I love Cebu!!!

Magellan's Cross Cebu

I had an ambivalent feeling when I had the opportunity to visit The Queen City of the South, Cebu last July 2008. Ambivalent because it was during the time that I need to reserve my most precious limited time for the NCLEX Review online. I only got  2 more months to prepare myself for the US boards and I seldom did the review for the past months because of the conflicting schedules. But I chose to bargain and join my cousins to Cebu and promise that after this trip, I will already be serious with the review. And my choice was strengthen by my gramp's and mom's approval. And so off I went packing my things up for the early morning departure.

We rode on the Innova Van of my Uncle's brother to Roro port of Amlan (Tampi) together with Micah, Sancho, Baltek on the middle seat, I was seating on the back with Alen and Bregette and on the front seats Uncle Mike, our driver and Bernadette. Miss Bernadette joined with us during the trip because she had her classes for her masteral that time in Cebu Normal University.

at the Tampi RORO Port

Leaving Tampi RORO Port to Cebu

Love the clouds!!! the Negros Island

We rode on this huge barge that it also carried the van. I even noticed the Ceres Bus inside the boat with several passengers. I couldn't imagined how the boat still floats with lots of automobiles to include passengers in it (I guess the power of Bouyancy is powerful). By the way, we paid Php45 per head and it was like Php900 for the van. It was like an hour of travel (that I still managed to sleep) until we arrived the shore of Santander Cebu.

we're approaching Santander RORO Port

at the Santander Cebu Roro Port

Upon arrival at the port, we immediately rode the van to Cebu proper. I would describe the drive to Cebu City as long, winding, and great. Long because its approximately 135 km south of Cebu City Proper; probably it took us six hours of travel to arrive at the city proper to include pit stops and stopover. Winding because the national highway in south Cebu is curved and labyrinthine; we got several oopps and oopsies as the van run the bent road. And great because of the fascinating sceneries along the coastal zones.

About an hour of travel, we arrived at the world renowned miraculous Simala Church. It was Bernadette who introduced us this place. Accordingly, many board takers, tourists, and people with illness flocked this church to ask graces from the Virgin Mary.

This church is located on the uphill of the Municipality of Sibonga, located between Argao and Carcar. Exact address according to a certain website I checked is Marian Hills, Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. It is from the convent of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration. 

Simala Church 2008 before the major RENOVATION

To tell you the truth, I was really amazed with the place. This was actually my first time to have visit a church located on mountain ranges south of Cebu. I get astonished as well with the structural design of the church, it is as if the churches seen in the cartoon movie, Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The interior ROOF

Simala Cebu, where all of my dreams and ambitions came true!!! Exactly as I wished!!!

One funny thing that happened was since we were so astonished with the place and that we were so pre occupied looking for Micah ( because the cam was with her and that she's nowhere to be found, maybe she also had her own pictorial) we forget to visit the main altar where the Image of Virgin Mary is located. According to Bernadette, this image cried blood several times as an ominous sign of impending calamity . And since there was a huge line of devotees to this Image, Bernadette and the rest were all waiting for us outside  the parking area (Hahaha and it was really  scorching hot outside)

on the man made image of the Virgin Mary

After the Simala visit, we then proceeded straight to the city proper. It was like 4 hours of travel and I felt asleep (the music being played on the stereo is so boring and the rest were all taking their siesta as well).

Upon arrival in the city proper, we checked in at the Diplomat Hotel near the Osmena Circle. As I can remember, it is somewhere located near Velez College and this ongoing construction of a huge, tall building in Cebu (now the Crowne Regency). I first thought that this would be a high rise condominium in Cebu and it turned out to be the next fascinating attraction in the city ( Sky Experience).

At the lobby of Cebu Diplomat Hotel

Finally inside the hotel room and I went immediately to the bathroom to have some shower. I am not use to staying in the hotel actually but I got so curious with the hot and cold shower. With this curiosity it lead me to minor burns (Ouch!!! Lol) I immediately turned the dial off.

I was having a great time on my bed when I got a call from my girls cousin's room and they said that we should be ready for our trip tonight and that they were already at the lobby waiting for us.

For the first night in Cebu, we went to the Ayala Mall, a school canteen near Cebu Doctors University and Papa's Restaurant.

I must mention that the chicken being served at this school canteen is superb. It is really very cheap, Php 65-85 (student friendly price) with different choice of cooking. ( I already forget the different exotic names) The different choices comes with different recommended condiments. (Whew thats neat) It is located at the back of the Cebu Doctors University Hospital and near the basketball court. The owner of this canteen is the sister of Bernadette.

