Gone are the days when travelers need to visit their local travel agent and spend much time waiting in queue. Today, booking online is a far easier option for travelers to purchase tickets. Introducing, the newest yet the best online booking system when traveling by boat, Barkota.com.
Traveling at your fingertips! Barkota.com is a convenient, one-stop shop online booking system for various shipping lines. This means, you don’t have to waste time to go to the ticketing office and wait in line.
Confirm and Pay! You can pay via Paypal (Credit Card), ML Epay, Online Banking (almost all banks), 7-Eleven, Over-the-Counter, and Dragonpay. …that’s it! Super convenient! For a more comprehensive guide, head on to this page.
Barkota.com does everything to make you feel safe when booking your sea travels online. They only book directly with the largest and renowned sea vessel companies across the country. All of them are ensured of a convenient and safe booking with Barkota.com.
If you are someone who would like to avoid the hassle of everything one has to go through before being able to book a ticket, you know where to go. Trust me, Barkota.com will offer services that value quality and your money.
Here are some travel destinations you can book via Barkota.com.
What are you waiting for? Well I am now off to my next dream destination. See you around!
With summer getting hotter each year because of several factors, most of us could think about escaping it by: (1) just staying at home with the aircon on full blast, (2) hitting the beach, and (3) going on a trip to the mountains of Cebu. But how does swimming in fresh cold spring waters sound to you? Yes, I want that too!
Beat the summer heat and swim in the cold waters without spending too much, at Kansanto Cold Spring in Badian of southern Cebu. Entrance fee is only ₱40 per head!
BY BUS: From the South Bus Terminal, take a bus going to Badian (Bato via Barili). Fare is ~₱125 per head. Inform the driver to drop you off at Badian Public Market or Merkado. From there, ride a motorbike (habal-habal) going to Kansanto Spring. Fare is ₱50 per person.
BY CAR: Just navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Kansanto Spring Badian”. Parking space is available.
Score the greatest travel deals ever at the 6th International Travel Festival this July 12 to 14, 2019 at Ayala Center Cebu.
This year’s theme is very apt as it promises to showcase the best of the Philippines and the world with value laden tour packages, irresistible airfares, dreamy cruises and amazing hotel & resorts staycation packages — ALL WITHIN YOUR REACH!
Don’t miss this chance to book your dream destination and save big at the ITF 2019.
Situated on top of the mountainous Balamban, West 35 Eco Mountain Resort is a perfect venue if you’re looking for a rejuvenating and refreshing oasis from the hustle and bustle of city life. The resort is approximately 30km or an hour drive from Ayala Center Cebu – only a few meters away (walking distance) from the popular attractions in Balamban like Adventure Cafe, Buwakan ni Alejandra, and Florentino’s.
Photo by Aying SalupanPhoto by Aying Salupan
Apart from the picturesque 360-degree view of Balamban Mountains and the seaside of Tsuneishi, West 35 also boasts of lush vegetation, a wide variety of insects, birds and foliage endemic to Gaas, Balamban. Relaxing has never been this sheer bliss.
The resort grows its own organic vegetables, which is served in the restaurant. The resort also has a zipline, children’s playground, game room and function room.
Melvin Rey OrofeoMelvin Rey Orofeo
Photo by Melvin Rey Orofeo
Photo by Melvin Rey Orofeo
Haven Cafe & 360° Viewing Deck
John Ray Aligato
Photo by Aying SalupanPhoto by Aying Salupan
MENU:
Rooms
RATES:
Deluxe Room (Mint/Thyme) – P4,500 good for two (2) with complimentary breakfast for two. Maximum 2 extra persons allowed with extra charge
Group Room Ordinary (Sage/Ginger) – P4,500 good for six (6) with complimentary breakfast for six. Maximum 4 extra persons allowed with extra charge. 1 queen bed and 4 single beds
Group Room Special (Celery/Dill) – P5,000 good for six (6) with complimentary breakfast for six. Maximum 4 extra persons allowed with extra charge. 1 queen bed and 4 single beds. Celery has outdoor area and bonfire pit. Dill has balcony.
Group Room Deluxe (Cilantro) – P6,000 good for four (4) with complimentary breakfast for four. Maximum 4 extra persons allowed with extra charge. 4 single beds. With outdoor area and bonfire pit. Designed for PWD (bigger room with minibar)
Suite Room (Basil) – P6,000 good for two (2) with complimentary breakfast for two. Extra person not allowed. With outdoor jacuzzi and lounge
*Extra person is charged at P550 per head with breakfast and mattress.
