“Preschool children are virtuosos of imagination.” – Benjamin Spock

When it comes to preschool education, it is important for you to select the best one to ensure your children will be prepared for formal education once they reach primary school. While there are a number of preschools in Cebu, there are a select few that do not focus only on the academic development of your children.  These preschools also work on their personal formation to give them the proper foundations while they are still very young.  One of these preschools is PAREF Southdale Preschool in Banilad. 

PAREF 

PAREF stands for Parents for Education Foundation. It is an organization established in 1976 by a group of parents with the goal of addressing the challenge during that time. Inspired by the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva, the parents determined that the formation of the parents and teachers is necessary to give their children proper education since the parents and teachers are the most important agents in the education of their children. PAREF Woodrose was the first school established with the aim of implementing the educational philosophy of the organization. In 1979, PAREF Southridge was set up in Hillsborough Subdivision in Muntinlupa. 

PAREF Preschools

The first PAREF preschool was PAREF Rosemont, which was established in 1986. PAREF Preschools aim to become the second home of your children. It is a place where home-school collaboration provides a solid foundation for the academic and personal formation of your children. PAREF Preschools encourage your children to become more sociable, respectful, and kind to other people. In addition, your children will become happy, eager, and independent learners once they graduate from a PAREF Preschool. There are currently six PAREF Preschools in the country, most of which are located in Metro Manila. The PAREF Preschool located in Cebu is PAREF Southdale.

PAREF Southdale Preschool

PAREF Southdale Preschool was established in 2010 with the aim of providing quality preschool education in Cebu. Similar to other PAREF preschools in the country, Southdale also encourages close collaboration between the parents and the school for the academic and personal formation of their children. The system focuses on a Home Atmosphere School where your children receive close, warm, and personalized guidance from all school personnel.

To ensure the school personnel are true professionals working for the holistic development of your children, the school also provides an integral human and spiritual formation for the management, teachers, and support staff.  Due to this, the school personnel serve as the role models of your children since they spend a good part of the day in school. 

​Southdale ensures your children have all necessary foundations to become well-rounded and successful individuals. In addition, the preschool also ensures your children will be on the right path in becoming intellectually, spiritually, and socially responsible individuals.

​Since Southdale is a Home Atmosphere School, it offers a number of fun activities where your children can learn while having fun. In addition, the mentoring system is a distinctive characteristic of all PAREF schools where parents can work with the teachers for the personal formation of their children. 

Location 

PAREF Southdale Preschool offers four preschool levels: Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Preparatory, and Kindergarten. The preschool is located along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City. It is situated right beside PAREF Southcrest School , the all-girls school of PAREF in Cebu. 

The high demand for PAREF education led to the establishment of PAREF Preschools in mid-80s. This demand simply shows that more parents are recognizing the importance of collaborating with the schools the academic and personal development of their children. In addition, they have also acknowledged the importance of preparing their children for formal education once they reach the first grade. 

If you are interested in getting to know more about PAREF Southdale Preschool, you can get in touch with them through (032) 512-8535. You can also contact them through their website or Facebook page. 

The Queen City of the South is gradually attracting the attention of visitors from all over the country. As the number of visitors to the city started to increase, more establishments opened to provide for the needs of visitors and residents of Cebu. One popular establishment to open its doors to the Cebuano market is the Tim Ho Wan Restaurant.

Tim Ho Wan Restaurant

Tim Ho Wan Restaurant opened its first outlet in Mongkok, Hong Kong in 2009. It was a 20-seater eatery established by Chef Leung Fai Keun and Chef Mak Kwai Pui. In 2010, this hole-in-the-wall eatery earned a star in the 2010 Hong Kong and Macau Michelin guide. This is the highest accolade in the culinary world. The restaurant opened a number of outlets around Hong Kong before opening its first international location in 2013 in Singapore. It first landed on the shores of the Philippines in 2014 after it opened an outlet in Manila.

​Being included in the Michelin guide is a record of sorts since during that time the list was dominated by fine dining restaurants. Tim Ho Wan is considered as the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world. Aside from being affordable, the restaurant has consistently offered great-tasting food to its customers. 

