Cebu has had its share of notable persons in the history of the archipelago. From the first native chief to lead his men against a foreign invader to a president of the archipelago, Cebu has produced a number of notable personalities who claimed some prominence in local and international scene. 

Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-Lapu was the ruler of Mactan who is considered as the first Philippine hero since he was the first native who fought the Spanish invaders. He led his men against the Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. The death of Magellan on the shores of Mactan delayed the colonization of the archipelago by around four decades. Monuments were built in Manila and Cebu while his image is found on the seals of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Police.

Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

Sergio Osmeña, Sr. became the first president of the Philippines from the Visayas after the death of President Manuel L. Quezon in 1944. Prior to becoming the president of the country, Osmeña served as the Governor of Cebu in 1906 until 1907. He was also the first Speaker of the House of Representative of the Philippines. Osmeña was also a senator of the Philippines for thirteen years before being nominated to become the running mate of Quezon in 1935. Sergio Osmeña, Sr. is also the patriarch of the Osmeña family. 

Gabriel “Flash” Elorde

Gabriel “Flash” Elorde was a professional boxer and a native son of Bogo. A cultural and sports icon, Flash is among the best boxers in the history of the Philippines. He won the World Junior Lightweight belt in 1960 and was inaugurated as the WBA and WBC lightweight champion in 1963. He was the longest reigning junior lightweight champion. The style of the Filipino southpaw was described as "subtle little temple-dancer moves" by American sports writer Robert Lipsyte. He was the first Asian to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 

Marcelo “Celing” Fernan 

Marcelo “Celing” Fernan was the third Filipino who held the highest position in the judicial and legislative branches of the country. He became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 1988 and became the Senate President in 1998. The Cebu native also ran for the second highest post in the country in the 1992 elections as the running-mate of then-House Speaker Ramon Mitra. The second bridge connecting Mactan Island with the island of Cebu was named after Fernan. 

Pilar Pilapil

Pilar Delilah Veloso Pilapil was an actress who represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe in 1967. Born in Liloan Cebu, Pilapil received a number of movie offers after she won the Binibining Pilipinas in 1967. She was a notable actress who has two best acting awards under her belt. The foundation she established, Pilar Pilapil Foundation, provides assistance to abuse and battered women.

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier is the daughter of Michel J. Lhuillier and Amparito Llamas Lhuillier. She rose to prominence after her dresses were worn by a number of American actresses attending the Emmy Awards n 2004. Britney Spears also took a liking for her bridal dress designs. She opened her first store in Los Angeles in 2007 while her New York store opened in 2012. She was given the Presidential Medal of Merit by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006. Some of the prominent US celebrity clients of Lhuillier include Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Swift, and Gwyneth Paltrow, among others. 

Kenneth Cobonpue

Kenneth Cobonpue is an industrial designer whose furniture designs made an appearance in a number of Hollywood movies, such as Ocean’s 13. The Cebuano designer has a number of prominent personalities in his list of clients, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Queen Rania of Jordan and Queen Sophia of Spain.

There are many other Cebuanos who have made a name for themselves in the local and international scene.  Their achievements have become the source of pride for all Cebuanos around the world.

“Those were the days, my friend, we thought would never end. “

The past few decades saw significant developments in the Queen City of the South. These developments have changed the landscape of the city to a significant degree. In fact, people who grew up in Cebu may be able to recall some places and events in the city that have faded into the past. Here is a list of ten things you would know if you grew up in Cebu.

Back in the 80s, Cebu City had two popular movie houses located a few meters away from each other, Belvic and Century 21. These movie houses would try to outdo the other by offering the latest movies in Cebu. Remember the time when a number of teeny-bopper movies were shown in these cinemas and the lines would stretch down to the ground floor. The movie house itself would be packed to the brim. Those unluckily seated in the front row of the orchestra section would have a bad case of stiff neck at the end of the movie. A hotel now stands at the location where Belvic Theater used to be situated while Century 21 was replaced by a building housing a number of BPO companies. 

