​Aside from the remarkable waterfalls and well-maintained marine sanctuary, Samboan also has a lake hidden behind dense palms and mangroves. The Ponong Hidden Lake is so hidden that some residents of Samboan have yet to visit the place. The local government of Samboan is planning to introduce fishing as an activity at the lake, which has brackish water due to saltwater intrusion. 

​But, strictly speaking the Ponong Hidden Lake can be considered as a closed lagoon rather than a lake. It was recently introduced as a new tourist destination in the municipality of Samboan. It is also a place for a bird called the Manolong to dive into the water to escape predators. In addition to the Manolong, a number of migratory birds also visit the area. 

​While the water may be inviting for visitors, swimming is prohibited in the area. The water level can go down as low as four feet during low tide conditions, which is normally in the morning. The place has one small raft covered with a nipa roof to allow visitors to tour the lake. The tour normally takes around thirty minutes and visitors can move across the lake using ropes attached to the mangroves to move around the lake.

The Ponong Hidden Lake used to have crocodiles roaming around, but the last reported sighting was in the 1960s. The lake also has no entrance fee and all visitors have to do is to tip the guide showing visitors around.

Getting to the Ponong Hidden Lake

To get to the Ponong Hidden Lake, it is necessary to hop on a bus bound for Bato/Barili. Just tell the driver or conductor to drop you off at the Ponon gasoline station. From the gas station, you can ride a motorcycle or tricycle to get to the Ponong Hidden Lake.

​The Ponong Hidden Lake is just one of the hidden treasures of Samboan. It is important for the development to ensure the natural beauty of the place is left untouched when it is developed by the local government for tourism purposes. Have you visited the Ponong Hidden Lake already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​A number of waterfalls are scattered all throughout the island of Cebu. The most famous is the Kawasan Falls in Badian. However, the municipality of Samboan also has its share of waterfalls and one of the more magnificent ones is the Aguinid Falls. The Aguinid Falls is actually composed of five levels of waterfalls. Each level is as magnificent as the next.

The Aguinid Falls was supposedly named after a haciendero in the area who went missing in the 1880s. Another story indicates that the name of the falls was based on the need to walk slowly when going slowly. It is based on the local term for slow, which is aginod. But, the local guides say this is not true since locals casually walk around the steep slopes even before the handholds and footholds were carved by the local government. 

Different Levels of the Aguinid Falls

Level 1 of the Aguinid Falls is a twenty-minute walk from the entrance. On the way to the falls one can see a number of laminated posters that promote environmental sustainability and safety. The falls itself features a deep pool where visitors can swim in and have the time of their lives. It has a height of around ten meters. 

​Getting to Level 2 requires walking on slippery rock along the side of the waterfalls. Level 2 is around 30 meters high and is around five minutes away from the first level of the falls. The local government carved small handholds and footholds on the rock face of the falls to allow visitors easy access to the other levels. It is necessary to be cautious when climbing the rock face since one has to contend with the slippery rock and strong flow of water going down the falls. It can be noted that the second level does not have any manmade structures, which enhances the overall appearance of the area.

​Level 3 of the Aguinid Falls is rather small but it has a small cavern tucked away behind the falls. Visitors can check out the cavern and get to see the world behind a curtain of flowing water. From the third level requires walking along a small channel beside the falls and climbing the rock face again.  Level 4 features a pool that can act as a natural Jacuzzi for visitors who visit the falls. It may not appear as magnificent as the other levels, but it stills looks appealing enough for anyone who wants to take a dip on the pool. 

The fifth level of the Aguinid Falls can be considered as the most remarkable among all the levels. Level 5 is a good place to swim as well as take a shower under the waterfalls. The pool itself is only waist-deep, making it perfect for anyone who does not know how to swim.

Reminders

The following are some reminders to allow you to enjoy your visit to the Aguinid Falls:

• All visitors should register and pay for an entrance fee.
• Eating or drinking close to the river or falls is not allowed. There is a designated area where you can take your meals away from the river. Only trail food and water is allowed while traversing the river up to the different levels of the Aguinid Falls.
• Trash should be thrown in designated areas.
• Collecting plants or animals from the areas is forbidden
• Always practice caution when climbing the rock walls of the falls to prevent accidents. 

​The Aguinid Falls is indeed one place people should not miss if they happen to visit Samboan. Have you visited the Aguinid Falls in Samboan already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

​It is important to protect our natural resources to ensure the future generations will be able to benefit from them. This may have been the idea behind the Colase Marine Sanctuary in Dalahican, Samboan. The marine sanctuary was established around two decades ago and is managed by the officials from the municipality of Samboan and an organization of fisherfolk. 

