Feeling the need for speed, but have nowhere to go to fill it? Well, the best place to quench this thirst for adrenaline is at Kartzone Cebu. Karting, kart racing or go-karting is a version of open-wheel motorsport that uses small, four-wheeled, open vehicles called karts or go-karts. It is typically used as a stepping stone for higher-ranked motorsports.

Kartzone Cebu is one of the places to visit for anyone who feels the need for speed. The facility was established in 2001 to meet the need for a place where motorsports enthusiasts can practice their sport. The track is 600 meters in length with a number of twists and turns that can test the skills of seasoned or novice drivers. 

The place currently features Go-Kart Rental and a Racing School. A number of Cebuanos who have figured prominently in national and international motorsports events started their careers at Kartzone. The facility is also the venue for kart racing as well as motorcycle and scooter races. In fact, it is considered as the most complicated track in the National Karting Series. Aside from races, a number of auto clubs hold their meetings at Kartzone Cebu. It is also a venue for team-building events, promotional activities and concerts.

For first timers, it is advisable to read the different Do’s and Don’ts posted on the wall of the facility. It is also necessary to understand that motor racing is a dangerous sport before trying it out. Drivers are required to wear a closed-face helmet when they drive a kart. If they don’t have one, they can rent one along with a balaclava or a head mask at the facility. 

A marshal will also brief drivers on how to use the kart, including the location of the gas and brake pedals. After the short briefing, the marshal will start the engine and drivers will have the chance to test their skills on the track. Once the drivers finished the number of laps they paid for, they can stop at the pit lane barrier where the marshal will turn off the engine. 

An eight-lap ride costs PHP 400.  The facility is also offering a weekday promotion where visitors can purchase a four-lap ticket for PHP 200. The promo is available from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM from Monday to Friday, except for holidays.  Kartzone Cebu is open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day. The facility is located behind the Sykes building along F. Cabahug Street, Mabolo, Cebu City. For more information, you can contact Kartzone Cebu through (032) 268-2553.

Have you tried testing your driving skills on the track at Kartzone Cebu already? Tell us about the experience on the comments section below.

Looking for a park where you can run and play with the kids on a lazy weekend afternoon? Well, you don’t have to look far since the Queen City of the South has its own park where you can jog, kick a ball around, or simply enjoy nature at its best. D’ Family Park was established within a 20-hectare property of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District in Talamban. 

The park is a first of its kind in Cebu City and as originally the concept of a former general manager of MCWD, Fr. Francisco G. Silva. The concept of the park initially emerged in 1993 and construction began through the help of Congressman Raoul del Mar in 1996. The park opened its doors to the public on May 8, 1999 and is currently being maintained and managed by MCWD.

D’ Family Park has a playground featuring swings, seesaws and slides as well as a number of cottages for rent, which makes it an ideal place for families to spend their weekend afternoons. In addition, the park also has a mini-zoo, wildlife sanctuary, and a botanical research garden. 

The pavilion and multi-function clubhouse of the park is suitable for events such as birthday parties, company gatherings and celebrations, among others. Joggers can also take advantage of the jogger’s path inside the park. The field of the park is big enough for a small pickup game of football, flag football or rugby. The place also has a swimming pool for children and adults, but proper swimming attire should be worn when using the pool.

The entrance fee at D’ Family Park is PHP 10 for children and PHP 15 for adults while entrance to the swimming pool is PHP 25 for children and PHP 35 for adults. The cottages close to the pool can be rented for PHP 100 while the ones close to the playground are available at PHP 150. Using the multi-purpose hall will cost between PHP 2000 and PHP 3500, depending on the length of use. The park also offers a sound system for rent at PHP 1000 to PHP 2000, depending on the length of use. To maintain the wholesome atmosphere at the D’ Family Park, drinking of alcoholic beverages and smoking is discouraged.

The park is also a good venue for pre-nuptial photo shoots and Cosplay events. A number of small sports events were also held at the place in the pat. For more information about D’ Family Park, you can call the trunk line of MCWD at (032) 254-5784. When was the last time you visited D’ Family Park? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​“Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.” - Khalil Gibran

The faith of Cebuanos is evident in the number of churches spread across the island. This is further highlighted by the religious festivals Cebuanos celebrate every year along with the different places Cebuanos hold in the highest regard. One of these places is the Langub Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The story of the Langub Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe started during the Spanish era when a wild chicken trapper named Ricardo Ramirez saw a flashing light coming from a cave that was known back then as the “langub na duha’y baba” or cave with two mouths in 1880. The cave was located close to a river called Sapang Diyot in Barangay Kalunasan. When he asked the other hunters if they saw the same flashing light he saw, they replied that they did not see anything.  

