The town of Tabogon is relatively unknown when it comes to tourism in Cebu especially with the various tourist spots that can be explored from the northern to the southern parts of Cebu.
Unknown to many tourists and even Cebuanos themselves, Tabogon is an adventurous town hosting loads of aquatic activities such as fishing, diving, and more importantly, delving into the deep blue and encountering various marine life.
Before proceeding to explore the different adventures of Tabogon, it would be a great idea to visit the public beach of Tagasa.
Photo by Jayson Carungay
Tagasa Public Beach is a tranquil beach that compliments the quiet and sleepy municipality of Tabogon. It is famous with the locals and is a favorite hangout spot because of the peaceful atmosphere and the refreshing breeze. The silence of the surroundings and the serene views at the front of the beach is the best place for meditating and being one with nature.
Photo from the Municipality of Tabogon
With the help of the local government of Tabogon, the beach was improved and made more conducive for gatherings. After ridding the beach of trash, its true beauty surfaced and the water glistened in different shades of blue.
Photo from the Municipality of TabogonPhoto from the Municipality of Tabogon
They also installed multiple cottages by the shore to offer shelter to visitors of the improved beach with the hope that it attracts many to its cream-colored sands.
Photo from the Municipality of Tabogon
What’s more, because it is a public beach, it has no entrance fees. Feel the gentle caress of the wind and let it carry your worries away as you lose yourself to the crashing waves of Tagasa Public Beach.
Photo from the Municipality of Tabogon
Photo from the Municipality of Tabogon
Photo by Jayson Carungay
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Entrance fee: None as of the moment
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact location: Tagasa, Tabogon, Cebu — approx. 3 hours away from the city.
BY BUS:From North Bus Terminal, you can hop on a bus bound to Tabogon. Drop off at Tabogon Terminal. Fare is around P70. From there, take a habal-habal on your way to Tagasa Beach.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Tagasa Beach” in Tabogon. Parking space is available.
Now that we have entered the “-ber” months, it is time for the festive holiday seasons to be rejoiced. Adorn each corner with Christmas lights of different colors and put on the stocking and the Christmas tree because it is that time of the year again…except this time, we are in quarantine.
COVID-19 has forced all of us to stay at home to be in quarantine but despite that, it is important to keep the Christmas spirit flowing and going as it is our tradition. One aspect of Christmas is the gifts under the Christmas tree, and now a question is made: how should we continue and proceed with gift shopping now with the pandemic in mind?
Usually, the malls get flooded by people buying up all kinds of gifts like toys for little children, cute and pretty clothes for Manitos and Manitas, or something sticky for the office kris kringle. What is to be expected about gift shopping during the quarantine?
Here are some tips to follow so that you can surely buy a gift just in time.
Buy Ahead of Time
Of course, it is an extremely helpful strategy to buy gifts ahead of time instead of panic buying it during December. Almost everyone has faced a situation such as this where there is no more time to consider because the gifts should be ready by tomorrow so you rush towards the mall and buy something quickly. However, this time it might be difficult to do that because shops will be monitored strictly on how many people can go in and out especially during the holiday seasons.
As early as now, think of gifts to buy and buy them. Check how available your gifts are because due to the pandemic, the availability of certain items and commodities may be affected.
SM Seaside, Cebu’s biggest mallAyala Center Cebu
Create a Shopping List Beforehand
During quarantine, malls will always control the crowds of people who would enter, and that holds particularly true during the holidays.
Many malls would probably put you on a tight time schedule in their establishment to shop, so it is a wise decision to think of the gifts you are going to buy beforehand, put them on a list, and follow the said list once you are inside shopping. It will ease your mind, put less pressure on the time limit and makes you think more of the quality and price of the items instead of what items you are going to buy.
You can use these printable templates:
Think Your Gifts Through
Sometimes the gifts we might be planning to buy or the gifts that we usually buy for our loved ones might not work during the pandemic and may be insensitive or impractical.
Why would you buy something fit for travelling if the person you are giving it to would focus their time now on self-quarantine rather than travelling during this peril? We cannot know what is in store for us in the future, or if the travel bans would become stricter, so it is important to think through.
