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Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2014 > Feb
Activity > Lucid Thoughts

Feb 11, 2014

Abundance in Cebu (Part 2)

Location : Cebu City, Philippines

Into the Flow
You know you're in the Flow when things happen your way just by thinking about it. Sometimes, even without thinking about it, but when the need presents itself, rabbits come out of a hat. It beats printing money. It has been that way since I arrived in Cebu.

Yoga
Yoga is the reason for my coming to Cebu. And yes, yogic bliss poured like crazy, thanks in large part to Jeanne who paved the way in opening up opportunities for me. I got to teach and practice my yoga to nearly all yoga centers in Cebu - Dragonfly, YogaHub, Surya Nanda, Love Yoga, Plantation Bay, Gold's, Holiday Gym, etc. I met new interesting faces that drape the yoga landscape of the city as well. In fact, I had too much of it, I had to give up teaching at some point to go deeper into my personal practice. That was around the time I was getting absorbed into Veer's yoga orbit. In him (an Indian yogi), I get a resonance consistent with how I want to push my yoga, both philosophically and physically. The last time a man impressed me this much that I practically imposed myself on him was way back in 2005 when I met a French chef who toured Asia on a mountain bike - yes, it doesn't happen everyday. But I digress. I can't say enough about the yogic bliss Cebu has blessed me with.

Lodging
When I decided to go to Cebu (from Davao), M Citi Suites took on my web offer allowing me a roof over my head. It was a great relief not to have to worry about where I spend my nights. When that was over, Jeanne invited me to stay at her Dragonfly Yoga Studio. After over a month of eventful stay, I moved out and had a brief stint at Sugbutel before another friend from the Theosophical Society, Ricco, invited me to stay at his empty self-contained unit near Mango. It was opportune. It came at a point when I was seeing someone and I wanted to have a home for us. Again, when that was over, I didn't feel the need to continue staying at Ricco's house, despite his assurance, "you can stay as long as you want". Lo and behold, Premiere Citi Suites accepted my proposal and again, I had a roof over my head. At the same time, Ricco found a tenant for his unit. The timing was simply uncanny - like jigsaw pieces falling into place to complete the puzzle.

Food
My good fortune wasn't only limited to lodging. Upon arrival in Cebu, AA BBQ renewed its subscription giving me gift certificates to sink my teeth into their mouth-watering grills - not just for me, but I always use my blessings to treat my friends. I also got to use-up GCs from Handuraw Pizza. When that was all used-up and I was beginning to spend too much money on food, another acquaintance from the Theosophical Society, Firoze, who owns an Indian tea house, Firozian, asked to be subscribed to my service - this was even unsolicited. When Ricco, expressed his sensitivity to water, within 48 hours, I closed a Kangen water deal with CTAM for him. It beats a guy using a magic wand to make this happen.

Knocking on Every Door? No
My service is both unique and powerful. I already know that. And I have empirical data from Google to back me up. But still, I don't knock on every door to sell my wares. True, I perform due-diligence - that's the least I should do, even in keeping with the Way of the Tao. In my observation however, when a need arises, the help comes anyway - sometimes in shapes and forms least likely to be expected, but always on the 11th hour. Besides, if I knocked on every hotel door and lined up all the hotel deals ensuring a full year's stay for me, in effect, I would have forfeited the golden opportunities I experienced at Dragonfly and Ricco's. Those moments are priceless! No hotel deal can measure up to that - and I don't care if we're talking Radisson Blu or Marco Polo. In short, for the universe to unravel for me, I have to keep my efforts to the barest minimum.

Uncanny Timing
Like I said, when the need arises, the help comes. When a friend needed to make a credit card purchase (but didn't have a credit card), my bank suddenly called me to say they have pre-approved a credit card for me. I'd been with them for 10 years now, and never have they offered anything until now. When I felt that I was a lonerider being alone too long, I met a special lady who happened to be on a rebound. It was a short-lived romance - a healing process for her, and for me, knowing again what it's like to be with someone. To add magic to that, a friend offered me the use of his empty unit, effectively giving me and my lady a place we can call home. Things just fell into place.

