Cebu City at a Glance

Scene at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, an Augustinian church which was elevated to the rank of church in 1965 during the 400th year celebrations of Christianity in the Philippines, held in Cebu. This was the first church to be established in the islands. It is built of hewn stone, and features the country's oldest relic, the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu (Holy Child of Cebu).


AN ACQUAINTANCE once commented she thought Cebu was a big bore, and I had to literally shake my toes in disagreement – without actually disagreeing with her. She was holed in her hotel room for the remainder of her stay so how could she actually appreciate what this city had to offer if her lardy, lazy ass was glued to her hotel bed? Appreciation of anything is, after all, a subjective experience the way movie watching is. And one should not impose his views to other people. To each his own. Although my views are pretty tasteful. Bwahaha! (Jeez, humor me!)

On the contrary, Cebu City is a favorite city. It has a vibrant night life; a relatively cleaner air to breathe; a relaxed populace; and less annoying, albeit less greedy taxi drivers than – errr…. everywhere else!


Magellan's Cross, the city's most famous landmark. This cross, housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521. It was encased in hollow tindalo wood in 1835 upon the order of the Augustinian Bishop Santos Gómez Marañon to prevent devotees from taking it home chip by chip. Revered by Filipinos, the Cross of Magellan is a symbol of the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines, the only major Catholic nation in Asia, comprising 80% of the population.

An art shop at the Ayala Center.

The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu, and is the second most significant metropolitan center in the Philippine Islands. The city is the first Spanish settlement in the country. Cebu is home to more than 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies.

Metro Cebu comprises the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, and Naga and boasts a population of about 2 million people. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a 20 minutes away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City, and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban, and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City, and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City and an aquarium attraction are located.

Population of Cebu City alone– 798, 809 as of 2007!

There are 80 barangays (counties) in Cebu City. These are grouped into two congressional districts. Posted herewith are photos of Magellan’s Cross and a pious scene from the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino (Church of the Holy Child). And in celebration of the Holy Week, this is the Eye in the Sky wishing everyone a safe and meaningful season.

The walk between Ayala Center Cebu and Marriott Hotel.

As it was in Davao and Metro Manila, Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz's "You Changed My Life" was a huge money maker in Cebu! People came in droves! Sarah seems to be on a roll! Though I wouldn't subscribe to it being an excellent film, this had a better threshed out and well-grounded story than the first one. But the "bebe ko, bebe ko..." scenes were a bit gut churning.

Guitars on sale... or Cebu won't be the guitar-making capital of the country.

Ayala Center's row of restaurants.

Cebu Midtown Hotel. This was a very comfortable place to stay. Problem was, its wifi connectivity is a bit dodgy. You have to buy a wifi card that would allow you to use your laptop. When I tried, no card was available. Hilarious really! And everywhere you turn, within the vicinity of the hotel, you see a great number of Arab students and tourists. That should be good news. I used to have Moroccan and Algerian friends at my flat back in London, and contrary to common notion, they were very nice people. Miss having a good laugh with them really!

Map courtesy of wikipedia's the coffee aka Mike Gonzalez.

A Walk in the Greens of Greenbelt

THE CITY of Makati is the financial and commercial hub of Metropolitan Manila. It is a showcase of the country’s technological, infrastructure and economic advances, and can rival any bustling first rate metropolis the world over!

Cosmopolitan and vibrant, the city is home to many expatriates. Makati is also home to many first-class shopping malls, embassies, the Philippine Stock Exchange, most of which are located at Ayala Center and Rockwell Center and the contiguous areas. Makati also has the tallest buildings in the Philippines like PBCOM Tower, G.T. International Tower.

The city also has many of the country's five-star hotels like The Peninsula Manila, the Shangri-La Hotel Makati and the Intercontinental Hotel Manila. Independent business travelers also benefit from budget hotels like the Saint Illian's Inn, El Cielito Inn, The Copa Businessman's Hotel, and The City Garden Suites. Meanwhile, apartments like The Salcedo Suites, Fraser Place Manila, The Sunette Tower, and The Oxford Suites are gaining in popularity among business-minded travelers as well.

A LITTLE HISTORY

The origin of its name is mentioned in its wikipedia entry: “Makati came from the Tagalog word kati - an archaic noun - which means receding tide. This primarily refers to the rise and ebb of the tide of the Pasig River on the city's northern border. The city was also known as San Pedro de Macati during the Spanish era.” In the 1930’s, around the time they officially inaugurated Luzon’s first airport in Nielson Field (what is now the Ayala Triangle), the Philippine Legislature shortened the name to “Makati”.

At the turn of the century, the Americans established Fort McKinley in Makati – a place that bigot Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao allegedly wants to visit once his “blacklist” status in the country gets stricken off. In January 2, 1995, Makati became an independent city by virtue of Republic Act 7854. This makes Makati a very young city – barely 14 years old as I write this.

This post features some areas covering the Greenbelt area, particularly the lush blooms and foliage of its gardens. The pond and the chapel are among my personal favorite. Sitting beside the pond, saying a prayer at the chapel and people-watching make for an interesting, albeit laidback afternoon.

This area enjoys a continuously changing landscape. Renovations and frequent embellishments have become a fixture in the last 5 years. This is designed to keep its customers interested. I always spend my Christmases – yes, December 25’s – at the Greenbelt 3 cinemaplexes watching the majority of mostly inane Metro Manila Film Festival entries. Why do I patronize them (MMFF movies) if I find them despicable? Why not? It isn’t fair to huff-and-puff and complain about films that I haven’t seen, is it? To be objective about your views, you have to go watch to make your judgment valid. So - I watch, hoping things would change. It’s been wishful thinking so far. You’d think people who sit at the screening committee are a bunch of morons. LOL

Moving along, you guys should check out Max Brenner’s (along Makati Avenue) hot chocolate and those sinfully delicious chocolate cakes. A taste is close to having died and gone to heaven. Hahaha! It’s that good.