Online Shop Smartly
Right now, probably the best way to shop for Christmas gifts is to shop online. Do not get intimidated by online shopping if you haven’t tried to do it yet. Just remember to go to online stores that are trusted and online sellers with great scores.
When checking an item online, ALWAYS check the reviews of the items. Even if it is 5 stars, always read what the reviews say. If an item you are going to buy does not accommodate Cash on Delivery as a payment method, you can always avail for a GCash Card which is easier.
One of the best ways to calm the nerves is by spending a day experiencing the countryside vibes of Purita Farms Vacation House. Nothing can be more relaxing than breathing in their refreshing rural air and having an exclusive stay in their farm.
It is located inside a 4-hectare mango orchard in San Remigio. The orchard has been in the town since 1981 so it serves as a small piece of history. The vacation house was then added in 2007 to take advantage of the verdant surroundings and the refreshing breeze of the province.
Vacation House
The vacation house itself is an elevated space consisting mainly of a large pool area and two adjoining buildings that the guests can use.
The pool area has the best view in the whole house, having a 180-degree perspective of the orchard and a modern-inspired design that wonderfully contrasts with the rural background.
It is undoubtedly the best place to relax with its open space and various facilities that provide different ways to spend the day.
Pool and Jacuzzi
Guests may relish the verdant backgrounds while dipping in the pool or jacuzzi. They may also set tables and chairs close to the fence for a more heightened dining experience. Just a few feet away from the swimming pool is a shaded lounging area that’s perfect for reading and morning coffees.
Inside the house is a combination of a rustic and modern interior that sits well with the tranquil atmosphere. It is fully equipped with necessary facilities such as the kitchen, sala, and comfort rooms. The pool area is also easily accessible from the kitchen-sala through a porch and shares the same relaxing view with it.
Celebrations and getaways can be more fun and memorable in Purita Farms especially with its 30-person capacity. Spend a day or two in privacy with all of your loved ones far away from the bustling metro.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
DAY USE:
Exclusive stay: P5,000, up to a maximum of 30 people
Day Use Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Exceeding hours: P600 per hour
Extra Guests: P50 per head
NIGHT USE:
Exclusive stay: P6,000, up to a maximum of 30 people
Night Use Hours: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Exceeding hours: P600 per hour
Extra Guests: P50 per head
OVERNIGHT:
Overnight stay:
P12,500 per night, good for 25-30 persons
P15,500 per night, good for 40 persons
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 NN
OTHER INFORMATION:
Security Deposit: P2000, returned if no losses or damage to property after checkout
Exact location: Brgy. Bangkal, Poblacion, San Remigio, Northern Cebu — 3 hours away from the city.
BY BUS: From the North Bus Terminal /Consolacion Terminal, ride any bus going to San Remigio or Tabuelan. You can tell the driver to drop you off at 7-Eleven store. From there, ride a tricycle going to Purita Farms.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Purita Farms Vacation House” in San Remigio. Parking space is available upon arrival.
Oslob is a town in southern Cebu that’s best known as a tropical destination and no one would expect it to have other things than beaches and the whale sharks.
Tulips Valley breaks this expectation by being not only a novel attraction among the sandy shore destinations of the town, but also being an unusual yet refreshingly welcome idea to the tourists of Cebu.
Tulips Valley, nestled just half an hour away from the famous whale shark watching of Oslob, is an interesting tourist attraction that will surely spice up your next visit to the southern reaches of Cebu. Fortunately, this tourist attraction can be easily fit into the schedule as it only goes to life at night and illuminates the dark skies of Oslob with the colorful and vibrant lights of their tulips.
FUN FACTS ABOUT TULIPS VALLEY
An interesting fact about Tulips Valley is that it is a giant artwork sending a message regarding the environment. The “tulips” in here are made up of around 18,000 plastic spoons which were collected by the artist, Mr. Mancini Romares, since 2016.
The spoons were collected from birthdays, weddings, parties and other events that he attended and were then made into the plastic tulips which now inhabit the soils of Gawi, Oslob.
