Badian Island
97 km. southwest of Cebu City. Famous for beautiful corals, reefs, and white sandy beaches, making it an excellent diving spot.
Olango Wildlife Sanctuary
Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country. Migration starts from the birds’ breeding places of in Siberia, Northern China, and Japan. Based in data gathering so far, the birds use Olango as a major refueling station as well as a wintering ground. At Olango, the birds can replenish their fat reverses by feeding on rich supplies of invertebrates in the intertidal mudflats. These fat reserves must fuel the birds on the next lap of their journey which may cover from 3,000 to 15,000 km. of nonstop flight.
Moalboal
89 km. southwest of Cebu City. Offers white sandy beaches and rich marine life for scuba diving. Notable as an excellent diving area is the water around Pescador Island.
Nonoc Cave
(Borbon). 83 km. north of Cebu City. Very picturesque view, shelter for picnic goers and bathers.
Mactan Island
(across Mandaue City). Famous for its beach resorts of international standards and excellent diving, its proximity to Cebu makes it a prime destination for local and foreign travelers. It is also the site of the Export Processing Zone, with over 100 companies in operation, employing close to 40,000 people.
Religious
Basilica Minor del Santo Niño This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565. The first structure of the church was however destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568. It was rebuilt in 1602 under the administration of Juan Albaran and was rehabilitated in 1740. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minor del Santo Niño by Cardinal Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.
Image of Santo Niño
Considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 21, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, on Apri1 27, 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, who formally Christianized the Cebuanos, found the natives hostile. Legaspi himself besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was on one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Santo Niño unscratched. Since then the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as their Patron Saint. At present, the miraculous image is kept in the Parish Covent, and a replica is adorned with gold and precious stones and enshrined in glass. It is housed in a side altar inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño.
Taoist Temple
(Beverly Hills, Cebu City). The temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday people climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) to light joss sticks and have their fortune read.
Phu-Sian Temple
A Buddhist Temple, the third Chinese temple on Beverly Hills, located at the right side of the road to the Taoist Temple.
Chapel of the Last Supper
Life-sized carvings of the Lord Jesus and his 12 apostles seated at a long table for the Last Supper. This is the only one of its kind in the country. This treasured relic is found in the Church of Mandaue City that dates back to 1601.
Celestial Garden
(Banawa Hills, Cebu City). Owned and managed by the Tanchan Foundation. Twelve hectares of rolling hills where life-size statues depicting the drama of the Stations of the Cross were built.
Man-Made
Cebu Botanical Garden
(Camp Marina, Capitol Hills). Where plant hobbyists can see a collection of greenery.
Liloan Lighthouse
Found in the municipality of Liloan, around 18 km. north of Cebu City. Built by the American in 1904.
Mandaue-Mactan Bridge
Built in 1972 at a cost of P65 million. This 864-meter bridge connects the islands of Mactan and Cebu.
Plaza Independencia
A popular hangout during weekends, centuries-old acacia trees dot this park.
Fuente Osmeña Park
(Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City). A lovely circular park with a beautiful fountain in the middle. Named after Cebu’s Grand Old Man, the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr.
Tops
Situated 2,000 above sea level on the cool hills of Busay, it is an excellent sight-seeing spot which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and the islands of Mactan and Olango. Open kiosks are available for daytime picnics and instant evening parties.
Guitar Factories
(Maribago District, Lapulapu City). One can actually see how guitars are made. It is amazing to note that while guitar-making is the occupation of the people of Mactan District, the raw materials used have to be shipped from Mindanao and nowhere on the island can be found such materials.
Festivals
Sinulog
(every 3rd Sunday of January). Cebu’s biggest and most popular festival. The feast is in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Santo Niño de Cebu. Fiesta Senyor, as it is widely known, is the most celebrated among Cebu’s festivals, where people converge along the routes of a grand solemn procession and partake in the gaiety amidst a madri gras parade immersed in wild colors and the constant beating of drums.
Pasko sa Sugbo
(Cebu City/province-wide). An annual Christmas celebration by lighting & decorating the main thoroughfare in Cebu, starting from capitol down to Plaza Independencia. Other activities include nightly cultural shows by the different schools, parol, Christmas tree & daygon competition.
Sanayon
Agro-tourism festival in the southern towns of the second district about 100 km. from the city. A month-long activity to spread out tourism to the countryside.
Paskuhan
(Cebu City/province-wide). A Christmas celebration of songs and lantern making held during the month of December to spread good cheer to local residents and visitors alike.
