Cebutourist.com

If you get tired of the sights in Cebu City, you may hail a cab or a jeepney and head to Naga City to appreciate beautiful scenery without wandering too far.  The trip takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the traffic condition.  A jeepney ride costs only 14 pesos and it is an exciting way to go around the city.

Naga City got its name from the Philippine’s national tree, narra, which is called “naga” in the Cebuano dialect.  Even before the Spanish settled in the area, Naga City (then known as Tinaan and Tuyaan, two separate villages) was already populated by settlers from nearby places such as Bohol.  The town’s main livelihood from the olden days up to the present are fishing and agriculture.  The coming of the Spanish forces led to the unification of the villages and the foundation of a parish Church, known as the San Francisco de Asis Church.  In comparison with the numberous churches built by the Spanish in the province, the San Francisco de Asis Church is much simpler in design and architecture.  It is very unique in design as it is a combination of Islamic and Mexican influences.  The original construction was led by Fr. Simon Aguirre and was carried out by the parishioners.  The beautiful façade of the Naga City Church is the most attractive part of the entire structure.  You’ll see handsome angels playing instruments and biblical scriptures underneath a sculpture of Jesus Christ.  The belfry, though constructed very late into the 20^th century, stands tall and mighty a few feet beside the church.

A trip to Naga City is an invitation to a lazy day.  The Bonifacio Park is a good spot to just enjoy the afternoon sun, maybe read a book or just watch time go by.  On the other hand, the Naga Baywalk, beautiful as it is during the day, is even more stunning at night once the colorful lights are all lit up.  You can  enjoy local delicacies as food stalls are erected on the strip.

Almost everyone lives a hurried, stressful life: daily work routine, meeting deadlines, juggling a household and a career.  Maybe everyone’s dream is to just get away from it all, to a place where there is peace and silence – no angry bosses, no lazy employees, no dirty dishes on the kitchen sink.  If your mind and body are already scolding you to take a vacation, heed that call and head to Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu.

At the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, you have plenty of time to do nothing and everything that pleases you.  Loafing on the cool white sand of the 110-meter beach front gives you a feeling of floating on Cloud 9.  Everything just feels so light and unhurried.  You’ll find plenty of things to do inside the 5-hectare picturesque property – things you are deprived of in your daily 8-5 schedule – such as enjoying an intimate night on a 1.1 hectare private island, marveling on colorful corals in the protected marine sanctuaries and surrendering to an indulgent spa treatment.  If you want to make the most out of your vacation, feel free to try a few of the activities offered at the Aquamania Water Sports.  They offer windsurfing, wakeboarding, fishing, snorkeling, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, banana boat rides and island-hopping.  You may also take part in a once in a lifetime chance of feeding sharks right on the island’s marine lagoon.  Phew, gets your adrenaline rushing just thinking about it, doesn’t it?

If you had to pick one among Maribago’s many assets, you’d have to say that their star player is their Amuma Spa.  Amuma means pamper in Cebuano dialect.  The Amuma Spa boasts of spa treatment packages that feature local ingredients and traditions.  Their signature treatment, the Amuma Hilot, is an interesting hodgepodge of massage techniques from all around the country.  Banana leaves are used in soothing weary muscles, accompanied by traditional rituals of pausok (mineral smoke and medicinal herbs are used to cleanse), dasal (prayer), and orasyon (invoking of spirits).  After getting pampered, you may proceed to getting a deep slumber in your luxurious room or walk along the shore get enchanted by the night lights that surround the island.

It must be said that the food at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is as remarkable as everything that is offered in this heavenly sanctuary.  Enjoy themed dinners every night on your stay.  You are sure to look forward to what is going to be served to you next.  The breakfast buffet ranges from the healthy to the scrumptious and the indulgent – perfect to fill you up for your day’s itinerary.

The hustle and bustle of daily living can be too much for anyone.  Thankfully, there is Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Cebu Island, Philippines, a refuge, a reprieve, a piece of heaven on Earth.

The beautiful island of Cebu in the Philippines has plenty to offer every tourist.  Among Cebu’s most boasted attractions are islands, teeming with rich aquatic life, making snorkeling, scuba diving and island hopping the top tourist activities.  Things can only get better for Cebu visitors as innovation has  led to yet another exciting way of seeing the islands.  Cebu Island Buffet is the brain child of entrepreneurs from the food and beverage, design and customer service industries.  Until their splash into the island hopping scene, tourists were being herded from one island to another, waiting to land on a certain island for lunch or at times even waiting for the end of the tour.  Now, tourists can alternate between eating and swimming/snorkeling anytime they want.

Cebu Island Buffet features a wide selection of scrumptious Filipino dishes, from fresh sea catch to traditional viands to fresh in-season fruits.  Getting on the outrigger boats of Cebu Island Buffet is recommended, especially to foreign tourists as it is hitting two birds with one stone – seeing the beauty of the islands and savoring Filipino delicacies.  If you’d wish to try other cuisines, you may also request ahead of time as they are also adept in preparing Japanes, Korean, European and American meals.  The tour takes off on the shores of the Marigondon Beach then heads to the pristine islands of Sulpa Island, Caohagan and Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary.  Life vests and snorkeling gear are provided to ensure pure enjoyment of the guests.  The Island Buffet Trip costs only 800 pesos per person for a minimum of 10 persons per group.  This is inclusive of the tour, the buffet, snorkeling equipment and insurance.

Read more at: http://cebuislandbuffet.com/

President Ramon Magsaysay, the 3^rd President of the Republic of the Philippines, was well regarded and loved by the Filipinos.  He was called the “Champion of the Masses” as many of his causes focus on improving the lives of the greater population.  On March 16, 1957, he flew all the way to Cebu City from Manila to speak at 3 educational meets.  He boarded the plane “Mt. Pinatubo” at 1:00 in the morning the next day back to Manila but didn’t make it outside Cebu premises.  His plane crashed on Mt. Manunggal, killing 24 of his crew and leaving only one survivor.

Up to this very day, locals and tourists stage a pilgrimage to the President’s crash site to offer flowers and prayers.  There stands a giant white cross on the spot as a reminder of the charismatic president’s untimely demise.  The journey itself to the crash site affords an awesome hike at one of the most lush mountain forests of the Philippines.  This is where the Cebu Cinnamon tree, one of the most threatened trees in the world, can be found.  You also get a stunning view of the great mountain ranges of Cebu.