MULTI-COLORED TULIPS AT NIGHT
When visited during the day, the plastic spoons can be easily distinguished from actual tulips as they’re just white pieces of plastic under the sun but at night, they turn into colorful artworks filling the night with red, blue, orange, and other colored lights.
The most visited portion of the attraction is the tulip garden in the shape of two hearts. The other gardens are rows of tulips reminiscent of the 10,000 Roses Cafe in Cordova surrounding the pathways around the place.
CAMPING AMONG THE FLOWERS
Moreover, Tulips Valley allows camping on their grounds for a certain fee. This is for visitors who want to experience the cool night breeze of Oslob and treat their eyes to the playful scenery of the colored tulips. They serve breakfast so their overnight guests won’t worry about getting hungry in the morning.
For those who are looking for new ways to experience the peaceful town of Oslob, Tulips Valley is guaranteed to provide a new type of seaside scenery that adds more reasons to visit the already famous town.
Exact location: Gawi, Oslob, Cebu — 30 minutes away from the Whaleshark Watching in Oslob, 4 hours away from the city.
BY BUS: Find your way to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. From there, ride a bus bound for Bato-Oslob. Tulips Valley is just a few minutes away from the Whaleshark Watching and 5 minutes away from Ermi Beach Resort so you may ask the driver to drop you off at Tulips Valley if he knows the place or at Ermi Beach Resort.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Tulips Valley” at Gawi, Oslob. The attraction is just located near the border of Oslob and Boljoon. Parking space is available upon arrival.
Seaviews from the beachfront are outdated so Sillon Floating Bamboo House has thought of a new way to enjoy Bantayan from over the ocean.
Photo by Desamparado Norelyn
Sillon Floating Bamboo House is a cottage-type bamboo drifting just a few kilometers from the shore of Sillon, Bantayan. This is the best way to experience Bantayan in a different setting with views of the tropical island and the various thriving flora on one side and a view of the expansive blue on the other.
Photo by Gizel VillaceranPhoto by Desamparado Norelyn
This floating bamboo structure isn’t just limited to the views of the two but it also has different wonders waiting underneath its make-shift pool where everybody can take a dive into the turquoise waters and greet the friendly fishes of the island. With three times the thrill and beauty, it’s no wonder that this humble floating bamboo structure will attract both locals and tourists from many places to witness the scenic views.
The floating bamboo house is the best place to spend an exclusive getaway with loved ones due to the relaxing atmosphere, the unique tropical experience and the three-faced beauty of Bantayan which is hard to find. When the sun is at its peak, everybody can enjoy a festive salu-salo over the sea.
Photo by Gizel Villaceran
Photo by Gizel Villaceran
Photo by Gizel Villaceran
Photo by Gizel Villaceran
Photo by Gizel Villaceran
Privacy is also guaranteed because they only accept reservations. In this way, groups won’t be disturbed by other strangers and everybody will be able to spend a comfortable time together.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
FEES:
Entrance fee: None as of the moment; it’s recommended to donate ₱100-200 per couple/group to help maintain the attraction.
Life jacket: ₱20 per piece (optional)
OTHER INFORMATION:
Corkage fee: None
Contact number: 0909-309-4361
NOTES:
Sillon Floating Bamboo House only accepts reservations that have been booked beforehand for exclusive usage.
Outside food is allowed.
The boat service can go back and forth anytime from the island to the bamboo house upon the request of the group.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact location: Sillon, Bantayan Island, Northern Cebu — approx. 5 hours away from the city (with ferry ride)
Buses that will bring you to Bantayan Island are found at the North Bus Terminal. Take the bus going to Hagnaya. Travel time is approximately 3 hours. From Hagnaya take the Express Ferry Boat to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island. Travel time is approximately 1-hour ride to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island. A Ro-Ro vessel from Hagnaya to Santa Fe is also available. To learn more about the fare and schedule, read our guide here: https://sugbo.ph/2019/budget-sta-fe-bantayan-island/
From Sta. Fe, look for a tricycle or jeepney that will take you to Sillon Floating House near Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort.