Colase Marine Sanctuary 

The marine sanctuary is located close to the shoreline of Samboan and very accessible from the highway. While the beach may not be as impressive as some other beaches in the area, the highlight of visiting the place is the marine sanctuary. One can encounter soft corals close to the shoreline itself. These corals have been relatively undisturbed by human activity allowing them to thrive close to the shoreline. One can also get to see starfishes as one continues to wade into the water. 

​Once the water reaches waist-deep, it will be necessary to use the snorkel gear to get a closer look of the corals. For visitors who are not yet adept in keeping themselves buoyant, it will be necessary to wear a life jacket to stay afloat. This is important since physical contact with the corals should be avoided. The corals serve as refuge for fish, mollusks and crabs, among others. 

​As one goes into deeper water, one can see ticker coral fields that help protect the shoreline by dissipating the energy of the waves. There are some instances when sharks, turtles and whales would pass through the area. When the marine sanctuary was established through a declaration making it a protected area, the fisherfolk looked for other places to fish since they were not willing to break the law. Due to this, the corals flourished until it reached the level it is right now.

Getting to the Colase Marine Sanctuary

One should ride a bus with the signboard Bato/Barili and tell the driver or conductor to stop at the Colase Marine Sanctuary since the place is close to the highway. But, if the driver or conductor is not familiar with the place, you can get off at Poblacion Samboan. From the Poblacion, you can hire a motorcycle to the place. 

​The Colase Marine Sanctuary in Samboan is a perfect example of how nature is able to thrive when human intrusion is reduce, if not, prevented altogether. It shows that the planet can easily heal itself once human activity in the area stops. The Colase Marine Sanctuary in Samboan can be considered as the biggest and best-maintained marine sanctuary in the country. While a structure already exists, some sprucing up will make the area a good place to promote eco-tourism in the island of Cebu. 

​Would you follow the advice of TLC and not to go chasing waterfalls? Well, if you visit Cebu, you may have second thoughts about this advice.

​Tucked away in the hinterlands of Samboan is a hidden natural beauty that has been left untouched by commercial development. Locals call the place Bonbon Hidden Falls while visitors may refer to it as the Triple Drop Falls. Whatever the case may be it is still a hidden gem that has yet to be discovered by a good part of the population of the island.

​The Bonbon Hidden Falls is located in Barangay Bonbon of Samboan. Samboan is a municipality located close to the southern tip of Cebu. The towns of Alegria and Oslob were once a part of the town before they were separated sometime in the 1880s. Samboan is situated on a hill and has a number of cultural and natural attractions. 

​The Bonbon Hidden Falls is just one of the waterfalls in the town.  It features three thin drops, which is the main reason some refer to the place as the Triple Drop Falls. The lush greenery of the place enhances its overall appearance. The waterfalls itself is around sixty meters high while the deepest past is around two meters deep. While it is possible to get to the top of the falls, it is important to keep in mind that the rocks acting as the steps can get very slippery. 

Getting to the Bonbon Hidden Falls

The journey to the Bonbon Hidden Falls starts at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. You would need to get on a bus with the signboard showing Bato-Barili and ask the driver or conductor to drop you off at the town of Samboan. Once you reach Samboan, you can ask the locals for directions to the falls, which is around twenty to thirty minutes away from the town proper on foot, depending on your pace.

​Stick to the rivers and the lakes says the song of TLC, but once you get to see the beauty of the Bonbon Hidden Falls you might end up looking for as many waterfalls as you can on the island of Cebu.

Happy Halloween Weekend! 

Halloween or All Hallows Eve is a celebration observed on October 31 in some countries around the world. A good number of Halloween traditions can be traced back to the Celtic harvest festivals. In fact, it is believed to be associated with Samhain, an old Gaelic festival. But, some academics point out that Halloween is a Christian holiday. Whatever the case may be, it is one of the more interesting times of the year. During this time of the year people start retelling old ghost stories. Cebu also has its share of paranormal tales and a number of these stories are associated with certain places in the city. The following is a list of possibly some of the scariest places in the Queen City of the South.

Escario Street

While N. Escario Street may have been named after a former mayor of the city, it is also the location of a house that is reportedly haunted. There were stories indicating that while the house was under construction, one worker would die every month. Ghostly sightings were also reported in the house. In addition to the reported haunted house, a pension house on the same street is also reportedly haunted. Guests have reportedly said they would hear footsteps at odd hours of the night.

Museo Parian

Aside from the oldest triangular bastion fort in the archipelago, Cebu is also home to some of the oldest Spanish era houses in the Philippines. A good number of these Spanish era houses are located in the Parian area of the city. And with old houses come stories from the other side. One of these houses is the Museo Parian or the Jesuit House. A picture taken while a group of people were having a tour in the museum captured an image of a supposed ghost. Some people believe that the ghost may be that of one of seven Jesuits who were supposedly murdered in the house. 

Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes

A funeral home has always been one of the creepiest places one can go to since it has a room where corpses are stored while waiting to be claimed by relatives. These places are also believed to have become the home of numerous restless souls, which makes them a rather creepy place to stay in. The Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes is one of the best-known funeral homes in the Queen City of the South. It offers world-class services to its customers through their modern facilities. But, the place was once the place where the bodies of the victims of the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars were stored. Due to this, it would take a very brave individual to spend one night alone inside the cadaver holding room of the place.

Casa Gorordo

Casa Gorordo was once the home of Bishop Juan Gorordo, the first Cebuano bishop. Four generations of the Gorordo family lived at the place after it was acquired by Juan Isisdro Gorordo from the original owner Alejandro Reynes. Similar to the Museo Parian, it is one of the oldest Spanish buildings in the country. Due to this, stories of ghostly apparitions have emerged. These stories point to one of the spinster sisters of the bishop. The ghost is typically seen in front of the private chapel in the courtship area. 

University of the Philippines Cebu 

The Cebu campus of the premier university of the country was initially established in 1918 as a satellite unit of the main university in Diliman. The main building of the University of the Philippines Cebu is a silent witness to a number of significant events in the history of the Queen City of the South. One of these events happened during the Second World War. The Japanese Imperial Army used the structure as a stockade where a number of Filipinos died. The place has its share of paranormal activity. Some students reportedly hear chains being dragged in the basement of the structure as well as the appearance of a dark-skinned figure in the new building of the campus.  In addition, dormitory residents have also seen ghostly apparitions in and around the building.

Villalon Mansion

​The Villalon Mansion is the white house on a hill at the back of the Cebu Capitol building. Stories of a white lady making an appearance at the mansion have emerged in the past. People living close to the mansion have also reportedly heard unusual sound coming from the building. The house is owned by a prominent family from Cebu and is now off limits to visitors. 

Do you have your own tale from the other side? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Signature brands at dirt-cheap prices

Getting the best value for one’s money is always on the mind of everyone these days. Instead of buying their favorite macchiato at the nearest high-end coffee shop, people would be contented with a home-made brew using a 3-in-1 coffee sachet for their daily caffeine load. A trip to the fast food restaurant for lunch or dinner would be replaced with a trip to the neighborhood carenderia. And instead of buying brand-new clothes at the mall, people may visit their favorite ukay-ukay shop. 

​According to the Urban Dictionary, ukay-Ukay is the term used to describe places that sell secondhand goods like clothing, bags, and shoes among others at cheap prices. These items are typically shipped to countries like the Philippines from the US Salvation Army.

​It essentially comes from the Tagalog word “halukay” or the act of digging since shoppers have to dig into a pile of used clothing to get what they want to buy. While the goods were supposed to be given out for free, a number of business-minded individuals started to buy excess supplies and sold them. These goods eventually gained popularity among budget-conscious Filipinos who can get US-branded apparel at dirt-cheap prices. These ukay-ukay outlets started in Baguio before reaching Manila. It eventually reached the shores of the Queen City of the South, Cebu has a number of these outlets with the biggest located along Colon Street, Tabunok and the Carbon Market area.

​These ukay-ukay outlets are now found in nearly all major cities and towns in the island of Cebu. The goods they sell are a mixture of well-known and unknown US brands. Some of them are used items while there are times when brand-new items can be found if one is patient enough to dig through the pile of clothes. Some of these outlets have already segregated the items based on how they look and at times on the brands.

​When shopping in an ukay-ukay outlet, it is important to thoroughly check the items before buying them. There are instances when you may find signature brands that require some repair while others look as if they have never been used. It is also important to make sure to wash them thoroughly, especially secondhand clothing since you would not know who last wore these items. 

​The presence of numerous ukay-ukay outlets in the Queen City of the South simply shows that there are a number of people in the city who are quite conscious of their budget. It also gives people from nearly all walks of life the opportunity to buy and wear signature brands, which were previously reserved for the more affluent members of society.

What was your most treasured find when you visited an ukay-ukay outlet in Cebu? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Many of the beaches of Cebu have immaculately-white sand, but the island also has a number of beaches featuring brown sand. While these beaches may not look as magnificent as their white sand cousins, they can still be considered as a paradise, especially among visitors looking for something different. The Little Baguio Beach in Barangay 1 Poblacion is one of these beaches.

​The beach is one of the places to visit when one goes to Tuburan. The brown sand of the beach is rather clean and is peppered with small pebbles in some areas contributing to its uniqueness when compared to other beaches in the island. One distinctive feature of Little Baguio Beach is the small islet along one end of the beach. The islet is actually a small rock outcropping that is very close to the beach itself and can be accessed by simply walking over to it.