Rustan’s and White Gold 

Rustan’s used to be located along Mango Avenue in the same building where a bar currently stands while White Gold was located right in front of the White Gold House. These were the two places where the young and young at heart would hang out. The best place to hang out in Rustan’s was the basement section where the comics were displayed and, of course, Yum Yum Tree. White Gold was famous for its computer game where shoppers can get the chance to win different prizes by inputting numbers on a computer. 

Coney Island 

Cebu used to have an ice cream shop that sold unique flavors of this comfort food. Among the favorites at Coney Island were Bubblegum, Pistachio and New York! New York! Coney Island also offered and ice cream sandwich called the Eskimo Roll. The Trillana-De Ocampo family was the owner of the Seamark Enterprises, which was the company behind the Coney Island brand. The company was bought out by Purefoods in 1991 before the brand eventually disappeared from the market. 

Afternoon Disco

Long before clubbing and bar-hopping came to Cebu, there was the afternoon disco. Some of the more popular destinations were Balls Disco along Mango Avenue, Bai Disco at the former Cebu Plaza Hotel, and Hot Gossip at the carpark of Robinson’s Fuente. These events were held on Saturdays and students from different schools in the city would flock to these places to enjoy an afternoon at the disco.

Hadsan Beach Resort and Duawon Beach Resort

Before Portofino, a trip to the beach meant a trip to Hadsan in Mactan. The entrance fee was quite affordable that students would typically have the place on the top of their list whenever they feel the need to go to the beach. Aside from Hadsan, Cebuanos also flocked to Duawon Beach Resort Another place where Cebuanos used to go during the summer. While Hadsan had a long beachfront and a wide shallow area, the shallow area of Duawon was rather limited. 

No Traffic

The recent traffic woes in the city evokes memories when getting stuck in traffic meant the car is not moving for more than thirty seconds. Decades ago, traffic was essentially nonexistent in the Queen City of the South. There were rare occasions when traffic does occur, but this happens once in a blue moon. 

The Village

Cebu IT Park was once the home of a go-to-place for partygoers in the city of Cebu. The Village was located in the exact same spot where The Walk is currently standing. The Village was the entertainment hub of Cebu back in the day, before it closed down.
 
Bump Cars at Merry Mart

Before Bibo and Time Zone, Cebu had Merry Mart. Merry Mart was once one of the go-to-places when it comes to entertainment due to the video game arcade and, of course, the bump cars. First timers would be wary of riding a car that draws electricity flowing from the steel matting ceiling to the conductive floor, but once they get the hang of it, they would enjoy every minute of the ride. 

Pope John Paul II (now St. John Paul the Great) Visits Cebu

Way back in 1981, Cebu was one of the stopovers of the late Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul the Great. People lined up the streets as the motorcade of one of best-loved popes passed by.  The Pope celebrated an open-air mass at the tarmac of the old Lahug Airport where the Cebu IT Park now stands. People who were present and those who watched him pass by definitely felt blessed after they saw the Pope.

Local Ground

Back in the day, local bands ruled Cebu. The 90s up until the early years of the new millennium saw concerts featuring bands from different parts of the metro. These concerts, popularly called Local Ground, brought into the consciousness of Cebuanos bands like BTU, Raw Belief, ETU, 40 The Band, The Ire, Johnnie and The Walkers, Cueshe, SRO, Medusa Taciturn and Cattski, among others. The concerts were held at the SHS-B Gymnasium, USC Boys High Football Field, Aznar Coliseum and the multi-purpose hall of the former Southern Islands Medical Center close to Fuente Osmeña.  

These are just ten of the things you would know if you grew up in Cebu. As the song goes, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought would never end.” What are the other things you can still remember while you were growing up in the Queen City of the South? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Bantayan Island is home to a number of exquisite white sand beaches that have attracted tourists from around the world. The white sand beaches in the island can be considered as among the best the Pearl of the Orient can offer and is one of the preferred destinations by many local and foreign tourists during the summer season.  One of these beaches is Sugar Beach in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island.

The fine grain of the sand of Sugar Beach is the reason behind its name. In fact, it is so fine that visitors would not feel as if they are walking on sand while going around barefoot along its vast expanse. The same can be said while swimming since it does not have any sharp rocks or corals in the area. 