The quarantine has surely taught us one thing; it is that no one and nothing can stop a food trend.
Being stuck at home and seeing those mouth-watering food pictures on social media have made us either into home cooks or professional online buyers.
These food trends have been significant in keeping us sane, it is only proper that we recognize them. Check out our list and tell us which one is your favorite.
1. DIY Coffee
Who can forget the famous Dalgona coffee? The first craze that started it all. With just instant coffee, sugar, fresh milk, some hot water, effort in mixing and voila, you can already have your daily dose of coffee that rivals the tasty coffees in cafes. Now, there are a lot of coffee grounds and coffee makers being sold in social media.
2. Assorted Cheesecakes
Cheesecakes were also one of the challenges concocted on social media. The challenge to make one and the challenge to resist ordering one. There were all kinds of tasty cheesecakes that you just really want to have them all. One local store in particular delivers assorted cheesecakes where each slice is a different kind of cheesecake.
Store: Cheezken Cebu
Store: Cheezken Cebu
Store: Cheezken Cebu
3. Milk cheese donuts
A combination of your favorites produces nothing but an absolute treat. This trending snack has delivered these warm, cheesy donuts to so many homes during the quarantine period, and the orders just kept coming. This Cebu-originated treat has become a favorite in no time.
Store: The Bakery Boutique Cebu
Store: The Bakery Boutique Cebu
Store: The Bakery Boutique Cebu
4. Samgyupasal @ Home
Our cravings for Samgyupsal nights were satisfied with some research and smart online orders. As it seems, everything can be delivered from Samgyup grills to Samgyup meat along with its side dishes. Samgyup at home was a hit since it can be easily prepared for celebrations and weekends with fam.
5. Choco Lanay
Local treats were not ignored as well for all variations of choco lanay have flooded our timelines for some time. These chocolate-filled snacks were already a hit but have gone viral this 2020 with different home bakers offering it online.
6. Korean fish cakes
As food trend was at its peak, the K-drama trend was at its highest too. There’s no wonder that Korean fish cakes have become a hit as it reminds you of Reply 1988 and every Korean drama they were featured in. A great opportunity to try something new and to connect with your oppas and unnies, these fish cakes were a sold out to the heart of the Cebuanos.
Store: Tiger Manju Cebu
Store: Tiger Manju Cebu
Store: Tiger Manju Cebu
7. Big burgers
The bigger the burger, the bigger the hunger. The featured big burgers that went viral in Cebu have made all our stomachs growl. Those mouth-watering pictures have made us click that order now button real quick. As these burgers are delivered into your homes, you will not have to worry if you can’t finish all of it for you can share it with the whole family.
Store: Chef Marquins Moalboal Cebu
Store: Chef Marquins Moalboal Cebu
Store: Chef Marquins Moalboal Cebu
8. Ube cheese pandesal
Melted cheese inside an ube-flavored pandesal? This unique combination has made the social media world curious and hungry at the same time. Quirky, fun, and tasteful, this violet treat’s fame has made it a must-have in our merienda orders. It is the perfect pair for either hot coffee or cold juice.
All these food trends would never have been a “trend” if not for the prompt delivery efforts by both store owner and delivery services.
Got something you want delivered safely and hassle-free across borders? Lalamove has affordable offers just for you.
Keep Things Moving with Lalamove
On-demand, same day, and door-to-door delivery. Lalamove keeps things moving and your business running with their fleet of light trucks, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), utility vans, and motorcycles.
Here are four (4) things Lalamove does that make life easier:
1. Be a personal shopper and assistant
Through Lalamove’s Purchase Service, users can ask Lalamove’s partner drivers to buy anything, from food, medicine, and up to 20 kgs of grocery items and pay it in advance with a Cash on Delivery option of up to P2,000 with same day delivery.
2. Pay bills and line up in the bank
Lalamove can safely collect and deliver payments and deposits to banks and billing centers with their Cash Handling Service and Queuing Service.