He checked the cave and discovered that an image of Our Lady was the source of the flashing light. The image was supposedly hidden inside the cave during the Spanish era since the locals were afraid that it would be desecrated by non-believers or the Spaniards would take it back. However, the locals forgot about the image before it was found by Ramirez.

The image was moved from its location on top of a naturally-formed rock close to a rock shaped like a basin to level ground close to the river and a hermitage as built on the site. Since the hermitage burned down during the Philippine-American War, the image was transferred to the Church of San Nicolas. A small chapel was eventually built in Kalunasan in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The wooden image is brought to the area during the annual fiesta and novena in the area. After the fiesta and novena, the image is returned to the church.

The significance of the cave was eventually highlighted since it served as the hiding place of the image. The cave was cleaned to allow the general public to visit it. After the cave was consecrated, it became a holy place for devotees of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In time, the path to the cave was developed to make it easier for devotees and visitors to reach the cave. The cave is big enough to accommodate thirty people at one time and is filled with religious memorabilia. Water dripping off a stalactite inside the Langub Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is believed to be miraculous. 

Since the Langub Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located in Barangay Kalunasan in Guadalupe close to the Guadalupe Church, you should get on a jeepney headed for the church. These are the jeepneys marked 06B, 06C, 06E, 06F, 06G, and 06H. Once you reach the church, you can simply ask the residents for the path going to the cave. 

Cebu is home to numerous natural wonders that have awed both locals and visitors of the island. Aside from white sand beaches and notable rivers, Cebu is also home to a number of magnificent waterfalls. The most famous waterfall is the Kawasan Falls. However, there are a number of lesser-known yet equally notable waterfalls in the island of Cebu. One of these is the Lusno Falls located in Ronda, Cebu.

The Lusno Falls in Ronda is still free of commercial activity, so visitors should not expect to see all the trappings of modern life. There are no cottages, no stores, and no comfort rooms. The place is also a bit secluded and there is a point where visitors have to hike to reach the falls itself. But, once they arrive at the waterfalls, all their effort to get to the place will pay off. While it is not as tall as Kawasan Falls, the natural rock formation and clear water of the Lusno Falls is still a sight to behold. 

There is no entrance fee to this hidden paradise situated close to the border of Ronda and Argao. Its untouched beauty will definitely be appealing to everyone who loves nature. The front of the falls features a pool where visitors can take a dip in. At least two caverns can be found behind the curtain of the waterfall. But, you should be careful if you want to go into the cavern since the rock formation is quiet slippery and the downward current of the falls is rather strong. 

Climbing to the top of the waterfalls may be a challenge since you only have branches to hold on to in your ascent. But, once you get to the top, you will be greeted by a blue-green pool that seems quite enticing to visitors. Local residents say the pool is quite deep and visitors are advised not to take a dip unless they are very good swimmers. But, it would be better to swim in the shallow part of the pool. Just make sure you don’t go to the area that it looks like an infinity pool since this is where the waterfall starts. You might find yourself unceremoniously brought down to the base of the falls by the current.

Getting To Lusno Falls

If you want to get to Lusno Falls in Ronda, you would need to take a bus headed for Ronda at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Just tell the driver to drop you off at the town proper. Once you get to the town of Ronda, you can hire a motorcycle or habal-habal to take you to the basketball court in Barangay Langin. From the basketball court, you can pass through a narrow pathway going to the falls itself. The trip will take around three to four hours depending on the traffic. 

The Lusno Falls in Ronda is a hidden paradise that has so far remained untouched by commercial activity. Due to this, visitors should make sure not to spoil its beauty by leaving trash all over the place. If you want to visit the Lusno Falls in Ronda, always remember to leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures and kill nothing but time.

