What to eat and where to go for a true Cebu experience
MANILA, Philippines — Located in Central Visayas region and surrounded by more than a hundred isles, Cebu is a trove of gastronomical delights and exhilarating adventure that altogether make for a true Queen City of the South experience.
Headed to the Cebu anytime soon? Here is a sneak peek of what the Visayan locale has to offer.
Delectable delights
A Cebuano meal would not be filling without the presence of puso rice, Lechon de Cebu and sutukil.
Also known as hanging rice, puso is made by filling woven palm leaves with uncooked rice and submerging them in boiling water until cooked. Usually found bound in clusters in local eateries and restaurants, the wrapping imparts an earthly flavor and serves as a portable means of bringing meals on the go.
Lechon de Cebu is a sumptuous delicacy of juicy pork stuffed with green onions, lemongrass, peppercorns, sea salt and garlic, skewered on a bamboo pole and slow roasted over a glowing row of ember.
Unlike roast pigs in other regions, Lechon de Cebu is dipped not in liver nor peppercorn sauce but in spicy vinegar that complements its tangy flavors. Queues are long to get a taste and the wait is all worth it for many.
Sutukil is a portmanteau of Cebuano words sugba, tuwa, and kilaw—grill, broth, or cured—ways one could eat freshly harvested seafood from the coasts. The sheer variety laid upon rows after rows in stalls are astounding and a must-see for both first-timers and the experienced.
Diners can have their feast prepared grilled with a mixture of chopped onions, tomatoes, calamansi (Philippine lime), and soy sauce as dipping sauce; as a sour-spicy soup with vegetables; or cured with citrus, ginger and vinegar.
Activities abloom
A number of tourist activities dot the island and there is something to suit the mild-mannered and the thrill seeker at heart. All roads lead, however, to the midst of Cebu City, in the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu.
The earliest Catholic church in the country was built in 1565, it is home to the religious image of Child Jesus given to Rajah Humabon by Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan’s Cross is also situated in the complex, which marks the exact location of the original crucifix that Magellan planted in Cebu.
The pilgrim center can hold 3,500 churchgoers and is especially filled during weekends and religious occasions.
The Cebu Taoist Temple is also famous in Cebu City. Built-in 1972, the vibrant multi-temple complex serves mainly the Chinese community on the island. Following the ancient teachings of Chinese philosopher Lao Zi, devotees and non-worshippers may visit to light incense, have their fortunes read and observe the rituals held within the temple.
Cebu Taoist Temple is 100 feet above sea level, has 81 winding steps to represent the chapters of the Taoist scripture and has an overlooking balcony with a stunning view of downtown Cebu.
To those who are fond of adventures and are set to keep their pulses rising, canyoneering in Kawasan Falls, swimming with manta rays and sharks in Malapascua Island, and hiking Osmeña Peak might be to their taste.
The three-tiered cascade of Kawasan Falls in Badian, a coastal municipality in Cebu, can be reached by a three- to six-hour trek through towering canyons and stalactite formations. Visitors can also swim through the riverways and jump off a 30-foot cliff that falls into a cerulean pool.
Malapascua Island, located in the northern part of Cebu, is the only place in the country where enthusiasts can dive with thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks, blue ring octopuses and manta rays. The coast is also pristine and its white sand beaches attract tourists who look for a secluded place to visit.
Osmeña Peak sits 1,013 meters above sea level in the town of Dalaguete and the trek to the highest point in Cebu is littered with vegetable and livestock farms. Atop is a panoramic landscape of southeast Cebu, with temperatures dropping up to 16 degrees Celsius.
Inspired to be a true Cebu address
Vista Residences is inspired to build a development in the Queen City of the South that encapsulates the true Cebu experience, Suarez Residences Cebu.
The premier condominium arm of the Philippines’ largest homebuilder, Vista Land, Vista Residences is building its mixed-use, 29-story condominium along Gorordo Avenue, right across Cebu Business Park and is a short walk from Fuente Osmeña Circle and Cebu Provincial Capital.
Highly accessible to students, young professionals and new families striking a balance between work and sanctuary, the L-shaped Suarez Residences Cebu will accommodate a mall-in-miniature on its ground and second floors, including retail and commercial shops and restaurants for residents' and guests’ convenience and enjoyment.
The amenities area will be on the fourth floor, which will contain a swimming pool, a gym equipped with top-of-the-line exercise equipment and an outdoor lounge and viewing deck.
A joint-venture partnership with the Suarez family of Cebu, this condominium will house both hotel and residential sections with the former located on the fifth to 10th floors, and the residential spaces from the 11th to 28th floor.
Separate lobbies with concierge desks will welcome residents and guests home at the ground and third levels. All floors will be laid out with compact studios and spacious one- and two-bedroom flats. Putting a flourish in this home-in-the-sky experience is the breathtaking 360-degree view of storied Cebu, the bustle of the city center and the majestic mountains nearby.
Suarez Residences Cebu carries two decades of expertise in space planning and property development and management Vista Residences continuously delivers to its key customers, along with a flair for finding accessible locations in the most attractive of locales.
For more information on Suarez Residences Cebu, visit www.vistaresidences.com.ph, like and follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, or call (0999) 886 4262 and (0917) 582 5167.
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