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Just an hour from Cebu would allow people to witness the spectacular the Imperial Palace at Mactan. It is filled with different pools and long slides. The entrance fee which is 1500 allows tourist and locals to have a buffet and enjoy the beach and pools.

The Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa, located in Lapu-Lapu City, is confident it will perform well this year despite the declining number of Korean tourists in Cebu.

The P3-billion project, developed by Philippine BXT Corp., will be operated by Korean hotel chain Imperial Palace. The hotel and resort is registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as a tourism economic zone.

Amando Huh, general manager-designate of Imperial Palace, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that the waterpark will allow the resort to attract not only the leisure travel market, but also local and foreign water sport enthusiasts.

mperial Palace sits on an eight-hectare property in Barangay Maribago. It will have 557 rooms, including 48 pool villas.

Its fitness and wellness facilities include the Caracalla Spa that has nine spa suite rooms, 11 treatment rooms, separate sauna for men and women, steam room and a plunge pool. Meeting facilities and function rooms will also be available.

Visit Cebu and enjoy Imperial Palace and enjoy the beauty of nature.

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Imagine sitting bellow a spring with waters flowing from your back. The euphoria is simply addictive and it is one of the greatest things to do, especially on holidays. At Bohol, same as Cebu has Springs that allow tourist and locals to enjoy the waters and relax while cold water run through their body. Badiang Spring which is situated in Bohol has a resort with pools for friends and family to unwind.

he Badiang Spring is located along the coast of Valencia town, at barrio Anas, in the province of Bohol. This is one province of the Philippine archipelago that has developed into a tourist destination.

Valencia town is 42 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, the lone city of the province and its capital. It lies east along the coastal highway. The town is a 4th class municipality with a population of over 7,000 spread into 35 barangays.The Badiang Spring Resort is relatively small and fenced in. At the top level and thru openings in between trees and dense foliage, one sees the blue sea beyond. Wide cement steps provided with metal handrails lead down a cliff towards two (2) swimming pools: one big and the other designed for children.As you go down the steps, the waterfall is at your left-hand side. The water gush forth from two pipes and the side of the falls, instead of a rugged cliff, has been landscaped. It is now easier to rest on the wall and allow the cool rushing water to engulf oneself.

Badiang Spring is an underground freshwater spring that gushes forth over a cliff only a few meters high forming an attractive waterfall. The water is icy cold and flows directly to the sea which is only a few steps away.

The area where the spring is located is scenic. The top of the cliff is full of trees and from there you look towards the mesmerizing blue expanse of the sea. Under and on the sides are rugged cliffs with intermittent tall coconut palm trees, old talisay trees, and other tropical foliage.

The area is a favorite haunt of the locals, who either bathe under the falls or go swimming in the crystal clear water of the sea beyond. It is also a source of drinking water of the surrounding neighborhood. Likewise, the water that flows to the sea is where the locals wash their soiled clothes.

The beach is not of fine sand. It is a beach of round and smooth stones – a joy for pebble collectors. The crystal clear blue sea beyond is ok for swimming and for snorkeling. The water is icy cool near the spring’s outlet and warmer further off.

Nowadays, the area where the spring is located looks different: more attractive and convenient to bathers. Gone were the days when I bathe in the spring under its natural surroundings . . . and for free
Before, only a small pathway leads down a rugged cliff towards the spring’s natural outlet. Coming out from the top side of a cliff, the rushing water flows naturally over it, forming a waterfall. The water then winds its way thru a stony ground towards the sea.

Now, due to the ever increasing influx of tourists, local and foreign alike, the LGU (Local Government Unit) and the eco-tourism council of the town where it is located developed the area into a tourist haven.

With an entrance of P20 per adult and rental fee of cottages, huts and shelters, the municipality earns and is able to give jobs to some of their constituents. With the resort as an initial project, the government is aiming to develop more income-generating ventures and turn the sleepy town into a tourist destination.

If you decide to visit Cebu or Visayas, you might as well drop by Bohol. It has a large number of tourist attractions, delicacies and 5 star hotel and resorts. And don’t forget about the Chocolate hills and the man made forest. If you’re at Chocolate Hills you might as well drop by and see the famous Tarsier.

