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Oslob: Whale Shark Watching and Sumilon Island

Famous for the whale shark watching, Oslob has been a fast-growing tourist destination for years now. It is located at the south of Cebu and near Negros Oriental.

Tan-awan

There are many resorts on the beach side of Tan-awan. The beach resort where we stayed was Aaron Beach Resort in Baranggay Tan-awan. It has a fascinating view of the sunrise, Sumilon Island and a beachfront. The resort also offered the whale shark watching the tour.

Butanding or Whale Shark Watching

Tourists from all over the country and all over the world flocked thru this site to witness every morning the whale sharks. Before we get to see the whale sharks, there were briefing areas where the tour guides explained the necessary precautions and guidelines for tourist. The local government also protects the butandings welfare.
The tour guides and boatman have their ID’s so we felt secure about the tour.


After which, we rode a boat and lined up with other boats at the viewing area. And alas, we were seeing the gentle giants near us.
We were near the boat that was giving them food. There were so many whale sharks who came, there were 6 of them circling around the boats and swimming people.


If you want to swim with the whale sharks, do not put any lotion and do not to touch them.

Sumilon Island

After which, we went to Sumilon Island. Sumilon Island is privately owned by Bluewaters Sumilon Island. They offered an overnight stay and a day tour with lunch. The resort owner allowed non-guest to experience the sand bar which is the highlight of the island. We opted to just stay at the sand bar for a minimal fee.


We enjoyed the sand, sea and sun. During high tide, the sand bar is covered with water, so it’s best to see Sumilon Island during low tide.


There were no shades and no facilities in the sand bar. Tourist bought with food and water because there were no shops. As a reminder, we should always take our trash with us.

How to get there

It is a three to four-hour drive from Cebu City from the South Terminal. Or a 30-minute boat ride from Dumaguete City to Liloan, then a tricycle ride from Liloan to Oslob.

Other Places in Cebu City Tour

After the historical tour and going to different churches of Cebu City, there are other different places to add in the city tour.

Taoist Temple

The Taoist temple is near the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and is located in one of the private subdivision in Beverly Hills Subdivision. The Taoist temple was built in 1972 by the Chinese community of Cebu.

The Temple of Leah

The temple of Leah was built by Teodorico Adarna for his wife Leah Villa Albino – Adarna. It was built-in 2012 with a Roman architecture edifice in the mountain of Busay, Cebu City. It is located along the Cebu Transcentral Highway. The temple has an art gallery, a museum and a library.

Tops Lookout

It is simply known as “Tops” and is located in Cebu Tops Road in the mountain of Busay, Cebu City. It offers a panoramic view of the whole Cebu City, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City skyline. It is an overlooking park for the surrounding islands and the Cebu waters.

Alta Vista Golf & Country Club

It is located in Pardo Hills in Cebu City, overlooking the town of Talisay Cebu. There is a very good restaurant inside the country club which serves sumptuous food.

Other places to visit

You can also visit Sirao Garden, Sirao Peak and Mountain View Nature’s Park in Busay. Fuente Osmena Circle, Sky Experience Adventure in Crowne Plaza and Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Where to eat

There are so many restaurants in Cebu City, but here’s where I always eat whenever I go to Cebu City.

Larsian

Larsian is a food Barbecue haven and is located at Fuente Osmena in Cebu City.

Rico’s Lechon

This is a recommended place to visit while in Cebu City.

Tops of Cebu

A newly opened restaurant near Tops Lookout.

To know more about Cebu, please check other posts: Malapascua Island Diving Sites Malapascua Island  Camotes Islands Bantayan Island in 2009 Revisiting Bantayan Island Why Cebu?

Historical Tour in Cebu City

There are different tour operators in Cebu City offering historical tours. Here’s one of my favorite itinerary. If you want to Do-It-Yourself Tour, you can start by going to the Colon Area.

Historical Tour

Colon Street

One of the oldest hubs in Cebu City and it is the oldest street. The street consists of main heritage sites.

Cathedral Museum and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

You can go to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Cathedral Museum of Cebu where you can see regional Church architecture and artifacts. It is located F. Urdaneta Street. Near the Cathedral is the Sto Nino Basilica.

Basilica Minore del Sto Nino

This is the oldest church and one of the historical sites. You can walk from P. Burgos Street to reach the church.

Magellan’s Cross

Across the Sto Nino Basilica is the famous Magellan’s Cross. It is a Christian cross planted in order of Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in 1521. The cross is housed in a chapel along Magallanes Street in the middle of Plaza Sugbo. Plaza Sugbo also has a different monument for Sergio Osmena and Vicente de Rama.
In front of the city center are the Cebu City Hall and the monument of Jose Rizal along the street of P. Burgos.

Plaza Independencia

Plaza Independencia Statue is a symbol of independence and freedom from all the conquerors that tried to overtake the island of Cebu. The plaza used to be called Plaza de Armas in 1600s.