​While a good number of tourists look for white sand beaches, there are still a number of brown sand beaches in the island that can leave any visitor in awe. The Little Baguio Beach in Tuburan is one of these beaches where visitors can spend a lazy weekend afternoon at the beach. The place is frequented by locals who have picnics and get-togethers with family and friends at the beach.

​The beach has always been the favorite place to relax for many Cebuanos. Even as many people consider white sand beaches as the best place to laze around over the weekend, there is still a number of brown sand beaches that are can be considered as paradises, like the Little Baguio Beach in Tuburan.

Have you visited the Little Baguio Beach in Tuburan already? Tell us about your experience on the comments section below.

The forest cover in the Philippines has been gradually reduced through the years due mainly to commercial development. Despite this, there are still some trees in the country that have stood the test of time. These trees are now a part of the heritage of the towns and cities where they are located. One of these trees can be found in the town of Tuburan, particularly the barangay of Jagbuaya.

​The Heritage Tree of Jagbuaya in Tuburan is around two centuries old and has seen history unfold. The tree is a Dao tree, which is a forest tree with huge roots to support the weight of its thick canopy. It is a part of the Dracontomelon Dao and is also known as the Argus pheasant tree or the New Guinea walnut tree. The species is considered threatened and is a part of the “Red List” of the International Conservation Union. These trees typically grow in swamps and lowland areas in southern Asia. Aside from the Philippines, the tree can also be found in India and southern China.

​The diameter of the Heritage Tree of Jagbuaya in Tuburan is around seven meters. Since the tree is not located along the national highway, it is necessary to ask residents for directions to get to it. The tree may not look impressive when observed from afar, but once visitors would be amazed at its immense size once they would stand beside it. 

​The Philippines is blessed with around 3500 species of trees. Since a number of these species are now considered threatened, it is important for every Filipino to work on protecting them for future generations. The Heritage Tree of Jagbuaya in Tuburan is one tree that survived many generations and continues to stand up to this date. 

​Have you visited the Heritage Tree of Jagbuaya in Tuburan already? Were you amazed by its immense size? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​General Arcadio Maxilom was formerly a teacher before he became one of the heroes of the Philippine Revolution. A native of the town of Tuburan, Maxilom was among the last revolutionary leaders to surrender to the Americans after they took over the country following the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Spain. Following his death on August 10, 1924, the leading figures of the Philippine Revolution joined his funeral cortege that stretched for four kilometers. It was the longest funeral cortege in the history of Cebu.

​One of the main thoroughfares of the Queen City of the South is named after the Cebuano hero of the Philippine Revolution. In addition, the headquarters of the Cebu Provincial Police Office was named after one of the last Filipino generals to surrender to the Americans during the Philippine Revolution. Camp Arcadio Maxilom is located in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City. 

General Arcadio Maxilom Park 

The hometown of General Arcadio Maxilom also honored its most renowned son by establishing a park in his name. The park features the monument of the native son of Tuburan and is located at Poblacion, Tuburan. Aside from the monument, the embellished with beautiful flowers that add color to the place. It also has a playground where children can have fun during the weekends. A basketball court is also located close to the monument itself.

​The General Arcadio Maxilom Park is the most suitable way for the town to honor one of the most prominent generals in the Philippine Revolution and among the last to lay down his arms to the Americans. Have you gone to the General Arcadio Maxilom Park already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Speaking of hole-in-the wall restaurants and places to eat, there is one hole-in-the wall eating place close to the Cebu IT Park. The place may be well-known among some BPO employees and residents in the area, but generally undiscovered by the most of the denizens of the Queen City of the South. 

​Gate 5 Pochero Haus is located along La Guardia St., Lahug Cebu City. The gate number of the place, well the name says it all, number 5. The specialty of the place is their mouth-watering pochero, which is served at a very reasonable price. In addition to their appetizing pochero, Gate 5 also serves another dish that your cardiologist would advise against eating, especially if you are prone to high blood pressure, lechon kawali. 

​Aside from these sinfully delicious food items, the place also serves pork and chicken barbecue. A number of visitors to the place have sworn that they have the best barbecue in town and it’s sold at a reasonable price. 

​Gate 5 is gradually making a name for itself in the food scene of Cebu City as a number of celebrities had the opportunity to drop by the place. Some of these celebrities include Dingdong Avanzado and Cebu’s own Budoy Marabiles. 

​Gate 5 Pochero Haus is open from 6:30 AM up to 8:00 PM from Monday to Saturday. It is located on the same street as Pizza Republic and Orange Karenderia. Have you tasted the pochero at Gate 5 Pochero Haus already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.