While the place becomes a bit crowded during the Holy Week, Sugar Beach is generally quiet outside of this season. Due to this, Sugar Beach is a good place for some down time after a whole week at work in the city.

Accommodations 

The Sugar Beach Resort manages Sugar Beach, which is open to the general public. The facilities at the Sugar Beach Resort are rather basic. The place offers open cottages and rooms for visitors who may want to stay a while at the resort. Visitors could also rent a tent if they want to sleep on the beach. While the super typhoon damaged many of the cottages, a good number of them have been repaired. It should be noted that the place does not have a restaurant, but visitors can opt to buy the ingredients and have their dishes cooked by the staff of the resort at a minimal charge.

Getting To Sugar Beach 

If you want to go to Sugar Beach, you should take a bus headed to the Hagnaya Port before taking a ferry to Sta. Fe. From the port in Sta. Fe, you can hire a motorcycle or hop on a tricycle to the Sugar Beach Resort.

Even though much of the island was damaged when Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc in the Visayas, many of the resorts in Bantayan Island have recovered, including the Sugar Beach Resort. With is white sand beach and tranquility, Sugar Beach is indeed one of the best places one can enjoy some peace and quiet away from the fast pace of life in the big city.

While it is a popular destination for local and foreign tourists, Panagsama Beach is not much of a beach anymore. The beach was actually washed off during a typhoon in 1984. The beach is also known as Basdiot, which comes from two Cebuano words, bas, which means sand, and diot, which means little. The name basically describes the beach itself, which does not have much sand left.

Due to this, the resorts at Panagsama Beach cater mainly to divers, both local and foreign. The shoreline of the beach is essentially made up of rocks and corals. The end of the coral drops off into an abyss that makes the place an ideal place for divers who do not have to go far to explore the world under the sea. 

The place actually became a favorite destination among backpackers in the 70s when there were only a small number of places to stay in. During this time, the place still had a suitable amount of sand for ordinary swimmers and beachgoers. However, a typhoon in 1984 washed away most of the sand and was not be replaced by the locals. As a result, the place catered mainly to snorkelers and divers. 

A number of resorts are currently located at Panagsama Beach. While a good number of these resorts have rates aimed mainly at moneyed, there are also a number offering accommodations that is easy on the budget. Some of the foreign visitors who have taken a liking for the place would stay months on end while a number of foreigners have fallen in love with Panagsama Beach so much that they are already living there.

Where To Stay At Panagsama Beach

Since Panagsama Beach was already a favorite destination for backpackers, the place is already home to a number of resorts catering to both local and foreign visitors. Some of these resorts are the Tipolo Beach Resort, Loves Beach and Dive Resort, Pacitas Beach Resort, Moalboal Backer Lodge, Hannahs Place, Sole E Mare Beach Resort, Cabana Beach Resort, and Panagsama Beach Resort, among others.

Getting To Panagsama Beach

Going to Panagsama Beach will require travelers to ride a bus headed for the town of Moalboal. It is important for you to tell the driver or conductor to drop you off close to the place where you can catch a motorcycle ride going to Panagsama Beach. While it is also possible for you to catch a ride from the town itself, the fare will be higher compared to hiring a motorcycle from the main highway.

While Pescador Island is typically the main destination among divers who want to explore the underwater world, Panagsama Beach offers a similar experience without having to hire a boat. Even though the beach was reduced due to a typhoon in 1984, it may have been a blessing in disguise since it essentially enhanced the appeal of Panagsama Beach among tourists looking for a place where they can either snorkel or dive. 

Have you been to Panagsama Beach already? Tell us about your experience through the comments section below.

When South Bend Electronics released the Star Trek Electronic Phasers toy into the market in 1979, people started playing the game of laser tag. The game is played using lasers and infrared-sensitive targets. The targets are typically worn by the players while the lasers are used to hit the targets of opponents.  The game is similar to airsoft and paintball, but without the paint since there is no projectile involved. In fact, the game is safe to play since some arenas prohibit roughhousing while playing. 

In November 2014, the first laser tag arena opened its doors to the Cebuano market at Parkmall. Laser Blitz is an indoor combat game where players wear a special vest and use a laser tag phaser to “shoot” their opponents. The objective of the game is to tag opponents by shooting the vest. It can be played as a one-on-one game or in teams. 

