5 Things To Do and Places to Visit While in Cebu

Cebu known as the "The Queen City of the South" has a balance of urban and historical thrills Every year, my family and I visit Cebu and all I can say is that this city has never failed to give us a memorable experience. 

Let me share with you the top five things to do or places to visit when you are in Cebu. 

1. Sto. Nino Church, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City

I grew up with the belief that whenever we visit a new place, we must make sure to visit the Church first and pay respect. The Sto. Nino Church also known as Minor Basilica of the Holy Child was founded in 1565.

Visitors and devotees line up to see the image of Sto. Nino, the oldest religious relic in the Philippines.  

The Basilica also celebrates mass and it would be great if you schedule your visit during that time. 

2.  Magellan's Cross, Plaza Sugbo, Cebu City

The Magellan's Cross is just a few steps away from the Sto. Nino Church. It houses a replica of the Christian Cross planted by the Spaniards when they arrived in Cebu in 1521. This has been a historical landmark so, you might want to make sure that you have your pictures taken here. 

3. Birhen sa Simala - Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, Sibonga, Cebu. 

The Monastery in Sibonga, Cebu is approximately a 2-3 hour drive from Cebu City proper and it is believed to be miraculous. A lot of testimonials and tokens of gratitude for prayers answered can be found all over the monastery. Couples having difficulty in conceiving, and persons with disabilities healed are just a few who became living testimonials of God's grace and love for us.

Inside the monastery, you can find a lot of statues of Mama Mary in different forms. Each statue has a short description of when and where the apparition took place. 

4. Edge Coaster, Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Fuente Osmena Blvd., Cebu

Are you looking for an adventure you'll never forget? If yes, then you should not miss the Edge Coaster Experience. The Edge Coaster is taking your adventure to the extreme by going around the edge of the tower on the 38th floor while being locked into a rail seat.

The crazy thing about it is that you have the option to tilt it to 55 degrees and face the streets 130.84 meters above the ground. 

Was it scary? YES
Was it worth it? Of course! 

I was shouting the whole time but it was fun. Though, this is not recommended for the faint-hearted. As a reward, you also get to have a certificate that you survived the adventure. Isn't that cool? 

5. Kartzone, F. Cabahug St., Cebu

Want to drive without traffic and no speed limits? Take time to experience Go-Karting in Cebu.

It is safe since they conduct driver's orientation to make sure that everyone is aware of the rules and regulations while on the track. Definitely, it is a fun way to bond with family and friends. 

Justice for Tyler, The Dog

For all pet-parents, it is a big nightmare to lose our babies. Much more if such loss is caused by the negligence of others. 

One furbaby named Tyler was brought by her mom to a spa in BF Homes, Paranaque for his weekly haircut and grooming. Little did they know that it would be his last one. 

Karen Balce posted the story in facebook last January 9, 2015.

Source: Facebook/ Karen Balce

This is such a heartbreaking story and no amount of condolences and sympathy can be made to ease the pain of losing one's pet. Everyone should realize that our pets are family to most of us and such "accident" is unacceptable. 

Let this sad incident be a warning to all us since I also leave Crumpy at the spa. If time permits, maybe we can just watch them while being groomed. No amount of time is wasted to ensure their safety. 

For Tyler and his family, we are all praying for you and we support you in seeking justice. 

You may read the original post, here. 

Celadon: Contemporary Thai Cuisine

Val and I had fell in love with Thai cuisine even though I am not a fan of spicy dishes. We spent the last few weeks of 2014 searching for the best Thai restaurant in the Metro. 

It was actually Val's birthday when we booked a reservation at Celedon, Powerplant Mall in Rockwell and we had late lunch with my mom and godmother. The place was not crowded but there are several tables occupied. 

We ordered Pad-Thai. It described as "Thai style fried flat noodles with tofu, pork and beansprouts wrapped in eggnet." Our waiter has kind enough to mix it for us. Personally, I find it as a combination of two of my favorite food from Dencia's Restaurant in Davao. It is like chinese fresh lumpia and tokwa't baboy in one. 

We also had Thai Fresh Rolls. I also love how they present the food - complete with dips and flowers. 

 Their prawn cakes known as Tod Man Kung were delightful. 

It was indeed a seafood escapade for us. We also ordered Tempura Soft Shell Crabs. It was served with green tamarind and green chili sauce. My mom loved the green chili sauce. 

The Cinnamon Pork Ribs were so tender with the right amount of sweetness. It is definitely a must-try though my mom was looking for a little bit more of texture. 

Our overall experience was great. The waiters and the manager were very attentive. It was very easy to make a reservation. Definitely, we would recommend this place. Our total bill was approximately, Php 2500 which was inclusive of steamed rice and drinks. 

I would like to thank my friend, Caryn for giving us the gift certificates that we used during the visit. 

For more information about Celadon, please visit their facebook page.

How to Dispose your Used LBC Pouches or Packaging?

I have been receiving packages shipped via different couriers such as LBC, Xend and Fastrack in the past few months.  These are packages coming from my family, friends, PR companies and my online orders. 

It is such a joy to receive packages however, if many, you might be already concerned about what to do with all the plastic. I understand that we should recycle but I am unable to maximize these since they do not have handles. 

Good thing, it was brought to my attention that we can send this packaging/ pouches back to LBC. If you are a keen reader of fine prints, there is a not-so-fine print on packaging that says: 

" For every 5,000 used pouches returned to LBC, we will donate 500 trash bins for public use." 

And that is what we call Corporate Social Responsibility. So, now I am encouraging all of you to return your used pouches to any LBC outlet and let us all help in waste management.