​While the name Tim Ho Wan means “additional good luck” in Cantonese, the place does not seem to rely on luck in its aim of offering the perfect dim sum. This perfection encompasses everything, from the placement of the dishes to the service it provides its customers. The dim sum offered at the place is handmade-to-order. They are not pre-steamed or reheated before it is served. 

Menu and Prices

The outlet at the Upper Ground Floor of the Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu is the seventh in the Philippines and the first outlet outside of Metro Manila. While there restaurant has a wide selection of dishes, the main attraction is the Four Heavenly Kings. The Four Heavenly Kings are the Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork & Shrimp, Pan Fried Carrot Cake, Baked Bun with BBQ Pork, and Steamed Egg Cake. Customers are willing to line up for a good amount of time just to get their hands on the Four Heavenly Kings.

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The restaurant also offers Steamed Dishes, including the Prawn Dumpling, Pork Rib with Black Bean Sauce, and Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp. Deep Fried dishes at Tim Ho Wan include the Wasabi Salad Prawn Dumpling and Spring Roll with Egg White. For those who cannot have a meal without rice, you can opt to get the Rice with Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom or the Rice with Beef & Fried Egg, among others.

​The prices of the dishes at Tim Ho Wan start at PHP85 for the Steamed Egg Cake up to PHP190 for the Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaf.

Location and Operating Hours

Tim Ho Wan is located on the Upper Ground Floor of the Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu. The restaurant is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day. You can get to SM Seaside City Cebu by getting on the MyBus headed for the mall. Once you reach the mall, you can ask for directions from the concierge of the mall. 

​When Tim Ho Wan opened in Cebu, many fans of the restaurant rejoiced since it was not necessary for them to travel to Hong Kong or Manila just to satisfy their cravings for the dim sum offered by the place. It also gave other Cebuanos the chance of tasting dishes offered by a Michelin-starred restaurant without having to leave the island. 

​Have you tasted the Four Heavenly Kings of Tim Ho Wan already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

​When you talk about heritage towns in Cebu, Carcar and Argao normally come to mind. Both Carcar and Argao have a good number of heritage structures that made them among the must-visit places for culture enthusiasts. But, the southern town of Boljoon also has its own share of heritage structures. These structures have gradually attracted the attention of local and foreign visitors. One of these heritage structures is the Balay Cirilo Sestoso.

Balay Cirilo Sestoso

The book, Boljoon: Cebu Heritage Frontier, indicated that the Balay Cirilo Sestoso may be the last 19th century house in Boljoon.  In fact, it is probably the oldest ancestral house in Boljoon. It was built by Cirilo Sestoso in the 1880s. Sestoso was a former gobernadorcillo of Boljoon during the Spanish period.  

​The structure has a rectangular shape and featured a detailed ornamentation on the gutter. One description indicated that the building had a “patched geometrical outer wall” situated in between the window panels that featured “fretted ventanillas”.  The floor panels and posts of the house used tugas or hardwood. The staircase is also made of hardwood. The encased posts reflect the typical Spanish interior design.

Getting to the Balay Cirilo Sestoso

The Balay Cirilo Sestoso is located close to the parish complex in Boljoon. You need to get on a bus headed for the town. Once you reach the town proper, you can simply walk to the ancestral house. But, the owners of the place are not allowing visitors to enter the house anymore since it is costly to maintain it.

​The Balay Cirilo Sestoso of Boljoon is just one of the many heritage structures in the town of Boljoon. Due to this, Boljoon is considered as one of the many heritage towns located in the southern part of the island. 

Have you visited the Balay Cirilo Sestoso in Boljoon already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Marauding pirates and Moro raiders constantly attacked the towns in southern Cebu during the Spanish period. To protect these towns from these attacks, Fr. Julian Bermejo established a coastal defense system that warned the towns of the presence of these raiders. The coastal defense system was made up of watchtowers that would monitor the areas around the town. One of these watchtowers built during the Spanish period was the Baluarte sa Fuente of Boljoon.

