Badian/Alegria

Having good expectations on both Badian and Alegria, we took the opportunity to drive down south (nearly a 3-hour drive), which turned out to be a blossoming cornerstone on the island of Cebu.

In this part of town that plays a huge role as part of our very own tourist industry, we began with a buffet lunch at the Capacio’s house, our gateway to the scenic town of Badian, where Hyacinth Capacio-Saavedra and husband, Jovie, met us.

Things to do in town (Barangay Lambug) are discovering beautiful private and public beaches and if you’re lucky, you may even get the chance to do some whale and dolphin watching! This is also the same area where the recent air soft tournament was held some weeks ago.

Further down the road, you will find Kawasan Falls, Badian’s main highlight. I have noticed one problem though: There are so many people who pester visitors, which ruin the tranquility of the place. But although the place is already too commercialized, Kawasan Falls is still worth a visit. Best to climb up to the very top of the waterfall if you’re capable of walking uphill, just make sure to wear hiking shoes.

There are many places to stay at Badian and neighboring Alegria. One popular place to most locals is called La Playa, run by Sony Capacio (for reservations: 032 3197932). At this resort, you will have the beach directly in front of you plus, it is perfectly situated as its location is along Badian’s main road and also convenient if you choose to spend all day at Kawasan Falls or sing karaoke all night long! The staff is very friendly; they just never seem to stop smiling and are always genuinely checking to see if you are in need of any assistance.

Making every effort to ensure that the standard of service is what you expect, the Sun Xi Resort is where we personally met the very welcoming, Lani, owner of this exclusively amazing mountain-view resort. With expansive rooms located on a hilltop in Alegria, this place truly feels like home. As the resort is still currently expanding (a pool, clubhouse and restaurant are due to open very soon), an existing restaurant and shop are available at present. www.sunxi-resort.com

Another place to stay in is the Costa de Leticia Beach Resort and Spa in Alegria run by Maria Leticia “Letty” Donayre. Greeted by Emma, the friendly receptionist, we were presented with fantastic rooms offering both sea and mountain-view with extremely reasonable prices. For convenience, the resort restaurant is open from 7AM to 11PM overlooking the infinity pool with a gorgeous view of the sea. Location is visible, located close to Alegria’s church. Parking inside the resort for security reasons is a plus! This place is highly recommended! www.costadeleticia.com

The Lepanto viewing area, Alegria’s well-kept secret, is also a must-see. This is a place where you can hear birds chirping. The road is well paved, making it accessible all the way to the top (a drive from the main road should be around 30 minutes max) to enjoy a nice picnic and mountain-view with fresh air and extreme privacy.

One tip for your visit to Badian or Alegria is to personally have a local tour guide from the area, as most of these “secret” spots are difficult to find without their help. So take a friend with you, the south of Cebu is well worth a visit for a short weekend trip!

You may choose to book these resorts (mentioned above) directly with the business or through Hyacinth Capacio-Saavedra, General Manager of Greenline Travel Services located at 101 Yusin Development Corporation Building F. Ramos Street Cebu City. Contact details are (032) 254-8518, (032) 2530258 or (032) 412-5891 for more details.