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![3-Night Cebu Stopover](/2017/apr/cebu_city/thumbnails/cebu_city.jpg)
3-Night Cebu Stopover
Location : Cebu City, Cebu (province), Philippines
Cebu-Bound
I caught the 8am Oceanjet from Poro Port (Camotes Islands) to Cebu City for the 2-hour, P380 trip. I could have gone straight to Apo Island, but by-pass Cebu City? It would seem rude to ignore a benevolent destination I've had memorable moments with. Besides, I am excited to see my friends - and I am grateful to have plenty of that in the city.
Robinson's Galleria
My plan was to ride a jeep from Cebu Pier 1 to Robinson's Galleria. Upon alighting from the ferry, I was greeted by the most pleasant of all surprises. Instead of squeezing myself with three bulky bags into a jeep (to the chagrin of the other passengers whose knees are bumping into each other), there before me was a free shuttle to Robinson's Galleria! Whoa! It was a new air-conditioned van with a helpful driver who assisted me with all my luggage - pogi-points #1. This is a traveler's dream. At Robinson's, I checked-in my luggage in their traveler's lounge! Yes, they have this facility for the traveling public - upon presentation of a travel document (my boat ticket). Pogi-points #2. Now, I could roam around the mall without my baggage and feeling secure that they are in safe hands. After my mall stint, I then took their free shuttle to Lahug near JY Square, in an air-conditioned bus designed for people with luggage (like the airport shuttle that takes you to the tarmac) - pogi-points #3.
Robinnson's got it all covered and scored a homerun. For this reason alone, I'll say thank you by doing most of my purchases and movie-viewing in that mall. Oh, a suggestion to management - call me a hog, but how about free wifi in the bus? The wait for the bus to depart could take a while and so does the trip, given all the traffic. And by going the whole 9 yards on this, the public just might begin to talk about it :)
Robinson's Free Shuttle Schedule to JY Square, Lahug | |
---|---|
Lahug to Robinsons | 9:30am-11:00am-1pm-3:00pm-5:30pm-8pm |
Robinsons to Lahug | 11:15am-12:00noon-2:00pm-4:00pm-7:15pm-9:15pm |
Gamay Meals for Daku Price
(translation, small meals with big price) - at least that's the initial shock when I had to spend my first meal in Cebu City, coming straight from Camotes where P30 is already a full meal. My morning sikwate/puto maya (hot cocoa drink and sticky rice) ritual after my morning workout in Camotes was P15 - my Tudela friends (a remote (municipality) in Camotes), claim it would only cost them P10. Here in the city, I saw a promo for the combo at P50. I know, I'm in the city and I have to pay city-price for everything. Just ranting.
Fujinoya Cafe
Somehow, Fujinoya Cafe and Cebu are becoming intertwined. I can't imagine visiting Cebu without hanging out at Fujinoya. It's many things to me. It's where I go for the best coffee in Cebu - seriously, the owner is an in-depth barrista who travels the world deepening his coffee knowledge and skill. This is where I meet my friends too - long conversation, intimate sharing, hilarious laughs...all within the confines of Fujinoya's muted walls. For lightning fast and reliable wifi connection, very few places in the city can rival this place. With its low-key ambience and subtle pastry, I can't think of going anywhere else.
Peoplescape
Jeanne
Without Jeanne, Cebu would not be as compelling. Without Jeanne, I might actually find loneliness in my solitude. I was without a best friend for many years until she appeared on the horizon. In Cebu, I am her house guest and we usually start our mornings with coffee-chat, facing the lush greenery of Beverly Hills' tucked-away mini-forest. I take her wise counsel under advisement - in her, I have my Jiminy Cricket. When I get too old, too bent and too gray to be doing all the crazy traveling, I find comfort thinking she'll be on the other rocking chair as we watch the sunset talking about yoga, life, evolution and Theosophical philosophies....as she chastises me for filling her coffee cup to the brim.
![3-Night Cebu Stopover](/2017/apr/cebu_city/images/cebu_city.jpg)
Chai
Before, she was a pretty mountaineer - as I saw her from a distance back during our UP Diliman days. Now in Cebu, she's a pretty blond yogini with substance and insight (with a mountaineer verve lurking underneath). Through the years, my deepening friendship with Chai takes on layered dimensions which continues to this day - Fujinoya coffee conversation, Burrows dinner...talking about yoga, her pending tying of the knot, life epiphanies and just about everything else under the sun. We get a sense of each other's personal growth through our once-in-a-blue-moon conversation.
Alyssha, Charlotte, Dale
With my Camotes friends in town, it didn't feel like I actually left the island! Chilling out at Fujinoya, we once again celebrated friendship, good coffee and great pastry. Always great to be in the company of well-meaning friends with genuine affection and concern. HUGS 😃
Amad, Lovorn, Jason, Ayn
With my participation at the Theosophical Society meeting, I once again met Amad, Lovorn, Jason and Ayn. They pretty much represent various communities of like-minded thinking in Cebu - yogis, kalimasada, theosophists, margi. It's always a joy to have the meeting of the minds over laughs and food.
Persian Palate
Persian Palate offers vegetarian buffet Fridays and Saturdays at P195/head. This is a great idea in a country where you rely on the luck of the draw to eat veggie food outside - not in this land of sugbo. Another good that came with this weekend buffet is the resurgence of like-minded communities. Yogis, meditators, Buddhists, spiritualists and vegetarians found a place where they can gather over good eats. You see familiar faces gathered in their own circle - the community of seekers in Cebu is a small one.