Papas Restaurant with the Awesome band: Music Nuts

I must also mention that the bands in Papa's Restaurant were great. The first band accordingly was for the oldies but I had a great time listening their soothing voices and hilarious jokes (they also do comedy stunts). Alex, the lead male vocal was incredible not only in his singing power but as well throwing punchlines and jokes that made us burst. I remember that Bernadette was sitting on the front seat and she was all laughing loud with the jokes that when the band played back songs she was sleeping upright snoring and the crowd noticed and laughing. That was the time as well when Sarah G movie with John Lloyd (A Very special Love) got hit and was sung by the Band Lead vocal Lorelie. The second band The Southside Band, with vocal lead Eric and Ruthie,and they were a two thumbs up, PROMISE!!! The lead vocals were like international stars that they could give justice to the song. They played Whine up, Bleeding Love and Apologize (including A very special Love of Lorelie) were very musical to our ears that time that ended up our Last Song Syndrome ( we were actually singing the songs while going back to Dumaguete).

Southside Band 

That was a hectic first day in Cebu. It's time for sleep. But inside the room, we ended up goofing around with the camera. My girl cousins left their room and joined with us, Sancho. Me, Micah, Bregette and Alen were actually sharing one single bed while watching the movie , The Hair. While Bernadette on the other room was sleeping alone. ( And my cousins placed the sign Clean the Room at the door at 12MN, LOL)

The following morning, we were set to visit the Cebu landmark, Magellans Cross, Cebu Metropolitan Church, Basilica de Sto. Nino Minore, SM Cebu, Shamrock otap and back to Papa's Restaurant and the school canteen.

the view from my window

The Basilica Minore de Sto Nino, a Philippine Church Heritage, was formerly known as San Agustin Church. A 16th Century Church where its exact location believe to be the spot where the sculpture of the holy child Jesus found by the Spanish explorers preserved in burned wooden box left behind by Magellan. 

Several locals and local tourists were there. I also spotted koreans on their group tour with the Filipino tourist guide who is so fluent in Korean Language. There were also balloon vendors and of course, these group of women with yellow skirts selling candles and offers you that they will pray for you. ( Believe me, my prayers came true!!!) I dont know whats with these women (they call them SINUG dancers), maybe its because of how they gracefully sway their body while praying that all my wishes that day came true, PROMISE!!!

Basilica Minore de Sto Nino Cebu

The church altar

Sabi ni bregette ito daw yung venue ng Sinulog Festival

the Sinug Dancers

Beside this church houses the Magellan's Cross. I never thought that the chapel for this Cebu Landmark would be this small. I was expecting something else like it is inside a huge structure, a fee or something but yes, it is open to public for viewing and yes that size (eight sided polygon chapel fronting the Cebu City Hall). Accordingly, the original cross (splinters) that Magellan brought here in the Phillipines is embedded in the middle of the chapel to protect the original cross from people who candidly take some parts for sou veneers or belief to use for provident healing.  

The Cebu City Metropolitan Cathedral is just a few meters away from this church but I lost the pictures that was taken on that part. We were supposed to visit Lapu Lapu City but because of the heavy traffic that time heading to the Mactan bridge we turned our ways. We spent the last night at Papas restaurant.

Finally, we left Cebu the following day. We passed by their newest structure in the area, the South Road Project located at the far left of the city. According to Bernadette, this newest bridge could make the worsening traffic of Cebu decongest.

South Road Project Cebu.... South Bound

Bye Cebu! See you soon!!!

JOs 2 by the Sea!!!

Place: Jos 2 Restaurant by the Sea, Sibulan, Negros Oriental

This restaurant is located somewhere north of Dumaguete City, just on the side of the national highway. This is easily spotted as fronting the restaurant is a very big man made statue of Mama Mary (on the left side of the road if you come from the south). This is the second branch of Jos restaurant in Dumaguete City. The first is located near the Silliman University along Silliman Avenue. They are known for their chicken barbeque and this is the Dumaguete's version of Mang Inasal and Chicken Inato in Zamboanga. But aside from that well known fact, I have discovered something new and it's their Halo Halo.

I've got my first taste of their Halo Halo

with Rm, Ela's uncle, Ela's mom, Ela and Ashraf ( Ela's x) last Dec08

Their Halo Halo is very unique and very tasty. I sooo love the presentation as well. The condiments are place inside the ungrated freshly cut coconut. Very unique because unlike other Halo Halo I have tasted, their's is fresh because the coconut meat still sticks on the coconut that you still have to grate it. Sugar is provided so you can add some according to your taste. I forgot the price though but it is really very cheap (Ela's Mom paid the bill) , maybe it was less than a Php100.

i sooooo love their tables

I totally love the restaurant structure. I love the cogon grass use as their roofing. I love how they use lighting inside the establishment. The light does not only serve its purpose ( that is lighting) but it also served as an accent (a point of interest to shoot) on the ceiling. 

I would also like to commend their table. It is very unique, native, classy and very filipino. It is a wooden bangka painted with green, blue and mostly yellow placed on the part of the restaurant that is fronting the Cebu Island. The cool sea breeze contributed a lot to the good ambiance of the restaurant. 

with family on the resto's parking area

Their parking area is also a plus point. It is very spacious and safe. In the picture above, it was taken somewhere on the parking lot sometime in July 2008 when I went home to Zamboanga processing my NCLEX papers and I totally missed this family trip. As you can see, on both sides of the pictures is where you can park your vehicle, on the middle part of the picture (fronting the restaurant) is the garden that houses the big statue of Mama Mary.