ROOM INCLUSIONS:
Queen size bed/Twin size bed
Ceiling Fan
Flat Screen Cable TV
Private Bathroom with Indoor Jacuzzi
Sofa
Mini Refrigerator
Dresser/Closet
Deluxe Rooms: Thyme, Mint and Dill
Photo by Tam Mendoza
Photo by Tam Mendoza
Photo by Tam Mendoza
Photo by Tam Mendoza
Group Accommodation: Celery, Ginger & Sage
The Suite Room
Function Rooms
RATES:
Non Aircon – P2,000 net – 5 hours use of function room / Php 500.00 net on excess – Free electrical charge for bringing (1) one LCD projector – (1) one laptop
With Aircon – P4,000 net – 5 hours use of function room / Php 750.00 net in excess – With Flowing Coffee – Free electrical charge for bringing (1) one LCD projector – (1) one laptop – Can fit in up to 25-30 persons
Kids’ Playground
– FREE of use – Slides – Swings – Climbing / Wall Climbing – Mini Zipline
Exact location: Brgy. Gaas, Balamban, Cebu – approximately 30km or an hour drive from Ayala Center Cebu. Only a few meters away (walking distance) from the popular attractions in Balamban like Adventure Cafe, Buwakan ni Alejandra, and Florentino’s.
PUBLIC: Take a V-hire from the Ayala Center Terminal going to Balamban via Transcentral highway route. Fare is P120 per person (one-way). Inform the driver to drop you off at West 35 Eco Adventure Park (just a few meters ahead of Adventure Cafe).
PRIVATE: Parking space available. Just search for ‘West 35 Eco Adventure Park’ in Gaas Balamban, Transcentral Highway via Waze or Google Maps.
Did you know Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka is among the best in the world? Discover the varying yet distinct flavors and types of Ceylon Tea in the tropical island of Cebu, at Island Tea Co.
Sri Lanka is known for their best-tasting tea. It has all the favorable conditions that are critical for producing the unique taste, aroma and taste of Ceylon Tea, which is 100% grown and processed only in Sri Lanka under strict rules and restrictions governed by the tea board. Imagine, this special tea is actually being offered by Island Tea Co. in Cebu!
Sri Lanka’s Best Tea & Milk Tea
In our time today, tea has always been associated to milk tea when in reality, real tea gives you a lot of health benefits while milk tea brings risks due to the incredibly high numbers for sugar content if not drank moderately. Moreover, you can’t taste the “tea” anymore in most milk teas today.
Island Tea Co. wants to change that by providing you the best of both worlds — Sri Lanka’s best-tasting Ceylon Tea and the millennial favorite milk tea but without compromising the “real taste” of tea this time.
With over 15 branches nationwide, Island Tea Co. draws from its vast collection of fine harvest teas and exclusive blends, introducing a whole new world of sensations, aroma and flavours to tea lovers.
Menu
Hand-picked range of the most sought-after Sri Lankan tea flavors from around the globe , Island Tea Co. offers trendsetting tea beverages, tea mocktails, tea shakes & tea smoothies along with a hand picked range of patisseries to compliment that perfect cup of tea.
Branches
As the only specialty tea store in the Philippines, Island Tea Co. is a rapidly expanding brand and have covered geographic territories in Cebu, Manila, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
Branches in Cebu:
SM City Cebu – 2/F near the old VECO / SM Cyberzone
Metro Manila’s famous Unlimited Samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) restaurant with over 40 branches in Luzon recently opened its first branch in Cebu City!
Since it has opened in Cebu last January 2019, Samgyupsalamat has been the talk of the town and is now one of the favorite go-to Samgyeopsal restaurants in Cebu. No wonder until now, Cebuanos still patiently wait in the long queue that usually takes 1-2 hours during dinner.
Samgyupsalamat’s menu combines eat-all-you-can flavored pork and beef with 5 variants each, on top of the unlimited side dishes, rice and iced tea. All these are reasonably priced at ₱449 (pork) and ₱499 (pork + beef).
Menu:
Branches
The Ridges in Panagdait — near GAGFA / Sykes
Baseline Residences in Cebu City (near Mango Square)
James Town Mandaue (beside Rico’s Lechon, across Parkmall)
Exact location: The Ridges, Panagdait, F. Cabahug, Cebu City — near Sykes Panagdait.
BY JEEPNEY: The only jeepney passing through Panagdait is 03A from Carbon / Colon / Mabolo (PLDT Mabolo, across Landers Superstore). Drop off at The Ridges, near Sykes.
BY CAR/GRAB/TAXI: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Samgyupsalamat Cebu”. Ample parking space is available.
If you don’t have a go-to dentist like me, it’s difficult for us to seek for professional help — we don’t know where to go, who to look for. Maybe I would just google it without even really knowing the credibility of the dentist until something bad happens. We don’t want that.
The country’s most outstanding hospital for Level 3-Private, Cebu Doctors University Hospital in Cebu City has launched the CebuDoc Dental Institute with state-of-the-art facilities. It is basically a “one-stop shop” for your dental healthcare needs.
