Cebu – soloflighted.com

Food Trip in Cebu and Zamboanga

Jana and I spent a few days in the Philippines a couple of weeks ago to be with family and to accomplish some tasks. After having been in Dubai for 4 years, there was a lot of catching up in terms of responsibilities and planning for the future. What was once a travel for travel (or travel … Read more

Cebu Trip: Snorkelling at Tuble Marine Sanctuary in Moalboal

My friend, Edwin, was negotiating with boatmen in Moalboal, Cebu, while Doi, Gael, and I, set up a table for lunch. Arriving from the night before, we stayed in Basdaku/White Beach in order to spend a day of snorkelling in the Tuble Marine Sanctuary. Tuble Marine Sanctuary Moalboal, Cebu September 05, 2011 Swimming in Moalboal … Read more

Sunrise in Malapascua Island Cebu

It’s been a year since I first visited the island of Malapascua in Cebu. Up to now, I haven’t written a good blog entry about it sans for the time when I was able to jump off a 50-foot cliff – read article here.

I don’t think I’ll be able to write a better account any time soon so let me just share one of the good things that happened when I spent a day on this island. On a December, I witnessed a beautiful sunrise.

getting ready to steer the boat

Woke up at dawn as I worked on some freelance tasks to beat a deadline my employer imposed. After finishing the job, I stepped out and decided to take a dip. However, I ran back to our room and grabbed my camera when I saw a stream of light surfacing behind mountains from afar.

peek-a-boo.

After Kawasan Falls, we went back to the main road in order to hail a bus. We were to find a place to eat in the town proper as it was already lunch time. We would be heading to another tourist place in Badian for an afternoon hangout session in Basdako (White Beach), Moalboal.

Basdako Beach (White beach) in Moalboal
Badian, Cebu
November 13, 2011

Basdako Beach, Moalboal in Cebu
Basdako means “Big Sand”

Travel Bloggers in Cebu White Beach Moalboal
alin ang naiiba? hehe.

From the Sunday morning market in Mantalongon, Dalaguete, we were able to hire two motorbikes (habal-habal) to Kawasan Falls in Badian. It’s faster than having to ride back to the Dalaguete intersection and wait for a bus. We tried to haggle, but we still paid around 150 Php per person for the motorbike ride.

Mantalongon to Kawasan Falls
Badian, Cebu
November 13, 2011

Kawasan Falls in Cebu

It was an off-road motor adventure and it was dangerous considering that some areas are not yet paved. But the view, I tell you, is just refreshing! Even if it drizzled for awhile, the beautiful landscape made me forget about getting wet from the rain.

road

habal-habal to Kawasan Falls!

Waking up in the morning at the barangay hall in Mantalongon, Cebu, we hurriedly took our turns in the bathroom to fix ourselves. Even if I was a little tired from the trek to Osmena Peak, I still had a good night’s sleep especially when I didn’t have to pay much (50 Php) for a sleeping bunk. hehe.

Mantalongon Sunday Morning Market
Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu
November 13, 2011

gymnasium cum market

a short walk from the barangay hall

It was already cold to be standing on top of the Osmena Peak in Cebu. Waiting for the sun to set became a little uncomfortable because the temperature became cooler. Good thing I brought a jacket. It was also great that we still had some leftover bread so we could fill our stomachs with food … Read more

Cebu Osmeña Peak: Two-Hour Trek to the Peak

We arrived at the Mantalongon Market and asked the townsfolk for directions to Osmena Peak in Cebu. The locals advised to go straight and just turn left on the first intersection. Afterwards, they said we only needed to follow the path to get to the destination. We didn’t have a difficult time understanding the instructions … Read more

Cebu Osmeña Peak: Stopover at Boljoon

Friday night, I was going over my duties in the office when I received a message from one of my travel buddies about going to Osmeña Peak the morning after. Prior to the climb, we were to drop by the municipality of Boljoon in South Cebu.