5 inches and is considered as the world’s smallest primate. Its size is no longer than an adult man’s hand and weigh only about 113 to 142 grams or four to five ounces. The primate belongs to the more primitive sub-order Prosimii or prosimian that dates back 45 million years.

With its tail longer than its body, it has large brown eyes, hairless ears and long finger-like claws. It has gray fur and a nearly naked tail that is more often than not about 232 mm in length. The tails arc over their back when they hop on the ground apparently to balance themselves. The underside of the tail has dermal ridges such as those found on human hands and feet.

Tarsiers have large mesmerizing eyes whose bony eye sockets are larger than that of its brain case as well as of its stomach. The eye sockets have post-orbital closure which keeps the eyeballs from being pressed against by the powerful temporal muscles to their sides.

Much like the owl, the tarsier can rotate its head 180 degrees in each direction. It has a joint between its skull base and spine to allow this particular head movement. Its upper lip lacks a cleft yet, but still has muscles, so that it can make facial expressions. The adult brain weighs about 4 grams. Tarsiers have sharp teeth, enabling them to catch their prey easier. Unique among primates, tarsiers have only two, rather than four, incisors in their lower jaw.

Fishes are very famous in the Philippines because were all surrounded by big bodies of water. Our fishermen’s are also very diligent in terms of catching fishes. Fishes are good for the body and helps improve health. There are some fishes that are poisonous. Overall, most fishes are good for the immune system. Buwad is locally famous in Cebu. If your a Cebuano, you would really appreciate the goodness of buwad. Buwad is a local term for dried fish. Buwad are also exported since numerous Filipinos overseas crave for Buwad. There are several kinds of buwad and it ranges from small to biggest.

This one is from a certified buwad lover.

“No Filipino can ever mistake the smell of the buwad for something else. The mere whiff of the buwad can make any appetite soar or any hungry stomach growl.

Here in the Philippines, salted and dried fish is commonly known as buwad. The meaning of the Cebuano word “buwad” means “to dry in the sun”.

The Filipinos live in an archipelago with one of the world’s longest coastlines. As a result, fishing is both the basic livelihood for Filipinos from the ancient times and a major driver of today’s Philippine economy. Given the sea-based industry, it’s no wonder that the myriads of different fish species in the Philippines end up “binuwad”, aside from the commercial catch.

How do fisherman prepare this emasculated, salty fish? The fish is split open and then de-gutted. They are sprinkled with a generous amount of salt, which is necessary to prevent deadly bacteria from forming on the surface of the fish. They are then left to dry in the sun. To make the process of drying much faster, these fish are placed on top of screens. When they are dry enough, the fish are then stored. Dried fish has a long storage life. Drying of food is one of the oldest preservation methods. It is also considered to be a cheap method, and can be done by the fishermen themselves and their family, in which case the finished product is easily transported to the market. When you take home buwad from the market, buwad is usually prepared by quickly frying it in oil.

The Carbon Market and Tabuan in downtown Cebu holds an enormous dried fish market. Even if the downtown area looks a bit rundown, millions of pesos and enterprises have had its roots here. For buwad, it is big business.

There are many varieties of dried fish. Buwad can be divided into salted and unsalted. Usually, most that are consumed by households is the salted variety. Bear in mind that buwad can be high in salt. Like what usually is said about unhealthy food – they taste really good. The smell of buwad is very strong. For others that are not very familiar with it, they may find it to be a repulsive smell. Some consider the smell to be an “acquired smell”. For most Filipinos, the smell just means good food! Once tasted, buwad is definitely something you will fall in love with.

For many, buwad is best enjoyed when dipped in native vinegar with crushed chili. Mix it with steaming hot rice (usually a staple for Filipinos), and what a gastronomic delight! The head, the spine and tail of the dried fish can all be consumed.

Usually for tourists and as souvenirs and pasalubongs (gifts) for friends and family, other varieties of sun-dried goodies are available: dilis (very small dried fish), tabaga, boneless tusino, and pusit (dried squid).”

