ways of preparing seafood resulted to the emergence of SuTuKil restaurants in the island. In the past, one would have to go to Mactan to have a taste of SuTuKil. These days, a number of restaurants around Metro Cebu started to include SuTuKil dishes in their respective menu. One of these restaurants is the Parr't EBelle, which is located just across SM City Cebu.

While Mandaue City is considered as the industrial capital of the province of Cebu, it does offer one of the best Bibingka in the planet. The Bibingka is a native delicacy popular among residents and visitors of Cebu. It is the Filipino version of the moshi of Japan. It is available in places typically visited by tourists. The unique taste of the Bibingka sa Mandaue comes from a key ingredient that ensures its freshness before the addition of the other ingredients, the manually-pounded rice. It is available in places where typically visited by tourists.

​This sinfully scrumptious delicacy comes from the City of Carcar. The chicharon-making industry started during the American period after a couple found out that pork boiled in hot oil tasted good. The Carcar chicharon has one very unique feature, the meat found on each piece. In fact, some people even eat this delicacy with rice as a meal.  Since it is made from pork and cooked in hot oil, it is advisable to eat it in moderation. 

Another southern delicacy that has tickled the taste buds of Cebuanos is the Torta sa Argao.  While some people said it is similar to the ensaymada, this sweet and tangy pastry from the south has one key ingredient that gives it its unique flavor, the tuba or fermented coconut. It is also cooked in a hot clay furnace, which enhances it distinctive taste. The Torta sa Argao is best paired with hot sikwate. While the Torta sa Argao is available in supermarkets, the best place to buy it is at the source itself, the heritage town of Argao.

The Peanut Browas is another true-blue Cebuano delicacy that is a proud product of the heritage town of Argao. It is Cebu’s version of the Lady Fingers and is individually-made through the same traditional methods used by Lola Pureza years ago. Residents and visitors of Cebu bring with them a taste of old Cebu whenever they take this peanut-shaped delicacy home. You can buy the Peanut Browas in supermarkets and pasalubong centers around the city.

The Siomai sa Tisa reflects the extensive Chinese influence in the food culture of Cebu. This Chinese-inspired food item started out as a small business of Julie and Elmer Parba. It quickly gained prominence among food-loving Cebuanos who would flock to the southern barangay of Tisa just to eat this simple yet tasty Chinese pork dumpling.  It is best paired with puso or hanging rice and dipped in a special sauce made of chili pepper, garlic and cooking oil. To make sure you are buying the original Siomai sa Tisa, simply look for a stall marked “D’ Original Siomai sa Tisa.”

​The ngohiong is the Cebuano version of the Chinese spring rolls. It may seem to be a simple lumpia, but it has a distinctive Cebuano touch. It is typically made of ubod, singkamas, onions, garlic, seasoning and a Chinese five-spice powder.  Similar to the Siomai sa Tisa, the ngohiong is best paired with the puso and dipped in either spicy or sweet and sour sauce. The best ngohiong place in the Queen City of the South is Doming’s, which is located inside the Fairlane subdivision in Barangay Guadalupe.

The Masi sa Liloan is another home-grown delicacy true-blue Cebuano foodies are familiar with. This bite-size treat is made from glutinous rice and has a sweet peanut filling. It has a similar texture as the mochi and has a distinctive taste due to its peanut filling. The town plaza of Liloan is the best place to find the masi. It is also sold at the Titay’s outlet in the town of Liloan.

The Tuslob Buwa got its name from the way you eat this dish. The name literally means “to dip into bubbles.” This is an exotic food unique to Cebu. It is simple to prepare. All you need to do is to boil pig brain or liver before adding the other ingredients, consisting of onions, soy sauce, oil and other seasoning.  It became popular since customers only have to buy the puso or hanging rice and simply dip it into the boiling mixture. It gained mainstream attention after budding entrepreneurs established their own Tuslob Buwa outlets in the city.

Orange Brutus is the first home-grown hamburger chain in Cebu established in 1980. It is home to the best sizzling charbroiled burgers in the Queen City of the South. The owners opted to charbroil their burgers to maintain a low cholesterol level. Aside from its signature charbroiled burgers, Orange Brutus also offers the best fresh fruits shakes and chocolate cake in town. The store is already an institution in the food industry of Cebu and continues to hold its own against bigger fast food restaurants in the market.

