CEBU, Philippines – It started as a modest eatery, in 1976, serving 'lutong bahay' meals in the garage of Engr. Pedro Urgello's duplex residence along Don Gil Garcia Street, then also known as "Verbena Street."
Named "Cozy Nook," the eatery catered to taxi drivers. In time, its clientele grew to include office workers and students in the area. With dishes like tinola and caldereta, word about the place quickly got around. Its reputation for scrumptious meals earned for the eatery the popular nickname "Back Han Palace" - as it was located at the back of the former Great Han Palace restaurant.
Soon, Mrs. Justina Urgello, the wife of Engr. Pedro, started the eatery's transformation into a lodging house for medical students, because of the big medical schools nearby. And, then, the lodging house eventually grew into one of Cebu's longest running pension houses - the Verbena Pension House.
Today, September 26, Verbena Pension House celebrates its 27th anniversary - now a stable player in the city's hospitality and accommodations industry. It has become so because of its unwavering commitment to good customer service. The disposition of its service staff and crew rightly resembles the characteristic warmth of Cebuano hospitality.
An added edge is its strategic location. It is right at the vortex of the city's bustling commercial centers, making it easy for travelers - both individuals and entire families - to get to wherever they want to go.
With more than 40 Standard, Deluxe and Family Rooms that are complemented by service that makes guests feel comfortably at home, Verbena Pension House is to travelers as close as home can be.