Kadaugan sa Mactan
(Lapulapu City). A one-day re-enactment celebrated with pomp and pageantry every 27th of April to commemorate the historic battle of Mactan between the forces of Lapulapu and Ferdinand Magellan.
Pasko sa Kasakit
(Bantayan Island; Holy Thursday & Good Friday). A religious procession of life-size images of the death and passion of Jesus Christ carried in richly decorated & lighted carrozas.
Tagbo
(Poro, Camotes Island, Cebu; every January). Celebrated in honor of the Patron Santo Niño de Poro. Beloved memoir of a living past, Tagbo is the cornerstone from which this great municipality has sprung. Rich in cultural heritage and deep in spiritual values, Tagbo is a very significant event preluding the birth of a town very dear to the hearts of her sons and daughters.
Cassava Festival
(Camotes Island, Cebu). Held with the aim of creating awareness among the people on the different uses and economic opportunities offered by cultivating cassava.
Carcar Fiesta
(Carcal, Cebu; November 24-25). Celebrated in honor of the town's patron, St. Catherine of Alexandria. Carcar town is noted for its old Spanish style houses in the quiet countryside setting. During fiestas, the residents would invite friends, relatives, and town visitors into their homes to taste popular local delicacies. A lively and enjoyable event.
Barangayan
An annual celebration of Philippine independence held every June 12.
Via Crucis
(Banawa Hills, Cebu City). A Lenten activity where devotees do their penitential procession through the Stations of the Cross built on 12 hectares of rolling hills.
Dinagat Festival
(Cordova, Cebu). The festival is characterized by street dancing & an interpretative dance competition based on the fishing rituals & culture of the Cordovahanons.
Nuestra Señora de Regla Fiesta
(Lapulapu City; November 20-21). Held to honor the patroness of Opon. This religious and social event reveals the deep religious faith of the people and their penchant for merry making. A food fair, carnival, procession, and a coronation of the Fiesta Queen highlight the festivity.
Special Interest
Crocolandia
(Biasong, Talisay City). Situated beside the Mananga River in Talisay, it has for its main attraction a mini-zoo and a botanical garden. It is also equipped with picnic areas, restaurants, refreshment center, souvenir shops, butterfly sanctuary, boat & fishing area, and a library. CROCOLANDIA Biasong, Talisay City Tel. no. (63-32) 273-1842
Family Park
(Nasipit, Talamban). Nestled in the Nasipit mini-watershed, it provides families with an alternative and wholesome recreation site within the city. This 20-hectare area is nature-friendly. Trees surround the whole complex, the product of a reforestation effort in 1983. FAMILY PARK
Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City
Tel. no. c/o MCWD (63-32) 419-3124 to 25 / 254-8434 to 39
Mountain View Nature's Park
(Sitio Garahe, Busay). Overlooking the city, it is situated near the cool flower gardens of Busay. This park comes with a mini-zoo, accommodations, and canteen. MOUNTAIN VIEW NATURE'S PARK
Sitio Gorohe, Busay, Cebu City
Tel. no. (63-32) 231-5444 /231-5454
Manager: Edgar Castillo
Golf Courses
Alta Vista Golf and Country Club
(Aznar Road, Pardo). Situated in the lower mountains of Pardo, this golf course offers a different and challenging terrain for the avid golfer. The golf course covers 60 hectares for a world-class, par 72, 18-hole course covering 5,670 meters. CONTACT INFORMATION: Aznar Road, Pardo, Cebu City;
Tel. no. (Registration Counter) (6332) 2727971 to 74 / (Golf Operators Office) (6332) 2727977; Telfax No. (6332) 2724090;E-mail: avgcc@skynet.net
Verdemar Golf Club
(Barangay Bancasan, San Remigio, Cebu). Situated near the sea, it also offers sea-side accommodations (Casa del Mar Resort Hotel). CONTACT INFORMATION: Barangay Bancasan, San Remigio, Cebu;
Telfax no. (Cebu office) (63-32) 344-8181/82 / (Resort & Golf club) (6332) 435-2222;
Cebu Country Club Inc.
Situated just a few minutes from the heart of the city, it is the oldest existing golf course in Cebu. The course is spread over an area of 52 hectares of what used to be sugarland in the pre-war days. CONTACT INFORMATION; P.O. Box 698 Banilad, Cebu City;
Tel. no. (6332) 231-0345; Fax no. (63-32) 2314096
Club Filipino Inc. de Cebu.
It is an 18 hole golf course covering 59 hectares. CONTACT INFORMATION: Pulangyuta, Sabang, Danao City;
Tel. no. (6332) 2311676/2311666;
Fax no. (6332) 231-1667; Danao office tel. no. (6332) 200-4321
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