Another institution in the restaurant industry of Cebu is Ding Qua Qua. Ding Qua Qua is actually one of the brands under the Harbour City Dimsum House Co., Inc. Its most prominent food item is the Steamed Rice. The Steamed Rice of Ding Qua Qua comes in a variety of flavors, pork, beef and chicken. In addition to the steamed rice, the restaurant offers other dimsum items, including the Siomai, Empress Roll, Mandunggo, Chicken Feet, Crab Pincers and Spring Rolls among others. The Dimsum offerings of Ding Qua Qua is definitely among the food items true-blue Cebuano foodies recommend to visitors of the Queen City of the South.

Larsian is not your typical food destination in Cebu since it has become somewhat of a tourist destination. It is considered as one of the stops of visitors of the Queen City of the South. Larsian is a one-stop shop of sorts for anyone wanting to eat barbecued dishes. You can find nearly all types of barbecued food items, such as pork, chicken, liver, chorizo, chicken skin, and fish, among others.

The lechon from Cebu is not only the best in the country but the best in the world. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain cemented this status on “No Reservations," the popular travel-food show of the celebrity chef who said the lechon from Cebu is "the best pig ever." The herbs and spices used on the lechon from Cebu is the reason for its unique flavor. There are a number of places where one can get good lechon, including Talisay City and Carcar City. A lechon festival is held in Talisay City where numerous lechon are paraded on the streets of the city. On the other hand, visitors to the city of Carcar typically stop by their public market to get a taste of this delectable meat dish. The Cebu lechon can also be purchased from a number of lechon outlets in the city, including Zubuchon, CnT, and Ayers, among others.

These are just some of the food items true sons and daughters of Datu Lapu-Lapu would have tried at least once in their lives. These uniquely Cebuano dishes reflect the love of the residents of the Queen City of the South for great-tasting food. And taking cue from what Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said, when you eat all of the food items enumerated above, you are definitely a true-blue Cebuano foodie.

Would you have any other food items you want to include in the list? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Adventure-seekers in Cebu need not go far to get their adrenaline fix for the weekend.  They can drive over to the municipality of Liloan and check out what Papa Kits Marina & Fishing Lagoon has to offer. 

Located just around an hour’s drive away from the Queen City of the South, Papa Kits is an adventure park and resort offering an experience of a lifetime for its guests. The resort was initially established as a fishing and dining destination for local and foreign tourists as well as residents of the Province of Cebu. The resort was developed by the Menca Development Corporation, the same company managing Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary in Cordova, Mactan and the Estaca Bay Garden Conferences Resort in Compostela. 

Papa Kits offers land-based and water-based activities, including biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, ziplining and wakeboarding, among others. Two activities adrenaline junkies would love are ziplining and wakeboarding. The 800-meter zipline gives guests an aerial view of the resort as they zip past the mangrove area and across Silot Bay.  Wakeboarding is another activity thrill-seekers can try. The wakeboard facility in Papa Kits is the first wake cable park in Cebu. 

In addition to these adrenaline-inducing activities, guests can also try climbing a 40-foot wall, tackle the jungle obstacle course, or conquer their acrophobic tendencies at the hanging bridge. Guests can also opt to take a relaxing tour of the resort on horseback. A guide will help them steer the horse if this will be their first time riding a horse.

After all of these activities, you would definitely start to feel hunger setting in. You can try your hand at fishing by renting a rod and trying to catch your lunch. You can have your catch cooked or you can take it home for dinner later.  The resort also has a native restaurant offering fresh fish and other seafood for its guests, the Resto 1 restaurant. The Clubhouse is another dining area situated along Silot Bay that can host functions and celebrations. 

You can also book a room at the resort, which has six Superior Rooms, six Deluxe Rooms and one Family Room. The Superior Rooms are priced at PHP 2,500 per night while the Deluxe Rooms are priced at PHP 2,800 per night. On the other hand, the Family Room is priced at PHP 3,800. You can also book these rooms for Day Use, which has a different pricing scheme.

The resort is accessible to both public and private vehicles. If you are taking public transportation, you can ride jeepneys marked 25, 26 or 27 and get off just before the Liloan Municipal Hall. You can also tell the driver to drop you off close to the entrance of the resort. If you are using your own vehicle, you can take the national road and make a right turn just before the municipal hall. Gate 1 of Papa Kits Marina & Fishing Lagoon is visible from the main road. You can also pass through the Cansaga Bridge in Mandaue City. This route will take you through the North Coastal Road and once you reach the Catarman Bridge, you should see the Clubhouse of the resort. Gate 2 of the resort is located just beside the basketball gym.

Papa Kits Marina & Fishing Lagoon is definitely a place for anyone who wants some downtime from the hustle and bustle of city life. For more information, you can check out their official website or call them through (032) 505-4595.

Cebu is home to numerous mouth-watering native delicacies that can leave you wanting for more. One of these delicacies can be found in the southern heritage town of Argao, the Torta sa Argao.

