The battle of Mactan was a historical event that took place on April 27, 1521. 500 years later, it is still very relevant. After all, it defined the Filipino spirit of stubbornness to oppose foreign colonizers. Despite the advance weaponry used by the Spaniards against the Cebuano natives, our ancestors still won in the end. Thus, we are looking at all the tools used by our Cebuano ancestors as weaponry that led to their victory.
A weapon is defined as a tool designed to inflict bodily harm or physical damage, and the karakoa definitely fits that description. The karakoa is a large warship used by the native Filipinos most notably the Visayans, and this was used to transport Humabon’s men towards the Battle of Mactan. It was designed to carry hundreds of warriors to sea, which was very important in an archipelago.
According to Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who documented the events of the battle, the 1,500 warriors of Lapulapu carried with them various weapons including the kampilan. Pigfetta described the weapon as a “large cutlass which resembled a scimitar, only being larger”. It is a single-edged sword typically wielded with two hands.
Another weapon noted by Pigafetta which was used by Lapulapu’s men were bamboo spears, which has been argued by historians to be the bangkaw. It is also called the sibat, and is a Filipino word for spear. It is widely agreed that these spears were made from fire-hardened rattan and tipped with metal heads.
The most obvious one to be on this list would be the bows and arrows used by Lapulapu’s men. After all, Magellan was said to be killed by a poison arrow during the Battle of Mactan. This long-ranged weaponry has been used worldwide yet it has significance in this battle because this is what ended Magellan to his death.
Resorts nowadays have become more than just a place to rest and sleep. People are now no longer content with the same old amenities, they now look for a new experience.
A new resort offers just that. More than your usual sea and pool amenities, they have recreational activities that would surely suit your liking. Especially if your family enjoys the sea water more than anything, this definitely is for you.
Photo from Water Ski Beach Resort Facebook Page
Photo by Jeniffer Ruiz
Photo by Jeniffer Ruiz
Photo by Jeniffer Ruiz
Photo by John Romuald Ruiz
I’m not sure if you’ve seen other resorts that offers this, but this, by far is the first resort I’ve heard of with floating pads like these. It’s a wide floating pad that would surely keep all family members afloat. But, not only that. They also have a banana boat for an added fun, or a jet ski to spice things up a whole lot more.
They also have cottages and rooms where you can spend a night or two so you can really have so much fun with your family.
Photo by Jeniffer Ruiz
Photo by Rina Gumonit Lolor
Photo by Rina Gumonit Lolor
Photo by Rina Gumonit Lolor
Photo by Rina Gumonit Lolor
Photo by Rina Gumonit Lolor
Now going back to the first paragraph. This is definitely a resort that would cater to the guests who don’t just go out to rest and sleep, but to those who are looking for fun after the stress.
BY BUS: From the North Bus Terminal, ride any bus/mini bus to Catmon. Bus fare is roughly ₱85 /head (one-way). Inform the driver to drop you off at Panalipan, Catmon, Cebu. Take a motorbike and ask to bring you to the newest Water Ski Beach Resort.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and search for Water Ski Beach Resort.
On Monday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of May 24, 2021.
Today, the whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 39 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 74 new recoveries, and 2 new deaths. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 52,518, while the active cases decreased to 1,263 (from 1,301).
Breakdown of cases:
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 24,152 (+18 new) – Total recoveries: 22,832 (+26 new) – Total deaths: 863 (+0 new) – Active cases: 457
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 6,415 (+2 new) – Total recoveries: 6,092 (+9 new) – Total deaths: 169 (+0 new) – Active cases: 154
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 6,566 (+2 new) – Total recoveries: 6,168 (+10 new) – Total deaths: 222 (+0 new) – Active cases: 176
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 15,385 (+17 new) – Total recoveries: 14,197 (+29 new) – Total deaths: 712 (+2 new) – Active cases: 476
Summary of COVID-19 cases in Cebu:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 1,263
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 52,518 (+39 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 49,289 (+74 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 1,966 (+2 new*)
A total of 1,852 laboratory results were released for today.
NOTES from DOH-7:
*As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.
Everyone probably has a sister or a brother, metaphorically and literally speaking. They are the people you bond with, the people you grow up with. You see them develop from start to now, and they also see you do the same. Yet as it turns out, people are not the only ones who have sisters. In fact, cities can have sisters as well!
Above: Seattle as seen from above Queen Anne Hill; Below: Yokohama view from Baybridge
Cebu City has its own sister cities, both local and international. Not many people know this, so here is a list of them to fill you in. It is time to appreciate what they have done for us and also help them out when the time comes. But first…
As people can have siblings to watch and help themselves grow up, so too can cities have sisters who can do the same duty. A sister city relationship constitutes of a legal or social agreement between two cities to promote cultural and economic growth. Some sister city relationships have deep historical ties between the two while some have formed new friendships over newly found ideologies.
This concept became pretty popular after the events of World War II. The world has been starting to heal from the damages and grow from the rubble. To speed this process up and heal relationships between former enemies or strengthen bonds between newly-found allies, cities began entering pacts to foster friendships and promote cultural and commercial ties.
