Cebu is about an hour away from Metro Manila by plane. You can also reach it by boat (e.g. Super Ferry). It is located in the Visayas, although, most of the time, it feels just like Manila. It is also where the Sinulog Festival in honor of the Sto. Nino (or the Child Jesus) is celebrated every third weekend in January.

What can one do in Cebu, the so-called Queen City of the South? You can visit historical places like Magellan’s Cross, the Casa Gorordo Museum, and Fort San Pedro. You can hear mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino or if you are UP graduate, you may want to check out the Oblation at UP Cebu. There are of course, some of the best resorts in Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan, Plantation Bay, Maribago at BlueWater, Alegre, Badian Island Resort, and Pulchra.

In terms of shopping, you can go to Ayala Center Cebu if you wish to go malling or you can try out the markets Carbon and Taboan. What is Cebu known for? It is known for good chicharon (crunchy pig’s skin), danggit (dried fish), pusit (squid), and otap (flaky biscuit topped with sugar). You may also want to buy guitars.

Whatever it is that you may buy and wherever else you may decide to stay, you are bound to be charmed by this place called Cebu.