The Torta sa Argao is a source of pride in this southern Cebu municipality. This is a sweet and tangy pastry that is considerably larger than a typical cupcake. The bits of sugar and grated cheese or raisins are testaments to the sweet tooth of the residents of this heritage town in the south.

While there are a number of recipes in making the Torta sa Argao, all of these recipes share some basic ingredients, like egg yolk, pork lard, sugar, salt, and fresh tuba. The tuba or fermented coconut is used in place of yeast. It is typically cooked using a native oven called hudnonan or a hot clay furnace. Some people say the Torta sa Argao is similar to the ensaymada, but the addition of its key ingredient, the tuba, gives the treat its distinctive flavor. 

The Torta sa Argao used to be served only during special occasions. It is one of the two indigenous industries in Argao that started during the Spanish colonial era.  Its popularity grew to a point where it resulted to the emergence of entrepreneurs in the town.

The prominence of this must-try delicacy from Argao also resulted to the changing of the name of the annual festival of the town. In 2011, officials of the town of Argao replaced the Pitlagong Festival of Argao with the La Torta Festival. The festival is held every September 28 and 29 in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. The festival has numerous activities highlighting the customs and traditions of the town.  While these activities focus on the cultural heritage of this town in southern Cebu, it highlights the practice of the residents of making this sweet pastry. The highlights of the festival are the ritual dance showdown and street dancing competition

The Torta sa Argao is best paired with another treat from this southern town, a cup of piping hot sikwate. Getting your hands on this scrumptious delicacy from Argao is now as easy as dropping by a supermarket. You can also hop on a bus headed for the town to have a taste of the Torta sa Argao directly from where it is made. 

​You don't need a silver fork to eat good food – Paul Prudhomme

Paul Prudhomme couldn’t have said it better, and aside from not needing silverware, you can also get to eat good food in places you least expect. One of the places you can visit for good food at reasonable prices is is the Duko Duko Eatery – Pochero & Native Chicken.

The Duko Duko Eatery – Pochero & Native Chicken is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located barangay Macaas in the municipality of Catmon. The popularity of the place was mainly due to word of mouth. It is a good place to stop for a quick food fix when you are traveling to the north of Cebu. 

If you’re coming from the city going north, the place is on the left side of the road. It is not easy to miss the place since you will see a good number of cars parked outside. This is especially true during lunchtime. That’s how popular the place is. In fact, some nearby resorts recommend the restaurant to guests looking for a good place to eat. 

As the name suggests, the place is known for its pochero and native chicken or manok bisaya. The pochero offered at the restaurant can rival the pochero offered in a popular restaurant in the Cebu City. Their native chicken, which is deep-fried, is as good as their pochero. Aside from these best-sellers, the restaurant also offers a number of Cebuano favorites, including dinuguan, lechon kawali, and balbacua.

Since the place is quite popular, it is advisable to drop by the place just before the lunch rush starts. This is particularly true during weekends when people would make the trip just to have a bite to eat. Prices are quite reasonable, especially when you get to taste their dishes. Duko Duko Eatery – Pochero & Native Chicken is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Have you been to Duko Duko Eatery – Pochero & Native Chicken in Catmon?  Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Cebuano foodies rejoice! An English Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur is planning to open a restaurant in Cebu. Jason Atherton owns three restaurants in London, the Pollen Street Social, Social Eating House and the City Social. These restaurants received one Michelin star each. He also owns three restaurants in Hong Kong, the Aberdeen Street Social, 22 Ships, and Ham & Sherry. These restaurants are typically packed with diners every night. In Shanghai, Atherton owns Table No.1 and The Commune Social. He also has one restaurant each in Sydney, Dubai and New York City. 

For those who have no idea about the significance of a Michelin star, the Michelin Guide is the oldest hotel and restaurant reference guide in Europe. It is a series of books published by Michelin of France. Michelin stars are awarded to establishments for excellence by a team of experts. Getting or losing a star can have a significant effect on the success of the establishment. One Michelin star is considered “very good,” two Michelin stars is equivalent to “excellent,” while an establishment that receives three Michelin stars offers “exceptional cuisine.” The Michelin star is essentially a stamp of fine dining quality. When the New York restaurant of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was stripped of its stars, he cried. He likened the loss of the stars to “losing a girlfriend.”

Atherton credits his hard work and determination to his success in the world of fine dining. He said in an interview with Lifestyle Asia he worked hard and continued to hone his skills while working for Marco Pierre White. He was aware that there were more talented chefs in the kitchen at that time, but his hard work and determination paid off.