When you travel, you would always want to have the best time at a good price. One of the things I’m totally addicted is going to the beach on my free time. Just up North in Cebu is an island filled with so much pleasure and white beaches. You might even find the best diving spots at Malapascua. Malapascua is found in Cebu. In order to get there, you need to ride a pump boat from Daan Bantayan. It has long stretches of white sands and great diving spot. You might even catch sharks lurking around the corner if you go diving.

Malapascua Island is situated in the Visayan Sea, located across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. Administratively, it is part of the insular barangay of Logon, Daanbantayan Municipality, Cebu Province, the Philippines. Malapascua is a tiny island, only about 2.5 kilometers long and 1 km wide, and has eight hamlets..

As a diving destination, Malapascua was “discovered” fairly recently, only in the early 90s. The island was first known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach; it has also become known for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots nearby, including Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can be sighted on a regular basis.

Most of the islanders derive their livelihood from tourism, while some still rely on subsistence fishing and farming.

The name Malapascua means ‘Bad Christmas’ in Cebuano. Legend has it that it was so named because the Spanish first landed here one stormy Christmas Day in the 1500’s. There is some debate about the name however because although ‘mal’ definitely means ‘bad’, ‘pasco’ means Christmas in the local language of Cebuano but “pascua” in Spanish means Easter. So perhaps it was a stormy Easter after all.

Today, Malapascua is a beautiful, sleepy island, as yet unspoiled by tourism with white sandy beaches, lush green palm trees and surrounded by clear blue waters.

There is never a moment wherein you doubt God about miracles in everyday lives. It may be impossible to other people, but to those with great faith will always remain possible. Everyday, people flock down to visit Simala, a church in Argao which has done wonders to everyone. Simala is a place for worship, prayers, offerings and love masses. Every 13th and on weekends, the church is jam-packed with so many people that so many times, the line goes beyond the church. The line is made for people who would like to viist the Virgin Mary.

In south Cebu, thousands of Cebuanos and other visitors from far and wide, climb up a hill to the Mother Mary Shrine in Simala, Sibonga town, bringing their faith and petitions for cures and other divine aid.

Each year, the crowd of devotees and first-time pilgrims seems to grow bigger.

January 1 is marked in the Christian calendar worldwide as a solemnity in honor of Mary as the mother of God, a day of obligation for Catholics to attend Mass.

At the Mother Mary Shrine in upper Lindogon in Barangay (village) Simala, Sibonga town, 48 kilometers south of Cebu City, devotees come by truckloads to be there every 13th of the month to hear Mass at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. or during the weekends at 3 p.m.

The shrine became “famous” after word spread that the image of the Virgin Mary was seen “shedding tears of blood,” a phenomenon that lacks scientific or official church validation but nevertheless draws more people to the area.

The shrine became “famous” after word spread that the image of the Virgin Mary was
seen “shedding tears of blood,” a phenomenon that lacks scientific or official church validation but nevertheless draws more people to the area. The Marian monks who maintain the shrine have also landscaped the area, which has a mini falls that cascades down a small pool and well-tended gardens. Signboards warn people that picking the flowers would be like “stealing from Mother Mary”. Families can have picnics and meals in cottages built for visitors. Children like to throw coins in a wishing well which features a large bell. Those who grumble about the distance are quickly shamed by the sight of elderly men and women on wheelchairs and crutches who go there to hear Mass and line up to kiss the image of Mary.

Miracles can happen and it is up to your faith on where you believe in.

Just like the terraces, Asia Town I.T parks hold one of the best restaurants, bistro’s and the coolest jobs. Asia Town I.T Park is located at Lahug Cebu City. It is filled with delicious restaurants, fast foods, banks, spa’s, bookstores and clubs.

Embracing more than 24 hectares of prime industrial land at the center of Cebu City, Asiatown IT Park captures the vitality of its home-island. Conceived as an integrated special economic zone and modern trading center, Asiatown IT Park now vibrantly brings together top-class talent and technology in a community that was master-planned as a convergence of Asian architectural warmth and efficient Western functionality.

Sunstar made some interesting background on the establishment.

// // WANTING to tap the potential of Cebu as an emerging outsourcing destination for global firms, a Cebu-based family has converted its five-hectare property along Don Sergio Osmeña Blvd. in the North Reclamation Area (NRA), Cebu City into an information technology (IT) park.

