The Chinese influence in the Queen City of the South dates back before the Spanish era. Cebu’s version of Chinatown, the Parian district, was established to allow Chinese merchants to have a place to trade their products with the locals. Aside from the usual products from China during the pre-Spanish era, the Chinese also brought with them their food, which Cebuanos have grown to love. 

One of the food items popular among Cebuanos is the siomai or Chinese pork dumplings. This delectable dish has developed a following among Cebuanos. One particular siomai that has made waves in the Queen City of the South is the Siomai sa Tisa. 

The popular dish was originally made by Julie and Elmer Parba. It started off as a small business of the Parbas in 2001 and was sold by Jeffrey Quillosa, who had a small food outlet selling halo-halo in Tisa. Six months after the siomai was initially offered, it gained patronage among Cebuanos from nearly all walks of life. In fact, vendors have claimed the siomai they are selling comes from the company owned by the Parbas, Julmer Food Corporation. Since there a number of other stalls selling siomai in the city, the company created their own brand to distinguish it from its competitors. The name of the brand is “D’ Original Siomai sa Tisa.”

The popularity of the dish was so high, Tisa barangay officials used it to promote their barangay through the Siomai Festival. The festival promoted the barangay as the “Siomai Capital of Cebu.” The officials are also banking on the festival to bring in investments into the barangay.

The Siomai sa Tisa has its own unique flavor. The ingredients of the siomai include chopped pork, salt, and secret spices and flavoring. All of these ingredients are mixed together and wrapped in dumpling wrapper before being steamed. It’s a no-frills dish that does not contain vegetables, mushrooms or shrimp. It is typically accompanied with vinegar, lemonsito, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce. The latter is what makes the Siomai sa Tisa stand out in the market. The sauce is made of chopped chili pepper, minced garlic and cooking oil. It is normally paired with hanging rice or puso and Sparkle or any other soft drink available at the stall.

While there are many stalls selling “D’ Original Siomai sa Tisa,” nothing can beat eating at its source in Tisa itself. It will not be difficult to find it since both jeepneys and taxi drivers know where it is. You can simply hop into a taxi or jeepney headed to Labangon. You can ask the driver to drop you off at the stall.

The Siomai sa Tisa is a very affordable dish that is popular among people from all walks of life. It just shows how deep the influence of the Chinese culture in the Queen City of the South. Have you tried eating at the original location of the Siomai sa Tisa? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

Cebu is considered to be the center of trade and industry in the Visayas area since it is right smack in the middle of the archipelago. It is also home to the Pasil Fish Port, which is the main drop-off point of seafood in the Cebu. Due to this, Cebu has a good share of restaurants offering seafood dishes. One of these restaurants is Parr't EBelle.

Parr't EBelle is one of the more famous Su-Tu-Kil restaurants in the city. It is located just a stone’s throw away from SM City Cebu. For first-time Cebu visitors, Su-Tu-Kil is the method of cooking seafood: Sugba or to grill over charcoal, Tuwa or to boil in a soup and Kilaw or to soak the seafood in vinegar. The restaurant has a loyal following among locals and tourists and it has become one of the go-to-places for people wanting to have their fill of seafood at a reasonable price.

Since the place typically becomes crowded at lunchtime, it is advisable to go to the place just before the lunch rush or at around 11:00 AM. Aside from the al fresco area where one can dine outside, the restaurant also has an air conditioned area for diners who are not quite accustomed to the climate of the country. But, it should be noted that dining in the air conditioned area also comes with an add-on fee on the food you order.

The Parr't EBelle Seafood Restaurant has a suitable variety of seafood offering, including Blue Marlin and Cuttlefish, among others. For those who are not quite into seafood, they also have chicken and pork on their menu.  For people who want to bring a vehicle to the restaurant, they can park at SM City Cebu and simply walk over to the restaurant. If you come early, you may be able to park along the street in front of the restaurant. 

Parr't EBelle is one of the places seafood lovers should visit if they ever find themselves in the Queen City of the South. It is a great place to enjoy SuTuKil dishes at an affordable price. When was the last time you dropped by at Parr't EBelle? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Street food is ready-to-eat food sold by vendors or hawkers on the streets of many major cities around the world. These types of food are typically served in mobile food booths.