Fr. Julian Bermejo
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When Fr. Bermejo was assigned as the parish priest of Boljoon, he designed a coastal defense system to protect the town from pirates and raiders. The defense system extended from Tañong, now known as Santander, up to Sibonga and Carcar. The watchtowers or baluartes in these towns were a part of the coastal defense designed by Fr. Bermejo, who was also known as “El Padre Capitan”. 

Baluarte sa Fuente 

The Baluarte sa Fuente is one of the watchtowers in the town of Boljoon.  The structure built under the supervision of Fr. Bermejo. It was part of the coastal defense system established by the warrior priest to protect the southern towns of Cebu from marauding pirates that constantly attacked these towns. 

Aside from this watchtower, Boljoon also has the El Grande Baluarte at the parish complex. Another Spanish watchtower is located at the Ili Rock. There is also a fourth watchtower situated at the Kayaongon Point. These watchtowers warned the residents of the town of the presence of Moro raiders and pirates.  The Baluarte sa Fuente of Boljoon was built close to the point where the river flowed into the sea. It was located far from the parish complex of Boljoon. The watchtower also featured an octagonal shape. 

​While the Baluarte sa Fuente is already covered with thick vegetation, it now serves a stark reminder of the dangers the people of Boljoon and other towns in the south had to face during the time of the Spaniards. 

Have you dropped by the Baluarte sa Fuente in Boljoon already? Tell us about your visit on the comments section below.

​Southern Cebu can be paradise for heritage buffs with the century-old churches and heritage buildings in this part of the island. While some of these churches were restored after being destroyed for various reasons in the past, much of their façade have remained relatively the same. One of these churches is the Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob.

​Immaculate Conception Church

The Immaculate Conception Church was established on May 4, 1830. While the plans of the church were made by Bishop Santos Gomes Maranon, Fr. Julian Bermejo selected the site for the church. Bishop Maranon is the same prelate behind the construction of the kiosk protecting Magellan’s Cross. Fr. Bermejo supervised the construction of the church, which was completed in 1848. Aside from the residents of Oslob, the residents of Santander, formerly Tañon, and Nueva Caceres, formerly Ivisan, helped in building the church. 

​In 1942, the church was burned down by Filipino guerillas before it was restored by the residents of the town. On November 7, 1955, the church was destroyed again when a fire gutted it. Nearly everything inside the church was destroyed by the fire. Only the image of the Immaculate Conception was spared.  The townsfolk pitched in to rebuild the church. A third fire hit the church on March 26, 2008. Restoration efforts were completed on December 10, 2010. 

​The Immaculate Conception Church served to meet the religious needs of the people of Oslob. The church has a plain yet imposing façade. The interior of the church features a high ceiling. Since the Immaculate Conception Church was destroyed in the fires that gutted it in the past, much of the interior may have changed when compared to when it was originally built. The church was made of coral stones quarried from the seas and cemented using lime from seashell ashes.  Its bell tower of the church stands at 30 meters and had a neo-classical style dome. An unfinished Cuartel stands in front of the church. The Cuartel was supposed to be the barracks of the Spanish guardia civil.

Getting to the Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob

You can visit the Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob by getting on a bus headed for Oslob at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.  Once you reach the town proper, you can simply ask for directions from locals since the church is within walking distance from the center of the town. 

​Even as the Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob went through a number of renovations after it was gutted in the past, it still evokes a sense of faith among local and visitors to the town. Its façade may be simple, but it is quite imposing. The bell tower itself is also nearly as wide as the façade, which makes it different from many churches in Cebu. It is also one of the places history and culture lovers should not fail to visit if they ever get to pass by the town of Oslob.

Have you visited the Immaculate Conception Church of Oslob already? Tell us about the visit on the comments section below.

​After being named one of the best islands in the world in the Readers’ Choice Awards of the Conde Naste Traveler magazine in 2016, Cebu has become a part of the must-visit list of travelers around the world. The beaches may be the main attractions of Cebu, but there are many other places where you can visit if you find yourself in the island. One of these places is the Salay Cave in the town of Alegria.