The Go family started putting up the Qimonda IT Center in March 2008. It is expected to be complete by the end of this year, along with site development features like a taxi and bus terminal and a small park.

“We wanted to diversify and venture into real estate. We, being locals in Cebu and having an available property, decided to take advantage of the booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry here,” said cousins Jonas and Albert Go, whose families are engaged in food manufacturing and agribusiness.

The six-storey center provides a total leasable space of about 22,800 square meters. It covers about half a hectare of the entire property, which used to be an idle lot that has been with the Go family for about a decade already.

The ground floor will be designed for al fresco dining, recruitment centers and logistics offices, while the second up to the sixth floors will be built for call centers and BPO facilities.

Visit Cebu and enjoy the wonders of dining and have the time of of your life as you wine, dine with your families.

Cebu has the best schools in the country. It provides good education and improved facilities for students to enjoy. One of which is the University of  San Carlos which is one of the oldest schools in Cebu. It has 4 campuses for high school and college. It offers different courses and has the advance technology for school usage.

One of the top universities outside Manila, the University of San Carlos enjoys an environment free from the hustle and bustle that often distracts students in the capital. But the difference stops there.

As the business and tourist hub of Southern Philippines, Metro Cebu provides Carolinians (as USC students are called) with a cosmopolitan setting where malls are just a few minutes away from the beaches, heritage towns, or mountain resorts.

With its four campuses housing all levels of educational programs that include eight colleges and 27 departments, USC is truly a “universe-city” in its own right. International linkages now External Affairs and a steady influx of foreign students and visiting professors have made USC a multicultural academic community bonded by the common pursuit for global standards.

e University of San Carlos is an educational institution in Cebu City. It is the oldest school in the Philippines, established by Spanish Jesuits in 1595, and it is a Roman Catholic school of higher learning governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.

It consists of four campuses in different areas of metropolitan Cebu – the main university along P. del Rosario St., the Talamban campus (TC – Technological Center), the north campus (formerly the Boys High) along Gen. Maxilom Ave., and the south campus (formerly the Girls High) along corners J. Alcantara St., P. Del Rosario Ext. and V. Rama Avenue.

Right at the Center of Cebu, was an old cross that stands between religion and people. Right outside the Basilica of Sto. NIno is the Magellan’s cross. It was planted by Magellan upon his arrival on the island. Although the original cross is inside the huge cross which now stands at the Basilica. This was done to preserve the original one. The cross is a symbol of Cebu, and a symbol of our faith and religion. Mostly today, tourist come and visit the site to take pictures of the cross and ask the candle sellers to sing them a song of prayer.

Magellan’s Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.

This cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan), just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. A sign below the cross describes the original cross is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers.Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan’s death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.

Magellan’s Cross is a symbol of Cebu, and the chapel’s image can be found in its city seal. It is also seen as the symbol of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

Camotes island holds on of the best attraction in Cebu. I realized that there is so much to see at Camotes. With its long stretches of white sands and clear water, i am bound to truly love the place.

Lying 33 nautical miles northeast of Cebu City in central Philippines is a small piece of paradise — the archipelago of Camotes.

Four islands comprise the Camotes group: Pacijan (San Francisco town), Poro (Poro and Tudela towns), Ponson (Pilar town) and Tulang (an island barangay of San Francisco).

In prehistoric Philippines, the coastal settlements in these islands were at the crossroads of civilization: vibrant trading communities and important ports of call for artists and artisans. Southeast Asians and Chinese merchants have come to do business with local traders, mostly fishermen and farmers, as evidenced by a whole pre-Hispanic village excavated in Poro town in the 70s.

In 1521, a few days after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines for Spain, history dawned over Camotes islands. After the historic Mass in Mazaua (Limasawa) Leyte, the expedition’s official chronicler Pigafetta wrote on his journal that the flotilla of five ships dropped anchor on the coast of Polo (Poro), near Pozon (Ponson) and Ticobon (Pacijan) islands, to wait for Kolambu, the chieftain of Mazaua. The group then proceeded to Zubu (Cebu) where Magellan erected a wooden Cross to symbolize Spain’s Christianization in the Far East.

Apart from history, you will really enjoy the beautiful and captivating Camotes Island.