Friday, August 31, 2012

Cebu City Walking Tour of Heritage Sites

Here are our walking tour maps with the succession of our stops:
Cebu City Walking Tour of Heritage Sites Map

Cebu City Walking Tour of Heritage Sites Map

(1) COLON STREET OBELISK
Off from our Pension House at around 0930H and aimed to look for a food stop for our breakfast. From R. Landon St., we walked the entirety of Osmena Blvd southwards until we reached the intersection with a  McDonald's on the corner. We then tooked our breakfast there. Unknowingly, the intersection was already Colon St. so we just then walked eastward towards the Colon Street Obelisk at the Colon-P. Burgos St. intersection.
Colon Street Obelisk
Colon St Obelisk up-close
Colon Street Obelisk
The Colon Obelisk and the view of Colon Street at the back
(2) CEBU HERITAGE MONUMENT
Then upon reaching the intersection, we turned right (north) for the Cebu Heritage Monument. Actually you can already see the monument from the obelisk. It was on the edge of the Y-shaped road. It has gates but we lately found out that the gates on the side of the firestation is open so we freely came in.

Heritage of Cebu Monument
Heritage of Cebu plaque with its history on it

Heritage of Cebu Monument
it is fenced or gated

Heritage of Cebu Monument
so many structures in it!
Heritage of Cebu Monument


(3) YAP-SANDIEGO ANCESTRAL HOUSE
From the monument, you can see also the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House. It was a corner house and really looked rugged over the years; can easily be seen since its design is unique among others near it. There is an entrance fee of Php50 and you can easily find the entrance along Mabini St. The very accommodating tour guide happily took pictured of our group for the rest of our stay there and we just rewarded him with a whooping Php100 tip! Not to mention he knew tips and techniques on how to pose and take good views inside the house; and you are allowed to hold and sit on everything inside, just don't break them. Terrific!

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
this is the view of the house from the Heritage of Cebu Monument, just magnified

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
the interior

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
very old furniture and statues

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
the facade from their garden

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
view of the corner lot

(4) CASA GORORDO MUSEUM
Right at the corner of the Ancestral House we took right turn (Lopez Jaena St.) towards Casa Gorordo Museum. It was just about 5minutes walk. They have Php40 entrance fee and you cannot take pictures inside; too bad! But just take advantage of using their comfort room inside, it is clean and spacious.

Casa Gorordo Museum
view from the entramce

Casa Gorordo Museum
the second floor terrace
(5) CEBU METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
We then took the same route going back to the Colon Obelisk and passing through it just straight of P. Burgos St. until we reached the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on our right. It was huge that you cannot see it. Iy would just cost you around 15-20 minutes walk. We rested inside for quite some time to regain some energy.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
the Cathedral's patio and facade

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
the altar and inside peek

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
main door
(6) MAGELLAN'S CROSS
(7) BASILICA MINORE DEL SANTO NINO
Next stop is the Magellan's Cross, we just continued walking through P. Burgos St. for about 10 minutes. It was not barely along the road but you could see some signage about the Santo Nino Basilica and would hint you that you are almost there. You can see the shelter of the Magellan's Cross at the right side of the road just after the big Island Souvenir store on your left. From the cross you could see the entrance towards the Basilica Minore of Santo Nino with security guards inspecting the people going inside.

Magellan's Cross
the shelter of the Magellan's Cross, view from the street

Magellan's Cross
peek inside

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino
Sto Nino image outside the Basilica

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino
some Saint statues in the Basilica premises
(8) PLAZA INDEPENDENCIA
(9) FORT SAN PEDRO
In order to get to Plaza Indenpendencia, we then asked vendors from the place. Since maps doesn't really give where the entrance of the huge park. I forgot the road we took but it is on the side of Island Souvenir store; straight through it until we reached Mariano Cuenco Ave and you can see the park from there. The entrance is near the stoplight (Legaspi St - Mariano Cuenco Ave intersection). Plaza Independencia was a mere greeny spacious park; clean and tidy with security. I am impressed! From the inside you can easily see Fort San Pedro's walls. They have an entrance of Php40 there. This is similar with Fort Santiago in Manila, just smaller in size.