Equipment 

The equipment used at Laser Blitz is the same equipment that was given the Endace Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product award in 2014 at the New Zealand Hi-Tech awards. The place has become a popular destination for teenagers, young adults as well as adults. The game gives couch potatoes the opportunity to exercise as they play out games they normally play on a PC or game console. 

Rates

Weekday rate for each player per game is PHP 150 while weekend rate is at PHP 180. The place is also offering a package of PHP 6,600 for 44 tickets on weekdays, which includes free use of the function room for three hours, an electronic invite and backdrop. The same package is priced at PHP 7,980 on weekends. A 66-ticket package is offered at PHP 9,900 and PHP 11,880 for weekdays and weekends, respectively. On the other hand, another package is available for 88 tickets at PHP 13,200 and PHP 15,840 for weekdays and weekends, respectively.

Games 

In addition to laser tag, the facility also has an indoor trampoline park, wall climbing facility, ninja arena, parkour walls, foam pit, and slam ball facility, among others. Laser Blitz is located inside the Extreme Aeropark at the second level of Parkmall along Ouano Avenue, Mandaue City and is open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM from Monday to Sunday.

Have you played laser tag at the Extreme Aeropark at Parkmall already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

Cebu has a number of relatively-undiscovered beaches where one can enjoy some down time from the stress of city life. One of the beaches is situated in the municipality of Badian. While the most famous tourist spot of this small town in the southwestern side of Cebu is the Kawasan Falls, it is also home to a number of exquisite white sand beaches, one of which is Lambug Beach. 

Lambug Beach is located in Barangay Lambug and is slowly becoming popular for people looking for a place where they can spend the weekend in relative peace. The white sand beach f the place may not be as fine as the ones found in some of the more popular tourist spots in the archipelago, but it still feels soothing while walking on it sans shoes or sandals. The place has little commercial activity aside from some resorts and small stores that have opened to cater to the needs of visitors. 

Accommodations

Even though Lambug Beach is not as popular as other beaches in the island of Cebu, there are a number of places where visitors can spend the night. Some of these resorts include Magic Beach Resort and Grandeur Beach Resort, among others. Room rates range from PHP 1,500 to PHP 3,500 for an overnight stay depending on the number of people staying in the room. For penny-pinchers, they can simply bring their own tents and pitch them on the beach. 

Getting To Lambug Beach

It is necessary to hop on a bus plying the Cebu to Bato (via Barili) route to get to Lambug Beach in Badian. Just make sure to tell the driver or conductor to drop you off at the drop off point going to the beach. From here, you can ride a tricycle to the beach, which actually passes close to the Cebu International Golf and Dive Resort. 

Things To Consider

Since the place is a way off the town proper, it is advisable to buy prior to going to the beach. While there are some stores in the area, they may not be selling some oft-overlooked essentials like shampoo, soap, toothbrush or toothpaste. Check the weather before going to the place since it may not be advisable to pitch a tent at the beach when the wind is strong . . . go figure.

The municipality of Moalboal is known mainly for its excellent dive sites. The place has become one of the best dive sites in the island of Cebu. In addition to the dive sites, the town is also home to numerous white sand beaches where people normally flock to during the summer. One of these beaches is Basdaku or White Beach. 

Basdaku is a kilometer long stretch of white sand beach facing the island of Negros. The name Basdaku comes from two Cebuano words, “bas,” which means sand, and “daku,” which means big. Aside from being one of the places where residents of the town typically go to whenever they feel the need to take a dip, Basdako has become a popular destination for local and foreign tourists.  This is evident in the number of resorts established in the area. For penny-pinching beach bums, they can set up tents on the beach or sleep under the night sky on mats. The place has a number of cottages for rent for visitors who may want have a place where they can rest or have a bite to eat after frolicking in the clear waters of Basdaku.  

Getting To Basdaku

The journey to Basdaku in Moalboal starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. All you need to do is to hop on a bus headed for the town. Before reaching the town, you can tell the conductor to drop you off along the road heading to the beach. Once you reach the place, you can hire a motorcycle to bring you to the beach itself. You can also opt to go to the town proper and get a ride from there, but expect the fare to be higher compared to getting a ride from the highway. 

