To the South of Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — There’s no doubt that Cebu is already in the tourism map of the world. It may not be in the league of the big world destinations, but this island in the heart of the Philippine archipelago have charms all its own. Not few world travelers find their way to Cebu. And this is not at all anything new. Cebu has quite a rich history with visitors.

Some people suspect that Ferdinand Magellan may just have simply strayed into Cebu’s shores. But the fact that Miguel Lopez de Legazpi followed in Magellan’s footsteps years after – despite the fact that the Portuguese navigator got killed in battle at Mactan – is probably proof that Cebu’s appeal warranted taking the risk.

These days the natural attractions of the island are augmented by colorful festivals everywhere. And there are crafts and culinary specialties, as well, to further delight the visitors. The local culture exudes a kind of warmth that instantly makes every stranger feel like part of the host community.

There are indeed so many things in Cebu for everyone – for both local and foreign visitors. This little island has so much to offer such that one cannot have it all in one go. Cebu has to be explored in parts. A nice start would be to go south of the island.

Carcar City

Carcar is considered as a heritage city and still has a good number of well-preserved Spanish and American colonial period houses, many of which are still actually being used as residences. The Carcar Church, or St. Catherine of Alexandra Church, built by the Augustinian friars between 1860 and 1875, is another interesting sight as the old structure bears various architectural influences, particularly Islamic and Graceo-Roman. The famous Carcar Rotunda is a beauty; it has a bandstand at the center with intricate designs.

Another big Carcar attraction are its gustatory treats. The city is well known for its Lechon (roasted pig) and Chicharon (pork rind crackling). There’s always a freshly roasted lechon at the public market, while several chicharon stalls are found in the nearby area by the Rotunda. Sweet delicacies are also peddled everywhere – bocarillo, gorgollas, ampao etc.

Sibonga

The town of Sibonga attracts visitors, mostly local, to the Simala Marian Shrine in barangay Lindogon. The Shrine is one of the most visited religious places in the province. Thousands of devotees come to Simala every week to pay homage to the miraculous Virgin Mary. At the junction along the national road, a visitor can contract a motorcycle (locally called “habal-habal’) for the short trip to the Marian Hills, at 20 pesos fare per passenger.

Argao

Argao is another old town. Its Spanish-time closely clustered town center is still there, comprised of several important public structures – the church and government offices. But Argao is more famous for its Torta, a delicacy that beckons visitors to the town.

Dalaguete

Dalaguete has many attractions, depending on what one is looking for. It’s where to find Osmeña Peak, considered as the highest point in the whole Cebu province. It offers a magnificent view of the jagged hills of the Mantalongon Range, and a great point for viewing both sunrise and sunset. The town’s barangay Mantalongon is also the “vegetable basket” of Cebu, producing different kinds of vegetables that end up at Cebu City’s markets.

Boljoon

Boljoon prides of having one the oldest remaining original stone churches in Cebu. The church has been declared a “National Historical Landmark” by the National Historical Institute. Within the church complex is the El Gran Baluarte, considered as the biggest Spanish watchtower in the Philippines.

Oslob

The Oslob Church, or the Immaculate Concepcion Church, is made of cut coral stones and reportedly took 18 years to finish, starting in 1830. Across the church is the Cuartel, the military barracks erected by Spaniards in 1898, but was left unfinished due to the arrival of the Americans.

Recently, whale shark watching has become an attraction in Oslob. The town’s tourism office arranges for such activities, including assigning boats and guides and giving safety instructions to visitors.

Badian

Kawasan Falls in barangay Matutinao, in Badian, definitely ranks among the better known tourist attractions of the province. In fact, it is probably the most popular falls in Cebu. Badian is about 2.5 hours bus ride from Cebu City.

Moalboal

Moalboal’s main attraction are its beaches. Whether public or private, the beaches all have cream-colored sand and crystal clear waters. The town is also known for its beautiful diving sites.

Barili

The town’s Mantayupan Falls is what mainly draws visitors to Barili.  The 200-feet high falls drops into a natural pool. From the town center, a visitor can take a “habal-habal” ride close to the site. Then a paved footpath and a footbridge take one to the rest of the way. An entrance fee to the falls is 30 pesos per person.