​Aside from Christmas, Valentine’s Day is another special day for couples who want to keep their love alive. Due to this, they take time to find a way to ensure the day is unforgettable for their significant other. In addition to a special breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they also try to find the best gift for their loved ones. These gifts may be as simple as a love letter to as grand as jewelry. We came up with a list of gift ideas you may want to consider giving our loved one for the day of hearts.

Love Letter

If you find it a challenge to express your love verbally to your special someone, you may want to consider writing him or her a letter. Writing allows you to compose your thoughts and tell them what is really in your heart. You may write it on special stationery from a local bookstore. So you will not use up all the sheets, you can write a draft on a different paper before transferring the final text into the stationary. With advancements in technology, the art of writing letters by hand is gradually being left in the past. So, a handwritten love letter is extra special since the giver has taken his or her time to carefully express his or her feelings. 

Cebu Delicacies 

You may also want to consider giving your loved some of the best delicacies available in Cebu. Cebu delicacies will be a perfect gift for your loved one if he or she is not from Cebu. You may want to consider the Peanut Browas, Toasted Mini Mamons, and Butterscotch. Aside from allowing you to show your love, these delicacies also allow you to show your pride for true-blue Cebuano products. These delicacies were produced based on the strict quality standards set by Lola Pureza. They follow the tradition of delicacies from the heritage town of Argao in the southern part of Cebu. You can find these Cebu delicacies in pasalubong centers and groceries all around Cebu. 

Flowers, Stuffed Toys, and Chocolates

Flowers, stuffed toys, and chocolates have become synonymous with Valentine’s Day. You can normally see these items on display in department stores all over metro Cebu. In addition, they also offer promotions or discounts for bulk orders of these items. While these may sound cheesy for some, they still allow you to express your love for your special someone during Valentine’s Day.

Serenade

If you have a good voice, a friend who plays the guitar, and the guts to sing in public under the window of your loved one’s house, you can try serenading her. The harana or serenade is a tradition typically practiced in the rural areas of the country in the past. While this is gradually going the way of the dinosaur, it is still a good way to make the day of hearts special for your significant other. If you are not confident of singing skills, there are some gadgets available that will help you improve your singing voice and avoid making a scene outside the house of your loved one.

Personalized Jewelry

For those who have no issues with spending, personalized jewelry may be a good gift to give on Valentine’s Day. You can buy something you know your partner likes and have it engraved before giving it to him or her. Many jewelry stores normally have promotions during the month of hearts, so you may have the chance to get a good deal on the jewelry you want to give to your partner. 

​While Valentine’s Day is one of the special days couples look forward to each year, we should remember that you do not have to spend too much to make this day memorable for your loved one. The most important thing is what you want to give comes from the heart. 

​The Sinulog Festival is celebrated in honor of the Santo Nino. It is celebrated every third Sunday of January ad is the most popular festival in Cebu. While the Sinulog Festival may be the grandest of all festivals, there is one celebration that can be considered as important as the Sinulog. This festival is the Kaplag Festival.

Kaplag Festival 

The Kaplag Festival or the Kaplag Buwad Festival is celebrated on the day the image of the Santo Nino was found by Juan Camus, a Spanish soldier. He was a part of the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to Cebu. The word “kaplag” means discovery in Cebuano. The festival is celebrated every April 28. 

​But, you might ask how “kaplag” is related to the “buwad” or dried fish. While Fr. Trinidad Silva said the present-day location of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño is where the image was found, the basilica extends to San Nicolas. This gives the barangay the reason to celebrate the festival. In addition, the barangay is a major supplier of this Cebuano delicacy. 

​Similar to the Sinulog, the Kaplag Festival or the Kaplag Buwad Festival has a street-dancing and a ritual dance competition.  In addition, the festival also has a religious aspect since it celebrates the discovery of the image of the Holy Child. 

The Image of the Santo Nino

When Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu, he was able to convince Rajah Humabon, his wife, and followers to be baptized as Christians. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Magellan gave the queen an image of the Santo Nino as a gift. After Magellan was killed in Mactan, no one knew what happened to the image. When the expedition of Legazpi arrived in the island, Camus found the image inside a partially-burned hut. 

​The convent and church of the Augustinians were later built in the location of the hut. This church was dedicated to the Santo Nino and resulted in the establishment of the Santo Nino Church. It became the cradle of Christianity in Cebu. The church was later conferred the title of “Basilica Minore” by Pope Paul VI in 1964. 

​The Sinulog Festival is the most popular festival in Cebu. But, Cebuanos should remember that if the image of the Santo Nino was not found by Juan Camus, there would be no Sinulog. So, it is important for us to celebrate the Kaplag Festival in the same way we celebrate the Sinulog.