Cebu Doc aims to provide the world’s latest innovation of dental healthcare in the Philippines and address the growing disregard of dental health in the country.
Services offered
CebuDoc’s Dental Institute offers general dentistry. This should address our question about what to do, who to look for. Everything will be taken cared of by the dental experts.
Done only by CebuDoc Dental Institute’s top-caliber dentists, the group offers preventive and treatment services for oral and dental health concerns, including but not limited to:
General Dentistry
Preventive Dentistry
Dental Diagnostics and Laboratory Services
Orthodontics
Endodontics
Prosthodontics
Paediatric dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
Dental implants
TMD Management
CebuDoc Dental Institute’s top-caliber dentists
Innovative, affordable
According to Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III, CebuDoc Group President and Chairman, the Dental Institute is the first hospital-based dental clinic in Cebu that has a CT (computed tomography) scanner and an operating room. They also have digitized x-ray system and three dental chairs.
The group makes sure its dental services will reach everyone who needs it, promising lower rates compared to other dental clinics, but at the same guarantees top-notch dental experience to its clients.
Introducing CebuDoc Dental InstituteThe country’s most outstanding hospital for Level III, Cebu Doctors University Hospital, launches its newest Dental Institute to be among its growing wellness brands.CebuDoc Dental Institute offers a comprehensive and advanced array of dental health services such as General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry, Dental Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, TMD Management, Periodontics, Dental Implants, and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.To know more about it, watch this:#DentalInsitute #CebuDoc #Dental #CDGWellness
During the Ford Philippines media drive last month, I got to drive around and visit some attractions in the mountains of Cebu, along the National Transcentral Highway. Included in the itinerary were a flower garden and lettuce farms where we got to deliver plastic drums to the farmers and delivered their freshly harvested produce to the nearest buying facility.
However the highlight of the drive was, we got to test out two pickup trucks from Ford. The 4×2 2.2 litre TDCi Ford Ranger XLT and the new 4×4 2.0L Bi-turbo Ford Ranger WILDTRAK.
Both are very awesome trucks but the WILDTRAK was definitely way cooler than the former. Here’s why.
LOOKS
For an untrained eye, a WILDTRAK could be easily distinguished because it has the word Wildtrak all over it. Also, it has a different wheel mag than the other variants, an 18” alloy mag to be specific. Aesthetically, it almost looks the same with the other variants. But a Wildtrak is a Wildtrak.
4×2 2.2 litre TDCi Ford Ranger XLT 4×4 2.0L Bi-turbo Ford Ranger WILDTRAK
ENGINE
The new WILDTRAK is equipped with a 2.0L Bi-turbo diesel engine. It has the same engine with FORD’s Ranger RAPTOR. The 2.0L Bi-turbo engine offers great power despite from lowering its displacement from a 2.2-Litre to a 2.0-Litre. It can deliver a power of 213HP and a torque of 500Nm. It is equipped with a 10 automatic transmission
Opinion: I could really feel the power of the new engine because I tried the Wildtrak on steep uphills and it devoured the climb easily.
2019 Ford Ranger XLT2019 Ford Ranger WILDTRAK
HANDLING
It is equipped with electrical power assisted steering
(EPAS). This makes steering smoother and easier on bigger wheel size.
Opinion: The WILDTRAK gave a more responsive steering wheel. The XLT had a very short lag on my experience, nevertheless it was really short and it doesn’t lower down its overall handling performance.
INTERIOR
The WILDTRAK had a digital rpm monitor which you can toggle
on and off. It is also connected to the head unit so you could easily check the
headunit without looking at the actual headunit. The overall interior has a
touch of luxury despite for the fact that the truck was built for heavy and
tough usage.
Opinion: I really don’t have much to say with the interior but I do love how cool the dashboard panel and its display is.
2019 Ford Ranger XLT2019 Ford Ranger WILDTRAK
OTHERS
The WILDTRAK is perfect for those who are not used to
driving larger vehicles. It has sensors surrounding the vehicles that detects
nearby objects and notifies the driver how close an object is.
Active park assist. When activated the, the vehicle would fine a parallel parking space and will do the steering itself.
Autonomous Emergency
Braking (AEB). It helps detecting pedestrians and vehicles nearby and precharges the brakes to be more
sensitive when to be applied suddenly. If you fail to react on time, it can
automatically apply the brakes.
Tailgate assist lift.
A tailgate of a pickup truck is really have, lowering it down could cost
you an effort. With the tailgate assist,
opening and closing of the tailgate will be at ease because of the added
torsional bar.
The WILDTRAK is a really great pickup. From the looks to performance, it is undoubtedly built for tough trips. If I were to choose a pickup truck, then I would definitely go for Ford.