Fast Facts:

Population – 510, 300 as of 2007Website- www.makati.gov.ph/
Number of barangays (counties) – 33

Pond fronting Greenbelt 3

Quack!

Greenbelt 4 park

Museum Cafe, Greenbelt 4

Between Greenbelts 2 and 3

Greenbelt 5

Nights in Makati. This photo only courtesy of wikipedia's themanilaexperience.

Makati's Salcedo Village. This photo only courtesy of wikipedia's MatthieuG and eternal dragon.

Map of Metro Manila

Makati Skyline. this photo only courtesy of wikipedia's secaundis.

This is the Eye in the Sky.

Dining with KC at Mesa Restaurant - Greenbelt 5 Makati

AFTER NICOLAS

AFTER TAKING my friend out to watch Nicolas Cage in Alex Proyas’ apocalyptic mind-bender, “Knowing” – my third time, so I was about to barf, to be honest – we decided to skim through the other restaurants at the posh Greenbelt 5 area in the city of Makati, Manila’s financial district. Though I have been there several times recently (to process a visa for a trip within the week), I needed to seriously check out the “new” restaurant scene. There has to be more than the snail-paced service of Fely J (a waiter took 20 minutes to see us – and they only had 1 other occupied table that time) or the ubiquitous Cibo. Chateau is there but you don’t always relish on delicious, but decidedly overpriced gastronomic delight. Expensive restaurants are perfect for milestone celebrations, not habitual day-outs with friends.

Mesa, the fine-dine branch of the La Mesa Grill group of restaurants, was having their soft opening! It was perfect since I was craving for some Filipino food. We were ushered inside to a simple but elegant table. Huge orange sofa chairs and tastefully cloistered bamboo walls with sophisticated lacquer gloss, medium sized hanging lamps, and glistening wooden tables all make for a cozy place perfect for a laidback atmosphere with friends or family to hang out with!

You have to admit, Greenbelt hardly counts as a major spot where mums and dads can take their family to. Mesa conveniently covers this crowd. This isn’t saying that a hip hopping crowd can’t hang out here. Another delectable come-on is its rates that, on average, range from PhP150 ($3.15) to P300 ($6.30)! Compared to similar restaurants in the area, MESA is a very affordable fine-dine option! Finally, there's food that is actually cheaper than Greenbelt's movie ticket (PhP170).

How was the food: except for a slightly careless dangling serving utensils as food was being served (this restaurant after all prides itself as “fine dine” – the waitress said so), every bit of what we ordered was delicious, we wanted more! It was too late when I realized I should have ordered their CrispChon (lechon – or roast pig). A one-sixth order only costs PhP799 (one whole – P3999; one half – P1999; one fourth – P1099). For the veggie crazed urbanite, there’s the steamed okra (P100), mix vegetables (P120), laing (P120), sigarilias (P180), asparagus tips (P180), pinakbet with bangus belly (P180).

It was too bad that their elephant clams (“diwal”) – lusciously photographed on their coffee-table style menu – wasn't available. It doesn't stand quite right to have some unavailable items on a menu – not on a soft opening, at least! Waiting service was impeccable, except that my companion’s brewed coffee took 35 minutes to arrive – and after 3 follow ups! They've forgotten 3x! But then these are birthing pains!

Giant squid stuffed with meat and vegetables - PhP300 ($6.30). This squid was huge!

A STAR AND BIRTHING PAINS

Well into our late lunch, there was a commotion! Kiko – the soft-spoken senator, Francis Pangilinan, made an entrance. And people were scurrying around like adrenalinized ants. The popular senator took his seat. Not a second later, a star literally descended from the heavens ! KC Concepcion - with her manager Shirley Kwan - sat at the table next to her stepdad! I tried not to look, but Chiqui was obviously impressed. She gushed, “KC is really beautiful!” I turned directly to my right, where KC was seated. And I just couldn’t help but admire! I sighed then vigorously sliced through my salivatory caramelized garlic pork. I relished on such fantastic atmosphere with a dear friend, a luminous movie star in my midst, and more importantly, delicious food that allowed me to shop elsewhere afterwards.

Funny! I was just at the La Mesa Grill-Trinoma, several days ago (their adobo flakes is to-die for). Senator Kiko is part owner of the La Mesa Grill group of restaurants. Interested parties for special occasions should call this Greenbelt branch at (02)7280886.

Brewed coffee was PhP45; coke in can - PhP55; 12% VAT! Tipping isnt necessary coz the whole hulabaloo comes with a service charge - mine was just PhP44. Regardless, I left a change of more than PhP50. For what i am used to paying for dining in Greenbelt, I was pleased with my bill - and what I was left with!

Caramelized garlic pork - tacky presentation, but delectable, down to the last slice - PhP190 ($3.90).

Baked tahong (mussels) topped with cheese, 12 pieces - PhP150 ($3.10).

Tinapa rice - rice peppered with smoked fish flakes with stir fried rice, topped with tomato and salted egg - PhP190 ($3.90).

Beautiful beyond food - KC Concepcion! Late lunch with stepdad Kiko.

There were more than a dozen waiters even at a dead hour of 4PM.

Greenbelt 5

After our sumptuous meal at Mesa, we hurried to Greenbelt 5's Classic Confections (near Fely J, 2nd floor), another great pastry shop with the most unbelievably tasty cakes at very affordable prices. These are home-baked cakes that range between PhP150-190. Can you believe it?

This chocolate cake is just P195!

Easter eggs being sold already at Classic Confections!

This is the Eye in the Sky.