Theosophical Society
I was in luck to be in the city on a weekend with the Theosophical Society in session. It's open to outsiders, and issues pertaining to higher evolution are discussed. This session's topic was Patanjali's yoga sutra. It was hard to digest as taken directly from the translation. I see it more not as a guideline but as a validation when you finally arrive. I think that's the time it would all make sense and become comprehensible. I also think a more pedestrian approach would drive home the point. eg - yama: if you have nothing pleasant to say about someone (this includes gossip), just shut up...or something like that. Otherwise, with the sharing part, it became looser with more people putting in their insight.
Ending Thoughts
As I travel, I meet a kaleidoscope of people in a revolving door where crossing paths could be a fleeting conversation never to happen again - like a meteorite flashing a streak before it's gone forever. And then there are these wonderful souls who share with me more than a passing moment - like a comet that comes into your orbit within timed intervals. They don't happen everyday but it gives you optimism about the future that lay ahead.
With an open invite from Jeanne to be her house guest anytime, Cebu remains a tempting destination. Thank you Jeanne, thank you Cebu!
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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Reader Comments:
![Chai Mateo](/images/thumb/chai_mateo.jpg)
![Philippines](/images/flag_philippines.gif)
(Apr 10, 2017) U had to reiterate blond!! Hahaha so great to see u, Git! Been doing the early morning routine u suggested. I kind of adjusted some of it. I got inspired to read again about yoga to deepen my practice
![Ayn Latonio](/images/thumb/ayn_latonio.jpg)
![Philippines](/images/flag_philippines.gif)
Vinyasa Krama by Srivatsa Ramaswami
(Apr 9, 2017) Nice catching up with you too Git! Till next time!
![Charlotte Belogolo](/images/thumb/charlotte_belogolo.jpg)
(Apr 9, 2017) Thank you Git
![Sylvia Zibuschka](/images/thumb/sylvia_zibuschka.jpg)
(Apr 9, 2017) Please say Hello to Ms. Pinky at Apo Island. She is such a lovely person :) And have a safe trip, my dear!
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More on Cebu City:
About Cebu City
- Cebu City is the 2nd biggest city in the Philippine (next to Manila) - and it continues to build and expand. Traffic is getting bad. Decentralization is being developed with the SM Super Mall in the SRP south and the suburban towns in the north.
- Boat from the airport to the city center - even without traffic, it takes about 4 rides to reach the city. But with Cebu's increasing traffic congestion, it has become a nightmare. Instead of taking the land route, take the water route - no traffic, fresher air and cheaper. From the airport, take the yellow multi-cab straight to the river port and take the ferry (there's only one destination) to the city. Take the 02B jeep and get off at UC near Jones - you're now on the city's main artery.
- given its size and increasing congestion, Cebu really needs a mass railway system - something that is conspicuously lacking, but no one seems to complain about
- Cebu is bursting at the seams on the yoga scene. There are about 20 yoga centers in the city - from yoga studios to gyms offering yoga and hotels jumping on the bandwagon
- a trendy and safe place in Cebu where you can chillout for coffee and enjoy good eats would be at the Ayala Mall
- there are other pocket-areas for trendy hangouts - Banila Town Center, Crossroads, Escario Plaza, La Vie, etc.
- the tourist area where most of the budget hotels and restaurants are, are located within the Mango area, although it has a seedy belly feel. Kids may swarm on you pretending to be begging, but they could be picking your pocket or your backpack pockets - be careful
- many pick-pockets in the Colon area - be careful
Cebu City Google Map
Cebu City, Philippines
![tourist attractions in Cebu City](/images/icon/travelinfo.gif)
Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city
![hotels in Cebu City](/images/icon/hotel.gif)
Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu CityS Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.
![cafes in Cebu City](/images/icon/cafe.gif)
Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811
![yoga in Cebu City](/images/icon/yoga.gif)
Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu CityYoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan
![mountain biking in Cebu City](/images/icon/mountainbiking.gif)
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
![ferry, Hagnaya Port to Bantayan Island](/philippines/cebu/cebucity/images/supershuttle_cebu_bantayan.jpg)
Island Shipping
PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours
![ferry, Hagnaya Port to Bantayan Island](/philippines/cebu/cebucity/images/islandshipping_cebu_bantayan.jpg)
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
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.
![Sugbo Urban](/philippines/siquijor/images/sugbo_urban.jpg)
![Sugbo Urban](/philippines/siquijor/images/sugbo_urban2.jpg)
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
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More on Cebu Province:
Suggested Destinations in Cebu
- Camotes Islands - caves, beaches
- Cebu City - rich in culture and history, 2nd largest city in the Philippines
- Moalboal - amazing coral reef system, sardine bowl, deep drop-off for freediving
- Oslob - Butanding (whale shark) watching
- Bantayan Island - long stretch of fine white sand beach, Virgin Island for snorkeling
- Malapascua Island - divers' paradise for seeing the rare Thresher Shark
- Cantabaco Cave - Toledo
- Barile Waterfalls - Barile
- Whale Shark Tour - Oslob
- Carcar - chicharon and lechon in public market
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