Plaza Independencia
when you see this, you're near the entrance

Fort San Pedro
the Fort's facade

Fort San Pedro
the Fort's walls and entrance

Fort San Pedro
view on the top

This ends our walking tour which damages around 4 hours in total of our time. It was worth it and really is an adventure. Just don't forget to bring the maps and bring a bottle of water which you can refill on the streets with minimal amount. Finally, don't hesitate to ask questions from the locals; they're very friendly and just be patient if they don't understand you.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Lapu-Lapu City Tour

Upon our arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we headed to the departure area for the metered non-airport taxi to have cheaper rates. We just followed the throngs of people crossing the street right straight from the arrival's exit doors and up the ramps. You'll easily see the taxi bay with guards in it upon you reach the exit on the second floor.

With our baggage with us, we dropped ourselves on our first landmark - Magellan's Shrine and Lapu-Lapu Monument. It was only about 15-20 minutes ride from the airport. This is advisable to be visited right when you arrived in Cebu or before departing out of Cebu since this is farther than the airport from Cebu City.

Here are the pictures I got in the park using my Panasonic LX5 camera:

Magellan's Shrine
view from the park's entrance

Magellan's Shrine
Magellan's Shrine

Lapu-Lapu commemoration
something about Lapu-Lapu

The Battle of Mactan
the Battle of Mactan mural

clean and green park

Lapu-Lapu Monument
Lapu-Lapu Monument

Lapu-Lapu Monument
Lapu-Lapu Monument with Magellan's Shrine on the back

souvenir shops
souvenir shops, same price as from the city

Right after the park visit, we planned to have our dinner at a nearby SuTuKil (Sugbo-Tulaw-Kilaw) Restaurant. It was just around 10-15 minutes walk from the park, it was the same road that we took from the airport.


SuTuKil Restaurant
SuTuKil Restaurant's choices

SuTuKil Restaurant
SuTuKil Restaurant

Calamares
Calamares

Buttered Prawns in Garlic Sauce
Buttered Prawns in Garlic Sauce

Sinigang na Maya-Maya
Sinigang na Maya-Maya


I haven't just had a picture of the sea weeds which you should also try. I just taste like okra. I enjoyed all our food. They taste really great and perfectly! The service is good as well; every request will be entertained without any hesitation on their faces. After enjoying our sumptuous meal, we headed to our Pension House. With the help of the restaurant's crews, we got our directions through riding only a jeepney. They can also hail a taxi cab for you if you like.


To get a glimpse of our total expenses and itinerary you may visit HERE.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

4 Days / 3 Nights Cebu Itinerary

On my recent trip to the Cebu Province, here are the gist of my tour details:
Day1 - Lapu-Lapu City Tour
Day2 - Cebu City Tour
Day3 - Moalboal Tour
Day4 - Pasalubong Shopping

Sharing our complete itinerary with costings: 


Cebu Itinerary

Cebu Itinerary

I'll be posting on the specific tours and pictures in the coming days or weeks.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Robe's Pension House

On my recent trip to Cebu, me and my friends chose this Pension House (Robe's Pension House) due to three primary reasons - it is just a walking distance from Osmena Boulevard (the main avenue going to Fuente Osmena Circle - the heart of Cebu City), it is near the historic landmarks in Cebu and it is cheap! 

Here are the pictures I captured during our stay:
Robe's Pension House
view from the comfort room, the double bed
Robe's Pension House
view from the entrance door - the single bed, ~14" TV, CR door and cabinet
Robe's Pension House
comfort room entrance
Robe's Pension House
view from the CR's entrance
Robe's Pension House
their signage
Robe's Pension House

Robe's Pension House
our room's door
Robe's Pension House
view of stairs up, they don't have elevator
Robe's Pension House
the staircase at night
Robe's Pension House
the hallway
Robe's Pension House
their shower with hot and cold water; the pressure is a bit low though
Robe's Pension House
their facade from down below



Insights:
  • Reservation through emails is a breeze; very comfortable and I even requested to have our rooms at second floor. They do also entertain questions and replies within the day!
  • Don't just rely on them asking what jeep code to take. They will give you an advice to take a taxi instead 80% of the time.
  • When we arrived, our toilet is clogged but it was fixed immediately within 30 minutes. Fast and quick turnaround!
  • Their phone lines might have crosstalks or is not properly designated. I was calling our friends' room but I was lead to a different room; and someone called our room but they were intended for the reception.
  • Very helpful attendants and receptionists plus the guard greets you and opens the door for you; seems like a hotel. 
  • I think their location and price is truly a winner!
  • Walking distance from Fuente Osmena Circle (about 20mins), to Colon St (about 20mins), to Cebu South Bus Terminal (about 20mins). Jeeps are everywhere at Osmena Blvd. One ride to SM Cebu and Ayala Center, to Lahug etc.

I would definitely recommend this to others and will stay here for my next Cebu vacation!