Argao is a simple and quiet town located at the south of Cebu and although it isn’t really well-known as a tourist destination, this peaceful town in the south has a different kind of charm that attracts people to the municipality. Due to the town not being well-known to tourists, it makes it the perfect escape from the stresses of the city.
Hilltop Horizon is a classic chill tambayan by the hillside and offers more than just peace and quiet to its customers. Nestled at the peak of a hill in Argao, Hilltop Horizon combines native elements with the rustic atmosphere to create a hangout spot where friends can gather.
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Hilltop Horizon is made up entirely of wood, bamboo and nipa hut roofs that perfectly fit the theme of the distant town and gives customers a change of scenery that’s far from traffic and noises of the metro. Wooden chairs and tables fill the space on top of the hill and nipa roofs provide customers with shelter. Front and center are a small stage where bands perform and fill the still atmosphere with various tunes.
There’s nothing else to do in Hilltop Horizon but to grab some food, take a seat, and let the lovely scenery do its thing. As different bands play their songs on stage and set the mood, the air of the hilltop with the earthy scent of charcoal combined with the appetizing aroma of barbecue sauces.
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Customers will enjoy eating smoked meat especially when paired with a glass of cold beer or a choice from a selection of fruit shakes and drinks. Worries will drift away together with the gentle breeze that blows the hill and the only thing that will fill the mind is peace and relaxation.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Menu:
Photo from Hilltop Horizon Facebook Page
Other Information:
Opening hours: 5:00PM – 12:00AM, closed on Tuesdays
Exact location: Cancainap, Tulic, Argao, Southern Cebu – 150 meters away from the National Road
BY BUS: Find your way to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Ride any bus that’s bound for Argao and ask the driver to drop you off at the turn going to Panorama de Argao Resort. Hilltop Horizon is just 150 meters away from where you alighted, just ask around for directions.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Panorama de Argao Resort” in Argao. Hilltop Horizon is just close; ask for directions.
On Sunday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of May 23, 2021.
Today, the whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 60 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 48 new recoveries, and 3 new deaths. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 52,479, while the active cases increased to 1,301 (from 1,292).
Breakdown of cases:
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 24,134 (+30 new) – Total recoveries: 22,806 (+0 new) – Total deaths: 863 (+0 new) – Active cases: 465
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 6,413 (+9 new) – Total recoveries: 6,083 (+23 new) – Total deaths: 169 (+1 new) – Active cases: 161
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 6,564 (+8 new) – Total recoveries: 6,157 (+2 new) – Total deaths: 223 (+1 new) – Active cases: 184
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 15,368 (+13 new) – Total recoveries: 14,168 (+23 new) – Total deaths: 709 (+1 new) – Active cases: 491
Summary of COVID-19 cases in Cebu:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 1,301
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 52,479 (+60 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 49,214 (+48 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 1,964 (+3 new*)
A total of 2,182 laboratory results were released for today.
NOTES from DOH-7:
*As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.
The Battle of Mactan which occurred in April 27, 1521 concluded with the victory of the Cebuano natives. They successfully drove away the Spanish armada, defining the independence of the Philippines from Spain – at least for several years. In 1565, 44 years after they left defeated, they came back with a much stronger presence.
Miguel López de Legazpi, a Spanish navigator representing King Philip II of Spain, crosses the pacific and enters Cebu. He brought with him at least 500 soldiers because he knew what happened to Magellan after all. This man would later on became the first Governor-General of the Spanish East Indies, but focusing on his arrival to Cebu, he met with the last Rajah of Cebu, Rajah Tupas.
Rajah Tupas, the last Rajah of Cebu
Photo by Keneth L Edillon
There are relatively few details known about Rajah Tupas. He was the Rajah then in 1565 and was the cousin of Rajah Humabon, the Rajah that sent Magellan to Lapulapu. Upon hearing the news that the Spanish are back at it again with the white supremacy, he supposedly sent all the civilians to the hills and fought against the opposition.
However, in the end, they lost the battle, and that was when, arguably, Cebu lost as a whole to Spain. The Spanish even told the Cebuano natives that they had long submitted to Spanish suzerainty. After the ordeal, Rajah Tupas and Miguel López de Legazpi enters a deal.
Photo by Stan Cabigas; a statue of Rajah Humabon, cousin of Rajah Tupas
The Treaty of Cebu (1565)
The Treaty of Cebu in 1565 was signed on June 4 between de Legazpi and Rajah Tupas. This treaty effectively made Spain the suzerain of Cebu, and thus began 333 years of Spanish rule over the Philippines. Historians characterized the treaty less of an agreement but more of an unconditional surrender.
According to historian William Henry Scott, the treaty was the “kind of prototype of the unequal treaties which western nations were to fasten on Oriental peoples for the next three centuries.”
On Saturday night, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of May 22, 2021.
Today, the whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province — recorded 130 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 44 new recoveries, and 2 new deaths. This brings Cebu’s total confirmed cases to 52,420, while the active cases increased to 1,292 (from 1,207).