Alegria

Alegria may be a quiet town in the southwestern part of Cebu, but it has a lot of things to offer to its visitors. It was once known as Tuburan since there was a spring or tubod in the middle of the town. The name was changed to Alegria to avoid confusion with some barangays with the same name. Aside from the Salay Cave, you can also visit other tourist spots in the town, including the Cancalanog Falls, Cambais Falls, the Baluarte, and the St. Francis Church. 

Salay Cave

The Salay Cave in Alegria has an accreditation from by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This means tourists can enter the cave safely. It is one of the hidden treasures of Alegria that is gradually gaining the attention of spelunkers and cave enthusiast. There are instances when the local government would organize tours inside the cave for spelunking groups. 

​While the entrance of the cave is rather small, you can get to see a whole new world inside. It has numerous formations, but visitors are not supposed to touch them. Any dirt or oul from the hands can drastically change these formations. It may even change their colors and hinder their growth.

Getting to the Salay Cave

You can get to the Salay Cave in Alegria by getting on a bus bound for the town. Once you reach the town, you can hop on a motorcycle-for-hire to reach the village where the opening of the cave is located. It is recommended for you to get the services of a guide if you want to enter the cave since you may not find it easy to explore it without a guide. 

​In addition to the Salay Cave, Cebu has many other relatively-unknown places where you can stand in awe at the beauty of nature. As more tourists start to visit these natural tourist attractions, it has become important for us to do our part in protecting them for the future generations. 

Have you visited the Salay Cave in Alegria already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

​While many of the natural attractions of Cebu are already well-known among visitors, there are still a number that have remained relatively unknown to nearly everyone with the exception of the residents of the area. One of these natural attractions is the Aranzana Springs of Malabuyoc

Aranzana Springs 

The Aranzana Springs is a group of freshwater springs located in Barangay Aranzana, Malabuyoc. These freshwater springs flow directly into a river. The locals wash clothes and get their water supply from these springs. Some of the springs have small pools built by the locals to swim and dip in. You will know where the springs are located along the river since the water coming from the spring is colder and clearer. While it may not be what some people have in mind when they see the Aranzana Springs, it is still one of the few relatively unspoiled natural attractions in Cebu.

Getting to the Aranzana Springs

You have to get on a bus headed for the town of Malabuyoc at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Make sure to tell the driver or conductor to let you off at the Western Union outlet in the town center. The road to the springs is right beside the outlet. You can also ask the locals for directions in getting to the spring, which are a few hundred meters away from the town center. 

​The Escuela Catolica is just one of the structures built by the Spaniards to meet the religious needs of the people of Boljoon. Since the structure was built during the time of the Americans, it had some features similar to the buildings built during that era. 

Escuela Catolica

The Escuela Catolica was built in 1940 by the Spanish clergy in Boljoon. The building served as a dorm for children who were about to take their first communion, according to the Cebu Heritage Frontier. The children housed in the building are those who come mainly from the upland barangays of the town. In addition, the structure was also used as the venue for religious teachings and was also used as a school at one point. 

​The two-level structure had a similar design as the schools built by the Americans. Rather than using a combination of stones and wood as what is used on Spanish colonial houses, wood was used for the entire structure. It featured a symmetrical façade and was rectangular in shape. The building also had a double grand staircase leading to the upper level. The base of the roof pediments of the Escuela Catolica were decorated with bas reliefs.  Ornate carvings can also be found under it. 

​The Escuela Catolica is the only structure in the parish complex that featured a uniquely American design. It is now being used as a venue for meetings of religious groups of the parish. 

Getting to the Escuela Catolica

To reach the Escuela Catolica you have to get on a bus headed for Boljoon. Tell the driver to let you off at the town’s parish church or the Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church. The Escuela Catolica is located a few meters from the church. 

​The Escuela Catolica is one of the heritage structures you can find in Boljoon. It is one of the places you should not fail to visit whenever you find yourself in this southern Cebu town.

Have you visited the Escuela Catolica already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​The Camotes Islands is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Province of Cebu. Aside from the magnificent beaches, the place also has its share of caves where spelunkers and adventure seekers can visit. One of the caves you can find in the Camotes Islands is the Holy Crystal Cave. 