While economic development offers a number of benefits for the residents of a city, it also brings with it some disadvantages, particularly to the health of the people. Over the past few years, Cebu has seen a dramatic increase in business and industrial activity that has enhanced the standards of living of Cebuanos. Cebu City is now one of the preferred places for people from the provinces to work in. With the increase population in the city, the need for vehicles also increased. Due to this, pollution in the Queen City of the South has gradually increased as well. 

But, residents of the city still have a place where they can take a break from the smog and fumes from the thousands of vehicles plying the streets every day. And they don’t have to go too far from the city. Betty’s Botanical Garden is located in Cantipla, Cebu City. 

In fact, the place where the garden is located is gradually becoming a haven for people who just want to get away from the stress of city life. The garden itself is home to a number of exquisite looking floral plants, both endemic and rare species. It encompasses six hectares of highland landscape where organic produce and other plants are grown. It is also a refuge for a number of endangered wildflowers and plants. Some of the endemic plants found in the garden do not exist anymore in other places in the island. Betty’s Botanical Garden is managed by Betty Abellana and features a lookout point where visitors can see the pocket forest of Tabunan. It is also possible to see the shoreline of Camotes from the lookout point. The place was one of the stopovers in a highland tour organized by the Cebu City Tourism Commission. 

Botanists and plant lovers would likely find themselves in paradise if they go to Betty’s Botanical Garden in Cantipla, Cebu. It is a welcome respite from the stress one can experience in city life. Have you visited Betty’s Botanical Garden already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

“Education has for its object the formation of character.”-  Herbert Spencer

Herbert Spencer essentially sums up one of the main features of PAREF schools here in Cebu since they aim to develop the character of the students through their interaction with the teachers, classmates and their parents. This is facilitated through collaboration among the parents, teachers and students. This unique collaboration actually serves as the guiding principle in all PAREF schools in the country. Aside from building the character of students, PAREF schools also offer excellent academic education that has resulted to numerous achievements by students of these notable educational institutions. Cebu is home to three PAREF schools to cater to the needs of the residents of Metro Cebu. 

PAREF Southcrest School

PAREF Southcrest School is the first PAREF school established in Cebu. This all-girls school has gradually developed its reputation of being one of the premier private schools in Cebu since it started in 1995. The educational philosophy of the school draws its inspiration from the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva. Personal formation for the students, parents, teachers and non-teaching staff is one of the highlights of the school, which is achieved through close collaboration among the parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, and mentors of the school. 

Since the school aims to provide a safe, caring, and positive environment for its students, all activities at Southcrest focus on cultivating virtues among the student population. Each student is also assigned a personal formation mentor who integrates all the learning experiences, habits and knowledge of the students. The personal formation mentor facilitates the processing of all the things that the students experience while at the school.

The students of Southcrest have received numerous awards in academic and sports competitions, including a first place finish at the 1st Inter-school Non-programming Robotics Competition, second place finish at the University of the Philippines Ecological Society (UPECS) Inter-High School Quiz Bowl, and second place at the Girls Division of the 1st Private Schools Developmental League Volleyball Tournament. In addition, the high academic standards of the school allowed a number of students to obtain scholarships in some of the top universities in the country.

PAREF Southcrest School is located along Governor Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City. For more information about PAREF Southcrest School, you can visit their website or call them through (032) 344 5042-44.

PAREF Springdale School

PAREF Springdale School is the second PAREF school established in Cebu. The school was established to meet the need for an all-boys school for the male pre-school graduates of PAREF Southcrest School. From its humble beginnings in 1996 when the school only had 29 students in its population, the school has grown to offer balanced and demanding academic and personal formation based on Christian ideals to over 400 students. The school aims to become the leading school in character formation in the south.

Similar to its sister-school, Southcrest, Springdale also provides each student with a personal formation mentor to facilitate the character formation of its students. The school aims to develop the twelve virtues of a Springdale gentleman in each and every student through regular classroom education, extra-curricular activities and the mentoring program.

The quality education offered by the school resulted to a number of accolades for the school. In addition, a good number of students were also able to obtain scholarships in the top universities in the country. The school is also known for its notable sports program that produced numerous local, regional and national championships in football, basketball, swimming, golf and karting, among others. These championships include the National Champions in Football in the Milo Little Olympics and Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association Champions in Football.

PAREF Springdale School is located along J. Solon Street, Lahug Cebu City. For more information about PAREF Springdale School you can visit their website or call them through (032) 232-2220 or (032) 2322234.