The Fort San Pedro

It is a military defense structure made of woods which was built by the Spaniards with the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi upon his arrival in Cebu.
The Fort was replaced by stone in the 17th century. The oldest triangular bastion fort in front of Plaza Independencia. There are museums inside the fort which depicts the history of Cebu and the Philippines. There are several canyons along with the fort.

Heritage Monument of Cebu

The Heritage Monument of Cebu is the illustration of sculptures which symbolizes significant events in the history of Cebu. It is located at Mabini Street and Sikatuna Street.

Museums and Ancestral House

Near the Heritage Monuments are other historical sites. Along Zulueta Street across Mabini Street are two museums, the Museo Parian sa Sugbo and the Jesuit House Museum.
Along Mabini Street is the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House. One block away from the ancestral house is the newly renovated Casa Gorordo Museum. Another museum which is nearby is the Museo Sugbo or the Cebu Provincial Museum.

Churches in Cebu City

There are so many Catholic churches in Cebu City alone. There are actually nineteen (19) to be exact. For now, here are the different churches that I was able to visit in Cebu City.

The Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu

Santo Nino Basilica or Minor Basilica of the Holy Child of Cebu is the most famous amongst the churches in Cebu City. It was founded in 1565 by the two friars, Andres de Urdaneta and Diego de Herrera. The Santo Nino Basilica is the oldest Roman Catholic church and is the symbol of the birth of Christianity in the Philippines. The famous icon, a statuette of the child Jesus, is where the Basilica was built on the spot where it was found.


There is a convent, a museum and a library inside the church. There are the pilgrim site and the candles offering. The museum is located at the basement of the Pilgrim Center and the library was opened for public in 2000. The Basilica’s main entrance is located at Osmena Street in Cebu City.
The annual Sinulog festival is celebrated in January for the feast of the Sto Nino.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

Another church which is two blocks north of basilica is the Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Immaculate Concepcion, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. On August 14, 1595, the province of Cebu was established as a diocese. It is also one of the first churches in the Philippines that was built for St. Vitalis and by the two friars that built the Basilica. A mausoleum was built for the final resting place of the remains of the bishops and clergy.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the official patroness of Cebu by virtue of a pontifical declaration decree dated May 9, 2006, issued by the Vatican’s Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. The parish church is located at barangay Guadalupe. It was established on May 1, 1933, and was declared as the Archdiocesan Shrine.

The Redemptorist Church

It is known as the Congregation of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church. The old Chapel and Monastery was blessed and occupied on the 2nd of August 1929. It was built under the direction of Fr. William Byrne, CSsR. The Church was built with the help of the donations of parishioners and was open for mass in the Christmas of 1949. It is located at Queen’s Road, Cebu City.
The Redemptorist Church is the closest to my heart as this was my first church to visit in Cebu. I always booked my hotel near this area and attended mass every time I visit Cebu. There are 15 more to visit. I’ll tick it off the list next time.

Historical Sites in Iloilo

The Spanish conquest has been evident in the Western Visayas.  The Spanish influence in Iloilo is depicted by centuries-old churches.  Here are some of the historical and religious sites in the towns of Iloilo City, Guimbal, Tigbauan and Miag-ao in Iloilo.

Miag-ao Church or Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church

The baroque architecture was built from 1787 to 1797 and became a fortress during the Moro pirates attacked.  The church was preserved as it was named  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tigbauan Church or Saint John of Sahagun Church

A unique church because of its Latin American churrigueresque architecture that had been built in the 16th century by Augustinian friars.  Inside the church is a grotto containing the chapel of Sto. Nino.

Guimbal Church or St. Nicholas de Tolentino Parish

The Spanish-colonial style church was built using corals and adobe.  It was also known as the iconic Iloilo’s Yellow Stone Landmark because of the yellow colored limestone blocks and coral powder used. The four-story-high belfry serves as a watchtower against Moro pirates during the Spanish era.

Santo Nino de Arevalo Parish Church

The church possesses the third oldest Sto. Nino figurines in the Philippines brought by the Augustinian friars during 1581. The church stood in one of the places that were first to be named in Spanish as La Villa Rica de Arevalo and is now known by the locals as Villa de Arevalo.

Molo Church or St. Anne’s Parish

A Gothic-Renaissance inspired church exudes beauty which was built by Dominicans in 1831.  A feminist church due to the presence of sixteen statues along the aisles is feminine saints.  The massive two belfries consist of 30 different sizes of bells.

Molo Mansion

Across the famous Molo Church is a mansion of the Yusay-Consing clan or widely known as Molo Mansion.  It was turned into a heritage museum.

Jaro Cathedral or National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles

The cathedral is declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles and also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro.   Housed inside the church is the stone image of the miraculous Our Lady of Candles.

