Energising Yoga Class, April 24-28, 2024
Join me in Panglao, Bohol at Jing's Yoga & Wellness Studio 
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April 24 Wednesday: (Energizing Yoga) 10-11 am / (Slow Flow Yoga) 5:30-6:30 pm
April 25 Thursday: (Energizing Yoga) 10-11 am
April 26 Friday: (Energizing Yoga) 10-11 am
April 27 Saturday: (Energizing Yoga) 10-11 am / (Slow Flow Yoga) 5:30-6:30 pm
April 28 Sunday: (Energizing Yoga) 10-11 am
Sep 2-7, 2017
5 Nights in Cebu City at Hostel Seven Cebu
Location : Hostel 7 Cebu, Cebu City, Philippines
Lost
I was always sure and confident of my moves, always knowing where I fit in the bigger scheme of things. When confounded, I just ask myself the question, "What excites me?" - and my answer would determine my next thing-to-do or my next destination. It was always that simple.
Strange, but after traveling homeless for 5 years, it's only now I lost my bearings. Traveling doesn't excite me as much and asking that question no longer generates an answer. What do I do now? Perhaps the 5 days will allow me to regain perspective on where to point my compass.
Hostel Seven Cebu
After Moalboal, I defaulted to Cebu City for a 5-night stay at the newly opened Hostel Seven Cebu. It's so new, the tv and wifi haven't been installed in my room yet. My room is spacious and comfortable with an unusual industrial theme to it. The washroom is likewise huge with eclectic floor tiling. The hotel has a lively outdoor bar/cafe and a proposed roofdeck for acoustic nights. A hip, dynamic and vibrant energy permeates the scene.
Mikko Pato 
Hostel Seven Cebu
Mikko, the youthful owner of Hostel Seven, is forward moving and injects fresh thinking into this venture. With his plans for expansion and innovation, the future looks promising.
I joined him for a coldie on a couple of nights as he introduced me to his merry band of revelers - friends who make up his social circle. I admire him and his friends for many reasons - they work hard and play hard, they're smart and upwardly mobile and they seem to be the next-generation of Cebu's movers and shakers who carry this air of optimism up their stride.
Mikko blogs:
- Cebu City for the Siddhi Workshop Feb 2-5, 2024
- 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
- 2022: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2022
- Cebu City Peoplescape Dec 4, 2022
- 5 Nights in Cebu City at Hostel Seven Cebu Sep 2-7, 2017
Orange Karenderia
As good fortune would have it, the same family also owns Orange Karenderia, with its latest branch on the same ground as Hostel Seven Cebu. Orange has been my benchmark for short-order good eats at reasonable price, as early as a few years back when I stumbled upon it at Salinas Drive in Lahug. Now, good food is just outside my doorstep - how cool is that? Their Garlic Chicken is part chicharon, part fried chicken with the Orange signature taste for goodness - don't leave Cebu without trying it (with ice cold beer)!
Cebu Then and Now
Cebu City used to conjure vivid and eclectic imagery for me - the yoga scene, Zen meditation at Chu Un Temple, Theosophical Society discussions, Vipassana sits, good friends, coffee conversation, secret love life (yes, it's only now I'm admitting to it), etc. But I was relatively new to Cebu then, meeting new friends. I wasn't close to anyone and talks were kept wholesome - let's just say it was pleasantly arms-length. Think of being on a plane and you see the city from 10,000 feet. It looks scenic and appealing.
As I immersed myself in the city and people's on-goings including their life issues and dirty laundry (mine too), it starts getting real and you start feeling the grit - let's call it life-texture. Some people will continue to resonate while others won't. And like water finding its own level, friends fall into their totem pole ranking, either in order of relevance or urgency (as I fall into theirs). Think of the plane finally landing and now you have to deal with the city's nuts-and-bolts - congestion, traffic, pollution, urban events and cultural offerings.
Jeanne
Yoga Teacher
But no matter how the bigger picture takes shape and form in my Cebu peoplescape, I notice that at the center of it all, the hub that pulls them all together is my deepening friendship with Jeanne. Without her in the picture, Cebu would not be as compelling a destination. She would often be my breakfast guest and we'd hangout for beer and eats, always in constant conversation about anything and everything under the sun, hardly repeating ourselves. I am grateful. I thought you only make deep and lasting friendships with people you grow up with from school - not when you've already dealt with mid-life crisis! So yes, my benevolent universe has also given me one great gift - Jeanne.
And yes, to address your thought-bubble, is not my secret love life - never was, although people have speculated. Jeanne and I have kept it wholesome and platonic.
Theosophical Society Meetings
I didn't want to pass through Cebu without eating at the vegan dinner buffet at Persian Palate and attending the weekly Theosophical Society meetings. Lovorn's topic this time was Anthony de Melo's book and the wise sayings that's worth a ponder. But really, what I'm after is the community sense of seeing familiar faces and like-minded thinkers who make the effort to evolve. The usually suspects were there - Jeanne, Ellen, Regina, CaRen, Ivy, Emil, Edna, etc. It's good to be in a place where your radical ideas are open for scrutiny instead of simply being frowned upon.
Dr. Nestor Alonso II
PhilStar Global: Author
Since I met Cebu's foremost food critic, Doc Alonso, he has become part of my Cebu landscape. With every visit, we find time to catch up, usually at his favorite vodka/pizza place, Michaelangelo Pizza in Banilad. Let's just say we are both gray-haired guys who remain young. We share many things in common - good food and talking/writing about it, movies, sharing social commentaries, irreverent humor, etc. Often, he would reveal to me the hidden part of Cebu only lumad Cebuanos know about. An intellectual and keen observer of life who can articulate his insight, I'm left as a captive audience.
Judith Eugenio
Bazi & Feng Shui Consultancy
I met Judith during my last Cebu visit to coach her in keeping stillness of the mind in preparation for her major dance competition in Manila. She came back triumphant after bagging the gold but I was already away to congratulate her. We had this last hurrah breakfast to catch up and hear about her dance exploits and where it has taken her now. Judith has that rare objective-driven single-minded focus to win and stops at nothing to get the job done. I look forward to seeing her again.
Ending Thoughts
With 5 days over in Cebu, Tagbilaran (Bohol) beckoned from out of the blue. In my cosmic parlance, my benevolent universe just parted the Red Sea to show me the path. With the help of Jeanne, I have an affordable room waiting for me. I still don't know what awaits me there, but not knowing is a good thing. Another place, another chapter.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit 
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Leave a comment?
Reader Comments:
Judith Eugenio Bazi & Feng Shui Consultancy
(Sep 7, 2017) Thank you Gigit. ❤ ❤ ❤ Love you friend. See you soon. ❤ ❤ ❤
Mechel Zapanta(Sep 7, 2017) Thank you, keep safe Gigit Sulit! See you sooon please!
Doc Zoe (Sep 7, 2017) Um, for some reason, whatever was said after "secret love life" was a blur. I wanted to point out that secret love life + what came after = intriguing, hence, "blur". The Mensan in me wishes not to over think, though.
Mikko Pato Hostel Seven Cebu(Sep 7, 2017) Thank you for staying with us, Gigit! You are truly inspirational and please keep in mind you have a new home in Cebu, among many!
Next Traveling story:
Manila - Cebu City: from Touch-down to my Hotel
(Oct 13, 2022) Constrained to leave Thailand after 4 years, I landed in Cebu City not knowing what happens next. I wanted to relax and get my bearings first before I embark on this new chapter. But before that, I have to manage getting to my hotel from the airport...more »»
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
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
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
Blogs
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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