3. Transport large furniture and home appliance
Move big items with Lalamove’s 4-wheel light trucks and multi-purpose vehicles that can transport furniture, odd-sized items and appliances. Their Additional Assistant also allows for an extra pair of hands to carry heavy items.
4. Deliver multiple TLC packages to loved ones
Despite the distance, show love and care to family and friends. Surprise them with home-baked goods, plants, or care packages and use Lalamove’s Multi-Stop feature, which can deliver to up to 20 stops in one booking.
Don’t let the quarantine stop you from doing the annual holiday tradition of gift-giving, food deliveries and all kinds of possibilities with Lalamove.
Download the Lalamove app available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store and http://www.web.lalamove.com for fast, seamless and reliable delivery service that fits one’s personal and business needs.
These are the three words that best describes the famous Cebuano film.
If you haven’t had the chance to watch “Patay na Si Hesus” then sit back and relax because it is on its way to be the very first Cebuano film to be featured in Netflix this December 20, 2020.
Made by Cebuano filmmaker Victor Villanueva, it has won multiple awards with the Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity awards from the QCinema International Film Festival in 2016 and the Jury’s Choice award back in the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP).
The film has Jaclyn Jose as Iyay, a hardworking food vendor and mother who learns of the death of her estranged husband, Hesus. She then decides to take a road trip to Dumaguete from Cebu City to attend the funeral and forces her apathetic children, Hubert (Vincent Viado), Judith Marie “Jude” (Chai Fonacier) and Jay (Melde Montañez) to join her.
The movie created quite a buzz as the film invites many interpretations which makes it fully open for a debate. It has unexpected dark humor and a sprinkle of sociopolitical and religious sarcasm.
If you are looking for a change of tone from all the sappy and romantic movies then you need to see this absurdly funny but brilliant movie.
Through the current administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, multiple infrastructure and development projects have been started in the different key areas of the country. With the multitude of development projects planned for the following years also comes the undeniable need to collect various resources – one of these being metal.
SteelAsia Chairman and CEO Benjamin Yao has taken this as a rare opportunity to be able to give back to his country with the production of locally-made metals. “We’re proud to do our part in building our nation. It’s time we catch up with our neighboring countries,” expressed the Chairman.
COMPOSTELA WORKS ROLLING MILL
With the help of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) through its P5.7-billion long term loan to Compostela Steel Inc., SteelAsia is able to begin construction of its seventh mill in the Philippines.
“As the premier infrastructure bank of the country, financing projects that enable the local construction industry to be self-reliant in steel is a developmental priority as it further improves the country’s infrastructure landscape,” said DBP President Emmanuel G. Herbosa.
Compostela Works Rolling Mill, set to be the largest steel-making facility in the town of Compostela, is expected to meet the growing demand of locally made steel products in the Visayas. Aside from that, the new mill will also provide a solution to the limited amount of steel products in the Visayan regions.
HIGH QUALITY STEEL PRODUCTION
The Compostela mill will become one of the biggest facilities of SteelAsia once it is finished. With various equipment that boasts of Italian engineering and technology, Chairman Yao proudly says that it will be a cost-efficient alternative as opposed to exported steel bars to the country. It will have a capacity of 800,000 tons of rebar produced annually, with the combined production of the 7 mills in the country expected to reach 2.5 million tons.
A BOON TO THE LOCAL INDUSTRY
The new mill will present many benefits upon its completion most especially to the locals of Compostela, Cebu. One of those benefits being the provision of around 3000 direct and indirect jobs to the residents. It can also be seen bolstering the domestic steel output of the country which should lessen the dependence on imported steel products and stimulate the local economy especially in the midst of a pandemic.
When the project reaches its second phase, the facility may be able to start producing wire rods which will strongly support downstream small-scale manufacturing firms and act as a cost-efficient import substitute. Since the Philippines currently has no wire-rod manufacturing capability and relies solely on imports from neighboring countries, this expansion may be able to help cut down expenses on various infrastructure projects.
TIMELINE
SteelAsia Manufacturing broke ground for Compostela Works Rolling Mill last May 2018 and construction started in 2019. No announcements have been made yet about the estimated end of the construction.
