on the Verge of

Last night my family and I arrived in Cebu for our 'early summer vacation'. But my mom wasn't much of a fan of beaches and island hopping. So for our first day here, we decided to explore the Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden in Upper Busay, Cebu City. We took off from JY mall which is usually the starting point when going to Busay. There were habal-habals (motorcycles) waiting in the area that will take you to our two destinations for P150 per person roundtrip. However, we hired a taxi instead which agreed to take us to the temple and garden for P1,000. It was a fair deal. First stop was at the Temple of Leah. Entrance is at P50 per person while senior citizens are free of charge. After walking a short distance from the entrance, the huge temple and its vast courtyard welcomed us with a panoramic view of Cebu Island. Temple of Leah The temple's courtyard Some areas of the temple were closed so we only got a few pictures inside. The temple is a work in pro...

I have a friend or two who've been asking me about places to go to Cebu for a weekend trip. Since I made a blog on our recent ' Davao City Tour: A Weekend Itinerary ', I thought why not do a 'Cebu City Tour: A Weekend Itinerary' post as well? Here are my proposed destinations for two days: Day 1 1. 10,000 Roses - This new cafe featuring a  vast field of 10,000 white roses is a sight to behold. This unique cafe in Cordova, Cebu has quickly become a favorite tourist destination because of it beautiful ambiance. 2. Temple of Leah -  Temple of Leah, a relatively new tourist spot in Cebu, was built out of love by Tedorico Adarna to his loving wife Leah Adarna. The temple is Greek-inspired complete with a museum, art gallery, library, and a balcony with an overlooking view. 3.  Mactan Shrine - Mactan Shrine hold a historical importance in Cebu since it is where Lapu-Lapu defeated Magellan. Take a picture with the bronze statue of the country's firs...

Lately I've been looking back at my memories during my brief stay in Cebu. I was able to explore much of the island but nine months was not enough. Even during my last trip to Cebu last year, I was only able to visit Aguinid Falls and revisit Simala. Hopefully when there's another opportunity for me to visit Cebu, I'll be able to explore new places. Here are some of the places I wish I'll be able to go to when I return. Bantayan Island This beautiful island is located in the northernmost area of Cebu. It gained more popularity when it was featured in the movie 'Camp Sawi'. My boyfriend has been to Bantayan and he's been wanting to go back there with me. Unfortunately when we were in Cebu last year, the weather was not so good so it was not advisable to ride the boat to the island. I hope we'll be able to finally go to Bantayan the next time around. Moalboal Moalboal is famous for its island hopping activities. There's the Pescador ...

A year ago I bid farewell to Cebu, a place I call my second home. It seemed a long time ago, I almost forgot. It's a good thing Facebook has a way of reminding people of some memories that are mostly forgotten. I remember my lonely room in Sedona Parc. I could close my eyes and remember every inch of that room. I remember singing Adele's songs in the shower and no one really cared if I was out of tune or not. I remember my kitchen experiments and the joys of cooking pasta. I remember the nostalgic sunsets by the window and the silent evenings that followed thereafter. I remember the morning and afternoon walks I took to and from the office. I remember the trees I passed by the lonely park. I remember the food festivals in that park selling Cebu lechon and pusó. I remember our old office building and its eerie ambience during the night. I remember my usual afternoon stroll at Ayala Center Cebu. I remember the movies I watched alone in the cinema. I remember the shops and t...

Cebu is one of the most well-endowed islands in the Philippines. Aside from its pristine beaches and rich historical destinations, the famous Visayan island has at least 90 known waterfalls as listed by Pinoy Travel Freak ( http://www.pinoytravelfreak.com/2015/09/full-list-of-waterfalls-in-cebu.html ). South Cebu, in particular, is prominently blessed with these amazing cascading bodies of water that will leave you inspired by mother nature's beauty. Since there's usually limited time and resources to visit all of them, here's my top 3 must-see waterfalls in South Cebu: 1. Tumalog Falls Tumalog falls is located in Oslob which is also famous for its whale shark watching activities. Among the three falls I am naming here, Tumalog falls is the most majestic one for me. The descending body of water cascades and scatters into layers of rock and foliage that eventually falls down a single pool. The pool's depth depends on the season if there's enou...