Catmon Revisited

Ahh, the smell of fresh air, the feel of wind touching my skin, the splashing of waves on my feet, the taste of budbud, and the warmth of the Catmonanons’ smiles…

This busy city has held me captive and has deprived me of the only extravagance that I can afford. And that is to go home to my beloved town, some 50 kilometers north of Cebu, and experience the beauty of the place. But this time, my going home has a purpose – to let the people know what Catmon really is and what she has in store not just for the Catmonanons, but to all the people adventurous enough to pay a visit.

1. The town church – First stop, is the San Guillermo Church. Being one of the earliest churches in Cebu, this edifice greatly had its share of transformation; from a simple nipa hut in 1835, to being a rubble-work creation. In the 90s the church was carefully renovated as not to spoil the historical construction of the building. San Guillermo Church up until this time, is one of the well-visited churches during the Visita Iglesia season. (location: San Jose, Catmon)

2. The Pilgrim Hill – After Visita Iglesia, one can proceed to Christ King of Hearts Pilgrim Hill- another religious place to go to especially during the Holy Week. This is a private sanctuary owned by the good- natured Porio family. A haven like this is best for religious activities and retreats. This would surely give you new inspiration in saying your Holy Rosary and petitions. (locaton: Panalipan, Catmon)

3. The beaches – Upon seeking solitude, the best spot to go next is the beach. Km 47 Beach is one of the famous beaches in town. The absence of decorative cottages and lavish amenities made the place perfect for the adventurous ones who just want to simply sit in the sand and lie down on rocks. Another option is Recuerdo, a beach resort situated just beside the main road. Famous for its clean area and affable owner, Joel Barte, the beach also offers catering services, wedding packages, and service decorations. (location: Binongkalan & Catmondaan).

4. The Mountain Resorts – If the beach is not your idea of fun then might as well proceed to Imelda Aroma Mountain Paradise. For team buildings and family reunions, its long slides and man-made lazy river would be a big hit. You can stay there whenever you like for it has several rooms for overnight and get-away. It too, has a mini zoo that the kids would love.

Another one is the famous Duyan Hot spring. Though the resort is still being renovated, a lot of people flock to the mountains (about 15 minutes habal2x ride from the highway), to experience the tranquility of the place. The hot spring connects to a waterfall nearby which the owner, Celso Bustamante, would gladly take you for a stroll. The view is simply breathtaking. (location: Macaas & Duyan)

5. The hotel – If you are tired from a long drive in a rainy night or simply just want to stay for a awhile and rest, Las Flores mini hotel is perfect for you. Situated just along the highway, this hotel can give you the accommodation you would both love and appreciate. This hotel is also perfect for honeymoons for the place has a romantic aura attached to it.

6. The delicacies – One’s adventure always leaves a person famished. And the town of Catmon does not disappoint. Famous for its budbud kabog, a lot of Catmonanons make this delicacy and accept orders. In fact, they recently started the budbud kabog festival and celebrates it every 10th of February. Another food they are famous for is the coconut balls and the bibingka. Unlike the budbud and the coconut balls, bibingka is displayed just at the side of the road, and can be available in just a few minutes. You can even choose if you want it ‘paig’ or ‘hilaw-hilaw’, as they fondly call it.

7.. The history – Catmon is actually named after a big tree in town. And when the Spaniards asked what the name of the place was, they all replied “Catmon,” thinking that the foreigners meant the tree. And so it came to pass that the town was named Catmon from then on. The town was also involved in the resistance movement during the war, giving refuge to Gen. Maxilom and the Filipino soldiers.

8. The People – the friendliness of the Catmonanons is the icing on the cake. They do not treat visitors as strangers, but rather, as friends coming to visit. New breed of Catmonanons are now greatly acquainted with different people and has been avenues in promoting the town to their friends from all over the country. As one of them, I can say that I too, am proud of my town, and would love others to visit the place.