Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2017 > Feb
Activity > Traveling

Jan 27-Feb 6, 2017

Coming Back to Cebu City

Location : Cebu City, Cebu (province), Philippines

Mounting Push for Cebu City
The compelling reasons for me to go back to Cebu City mounted -

seeing Vien, a Vietnamese friend who came to Cebu to learn English
eating my fruit cake which I ordered from Jackie months ago not knowing if I ever get back to Cebu
attending PK's birthday party
and course, seeing my dear friend Jeanne whose spirit never left me during my continuing travels

Before I knew it, from the comfort of Camotes Island, I took the 2-hour boat to Cebu City and got reunited with dear friends.

Robinsons Galleria
Before I left Cebu more than a year ago, Robinsons Galleria was still under construction. Now, craving to see a movie, I stopped by the mall to check it out and treat myself to a big-screen indulgence. P230 for a movie???? That's the cheapest they got? Whoa! Sorry, but I'm a guerilla backpacker surviving on a shoestring. It looked like it'll be my last movie in a long while. No wonder I didn't see movie houses in the smaller cities/towns I've been to - Bantayan, Bogo, Tabogon, Carmen, Danao. Very few people can afford to see big-screen movies at this price. Until that changes, the pirated DVDs will continue ruling the public movie audience at large. As for me, torrent downloads will continue to be my staple.

The Great Wall movie with Matt Damon
I would have watched La La Land for all its Golden Globe nominations but since there was a Matt Damon film, The Great Wall, I decided to go for Matt - he never makes a bad film. I loved his continuing Jason Bourne series. This movie was visually spectacular with armies in color-themed armour sweeping into battle, but the storyline didn't go deep enough to move you, although all the potential was there. For a gripping human drama, I would say The Last Samurai is a better film. At the end of it, The Great Wall was just another 90-minute forgettable entertainment. They could have done so much to engage the audience. It wasn't a really bad movie, but being a Matt Damon film, it was a little disappointing.

Meditation at Waterfront Hotel
Pascale Wettstein invited me to conduct a brief meditation for her students in her ongoing yoga teacher-training course at The Waterfront Hotel. I added an initial pranayama followed by the main meditation, themed on dealing with unpleasant thoughts - painful thoughts from the past or worries about the future. These thoughts are stealthy. They creep into our mindscape and dominate our here-and-now, robbing us of our bliss. Most people are powerless against it because they are not even aware they are reacting to it. What followed after the meditation was mainly an open talk on yoga and life. Pascale and I answered some questions raised by the students. I saw new faces on the mat. It's encouraging to see yoga continuing to grow in Cebu. Thank you, Pascale, for inviting me into your space.

Fujinoya Cafe
Fujinoya Cafe has never figured out more prominently in any of my Cebu visits than this one. Almost exclusively, I met all my friends and did my online work in this low-key, subdued cafe in Lahug. Although understated by design, it's probably the most leveled-up coffee place in Cebu with its Third Wave Coffee compliance. In the same way Brillat-Savarin elevated food to new heights, the Third Wave movement takes coffee as an artisan craft and not just a pick-me-upper. Using cutting-edge brewing devices by serious baristas, they bring out the best attribute of a coffee variety. Navigating the coffee maze is owner/manager/barista Tidow. He's a walking coffee encyclopedia.

Theosophical Society Meeting
In my own words, I would describe the Theosophical Society as a group of seekers who meet regularly to discuss the meaningfulness of existence towards realizing the higher self. This is headed by the charismatic, funny and witty Lovorn Ang. I was lucky to make it to the weekly meeting this time at Persian Palate - for regulars, the P199 dinner buffet (preceding the meeting) is only P99! The open exchange of ideas is as engaging as the characters who attend it. Most of those who attend are serious about high evolution. Sometimes, it's a spectacle to see a few intellectuals cross the blurred line (yes, it is a slippery slope) and showboat just how smart they are while pontificating ego dissolution - the ultimate satire. There was one guy (an outsider) who touted high philosophy, supremely confident of his finger-pointing monologue, closing condescendingly with, "You guys should know what you're talking about!". I could just imagine how good he felt after impressing upon everyone just how knowledgeable he was (eye roll). I call it live entertainment from a ringside seat. Lovorn is quite adept at keeping things on an even keel.

Lovorn, presiding at the weekly meeting of the Theosophical Society

The Pig and Palm
About 2 months back, I was invited by PK to be at his birthday party in Cebu. I declined to say I would have no idea where I'd be in 2 months. Voila! I'm now in Cebu and in time for his birthday - one of those occasions life throws me a bone :) It was really good seeing PK and Lana again together with Jeanne and the rest of the team who were part of the feeding program where I met them. The celebration was at The Pig and Palm - a Michelin-starred restaurant owned by English chef Jason Atherton. Wine, canapés, hors d'oeuvre, tapas and antipasto were there to grace our palate. It was a memorable evening of friends, food and wine.

Losing my Voice
After successive days meeting friends in a row, I lost my voice. I had to put myself in isolation to take rest. It's my universe telling me to slow down again. I listen. I'm just glad I have a Jiminy Cricket in my head providing checks-and-balances to keep me balanced.

Ending Thoughts
I usually default to staying 7 months in Cebu City. But this time around, with a room in Camotes Island already paid for, I felt it time to come back to my other home in Cebu - to Camotes. This visit was different - short but sweet. I find it appealing that while in Camotes, I would only be 2 hours away from the (city)...2 hours away from my dear friends.

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

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