Money
So, what do I do for money? Hardly anything, actually. I've only earned loose change since I arrived Cebu. I even survived for months before Cebu without earning a centavo. But when you think about it, since I have hotels over my head and good resto food in my tummy (in exchange for their good-looks on the internet), and I have no home to pay rent to, no car to pay insurance with, and no property to spend on maintenance and repairs with, then what do I really have use for money aside for jeep fare and coffee? As impoverished as I am (by design), I even turned down a web contract recently since the nature of the client's business was not in keeping with my tenets of right and wrong. Increasingly, money becomes less of a currency for me.

Societal Upliftiing
I used to worry about the basics to survive on the open road with no money and no address to go back to. But since then, life seems getting easier. There are more moments of abundance than drought. When abundance happens, I am quick to spread the love. Anything in excess of my meager means is to be given away or shared - that's how it works for me. I've done this for hotel rooms (gifting to friends and loved ones hotel room credits I still have from far away places), and I hardly eat alone if using gift certificates - almost always with friends. At some point, I would like my blessings (in its increasing magnitude) to be shared not just with friends but to a bigger audience...on a societal scale through more ambitious projects. Perhaps even change the planet to how I envision it. It's not as formidable a task when I know the universe is willing to part the Red Sea to ensure my well-being and manifest my desires.

Ending Thoughts
All my benefactors are Good Samaritans. But I also notice that we simply fill into each other's void - our usefulness to each other comes in the right place at the right time. And more often than not, when that purpose has been served, it's usually time to move on. I'm already gone before things go stale. Everything has a shelf life. I don't delude myself into the 'forever syndrome'. By exercising detachment when the time is ripe, I open myself to other opportunities for growth. It's a karmic process I buy into.

Bliss notwithstanding, I know that when the moment comes for me to pack up again, I have to unquestioningly do so, knowing fully well, that the next destination may only spell drought. I am not attached to the bliss. I've already walked away from it when I left Cagayan de Oro. I'll do it again. I cannot forfeit what life has in store for me. And the only way I'll find out is to pack up when the open road beckons.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Cebu Hiatus

(Feb 22, 2014) With a back injury, I have to stop my yoga practice. This gives me time to get my bearings right and step back to see the big picture one more time...more »»

Demystefying Ashtanga Yoga

(Feb 13, 2014) As an Ashtangi, I used to regard Ashtanga Yoga as the end-all and be-all of yoga. As I read more about its history and evolution, I begin to appreciate it more in what it's intended to be - time to demystify Ashtanga Yoga..more »»

Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

Cebu City to Bantayan Island

The best and fastest way is by Ceres Bus at the North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City. The bus takes 4.5 hours going north until it reaches Hagnaya Port. From there, you pay the ferry company separately. The bus boards the ferry until it reaches Sante Fe Port (1.5 hours) in Bantayan Island. From Santa Fe, the bus goes to Bantayan Poblacion and then to Madridejos.

Ceres Bus - PHP 260 (to Santa Fe), 4.5 hours to Hagnaya Port + 1.5 hours by ferry.

Schedule: according to the dispatcher, trips begin at 6 pm (this arrives Hagnaya around 10:30 pm but the first ferry leaves at 1 am...that's a 2.5-hour wait at the port), leaving every hour until 1 pm the following day (I speculate that 1 pm is the last trip to avoid rush hour traffic along Consolacion). This doesn't match the ferry schedule so the bus simply waits until a ferry departs. e.g. the 6 pm trip arrives 10:30 pm and waits for the 1 am ferry. The last trip, 1 pm, arrives 5:30 pm, in time for the ferry's last trip.

Bus arrives at terminal 30 mins before departure. Luggages are P150/pc if no passenger.

Alternatively, you can get off the bus at Hagnaya Port and take the ferry independently. There are 2 ferry companies:

Super Shuttle Ferry
PHP 359 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Island Shipping
PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Cebu City to Dumaguete

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor by Boat, via Tagbilaran

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)

(as of Jan 2023)

Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

This is also the slowest. The bus arrives Liloan Port around 12:30 am but the ferry leaves 2:30 am (2 hours of waiting time). The ferry trip is a slow 4 hours (this should only take 1.5 hours with Montenegro or Alesson), arriving Larena around 6:30 am. This 4 hour voyage offers no comfortable sleeping - you stay upright on your seat or sleep on the floor on a cardboard. The boat waiting/voyage takes 6 hours. Altogether, the entire trip takes 11.5 hours until the bus reaches Lazi.

Cebu City to Camotes Island

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City