His interest in the culinary arts started when he was around twelve or thirteen when they used to help out in a guesthouse of his mother in Skegness, a seaside town in Lincolnshire, England. He said he liked the way guests were happy whenever it was dinnertime. Due to this, he decided to become a chef.

He also revealed that he started dabbling in the kitchen when he was in school. Atherton said when he was given a choice of taking extra football classes or Home Economics in school, he was one of the boys who opted for the latter. While his excuse was to be with the pretty girls in class, he actually enjoyed Home Economics. 

Cebuano foodies may be wondering what made this successful chef decide to open a restaurant in Cebu. Well, as they say, behind every successful man is a woman and this woman is a Cebuana. You see, Jason Atherton is married to Irha, a proud Cebuana. Atherton said it was always the dream of his wife to bring the success of their restaurant group to her hometown.

The couple are working with Chris and Carla McKowen, who are both based in Cebu. The restaurant, the 70-seater Pig and Palm, will feature a main dining area, lounge area, tapas bar and chefs table. Architect Lyndon Neri is the man behind the design of the restaurant, which will open in June. Neru also designed three other restaurants of Atherton.

Chris McKowen said the restaurant in Cebu will feature European food complemented by the warmth of the Filipino service tapas style. McKowen added that it will be a casual dining restaurant with the sharing of dishes in mind. It will also have a cool bar lounge offering unique cocktails. 

Atherton said the restaurant will not be extravagant, but will be similar to 22 Ships. He added that nothing gives him greater joy than opening a Social destination in Cebu as his love letter to his wife, who is also the co-director of the company. Foodies will have something to look forward to next month when the restaurant of Jason and Irha Atherton starts offering delightful dishes to tickle the taste buds of Cebuanos.

English is the primary language in over fifty countries around the world, and Filipinos are considered one of the best non-native speakers of this universal language.

The relationship between the Philippines and the English language started during the American occupation of the archipelago. Over a century later, the Philippines is now considered a bilingual country as it recognizes the use of both Filipino and English for instruction and communication. This English proficiency is evident in the number of business process outsourcing companies or call centers in the country. In fact, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Philippines is the call center capital of the world. It has overtaken India on the top spot since the “English spoken by Filipinos is closer to Americans” than in India. A good number of these call centers are located in Cebu. 

Aside from call centers, this proficiency in the English language also resulted to the establishment of ESL schools in the Queen City of the South. According to applyesl.com, ESL or English as a Second Language is an English language study program for non-native speakers. In the program, each student is given special attention by the teacher as they try to learn conversational English, writing, reading, listening comprehension, vocabulary and the different nuances of the language. 

Cebu City is home to numerous ESL schools catering mainly to Japanese, Korean and Chinese students, among others. Many of these students come to Cebu to learn English since they receive good quality education at a lower cost. The following are some of the English language training schools located in Cebu.

QQ English is a Japanese-owned English as Secondary Language school catering mainly to Japanese students. While it offers online English education to their students, QQ English also offer offline English classes to students who come to the Philippines. The school currently has two locations. The first one is located at the eighth floor of Skyrise 4 in IT Park while the second location is at Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

Another institution offering English training to students is SMEAG Global Education. The language school has three campuses in Cebu. It prides itself as the biggest English educational institution in the archipelago with around 4,000 students graduating each year. SMEAG Global Education has a diverse student body with students coming from China, Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan, among others. Aside from offering English training to its students, SMEAG Global Education also offers other services, including TOEIC, IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English assessment.

The Cebu International Academy is an ESL professional language school established in 2003. The campus is located along AS Fortuna in Mandaue City. The teachers of the Cebu International Academy are required to take TOEIC and IELTS tests every month to ensure quality education for their students. It is considered as one of the most prestigious English language schools in Cebu and has received numerous awards from different organizations in South Korea. It prides itself of ensuring their quality of teaching at the highest level. In addition, the Cebu International Academy also works on curriculum development and enhancing teaching methods to facilitate the learning process among their students.

The EV Academy or English Village is another English language institution offering short-term English courses to adult students in Cebu. While the institution was established in 2002, the actual campus was set up in 2009. Its students come from different parts of Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, China and Taiwan. It prides itself as the first institution in Cebu to develop Intensive English Programs. The institution is also among the first ESL centers established in the Philippines. The EV Academy campus is located along Governor Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City.

With the increasing competition in the world today, it is essential to have all the necessary tools to remain one step ahead of everyone else.  One of these tools is proficiency in the English language. The proficiency of Cebuano in the English language has always been well-admired throughout Asia, which is one of the reasons why BPO companies and English training centers were established in the island.