Cebu: The Philippines' Queen City of the South

Most people when they think about the Philippines (if they ever think about it at all) think in terms of the metropolitan behemoth that is Manila with its affluent denizens living side by side with the slum dwellers. Or they think about gorgeous tropical paradise that is Boracay with its deliciously white sand and crystal clear waters. This is sad because, while both Manila and Boracay are amazing destinations, the Philippines has more to offer than these two extreme ends of the spectrum. Somewhere in the south of the country is a happy middle – named Cebu City. For the unfamiliar, Cebu City, the capital of the Cebu Province, is a city of moderate size of 1.3 million people in the south of the Philippines. A major port city, Cebu is the oldest city in the country, having been “discovered” by Ferdinand Magellan on 1521. Several days later, Magellan was slain in the neighboring island of Mactan by the island’s chieftain Lapu-lapu.

While in Cebu, visit the city’s most famous landmark, the Magellan’s Cross. Like the rest of the country, the population mostly makes up Catholics. One of the country’s most famous festivals, the Sinulog Festival, held every third Sunday of January, is an elaborate parade in honor of Santo Niño, the baby Jesus Christ. It has its own international airport which is great news if you don’t want to pass through Manila. Speaking of which, Cebu City is nothing like Manila. Unlike Manila with its pollution, its railway transits and career-spanning traffic, Cebu is pleasantly accessible. The bright and colorful jeepneys (a local mode of transportation in the Philippines) are number-coded, which means all you have to memorize is the code to get from point A to point B. Example, you want to get from Ayala Center to SM Cebu, you ride the jeepneys marked 14D or 22B. It's that easy. Best part yet, every ride cost about 11 cents.