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The best way to get around Cebu is to hop onto one of those remodeled US military jeeps called the Jeepney. (For more on jeepneys, see our "Business in Asia – Jeepneys, Balut, and Tagalog" article.) One can take 18 passengers including the driver. First time visitors may find the jeepney ride a little bit rough but it's worth the adventure. The ride will take you to some of the island's beautiful Spanish-influenced architecture such as Cebu's oldest school, the San Carlos University.

And if you're lucky, you will find yourself walking along the island's oldest street, Colon Street, built by the Spaniards during the Spanish colonial days.

Cebu island is the oldest city in the Philippines dating back to Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521 while attempting to travel around the world. Magellan was killed three weeks later by Chief Lapulapu in the Mactan battle on a nearby Mactan island.

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi found the first Spanish settlement on the island in 1565. The island remained under Spanish rule for three centuries. The small fishing village later developed at its own comfortable pace until increasing trade at its small trading port forced it to open its doors to modernization.

Today, the Cebu province is made up of 48 municipalities and five cities namely Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Toledo, and Cebu City, its capital. The metropolitan Cebu, with three cities, stretches over 350 square kilometers and has a population of over one million people.

During the island tour, take a trip down Cebu's memory lane at its many museums. Learn about the island's colonial lifestyle at the Casa Gorordo museum that used to be the home of the first Filipino bishop on the island. Before that, take a quick look of Cebuano art and lifestyle from the pre-historic to modern times at the Southwestern University museum.

Meanwhile, centuries-old artifacts from a recovered old sunken Spanish galleon, San Diego, are well-kept at the Fort San Pedro museum.

How about an opportunity to get up close and personal with Dr. Jose Rizal - the Philippines' national hero who led the country to independence - at the Rizaliana museum?

The island tour is best wrapped up with a shopping spree at the city's shopping centers such as the Ayala Center, Shoemart City and Gaisano Country Mall, which offer good bargains for both local and branded products. If you're in the mood for great bargain hunting, don't forget to drop by at the Carbon Market.

Great souvenirs ranging from handicrafts, coral jewelery (stone and seashells), hand-woven blankets, medallions of the Christ child, polished Mactan stone, accent chairs made of wood or rattan and bronze ware to the popular Maribago guitars can be found at the open flea market. But remember to bargain!

By the way, don't forget to bring home the island's must-buy souvenirs - dried mangoes from Guadalupe. Cebu seems to have the best mangoes in the world. Ripe or unripe, its mangoes make the best dessert or mango juice you have ever tasted!

Cebu is also famous for its delicacies. Crispy and boneless dried fish Danggit and the hanging rice or Puso are quite filling for a typical Filipino breakfast. Another must-have local delicacy is Budbod, sticky rice cooked and rolled in a banana leaf.

Cebu island is one place one will never get enough of. It has so much to offer that even the most seasoned traveler will be most certainly mesmerized.

If you want a little Cebu island flavor in your home, you can cook Chicken Adobe Cebu-Style, see our article Grandma's Kitchen:   Chicken Adobo.

Credits:

Article reprinted with permission from Maxis Net.
Copyright © 1999 . All rights reserved.

The map of Cebu Island is reprinted courtesy of Cebu Resorts & Hotels.

The marine life photos were reprinted with permission from Scotty's Dive Centre (http://www.divescotty.com/index.html).

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