PAREF Southdale School 

PAREF Southdale School is the newest PAREF School in Cebu City. It was established in 2010 to provide quality pre-school education to the residents of Cebu. The school aims to forge children of character through close collaboration between the home and the school. Students are educated in virtues with the teachers acting as role models. Parents can also take advantage of the parenting education program offered by the school. While the school offers Catholic education, it is open to students of all religious beliefs. Since Southdale is a PAREF school, it also offers a solid character development program for its students.

PAREF Southdale School is located right beside PAREF Southcrest School along Governor Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City. For more information about PAREF Southdale School, you can get in touch with them through (032) 512-8535.

One thing distinctive feature of all PAREF schools around the country is its single-gender approach basic education. The single-gender approach starts once students reach grade one. The approach was initially the norm in education before the establishment of mixed or co-education. PAREF schools believe the approach offers numerous advantages for students, particularly in their formative years.  

“Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.” - James A. Garfield

James Garfield may want some peanut butter on his bread, but if he gets to taste a malunggay pandesal he may not want to look for anything else to put on the bread. The pandesal is an airy, soft flour roll that can be considered as one of the national dishes in the Philippines.

It is eaten by people of all walks of life, be it those living in high-end subdivisions and condominiums or those just earning enough to get by for the day. It has become a familiar fixture on the breakfast table of nearly all Filipinos around the country. In fact, some consider the pandesal as the “pambansang pang-almusal” or the national breakfast food, albeit unofficially.

The origin of the pandesal remains uncertain since the people in the archipelago were primarily rice-eaters before the coming of the Portuguese in the 1500s. Many Filipino historians are in agreement that Portuguese explorers introduced the first wheat-based bread during that time. However, the popularity of wheat-based bread increased during the time of the Americans when American wheat cost less compared to rice.

Fast-forward to the present time, the pandesal is already a part of the daily morning habit of Cebuanos, and Filipinos in general, around the country. Bakeries typically have freshly-baked pandesal ready for its customers early in the morning. It is best paired with cheese, mayonnaise & egg or ham & bacon spread over a piping hot cup of sikwate from Argao. 

But, this ever-present breakfast staple was given a new twist with the use of a simple yet nutritious vegetable commonly used for soup, the malunggay or horse raddish. The Malunggay Pandesal is the main offering of Budong Malunggay Pandesal, which was initially established in 2012. The malunggay pandesal is made by combining malunggay pulp into the dough before it is cooked into the pandesal. The malunggay in the mixture gives out a green fragrance that enhances the already aromatic smell of the bread. Aside from its sweet fragrance, the malunggay pandesal also offers a number of health benefits to anyone eating it. The delectable taste of this unique type of pandesal has people queuing at the store just about every single day.

The Budong Malunggay Pandesal is available in a number of branches of the store, including Canduman, along M.C Briones St., and A.S Fortuna St. in Mandaue Street. This nutritious breakfast staple can also be bought in Talamban, Cebu City; Consolacion; and Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

Have you tasted the Budong Malunggay Pandesal already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

The City of Carcar is one of the component cities of the province of Cebu. Aside from being a Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is also known for a number of delicacies Cebuanos long for each time they leave the island. The name “Carcar” brings to mind images of ampao, bucarillo, chicharon and, of course, lechon. These mouth-watering food items are synonymous to the City of Carcar and one of the best places to find all of them is at the public market of Carcar.

The public market of Carcar is located in front of the rotunda. It is divided into different sections, but the most interesting section is where the food is sold. One part of the market sells all fruits, snack items and the delicacies available in the city.  There are a good number of vendors selling budbud, bibingka, ampao, and bocarillo, among others at the market.

The chicharon of Carcar is also another delicacy you can find in Carcar. This tastefully sinful delicacy is one of the favorite snack items for anyone who passes through the city. In fact, as buses approach the city proper, a number of vendors would board them and sell their wares to passengers. 

One tip to remember: Wait until the bus gets close to the city before buying chicharon since the price of this delicacy goes down the closer the bus is to the city.

Another section has rows of vendors selling the famous Carcar lechon. The lechon sold at these stalls are cheaper compared to buying them in air-conditioned food shops in the city. You can either have the lechon wrapped or you can opt to eat it at the market with the famous puso of Cebu. While lechon makers use their own special sauces to bring out the distinctive flavor of their products, the basic ingredients are essentially the same. These ingredients include onions, garlic, spring onions and the leaves of an herb that can only be found in Carcar.