A statement that is upheld by Pacific Lounge located in the town of Samboan, southern Cebu.
Renting the place means you will have a whole apartment exclusively to yourself, that’s why Pacific Lounge is perfect for intimate family affairs. It’s located close to some of the best waterfalls in the southern part of Cebu so the place basically gives you access to a lot of the best spots in the area.
An architecturally unique modern villa with sea views.
Their modern villas with sea views are situated on a 1-hectare garden. The rooms are surrounded by green trees and plants that will surely tap into your inner nature-lover side.
The roof deck of the apartment serves as the dining area with a breathtaking view of the sea and sky. This is the perfect spot for a candle-lit dinner or an intimate lunch with your loved one.
Their native-inspired rooms are also neat and elegant and will make you wonder whether it’s still worth it to go outside. Well, of course it is! Pacific Lounge comes with a 120-meter private beach with a coral cove. This is probably one of the best features of the place.
Tourists will surely get to experience a world-class dive without having to go far because it’s literally in front of your accommodation. Snorkel masks and life vests can be used for free.
So if you’re planning for a trip down south and yearning for a break from the loud city life, Pacific Lounge is one of the best spots in southern Cebu.
Breakfast is complementary.
Garage parking. Your car is safe behind the secured gate right in front of the guard’s house.
The complete beach with outdoor kitchen and the cool chilling lounge is exclusively for you.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Entrance fee: Reserved exclusively to those with confirmed bookings.
Room rates: P6,500 per night, good for 4 persons (exclusive use of the service apartment and its amenities)
Exact location: Dalahikan, Samboan, Southern Cebu — approx. 3 hours away from Cebu City. The resort is located just along the highway.
BY BUS: From the Cebu South Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Bato/Liloan via Barili/Samboan. Fare is around P200. The resort is along Samboan highway, few meters away from Fantasy Lodge. It’s best to also navigate with Waze or Google Maps.
BY CAR: Navigate using Waze or Google Maps and input “Pacific Lounge” as the destination. Parking space is available.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced on Friday, December 11, that the Province of Cebu will be opening its borders to welcome tourists from other provinces. Garcia said that she will be meeting with the Provincial Tourism Task Force to establish guidelines and protocols for the Tourism’s new normal.
“Because you see, it’s really time for us to realize that in the final analysis, it’s the economic situation now of so many that have been affected by these restrictions that we must prioritize. Unya kaning Central Visayas is a tourism region,”
– Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia
“Okay rata diri Cebu, kung Province lang we’re 3.2 million, apil ang Cebu City that’s another million, that’s 4.2 milion, apil ang Lapu-lapu City that’s about 600. We’re about 5 million. Maka-sustain rata,” Garcia emphasized.
Garcia also added that if 10 to 20 percent of about 5 million people will visit the tourism sites of the province, Cebu can sustain even amidst the pandemic.
On December 2, the four governors of Central Visayas were supposed to meet for a discussion on possibilities of inter-province tourism, but the governors of Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental have cancelled.
However, regardless of the cancellation, Garcia is still keen on opening the tourism of Cebu to inter-province tourists.
“So, we have to move it but I have already decided. Maayo man gyud ning mulibot ta ba kay makuha natong feedback sa mga resort owners, ang mga stakeholders nato diri sa Cebu. I’m going to sit down with the Provincial Tourism Task Force,” Garcia said.
“If the other provinces are still closing themselves to inter-province nga tourism but they will allow their people to come to us, then we will establish guidelines. Para ang kadtong gusto intawon mubisita og Malapascua Island kay naibog kaayo, ang kadtong gusto muadto og Bantayan labi na kon duna silay mga paryente diri – ang ilang roots gikan diri sa Cebu, we will establish guidelines and protocols for that to allow them entry into our Province,” she ended.
Garcia emphasized that the inter-province tourism will help in reviving the tourism industry after being greatly affected by the pandemic.
According to the latest data, the active Covid-19 cases in Central Visayas are decreasing as people are learning to cope and manage the disease by following the established health protocols, she added.