Jaro Belfry

Separated from the church is the belfry across the national highway and situated in the Jaro Plaza.

 

Kalanggaman Island

Kalanggaman Island is a small paradise island in the Palompon Leyte but is also accessible from Cebu. It is also one of the beautiful islands in the Philippines and is considered as untouched and unspoiled.

How to get there

It was a two hours boat ride from Malapascua Island, we decided to rent a boat towards this island. I was already intrigued with this island but never had a chance to research about it, and upon seeing that the Blue Coral Beach Resort had an island tour in this island, we decided to stay for one more day. Instead of heading back to Cebu City to have a city tour we decided to explore Kalanggaman since we were near.
It was 8 in the morning when the boatman picked us up. He was with his son and 1 other companion who bought our lunch. It was a hot day and the one hour ride was rather boring because we could only hear the splashing of water to the boat. There were islands on both sides, the mainland of Cebu and Leyte but they were rather small. But after an hour, you could almost see the island.

Seeing Kalanggaman Island

And inch by inch, we were getting closer to the island. Seeing a very small island with a pristine sand bar from end to end glistening to the sun, we get excited. It was breathe taking just by looking from afar. A very long stretch of sand bars from the island where you could walk as far as you could during low tide.
When our boat approached the main island, we were really excited.


Kalanggaman Island is untouched, unspoiled. We went to the west end first. You will see the coconut trees going to the back of the island. There were no people here except us.

Then we walked through the rocky side of the island that leads to the main beach front. It was already high tide, and the long stretch of the sand bar was disappearing. But we still walked to the sands feeling the cold water in our feet.

We looked for a covered shade from the coconut tree and had our lunch courtesy of our boatman, and a treat of coconut juice fresh from the coconut in the island. After which we immersed to the water again, on the different sides of the island.
It was past 2 PM when we decided to head back to Malapascua for another 2 hours boat ride. But it didn’t matter anymore, because the island was really amazing and beautiful.


The island is managed by the government of Palompon, Leyte. It is not part of Cebu anymore. They told us it was a 45-minute journey if you were from Palompon. There was a shop on the island, but there’s no place to stay except to do camping.

Malapascua Island Diving Sites

Malapascua Island is a premier dive site, in which divers have been visiting regularly.

Diving Sites

The famous area for diving sites around Malapascua Island are:

1. Deep Slope
2. Lapus Pinnacle
3. Bantigue


4. Evo Reef
5. Blue Corner
6. Dakit Dakit

7. Lapus Lapus
8. Lapus II
9. Deep rock

10. The Lighthouse

Other dive sites along the area within the northernmost tip of Cebu are:
1. Monad Shoal
2. Gato Shoal
3. Kimud Shoal
4. Dona Marilyn Shipwreck
5. Maria’s Point
6. Chocolate Island
7. Nunez Shoal
8. Kalanggaman Island

Thresher sharks and manta rays are regularly cited in the diving sites. There are shops for diving gears and diving lessons.

For other posts about Cebu, please check: Bantayan Island in 2009 Revisiting Bantayan Island Why Cebu? Bantayan Island  Camotes Islands

Malapascua Island

Malapascua Island is an island in the northernmost tip of Cebu Island and is part of Logon, Daanbantayan.

Touring the island

Bounty Beach

Our resort was located on the left side of the beach, called Blue Coral Beach Resort. The room was a non-air conditioned room, had a wide window which gave fresh air from the sea. And because it was built on high rocks, our room gave a spectacular view of the Bounty beach. Bounty beach gets crowded because of the number of resorts and restaurants on the beach front.


Our resort also offered an island tour in which we availed. We started at 9 AM.

Dakit Dakit Island

The first site was the snorkeling near Dakit Dakit Island, known for its coral garden and coral walls and different fishes.

The Lighthouse

After which we passed by the lighthouse in the northwest of Malapascua island. There is a dive site near the lighthouse. Another beach is also near the Lighthouse.


Guimbitayan

We stopped at Guimbitayan, where the sand bar meets from both sides of the sea. There were children of the locals who were also enjoying the beach.

Lapus Lapus Island

You can also see Lapus Lapus Island where they do cliff diving. Another site called Lapus Diving Cliff is connected in Guimbitayan slopes which are overlooking the Lapus Lapus Island.

Langob Beach Heaven

We headed to Langob Beach Heaven, where we stayed for more than an hour before having our lunch. The lunch was also included in our tour, where our boatman freshly catch fishes where cooked in the boat while we enjoyed the water and the long sand bar.


Bantigue Beach

After we had our lunch, our boatman took us the Bantigue Cove Beach Resort where there is Bantigue beach, a private beach resort, but we were allowed to tour the cove. It was also a high spot, to check the other side of Malapascua Island. After which we went to the Coral Garden to enjoy another snorkeling activity. We were backed in Bounty Beach at 4 PM and stayed there enjoyed our sunbathing.