Cebu Osmeña Peak: Stopover at Boljoon
November 11, 2011

If you see this view when you travel South of Cebu, you know you’re in Boljoon.

I hurriedly finished my work and delegated tasks to my peers. I also made sure that all my client sessions were in place before I left. I clocked out early so I could meet up with my friends outside. We were going to see the whale sharks (butanding in Tagalog or tuki in Bisaya) in Oslob, Cebu!

Whale Shark Sighting in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines
December 23, 2011

Butanding or Tuki Encounter
photo by Doi

I’m really lucky that my day job has a little flexibility when it comes to special requests whenever the need arises. So long as I don’t compromise the deliverables, then all is well.

We arrived at the South Bus Terminal station around 3:30am and the bus left after 15 minutes. It was only a 3-hour ride – a quick nap that wasn’t even enough since I didn’t have any rest.

Entrance to the resort in Cebu’s Tanawan, Oslob, for whale shark watching

A few more steps and I was already at the Osmeña Peak in Cebu. Actually, it was a few hundred more but it didn’t seem much as I was in a hurry to get to the top. I left my friend, Doi who was resting her swollen leg down below. I would’ve stayed with her but she advised me to catch up with our other companions before it turned dark.

I needed to deliver the tripod plate that was attached to the base of my camera. The tripod body was already with Dom but it was useless without the integral part of the device that was with me.

Osmeña Peak,
Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu
November 12, 2011

Edwin already at the top

green

We’ve been trekking for over two hours and although we paused at times, I felt my legs weakening at every step. I wondered why my strength was failing on me. I realized I haven’t been doing my rounds of exercise at home so my body was caught off guard due to the sudden physical activity. However, it didn’t stop me from continuing the trek.

view from Osmena Peak

I had a quick vacation in Sayaw Beach Barili, Cebu, when I went out with a former colleague’s team for an activity to bond out of town. I didn’t have plans of joining as I was bent on spending my weekends at home in order to work. But I soon gave in when it turned out that the number of heads that the original trip had didn’t turn out quite as expected.

Cebu Trip: Mangroves in Sayaw Beach, Barili
October 1, 2011

Sayaw Beach, Barili

Team Building in Barili, Cebu

To be honest, the place didn’t fancy me the first time because I was expecting a nice beach available so I could directly head out for a swim. However, here’s the scene that greeted me when I went to the shore.

boat and trees

It was an overnight stay in a resthouse and I was surprised to see mangrove trees that gave out a different view as time passed.

water knee-deep

I don’t often go out when I’m at home. I use the time to catch up on backlogs and online tasks as well as get some rest and relaxation in the process. At times, Pinoy Travel Bloggers would drop by and I’d get to hang out with them only for meet-ups. Then there are moments … Read more

A Lesson on Responsible Tourism

A lot of people in this blog can see how ‘crazy’ I can get for the sake of having a unique photo taken. I slipped and hit my head on a rock in Bomod-ok falls in Sagada, I stood on top of the lighthouse in Capones Island in Zambales, I jumped off a cliff in … Read more

Food Trip in Cebu and Zamboanga

Cebu Trip: Snorkelling at Tuble Marine Sanctuary in Moalboal

Sunrise in Malapascua Island Cebu

Cebu: Afternoon in Basdako White Beach, Moalboal

Cebu: Revisiting Kawasan Falls

Cebu: Mantolongon Sunday Morning Market

Osmeña Peak Cebu: Descending in the Dark Night

Cebu Osmeña Peak: Two-Hour Trek to the Peak

Cebu Osmeña Peak: Stopover at Boljoon

Cebu Trip: Whale Shark ‘Butanding’ Encounter in Oslob

Cebu Trip: Reaching Osmeña Peak

Cebu Trip: Mangrove Trees in Sayaw Beach, Barili

Team Building in Barili, Cebu

Travelling with Wandering Feet in Cebu

A Lesson on Responsible Tourism