CEBU :: PHILIPPINES
It’s more fun in the Philippines, especially Cebu.
Cebu celebrates the patron saint Santo Niño during the Sinulog Festival every January, which is arguably the biggest festival in all of the Philippines. Every year it attracts around 1-2 million people from all over the country and is famous for its street parties, boat parades and elaborate costumes to celebrate the Filipino representation of baby Jesus or Santo Niño.
Taxis are cheap and everywhere but the traffic continues to get worse in Cebu. If you want to try a more local form of transportation, jump in a jeepney; the most popular means of public transportation ubiquitous in the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and typically cost only 7-10 pesos. Jeepneys were originally made from U.S. military jeeps left over from World War II and are now a form of artistic expression, covered in kitsch décor.
Night life: Hit up OQtagon or Icon Club if you want to get a picture of the Filipino nightlife. I would warn against the bars/clubs along Mango Ave as they are typically frequented by sex workers and a crowd that is looking for cheap sex.
Take a hubble hubble (Cebuano for moto) up to Tops from JY Square. Up here you will catch a great view of the city at sunset, but be prepared to get hustled by the moto drivers. Make sure to stop by Mr. A’s to play some pool and get a drink on the way back down. And if you want something a little nicer, Bellini is closer to the city but is a great little drink spot with beautiful views of the city.
If you aren’t afraid of getting up close and person with some local inmates, make sure to visit the prison dancers. CPDRC is a maximum security prison in Cebu, where prisoners practice and perform dance routines as part of their daily exercise and rehabilitation. Filipinos learn to dance before they can walk so it only makes sense that this tradition would carry into prison life. They perform for guests once a month, seated behind wire fences, and later can greet and take pictures with the prisoners once it’s over.
For other local tourist activities, visit the historical sites of Magellan’s Cross and Fort San Pedro or any of the local Catholic Church Cathedrals. And whatever you do, get as many massages as you can. They are cheap and very relaxing. Just make sure you don’t end up in a massage parlor that disguises its alternate business.