Cebu… A Great Place To Be
Flying into Cebu, depending on which side of the aircraft you’re seated, two things become quickly evident as you swoop over the brilliant azures seas.
Firstly, there’s a beautiful mountains spine running the north-south length of this long, relatively narrow island. Secondly, as far as the eye can see, there are no beaches. What? As the plane descends, you’ll spot the traffic-choked smudge of Cebu City, then the factories and concrete of City, followed by the flat, barren landscape of the adjoining Mactan Island, where the airport is located.
As he plane banks over the derelict hulk of Philippine Dream, a rusting cruise ship whose casinos, discos and karaoke bars were once the toast of town, you might wonder what on earth you’re doing here. Oh dear.
Relax. Things will be just fine. As with most things in the Philippines, don’t let first impressions fool us. Swing round the airport cinder block and dive straight into the color and kitsch of Cebu. Get to know the place and you’ll discover why business travelers and families come back again and again. To begin with, as the large sign at the Mactan_Cebu International Airport assures all visitors, “Cebu is foot-and-mouth disease free.”Now that’s a start. Step bravely forward. The only tourist who had a serious problem with this advice landed in 1521, without a passport or visa, trying to bag the place for Spain.
Ferdinand Magellan’s round-the-world cruise was rudely ended by local Mactan chief-tan Lapu-Lapu whose men ensured the place would have at least two memorable tourist sites Magellan’s Cross outside the wonderful Basilica del Santo Niño (which is said to contain pieces of the original cross he erected in Cebu), and Magellan’s Marker on Mactan (where you’ll also find a statue of the strapping Lapu-Lapu). Lapu-Lapu City occupies the north of Mactan Island from where the bridges soar up and over the channel to Mandaue City.
Cebuano’s (as the residents are termed) are a terrific lot. Laid back, friendly, accomodating, chatty and hospitable, they will charm and entertain you relentlessly. Everyone has time.
Forget Manila’s grit and rough edges, here in the Philippine south, even airport immigration is a pleasant affair and if you’re caught in traffic, simply jump out and truck into some baboy lechon (grilled pork) especially around Talisay City, adjoining Cebu City to the south, or chicharon chicken or pork skin crisps). Some of the best chicharon is in town of Carcar, two hours south in the foothills.
Mactan is where most of the gleaming four five-stars resorts are to be found, some of them with manicured artificial white-s and beaches that wouldn’t look out of place in Hawaii. There are good restaurants, Casinos for high rollers and musics galore.
Everything, from malls to restaurants, is incredibly child-friendly. The island is noted more for its prized. “Mactan stone” that is used in surrounding dwellings, than beach. The island is pancake flat with a pebbly coast.
By Denver Buhisan