People may be familiar with the hawker stalls in Singapore, street side food in Hong Kong, and the night markets in Taiwan. Cebu City also has its version of street food sold in nearly all major streets around the city. The following are some of the more popular street food sold in the Queen City of the South.

Fish ball and tempura balls are one of the most popular street food in the city. Carts or stalls selling these types of street food are found outside schools and establishments in the city. Cheap and somewhat filling, they are typically served with sweet and sour sauce and vinegar filled with just about any spice you can think of. These are normally cooked in hot oil and served on a small stick. 

The sudden popularity of the Siomai sa Tisa may have fueled the increase in the number of siomai vendors in the city. This delectable Chinese-inspired dish is eaten with chili-garlic sauce and paired with puso. The Siomai sa Tisa started when Julie and Elmer Parba sold their products through the halo-halo stall of Jeffrey Quillosa. Within six months, it gained a huge following among Cebuanos around the city. In fact, this dish became so popular that vendors claim they are selling the same siomai made by the Parbas. Today, “D’ Original Siomai sa Tisa” is sold in stalls around the city.

Balut is a fertilized duck’s egg that is boiled and eaten straight from the shell. While it is popular in a number of Asian countries, it is not quite as enticing among Westerners. In fact, there was once an episode of Fear Factor where participants were given three minutes to eat two baluts. The balut is typically sold at night and comes in different varieties depending on how developed the chick is.

“No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. “ - Channing Pollock

What Channing Pollock said sums it all. To paraphrase the original slogan of a popular snack chip, “Once you crack you can’t stop.” The number of peanut vendors is only rivaled by the number of fish ball vendors in the city. Peanuts are either boiled in water or cooked in hot oil. These cheap ready-to-eat treats can be eaten at any time of the day.

Bananas are good sources of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for brain development. In fact, it is a good source of potassium, which helps athletes avoid getting muscle cramps in competitions. The banana sold as street food in Cebu are deep fried and coated with brown sugar. The cooked bananas are sold as either banana cue or pinaypay. People looking for a quick snack are the typical patrons of this cheap and delicious treat.

The most common street food in the city of Cebu is the barbecue. It can be found in nearly all corners in the city and more stalls are sprouting every month. This street food knows no boundaries as it is popular among all walks of life. It is eaten together with puso or rice, depending on where it is sold. The most famous barbecue place in the Queen City of the South is Larsian. The place is home to numerous stalls offering basically the same products. It has also become a tourist attraction where local and foreign visitors normally drop by when they visit Cebu City. 

Cebu can be considered a haven for food lovers. All you have to do is try to get out of your comfort zone and explore the different food items sold in the streets of the Queen City of the South. What is your favorite street food in Cebu? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

The “Grand Old Man of Cebu” is a revered figure in the Visayas area, and Cebu in particular. Sergio Osmeña, Sr. became the fourth president of the Philippines after he succeeded President Manuel L. Quezon, who died in 1944. He served as the Governor of Cebu, first Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President pro tempore before he became the leader of the Filipino people. Sergio Osmeña, Sr. is the patriarch of the Osmeña family of Cebu. He established the Nacionalista Party and is the first politician from the Visayas to become the president of the Philippines.

The memory of the Grand Old Man of Cebu lives on even after his death in 1961. The name has a ubiquitous presence all over the city. Be it streets, buildings or monuments. The most prominent structure dedicated to the memory of Sergio Osmeña, Sr. is his former residence along Osmeña Boulevard.  The building was acquired by the College Assurance Plan when it was put up for sale by the Osmeña family. Instead of renovating the structure, CAP decided to maintain its ambience and converted it into a museum. 

The Don Sergio Osmeña Memorabilia is home to personal mementos of the former president, including hats, coats, umbrellas, shoes, and suits, among others. The most valuable item on display is the black Cadillac used by the former president in a good number of official functions. While the Cadillac is already an icon in itself, the fact that it was owned by the first Philippine president from the Visayas adds to its prominence.

In addition to the personal belongings of the former president, the building also houses some of the memorabilia of General Douglas MacArthur. The former president accompanied the revered general on his return to the Philippines at the end of the Second World War.

Entrance to the Don Sergio Osmeña Memorabilia is free and it is open to visitors from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday.  The museum is also one of the places on the itinerary of the annual Gabii Sa Kabilin that is held on the last weekend of May.