It's a Date

CEBU, Philippines - Mom may appreciate the flowers or that date to the restaurant but there is more to a great Mother’s Day getaway than simply resorting to the traditional retreats that we often read about in magazines or hear about from the many TV shows we watch. Our mothers are among the most important people in our lives so it pays to go the extra mile in making them feel extra special on this one day that’s geared towards celebrating all the extraordinary things that they have done in our lives.

With Mother’s Day celebrated on the last month of summer, here are some fab summer ideas if you are still quite undecided about where to celebrate Mother’s Day with mom.

1. Moalboal

Soak up the sun with mom in one of Cebu’s best beaches. You needn’t go too far for this weekend getaway and there are a lot of lovely resorts in this coastal town. An overnight trip will do and will be enough to catch up on all those times you haven’t been able to spend with mom.

What to bring: sunblock, hot swimwear, flip flops, enough cash to get around

What to do: Skip the lechon manok and go to the wet market to buy fresh seafood with mom which you can grill along the shore. Take the plunge in Moalboal’s cool waters early in the morning and walk along the shoreline picking up shells come late afternoon. At night, spread a mat along the shoreline and gaze into the vast canopy of stars. The serenity of the place and the fact that it is far enough from the buzz of the city will give you time to reconnect with mom.

2. Negros Oriental

If you only have the weekend to make the most out of and you want to leave Cebu for a while, the next island is the most viable option. Negros Oriental has everything minus the traffic and busyness of all the cosmopolitan lifestyle that we have to cope with here in Cebu. Zero in on the goodness of nature at Valencia, Negros Oriental’s Summer Capital.

What to bring: swimsuits, flipflops, hiking gear, just enough cash

What to do: Settle in at Forest Camp and take a plunge at the icy cold water at the natural pool or at the brook. This will be a welcome break from the unbearable summer heat in Cebu City. Come afternoon, strap on some comfy hiking gear and make your way up the 3km trail to the Japanese Shrine to catch a breathtaking view of Dumaguete City and the Negros Oriental sunset. Set up camp and snuggle in as it starts to get chilly. 

3. Mactan

Okay, so you’re not exactly fond of completely leaving the city buzz. Mactan might just be the place to celebrate Mother’s Day. 

What to bring: lots of moolah

What to do: find a nice swanky spa and spend the entire day there with mom. Let her enjoy a total rubdown after everything that she has gone through just to give you the best that life has to offer. Skip ordinary spa services like the Swedish massage and go for other kinds of rubdowns to soothe the tired soul. Find a spa with a great ambience and with a wide selection of services for you and mom to choose from.

Be creative and mix and match various concepts to celebrate Mother’s Day beyond the flowers and the cards. Making mom feel loved should a cinch with all the options that there are to choose from.