Cebu City, Philippines

Cebu City

Cebu City is one of the major cities in the Philippines. Many travelers have told me that there is nothing to do here and you should get in and get out quick. After passing through Cebu City few times I have discovered some treasures. Here are a few things you should do in Cebu that should keep you occupied at least for a couple days.

Lechon (Roasted Pig)

Cebu City is famous for their lechon. Ask locals where they eat their favorite lechon. This is a good conversation starter and the perfect way to eat the best lechon. 

Masarap! (delicious!) 

Larsian

Staying on the foodie subject ask where Larsian is and go there. This is a giant local food court with almost infinite choices for BBQ

IT Park

How many times have you been transferred to a call center? Chances are you have called someone here more than once. This is a business center with many call centers and other entities. You might even think your talking to someone in india but there are lots of Indians that work here too! This is a nice place to grab lunch or coffee and walk around during the day, but at night there are many clubs full of young professionals.

Basilica Del Santo Niño

Mass is held in a giant courtyard outside of the church. They have english and Tagalog. If you don't attend the mass then walk around the inside of the church and admire the old spanish architecture. 

(yup, you can buy holy water here, what better souvenir?)

 Walk through a local neighborhood

It can be intimidating to walk through these neighborhoods because it feels like you are walking through someone's house with families and friends flooded in the street and all sorts of action. This is the best way to see how the locals live. I took this from across the street because I didn't feel comfortable pulling out my camera and snapping shots of everyone.

End of summer Fiestas

At the end of the summer (end of May/beginning of June) local neighborhoods will have large fiestas and activities outside because soon the rainy season will come.

(Beauty Pageant) 

(the cars can barley pass with so many people in the street)

Tops

(This picture doesn't do it Justice)

This is a almost mystical viewpoint that is located high in the mountains just outside of the city. the entrance fee is 100 pesos but you can bring your own food, alcohol, and even your own tent. Here the entire city lights up for you like a circuit  board. This is a great place to start the night with some friends or spend all night staring at the stars and the city lights. 

 Make new friends

(Make new friends and eat cupcakes and drink coffee)

Like most cities Coffee shops are nice places to hang out. There are too shopping centers Ayala and SM that have lots of places to eat and drink coffee with friends.

Cinema

The city has some nice theaters to catch up on new releases before you go back out to magical islands where movie theaters don't exist. 

Become a local!

Carinderias 

These are small eateries that cook in bulk and provide the cheapest and best tasting local food. You can usually stuff your face for about 50PHP(1USD) compared to McDonalds which will run you(200PHP)

(PS: most locals eat rice dishes with one bare hand)

You can always wash your hands when your done and the food tastes better this way

Jeepney's

These are the cheapest ways to get around costing between 8-10PHP or about 25 cents

There was no chance of making a candid picture being the only white guy on the Jeepney and hanging off of the back with a camera in one hand