Price
Ranger 2.0L Bi-Turbo Wildtrak 4×4 AT – PHP1,745,000
Ranger 2.0L Turbo Wildtrak 4×2 AT – PHP1,505,000
Ranger 2.0L Turbo Wildtrak 4×2 MT – P1,440,000
Ranger 2.2L XLT 4×2 AT – PHP1,283,000
Ranger 2.2L XLT 4×2 MT – PHP1,223,000
Ranger 2.2L XLS 4×4 MT – PHP1,228,000
Ranger 2.2L XLS 4×2 AT – PHP1,139,000
Ranger 2.2L XLS 4×2 MT – PHP1,079,000
Ford Cebu
Location: Cebu Veterans Dr Nivel Hills, Cebu City — few meters before Marco Polo Hotel Cebu.
You might have probably heard of it already. But did you know the new Filipino Marvel superheroine is from Cebu?
Launched just last March 8 in time for International Women’s Day, a Marvel comic book writer announced a new comic book superhero — a Filipina named ‘Wave’, who lives in Cebu.
Wave has been described by Marvel as “a mysterious new Filipino heroine.” She has the identifiable Filipino “morena” skin, a green and gold costume, and Philippine-inspired weapons.
Designed and co-created by Filipino comic book artist Leinil Francis Yu, Wave will appear for the first time in the comics “War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1,” the first of four issues.
This will be available at comic book stores by May 2019.
We discovered a gem in the rustic stretch of Southern Cebu. Quite special that you can’t find anywhere else in the province, rarely in the country. A gem that shines best in the brightest season of the year, summer! It will probably make you think of “pools” and “beaches”. But would you care if we step that up a notch? Let’s bring those waves into our pools and experience a genuine splash while enjoying the countryside cascade.
And whether you are looking for a lovely weekend, exciting escape from the city, or much more… then this paragon in the valleys of Pinamungajan is the best way to kick start your summer. Reintroducing, the newly improved Hidden Valley Resort!
Hidden Valley Resort is a complex of pools, cottages, adventure and a beautiful overlooking scenery. And while there is much that we can tell you about how ideal this place is for your next trip, let’s break down the pieces.
Hidden Valley Pools
Although it’s uncommon to serve the main dish right head on, we will tell you right away that this should be your #1 reason to visit Hidden Valley Resort – the Wave Pools.
Wave Pool
Who wouldn’t be thrilled by the idea of waves in a pool… deep in the mountains? The idea of wave pool has been around not quite while. Wave pools replicate the movement of the ocean in some science-y ways we are not sure you are interested about. Rest assured… Every other 30 mins of your stay in the wave pool will surely be electrifying when the waves are on.
Infinity Pool / Raging River
What attracts most people to like infinity pools is in the description itself – a pool that gives the impression that it merges into the ocean or other surrounding landscape. At Hidden Valley Resorts, you get to enjoy the infinity pool circumscribed by the wave pool plus the ravishing mountain scenery.
Mountain Pool
One way to name the pool we used to love. However ordinary, the amazing surrounding view, town house-like ambiance and the fresh valley breeze add a lot of feels.
More about the Hidden Valley Resort
While we are sure you will be having fun, the resort also makes sure you feel comfortable. There is a variety of comfort options for you, whichever suits your needs or your family or friends’. Don’t be lost in these options or to this beauty.
The resort also has an amphitheater, function rooms, gym, sports, and spa center. It is not just a resort but a micro community hidden in the valleys. You can be productive while having fun.
The resort is created with the community in mind. The reason, there is just a lot of things to do and enjoy at Hidden Valley Resort.
It is one of the properties run by the Lamac Cooperative. One of the premiere cooperatives in the province. Apart from all the three types of pools in this resort, you might also be interested to visit the Hidden Valley Beach, as well as the Lamac Dairy and Organic Farm pre or post Hidden Valley Resort trip.
So make sure to ask any staff at the resort if you would wish to visit the other sites. They will be more than glad to assist you.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Rates as of September 2018:
NOTE: Rates are subject to change without prior notice.
Exact location: Barangay Lamac, Municipality of Pinamungajan. Approx. 1.5 hour away from the city via Bunga-Lutopan road (recommended route).
For commuters, take a bus in Cebu South Bus Terminal going to Lutopan, Toledo City. Inform the driver to drop you off at Eskina Bunga for Hidden Valley. Bus fare is ₱40 per head, while travel time is about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the traffic. From Lutopan, take a “habal-habal” (motorcycle) going to Hidden Valley Wave Pool. Two people could accommodate the “habal-habal” and each has to pay ₱60 (one-way). If you’re alone, you’ll have to pay ₱120 for the fare. Travel time is another 15-20 minutes for 14km.
If you’re bringing your own car, READ CAREFULLY. We do not recommend using Waze since it will take you to the longer route. However, you can use it to navigate going to “Bunga, Lutopan”. You will then find a group of habal-habal few meters after a gas station. Then take a turn to the left until you’ve reached to the resort. There’s ample parking space available.
