Sugbu Weekender Trip

Ours was a post Sinulog Trip to Cebu to avoid the chaos of the festival but still able to catch up the festive mood of the city and get to enjoy the cool January weather, just bonding together with my wife.

Our objectives were:

1. To try the waterpark at a posh hotel (choices: day-tour at Shangri-La Mactan or Imperial Palace)
2. Lots of walking
3. Go to Mactan Shrine
4. Go to museums
5. Go to Taoist Temple
6. Try the sky adventure at Crowne Regency Hotel
7. Eat the famous Baby Back Ribs at Casa Verde (contact them for reservations if you are with a large group)

 

On the first day, we checked in to this very affordable pension house in Fuente Circle. We spent PhP 900 pesos per night. We arrived at 8AM, had lunch with a friend and we had our early shopping (read: window shopping) at Ayala Mall.

On the second day, we took a taxi ride (PhP 200 from Fuente Circle) to Mactan Shrine after a hearty breakfast. We took notes of historical markers, took pictures and my wife bought capiz jewelries at the Pasalubong Center within the shrine. There is also a Su-tu-kil Restaurant close to the Shrine which is very affordable and you can customize your menu. Very good ambience. 

Magellan's Boss in green shirt.

 

The Battle of Mactan Marker. 27 April 1521.

 

Lapu Lapu Marker.

 

Magellan's Death Marker.

On the same day, we proceeded to Imperial Palace in Mactan, a few minutes ride from Mactan Shrine. It is a 5-star resort with really enjoyable waterpark (for both adults and children alike). The Day Tour cost us PhP2,400 per person (much cheaper during weekdays) with access to waterpark, beach cottages, free towel (shower and shampoo!), and a sumptuous lunch with international cuisine - totally a posh deal! The waterpark has long and winding sliding tubes and I find them really fantastic. We also love the Madagascar River where we just lie down on the floaters and we will be taken by the current around the little island - it feels so relaxing. And the Lunch – well, the lunch was too much. It was very hard to decide which cuisine to focus. We tried Japanese, Mediterranean, Korean, Baryo Piyesta and a little Chinese, some pasta and salad too. And the sweets were to die for and  I suddenly hate Imperial Palace. We went back to our hotel at 6PM although you can still opt to stay until 9PM (but you have to pay for dinner if you will avail the dinner buffet). We surely had a great time. You try going to Imperial Palace, highly recommended. If you are also a fan of waiting for discount vouchers at Cash Cash Pinoy or Deal Grocer - they also offer up to 70% discounted rate of Imperial Palace and Shangri-La Mactan day tour.

 

 

You will notice all day-tour guests have bands like this - that made us different from the hotel guests. Of course you can stay at Imperial Palace as hotel guest and avail all their amenities for free including buffet. 

This is the sliding tubes I was talking about where your heart will literally stop of a few seconds! Photo is borrowed from Fashion Pulis Thank you!!! --->

Access to the beach cottages. It feels so relaxing to just read your favorite book, smell the sea-breeze and lie down like a Mafia Boss. *wink*

 The Madagascar River.

 

 

 Kiddie Pool. We are looking forward to be there again soon and our daughter will surely enjoy this.

 

 

Pirates of the Carribean. =)

 

 Splash all over!

 

 

 

 The wave pool. Very nice for small children.

 

 

 Sorry we were not able to take pictures of what looks like a huge gymnasium (or maybe Araneta?) which housed all the international cuisine you can name of. They have it all - overflowing and able to feed the entire city of Cebu. You can sit for lunch starting at 12 noon until 3PM and if you own a huge bodega inside your tummy, then justice will be served! No kidding.

 

 

 

 From ice cream to halo-halo to different kind of pasta, pizza to kebab, randang to Mediterranean to fish and chips to huge burgers to kimchi, to Chinese noodles to lechon, I tell you they pretty got it all covered.  

 

 

Well, at some point you get thirsty or hungry from swimming and floating and kicking. So Imperial Palace also thinks you need a "sunken bar". Served ice cold or warm. But this one does not come for free. You get your chit after 3 seconds.

 

This is the wave pool and Madagascar river we couldn't get enough of. But till we meet again, oh my Palace! =)

 

 

 

On the 3^rd day we went to Taoist Temple. It looked nicer than the last time I went there. But of course we can attribute that to the coming Chinese New Year. There were lots of Koreans too. There are not much improvements done in the temple, but it surely was well maintained. The Taoist Temple is sitting in the priced Beverly Hills of Cebu, haven of the financially well-off people. We took a taxi to Beverly Hills – it is actually just very near Fuente Circle but you need to have a taxi waiting, or else you may need to walk down your way back to the city. So if you love walking, you may just take a metered taxi. It would cost you 50 pesos from Fuente Circle. We took our late lunch in SM Mall and a massage at Banyan Tree in Fuente. Another option for evening itinerary is to try the Sky Adventure at Crowne Plaza or have an evening date at Top Hills in Lahug. But we opted for a nice massage and a good sleep.

 

Magellan's Cross - signage

The 4^th day was our history date. We went to Basilica Church, Magellan’s Cross and to Sto Nino Museum. Then we proceeded to Fort San Pedro, to Museo Sugbo  and ended the history trip at Casa Verde for that historical baby back ribs on a 3pm lunch. Then we bought some pasalubong in Ayala and prepared for the early trip for the next day.
 

Magellan's Cross - from the inside

Sto. Niño Museum. It housed the earliest Cebuano-Spanish dictionaries. Cost you PhP 30 entrance fee.

Fort San Pedro (Fuerza de San Pedro) from the outside

Archaeological excavation signage of Fort San Pedro

For San Pedro from the inside

Karsel sa Sugbu is converted into Museo Sugbo which housed really interesting artifacts but we are unable to photograph

Inside Karsel sa Sugbu (the current Cebu Museum) housed many discoveries about before and during Spanish Colonization, Japanese and American era of the Philippine History.

 

Baby Back Ribs from Casa Verde. PhP150. (Sorry, I got hungry).