Breakdown of cases:
Cebu City – Total confirmed: 24,105 (+62 new) – Total recoveries: 22,807 (+25 new) – Total deaths: 863 (+1 new) – Active cases: 435
Lapu-Lapu City – Total confirmed: 6,404 (+15 new) – Total recoveries: 6,060 (+0 new) – Total deaths: 168 (+0 new) – Active cases: 176
Mandaue City – Total confirmed: 6,555 (+12 new) – Total recoveries: 6,155 (+10 new) – Total deaths: 222 (+1 new) – Active cases: 178
Cebu Province – Total confirmed: 15,356 (+41 new) – Total recoveries: 14,145 (+9 new) – Total deaths: 708 (+0 new) – Active cases: 503
Summary of COVID-19 cases in Cebu:
Total Active Cases in Cebu: 1,292
Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 52,420 (+130 new)
Total Recoveries in Cebu: 49,167 (+44 new)
Total Deaths in Cebu: 1,961 (+2 new*)
A total of 3,830 laboratory results were released for today.
NOTES from DOH-7:
*As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.
Cast under a spell of an elven forest. That is what the beauty of Club Serena Resort does as soon as you step into the resort.
Located in Basdaku, Moalboal, this thousand square meters nature haven have suites, caverns and treehouses feel like it’s all part of the woods. All the buildings and structures don’t take away from nature but have found its way to coexist with the trees. Their treehouses are so elegant, it makes you want to climb to bed often and literally.
It comes with the idyllic sea of White beach in Moalboal too with its sparkling sand, amazing dive sites, and awesome sunsets. It’s a complete package of relaxation in just a few steps.
Outdoor Shower & Bath
One of the highlights of our stay is their “Outdoor Rain Shower and Bathtub” which you don’t actually see very often in resorts. Bathing under the always changing sky where you can be greeted with beautiful clouds, a starry night sky or a natural rain shower all for yourself.
Photo from Club Serena Resort Facebook Page
Photo from Club Serena Resort Facebook Page
Photo by Roi Fegi
Photo from Club Serena Resort Facebook Page
Photo from Club Serena Resort Facebook Page
Photo from Club Serena Resort Facebook Page
Sound of trees, birds and waves
It has a very “exclusive” atmosphere that makes the breathtaking scenery more special and personal. Relaxing while being surrounded by the sound of trees, birds and waves gives you that sense of peace.
Merman’s Cavern – on the second level of the suites building with a balcony overlooking the sea. The rear view is facing the 2nd pool of the resort and beautiful mountains. Bed Size: 2 Double
Beach Front House – located beside the bar and restaurant, with the best view of the sea. A garden surrounds this cottage. The bedroom is separated from the living room. This room has Cable TV, Hot and Cold Shower, Mini Bar and Intercom.
Cottages 1 and 2 – located side by side, close to the bar and restaurant of the resort. They have a native/rustic design and a view of the sea. Bed Size: 1 Queen
Exact location: Club Serena resort, White Beach, Basdaku, Moalboal, Southern Cebu – approx. 3-4 hours away from the city.
BY BUS: Go to Cebu City South Bus Terminal and ride on a bus bound for Moalboal. Estimated travel time is 3-4 hours. Ask the driver to drop you off at the bus stop in the town center. Register first in the Tourism office in Moalboal as they require this to all tourist that comes for the crowd/tourist control and tracing. After registration, you can ride a multicab (fare: P500/person) or a tricycle (fare: P150/person).
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Club Serena Resort” in Moalboal. Parking space is available.
Bantayan Island renowned for its white sand beaches, laidback island life relaxation and soul-searching vibes have added another attraction to its belt.
A floating island at JCAD resort have recently been opened. These are inflatable islands that levels up your water activities to another level of fun. They have inflatable slides, towers, bridges, swings, and just about any obstacle in inflated island water sports.
Photo from JCAD Hotel Resort Bantayan Facebook Page
Photo from JCAD Hotel Resort Bantayan Facebook Page
Photo by Lotskie’s Yaug Ataz
Photo by Lotskie’s Yaug Ataz
Photo by Lotskie’s Yaug Ataz
Photo by Lotskie’s Yaug Ataz
Photo by Sweetpalang Camela Alojacin
Photo by Sweetpalang Camela Alojacin
Photo by Ette Nylla
Photo by Ette Nylla
The shores of Bantayan Island surely captivate us every time but there should be no reason to let the fun stop there. Engaging in the floating island water activities will keep our hearts racing in excitement and challenge and will be a great bonding time for children and the whole family.
Exact location: Sitio Tingtingon, Marikaban, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Northern Cebu — approx. 4-5 hours away from Cebu City.
BY BUS: Go to Cebu City North Bus Terminal and ride on a bus bound for Hagnaya. Estimated travel time is 3.5-4 hours. Once in Hagnaya Port, you will ride on a barge bound for Santa Fe port (travel time is approximately 1 hr). The Tourism Office in Santa Fe port will collect P30/person for all incoming guests to the Island as per ordinance approved by local and provincial councilors as Environmental or Ecological Fee.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “JCAD Hotel Resort” in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.