Places To Stay

A good number of resorts were established in Basdaku due to its increasing popularity. The following are some of the resorts you can stay in while in Basdaku: Basdaku Beach Resort, HK Beach Resort, Ravenala Resort, Delgado’s Beach House and Club Serena Resort. You can also opt to rent a tent and sleep on the beach itself. A good number of visitors normally bring their own tents and set them up on the beach.

It is important to take into account that the place can become rather crowded during the summer, especially during weekends. Due to this, it may be advisable to go to Basdaku on a weekday and before or after the summer season. Basdaku is just one of the many places where visitors can frolic in the beach in the island of Cebu.

Cebu can be considered a paradise located in the middle of the archipelago. Blessed with beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains and other natural attractions, Cebu is definitely an oasis offering just about anything for anybody. The surrounding islands of Cebu also offer the same natural wonders that are known around the world. One of these islands is Malapascua Island.

Malapascua Island is located off the northern tip of Cebu and is home to a number of beautiful beaches that can rival the best in the world. But, the popularity of the island does not come from what you can see above the water line since it is more known for the underwater treasure it holds in the areas surrounding it. The island is famous for the marine life and Japanese shipwrecks from the Second World War.

When people mention Malapascua Island, images of thresher sharks, manta rays and white-tip sharks immediately come to mind. In fact, the island was once listed as one of the best learn-to-dive destinations in the world by the Lonely Planet. The best place to see thresher sharks is the Monad Shoal, which is a natural cleaning station for fish. The thresher sharks are typically seen at the shoal removing ectoparasites from their skin just before sunrise. In addition, eagle rays and devil rays can also be spotted at the shoal while hammerheads and manta rays occasionally drop by. 

Due to this, the island has become a major tourist destination with a number of restaurants, resorts and dive shops sprouting like mushrooms all over the place. Divers from all around the world have flocked to the island to get the chance to have an up close and personal encounter with the marine life surrounding Malapascua Island. Despite this, the place still maintained its tropical island charm where people can sit back and relax while enjoying the best nature has to offer. 

Activities At Malapascua Island

Diving is the most popular activity at Malapascua Island. Its rich underwater marine life has become the main draw among the visitors of the island. This is evident in the number of dive shops in Malapascua Island, which is suitable for beginners to advanced divers. In addition to diving, visitors can also go snorkeling and swimming. There are a number of spots on the island suitable for snorkeling. One of these spots is a shallow wreck located close to the lighthouse. You can also go island hopping to a number of smaller islands close to Malapascua Island.  Or you can simply have a relaxing day on the beach soaking up the sun with a book on one hand and a cool bottle of your favorite drink on the other. 

Where To Stay 

While Malapascua Island continues to maintain its tropical island charm and laidback life, there are a number of places where visitors can stay in relative comfort. These places are Slam’s Garden Resort, Tepanee Beach Resort, Ocean Vida Beach and Dive Resort, Buena Vida Resort and Spa, Malapascua Exotic Island Dive and Beach Resort, Hippocampus Beach Resort, Hotel Celtis Resort, and Bounty Beach Cocobana Resort.

Getting To Malapascua Island

You can catch a bus from the Cebu North Bus Terminal headed to Maya Port. Travel time from the bus terminal to the port is around six hours. Once you reach the port, you can take a 30-minute boat ride to the island itself.

Malapascua Island was once touted to be the next Boracay, but a good number of foreigners who have made the island their home disagree. The island still retains its tropical island charm and has continued to draw in visitors each year. Due to this, Malapascua Island has become one of the places Cebu can be proud of.

Home-Cooked Food Just Like What Mom Used To Make

Cebu is home to numerous culinary creations. Many of these creations were made by chefs who went through years of culinary school and fine-tuned their craft in the best restaurants in the world. Then, there are the carinderias. These are simple neighborhood stores where you can eat home-cooked meals close to the ones mom used to make. 

There is a good number of carinderias in the Queen City of the South and many of these are typically packed with students and office workers each and every day. Even as some of these stores offer their own specialties that have people wanting for more, there are a few food items that you can find in just about any carinderia in the city.