Cebuanos normally greet the New Year with a bang. But, the recent ban on the use of firecrackers at home, Cebuanos are looking for places where they can still have fun as the clock turns twelve at the end of the year. The following are some places where you can greet the New Year in style while in Cebu.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Formerly known as Cebu Plaza Hotel, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu has always been one of the places where Cebuanos can have fun while greeting the New Year. Every year, the hotel holds a countdown party where guests can dine and have fun while greeting the New Year. Aside from the drinks and buffet, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu also has games and a raffle. In addition, when the New Year comes, guests can expect a magnificent fireworks display. 

Crown Regency Hotel & Resort

Crown Regency Hotel & Resort is among the tallest buildings in the uptown area of Cebu. Due to this, it is a perfect place to stay if you want to watch fireworks lighting up the night sky during the New Year celebrations. In addition to the fireworks from different parts of Cebu, some of the restaurants at the place also hold their own New Year celebration for their guests. Guests can have a sumptuous dinner and get to watch the fireworks display from the Sky Observation Deck of the hotel. 

Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu

While many Cebuanos prefer to stay in the city during New Year, Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu offers an option for people looking to stay at the beach during the revelry. The resort offers guests a great view of fireworks flying up into the skies while taking a sip of their favorite drink at the beach.

Montebello Villa Hotel

Montebello Villa Hotel is the best garden hotel in the Queen City of the South. Aside from its mouthwatering buffet, the hotel also holds a countdown party for its guests every year. Guests get a glass of wine, noisemakers, and sparklers to greet the New Year. A show band will play catchy tunes to keep the atmosphere festive. 

Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan

​Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan is another resort in Mactan that offers guests a different way to greet the New Year. Instead of staying in the city, guests can watch fireworks lighting up the sky from the beachfront of the resort. The three-hour long countdown party will be capped with a spectacular pyrotechnics display when the clock strikes 12. 

With the ban on the use of firecrackers, you may want to consider greeting the New Year in these places. 

​Cebuanos typically greet the New Year with fireworks and parties. While many celebrate in the comfort of their homes, there are some who would go out and join parties in a number of places in and around the city. 
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Watch Fireworks

Fireworks have always been a part of the New Year celebration among Cebuanos and Filipinos in general. These pyrotechnic devices normally light up the skies of Cebu a few minutes before the clock strikes twelve. If you are not keen on spending your hard-earned money on fireworks, you can look for an elevated location and watch fireworks flying into the skies some exclusive subdivisions in the city. If you are staying close to a major hotel, then you are in for a treat since these places typically have a fireworks display for their guests. You just have to stay outside and watch the night skies light up.

Countdown in Hotels

Another option is to join the countdown parties in some major hotels in the city. These parties typically include buffet dinner, champagne, and noisemakers.  While it may be quite a burden on your wallet, it still beats celebrating the New Year all alone in your room. If you are in the mood for a countdown party in a hotel, you can head on over to Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Radisson Blu Hotel, or Montebello Villa Hotel. These are just some of the hotels that hold these parties every year. 

Eat like a King

Since the New Year will be the last time you will have an excuse to eat a lot, you can also eat like a king. The Queen City of the South has a number of Eat-All-You-Can buffet restaurants catering to the different tastes of their guests. You can opt to eat in a number of reasonably-priced restaurants in Cebu or you may also visit the restaurants of some major hotels in the city. Whichever option you choose, just make sure you get only what you can consume.

Visit the Big Boom Sa Sugbo

You can also have some fun at the carnival with the opening of the “Big Boom sa Sugbo” at the South Road Properties. The amusement park has around 30 recreational amenities guaranteed to bring a smile on your face. Aside from the ubiquitous Ferris wheel, the place also has bumper boat rides, a horror ride, and a dragon boat ride, among others. 

Spend The Weekend At The Beaches in Mactan

If you feel the need to have some time off from life in the city without having to leave civilization, you can opt to spend your New Year in one of the beach resorts in Mactan. These resorts normally have something special lined up for their guests for the event. Even as you are getting your feet wet in the beach, you will still be able to watch the fireworks as the year comes to a close at these beach resorts.

Take a Road Trip

There may be instances when you really want to get away from the stress that comes with the celebration of the New Year. In these instances, you may want to take a road trip to the southern or northern part of the island. There are a number of places in the south and north where you can stay until all the excitement has died down. You can stay at the Maravilla Beach in the northwestern part of Cebu or in Oslob down in the south. 

Cebu has grown to become one of the business and entertainment hubs in the country. Due to this, people have a lot of options when it comes to celebrating New Year in the Queen City of the South.  It all boils down to how you want to greet the New Year.
​Cebu has grown to become one of the business and entertainment hubs in the country. Due to this, people have a lot of options when it comes to celebrating New Year in the Queen City of the South.  It all boils down to how you want to greet the New Year.