Traveling to the City of Carcar from Cebu City may take you around one hour, but the trip is worth it especially if you visit the public market to have a taste of the best the city has to offer. 

When was the last time you took some time out to visit Carcar? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Aloguinsan was once a barangay of Pinamungahan before it was made into a town through a Royal Decree of the Kingdom of Spain. The town is home to a number of tourist spots that attract a number of local and foreign visitors every year. Aside from the Bojo River Cruise, Hidden Beach and Hermit’s Cove, the town also has its own authentic organic farm that demonstrates how one can live sustainably through natural farming methods.

The Farmhouse is an authentic organic farm where visitors can have a green culinary experience through the organically-produced food it offers. Visitors receive a guided tour of the place where they pass by the livestock area, the vegetable farm, chicken coop and the tilapia pond. Visitors are also treated to a traditional harvest dance performed by the staff of the place. They can also see a demonstration on how banig is weaved and how to make puso. 

The tour of the Farmhouse may culminate in a hearty buffet of Chinese and Spanish-inspired dishes. The ingredients used on the dishes are taken from the farm itself, which means visitors get to eat healthy organically-produced meat and vegetables. The Cultural Heritage for Aloguinsan Tourism or CHAT manages the tour at the Farmhouse. You can also buy some of the organic produce at the Farmhouse if you want to start a naturally healthy diet at home. 

Getting To The Farmhouse

You can start your journey to the Farmhouse at the Cebu South Bus Terminal where you have to get on a bus bound for the town of Aloguinsan. Remember to tell the driver to drop you off at the Aloguinsan Public Market where you can ask for directions to the place. The place is within walking distance from the market.

The Farmhouse in the town of Aloguinsan is definitely a good place to visit for people who want to start a healthy diet of organic produce. Have you visited the Farmhouse in Aloguinsan already? Tell us about your experience.

There was once a time when residents of Cebu City said they were going to the plaza, it automatically means Plaza Independencia. But, these days, it may also mean going to a place somewhere in up in the mountains in Busay. 

Evolution of the Name

The name of the place went through a number of changes since it was initially established during the Spanish era. Back in the 1600s, the place was called the Plaza de Armas since it was a place where the military trained and held ceremonies. An expansion of the area resulted to renaming the place into Plaza Mayor before it was developed and named in honor of the Queen Regent of Spain. During this time it was renamed to Plaza Maria Cristina. 

With the coming of the Americans, the place was called the Plaza Libertad to commemorate the sweat and blood Filipinos shed to gain freedom from the Spaniards. It was ultimately called the Plaza Independencia to honor the independence of the country from colonialism. Plaza Independencia is situated between two other notable tourist sites in the city, Fort San Pedro and the Casa del Gobierno de Visayas. 

Revitalizing the Plaza 

There was a period when Plaza Independencia became the haven of lawbreakers, who would take advantage of locals and foreigners alike, since it the place did not have any functional lamps at night. Due to the situation, the Cebu City government temporarily closed the plaza to renovate it in 2007 following the completion of the road tunnel project leading to the South Road Project. By the time it reopened on May 8, 2011, Plaza Independencia was given a new lease in life. It was revitalized and became a safe place for families to spend a weekend afternoon together. It became conducive for event and activities aimed at enhancing the tourism efforts of the local government. In fact, it was the main hub for the annual Gabii sa Kabilin.

The white obelisk of Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi is situated in the middle of the plaza. A bronze statue of Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh president of the Republic of the Philippines can also be found in the plaza. To honor the courage and heroism of the World War 2 veterans, a v-shaped Veterans’ Memorial monument was erected facing the building of the Philippine Ports Authority. Benches were also installed to provide visitors a place to sit while enjoying the sights and sounds of the place. Palm trees and carabao grass were planted to complement the age-old acacia trees standing guard over the Plaza Independencia.

Aside from being one of the stops of tourists wanting to see the sights in the Queen City of the South, Plaza Independencia has also become the venue of a good number of cultural and political activities. It is also one of the places residents spend their weekend with their families.

When was the last time you visited Plaza Independencia? Tell us about it on the comments section below.