Ginaling

​This is a simple dish made mainly out of ground pork or ground beef with some onions, garlic, diced carrots and green peas. Aside from being easy to prepare and cook, it is also easy on the budget of students and office workers. There are instances when carinderia owners add other ingredients to make this simple dish special.

Ginamay

Ginamay is another ever-present viand in just about any carinderia in the Queen City of the South. It is also known as the menudo. While it is made of different types of meat, most carinderias normally stick to pork for its main protein provider in the dish. Similar to the ginaling, it has carrots, potatoes and garlic. It is cooked in tomato sauce and spiced with pepper and salt. 

Humba

The humba is a traditional Filipino dish that has made its way into the menu of many carinderias around the city. The sweet, sour and salty taste of this pork-based dish has sated the appetite of just about every Cebuano in the Queen City of the South.

Adobo

When there is humba on the menu of a carinderia, the adobo is not far behind. The adobo, be it pork or chicken, is another pork-based dish that continues to whet the appetite of Cebuanos for a home-cooked dish mom used to make. 

Monggos

Cebuanos have a knack for creating dishes unique to the island. One of these dishes is the Monggo with coconut milk or tuno. Aside from coconut milk and the monggo, the dish may also have garlic and other vegetables and spices. 

Utan Bisaya

​True-blue Cebuanos have tasted the ever-popular Utan Bisaya at least once in their lives. This dish is simply a combination of different vegetables and spices placed in a pot of boiling water. There are instances when small pieces of fish are added into the concoction. 

The concept of the carinderia was basically born out of the need to provide people with good food at a very affordable price. While most of the customers of these stores are students and office workers, there are some places where even executives and business people would drop by to have a bite to eat. This just shows that carinderia food is not limited to the masses since it is able to bridge the gap between the rich and poor through the food they offer on their menu.

Cebu is one of a few places in the archipelago where the mountains and beaches are within an hour or so away from each other. Due to this, Cebuanos have a lot of options on the places they can go to for a relaxing weekend afternoon. They can opt to spend it lazing away on one of the beaches dotting the island. Or, they can opt to go up the mountain and have a relaxing view of the city as the sun sets in the horizon. 

One of the best places to watch the sun set while sitting on top of a mountain is the Tops Lookout. Situated on top of Nivel Hills, Tops Lookout offers a panoramic view of the City of Cebu and beyond. The place is surrounded by greenery, which is unlike any place you can find in the city. Tops Lookout is located at around 610 meters above the city and offers Cebuanos an escape from the noise and pollution in the city below. 

The view from Tops Lookout when the sun is setting is magnificent, and it becomes even more impressive after dark. At this time, the lights in the city offer an impressive backdrop for any picture. From the place, you can see the Mactan Bridge, the newest hotels and condominiums in the city, high rise buildings and the bell towers of a number of prominent churches of the Queen City of the South.

Features

One prominent feature of Tops Lookout is the circular structure featuring rooms where visitors can stay and eat the food they brought. The circular entrances of these rooms also add to the unique design of the structure. When view from the outside, the structure is shaped like an arc, giving an area where they can view the city below. 

While Bermuda grass was planted on the lawn of the place, it also features a number of strategically-positioned hexagonal concrete blocks. The grass basically highlights the concrete blocks, which serve as stepping stones on the lawn. Benches were also installed on the viewing area of Tops Lookout to provide visitors a place to sit while waiting for the sun to set and the lights of the city to come on. 

For visitors who were unable to bring anything to eat, the place also has some stalls offering food and drinks. Out of town visitors can also buy souvenirs at the souvenir ship at the place. 

Getting To Tops Lookout

The best way to get to Tops Lookout is to drive up to the place. However, if you don’t have your own vehicle, you can take a ride on a motorcycle for hire at JY Square Discovery Mall at the foot of Nivel Hills. You can ask the driver to wait for you at the place if you will only stay there for a short period of time.  You can also take a taxi to the place, but the cost may be quite steep. 

Tops Lookout is one of the must-visit places if you ever get the chance to land in the Queen City of the South. Aside from the panoramic view of the city, Tops Lookout provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.