Other beaches on the island are Logon Beach, Gugma Beach, Kabatangan Beach, Bakhaw etc.

How to get there

From the airport we hailed a taxi towards the North Terminal and rode a bus going to Daanbantayan, to reach the Maya Port. It took us almost 6 hours to get to the port. A boat, that leaves every hour, was waiting for us for another two hours ride to the island. After a long journey, we were excited when we finally saw the beautiful white sands. There were no ports on the island, the boatman stopped on the main beach.

For other posts about Cebu please check the posts: Bantayan Island in 2009 Revisiting Bantayan Island Why Cebu? Bantayan Island

Camotes Islands

Camotes Islands

Camotes Islands is located east of Cebu Island and southwest of Leyte Island. It is a group of islands which consists of four towns – San Francisco, Tudela, Poro and Pilar. Camotes group of islands is composed of Pacijan, Poro, Ponson and Tulang.

How to get there

From the North Terminal, we rode a bus that was passing to Danao, one hour and a half ride from the terminal. Danao port is located on the right side of the road. We waited for the Ro-Ro vessel that would take us to Camotes Island for another two hours boat ride going to Puertobello Wharf Port. There are other ports from Poro coming from Cebu City and in Pilar coming from Ormoc and Leyte.

Touring the Island

Mangodlong Beach

We rented a habal-habal to take us to Mangodlong Rock Resort located in San Francisco town. We had our lunch in the restaurant. We explored the beachfront of Mangodlong beach and the overlooking Mangodlong bay thru the rock formation. With its seashell shore and rocky beach, they also made connecting bridge and ladders to the rock formation.


We then rented a habal-habal again to tour Camotes Island. We passed by the San Francisco Town. From the town there’s a Poro San Francisco Mangrove Highway going to Poro Town before we went to the other side of the island.

Bukilat Cave

Our first destination was Bukilat Cave in Tudela which was around 30 minutes from Mangodlong. We went down to the cave and took pictures. It was a small cave and we were the only tourist inside at that time. It was also a great time because it was low tide and we could see the rock formation and the stalagmites and stalactites inside the cave.

Buho Rock Resort


We went to Buho Rock Resort also in Poro Town where you could see the Buho Garden. We had to go down to see the amazing rock formation and the beautiful garden which was located along the stairs going down. Beneath the rocks is clear water where there is a cliff where some children were cliff diving.

Lake Danao


From Buho Rock Resort we headed to Lake Danao which is also in San Francisco town. Lake Danao offers zip line, boat ride and other water activities.

For other posts about Cebu please check the following: Bantayan Island in 2009 Revisiting Bantayan Island Why Cebu? Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island in 2009

In 2009, I decided to go back to the first island I fell in love with. With this post, I want you to see what Bantayan looks like ten years ago.
It was August when we came back, my second time on the island where the southwest monsoon occurs and make seas rough. But it was still the same feeling seeing Bantayan Island for the second time. We again stayed in Budyong, traversed the Sugar Beach, ate freshly catch seafood bought from locals and went back to Sta Fe Beach Club and the Ogtong Cave.

Here’s a video of Bantayan in 2009.

Where to stay in Bantayan Island

Sta Fe Beach Club and Ogtong Cave Resort.

Sta Fe Beach Club is located at Talisay in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island. From the port, you could see the beautiful beachfront resort on the left side of Alice Beach. And easily accessible by tricycles. If you book earlier you could also ask to be picked up at the port as they have a free transfer.


There are so many rooms in Sta Fe Beach Club, airconditioned and fanned rooms. There are rooms for Clubhouse twin, triple and quadruple; Cottage Triple Seaview, Double Duplex and Family Cottage. The rooms have a veranda. It would be nice to pick a room facing the beach front. Some rooms don’t have a television.
There’s a restaurant in the hotel but breakfast is not included in the rate. They also offer island tours.
At night most visitors preferred hanging out on the beach front to mingle with friends. You could also see the view of the port at night.

Another resort owned by Sta Fe Beach Club is the Ogtong Cave Resort where you will find inside the resort is a small cave with cold crystal clear waters. The resort is open for visitors if you’re going to check out the cave.
The resort has a view of the beach and a swimming pool. They also have rooms and their own restaurant.

Budyong


Budyong Resort has been one of the first resorts in Bantayan Island. It is located along Sugar Beach. It is also accessible by tricycle. The resort is also near the town of Sta Fe’s church and market and near the different restaurants in the area.


Budyong has its own restaurant. The rooms are a concrete Nipa Hut facing Sugar Beach. There are different rooms to choose from. You could also buy fishes caught by the fishermen.

For other posts about Cebu, please check Why Cebu? Revisiting Bantayan Island Bantayan Island