Holy Crystal Cave

The Holy Crystal Cave was discovered by Mr. Avito Formentera in 1996 while he was gathering firewood. After gathering a good amount of firewood, he decided to rest for a while. It was on this instance when he noticed a small pile of rocks in the area. He started clearing the bigger rocks while leaving the smaller ones on the ground. Mr. Formentera started digging into the ground and saw a huge crab coming out of the hole he made. He continued digging until a bigger hole was formed. He threw a rock into the hole and heard it bouncing inside the hole.

​He decided to explore the hole and discovered the hidden gem of a cave. The first part of the cave was similar to the living room of a house. Mr. Formentera explored the cave and discovered numerous stalagmites and stalactites inside. He initially called the place “Holy Cave” before settling on “Holy Crystal Cave“.

Popularity of the Holy Crystal Cave

According to Mr. Formentera, the water from the Holy Crystal Cave has miraculous properties. It is said to cure common aches and pains, including muscle pains, skin irritation, and even fever, among others. In addition, the stalagmites inside the cave seem to look like some recognizable figures in the culture of Cebu, including the Santo Niño and the Virgin Mary. A British archeologist discovered a human bone in inside the cave that is around 5,000 years old. 

​The Holy Crystal Cave is gradually becoming one of the go-to places in Camotes. It is located in the Municipality of San Francisco. While there is no entrance fee when you visit the cave, donations are encouraged to maintain the place. Mr. Formentera serves as the tour guide when you explore the cave.  Aside from giving the background on how the cave was discovered, he would also explain the different features of the cave. You should also make sure to follow the instructions of Mr. Formentera, especially on the things you can and cannot do while inside the Holy Crystal Cave.

Getting to the Holy Crystal Cave

The cheaper option to reach the Holy Crystal Cave in the Camotes Island is by getting on a ferry at the Danao City port. You have to hop on a bus headed for port in Danao City at the Cebu North Bus Terminal. After reaching the port, you can get on a ferry headed for Consuelo Port in the Camotes Islands. Once you reach the island, you can hire a motorcycle to bring you to the cave. You can also opt to hop on a fast craft at Pier 1 in Cebu City. The fast craft will bring you directly to Consuelo Port where you can hire a motorcycle in going to the cave.

If you’ve had your fill of the beautiful white sand beaches of the Camotes Islands, you try something new and check out the Holy Crystal Cave. The cave tour will not only educate you on the different features of these caves, it will also allow you to appreciate the importance of preserving these natural attractions for the future generations.

Have you visited the Holy Crystal Cave of the Camotes Islands already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below. 

​Alegria may be a quiet little town in the southern part of Cebu, but it has a lot to offer to its guests. While the town is rather small, it features a number of tourist attractions that are guaranteed to pique the interest of anyone looking for something new. One of these tourist attractions is the Cambais Falls.

Alegria

The Municipality of Alegria was once called Tuburan due to the presence of a good number of springs in the area. The name was later changed to Alegria to prevent confusion since there were other barangays in Cebu with the same name. On July 3, 1856, the parish of Alegria was established. 

Cambais Falls

The Cambais Falls of Alegria is considered as one of the most beautiful waterfall curtains in the island. It is located in Barangay Guadalupe and features three levels with five drops. Adrenaline junkies can also test their skills at the plunge pool of the falls. The first level of the falls has a pool where you can take a dip in after trekking to the place. The second level of the falls has a height of around twenty-five meters. On the other hand, the third level features a small cavern behind the cascade.

​While the place is relatively undeveloped, there is a cottage for rent in the area if you decide to stay the night. You can also rent the cottage for the day. You should bring your own food if you are planning to go to the place. Just make sure not to leave any of your trash in the area. 

Getting to the falls

Your journey to the Cambais Falls starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal where you have to hop on a bus headed for Alegria. Once you reach the town, you can hire a motorcycle to bring you to the jump-off point. You will have to trek around one kilometer from the jump-off point to the Cambais Falls. 

​The Cambais Falls is just one of the natural tourist attractions you can find in Cebu. Since the area around the Cambais Falls is fairly untouched, it is one place where you can commune with nature while enjoying yourself in its clear cool waters.

​Have you visited the Cambais Falls already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.