Plaza Hamabar: Tribute To A Cebuano King

The first Filipino ruler to embrace Christianity was the ruler of Cebu when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew first set foot on Cebu. Rajah Humabon or Sri Hamabar was baptized on 7 April 1521 along with his chief consort, Hara Humamay, and around 800 of his subjects. Humabon was christened Don Carlos in honor of Charles V, the King of Spain. Lady Humamay was christened Juana in honor of the mother of Charles V. In remembering the occasion and as baptismal gift, Magellan gave Queen Juana the image of the child Jesus (Santo Niño) through Antonio Pigafetta. To commemorate the baptism of the natives by Father Pedro Valderrama, Magellan erected a cross on the site where the Magellan's Cross now stand at the Plaza Sugbu beside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. The conversion of the natives to Christianity and Roman Catholicism is also depicted on a painting at the ceiling of the chapel or kiosk where the Magellan's Cross is kept.

A statue of Rajah Humabon at Plaza Hamabar in Cebu City, Philippines

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Tabo-an Dried Fish Market

One of the more popular pasalubong items from Cebu is dried seafoods such as dried danggit in salted and unsalted versions, dried pusit, fish tocino, dried katambak fish, and dried fish bones. While most of these items are available in supermarkets, the best place to get them at budget-friendly prices is at the Tabo-an Dried Fish Market along Tres de Abril Street at the southern end of Sanciangko Street. The dried fish market is right behind the Tabo-an Public Market. The dried fish supply at the Tabo-an Dried Fish Market is sourced mostly from northern Cebu, barangays Pasil and Duljo Fatima in Cebu City, and Talisay City in southern Metro Cebu.

Baskets of dried seafood at Tabo-an Dried Fish Market in Cebu City, Philippines

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PhP 99 Ribs and More at Surfin Ribs

I have heard about Surfin Ribs before from my cousins, my foodie buddies, and through the various food festivals that they join in. When I got a PhP 99 Surfin Ribs coupon from the Hyper Wonderland brochure, I made sure i will be using that coupon. The day after the Sinulog Festival 2016 grand parade, I went to the Surfin Ribs Escario branch to use the coupon. I learned that the PhP 99 ribs are on offer only on Tuesdays and Thursdays but luckily my coupon said "everyday" so I insisted to be served such on a Monday. Fortunately, the manager on duty agreed.

Surfin Ribs in Cebu City, Philippines

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Kublai Khan's: Fastfood Feels for a Mongolian Eat All You Can Restaurant

Fans of Mongolian barbecue should look no further than Kublai Khan Restaurant in Cebu, Philippines. And the better news is they have eat all you can available in their Cebu stores. But if you are no big eater, there is nothing to worry as they have one time fills as well. Kublai Khan Restaurant has a fast food ambiance while offering eat-all-you-can bowls.

Kublai Khan Restaurant in Cebu, Philippines

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Munch On Comfort Food at Isidra

I joined other volunteer organizers of the Cebu Blogging Summit 2015 for a post-event dinner at Isidra Comfort Cantina last 12 December 2015. Isidra Comfort Cantina was one of our sponsors for the Cebu Blogging Summit 2.0 held at the Cebu Century Plaza Hotel. During dinner, we sampled the a la carte menu of Isidra Comfort Cantina.

Isidra Comfort Cantina in Cebu City, Philippines

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Enjoy More With Combo Meals At Max's Fried Chicken Restaurant

Max's Fried Chicken Restaurant is celebrating 70 years of sarap to the bones. Max's Fried Chicken has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the post-war Philippines of 1945.

Max's Fried Chicken Restaurant

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Bumper 2 Bumper Car Show Invades Sinulog 2016

Bumper 2 Bumper Sinulog 2016 Car Show

Bumper 2 Bumper Car Show, the Philippines' biggest car show on tour will invade Cebu January of 2016 as they bring us Bumper 2 Bumper Sinulog 2016 at the SM Seaside City on 15-16 January 2016. I got a glimpse of what the show will be about when I attended their press conference on 15 January 2016 at Circa 1900 Restaurant at Sanjercasvil Road in Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines. Speaking at the press conference were Jonathan Chio, CEO of the Ladder Events Production one of the main event organizers of the Bumper 2 Bumper car show, and Ryan Yu, representing the Cebuano car enthusiasts.

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Magellan's Cross: Cebu City's Iconic Landmark

Perhaps the most recognizable landmark of Cebu City is the kiosk or chapel that houses the Magellan's Cross. This Cebu City tourist attraction is located at Plaza Sugbu on Magallanes Street right in between the Cebu City Hall and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. A common site at the area are old ladies selling colored candles and offering to pray for passersby in exchange for a fee. The prayer is done through the original Sinulog ritual dance.

The Magellan's Cross in Cebu City, Philippines

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Hyper Wonderland: The Sinulog Festival 2016 Party You Should Be At

As the years pass, the Sinulog Festival has become associated with many things. For one, the Sinulog Festival is associated with a pious devotion to the child Jesus. The Sinulog Festival is also associated with historical re-enactments, of a preserved tradition of dancing, and of merriment and outrageous partying. Sinulog being associated with outrageous partying has sometimes earned the ire of hardcore religious devotees who dismiss it as celebration unfit for a religious festival. Moreover, the party scene during the Sinulog Festival is just that, partying for the sake of partying. The usual atmosphere we see is booze freely being shared around with one too many folks passing out from being too drunk, scantily clad teenagers gyrating on makeshift stages, the occasional fistfights, people getting wet in the rain or with booze, sometimes getting too wild beyond propriety. The 2016 party scene will be different with an exciting newcomer in the party scene, Hyper Wonderland.

Hyper Wonderland

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Paddling The Length of The Western Cebu Mainland: Not For The Faint Of Heart

Many of us set new year's resolutions at the turn of every year. But for Buzzy Budlong of Island Buzz Philippines, each new year signifies creating a new challenge for himself. Buzzy, whose passion is in paddle sports, has a new challenge for him to hurdle this January 2016. His personal challenge? Paddle the distance between the northern part of the Cebu mainland to the southernmost part of the island in an expedition dubbed as F5 Cebu Paddle Expedition: One Paddler's Thousandfold Adventure.

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The Animal World at Crocolandia in Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines

One lazy Sunday afternoon when I had nothing to do, I invited my sister in law along with her mom and my nephew to take a stroll not far away from home in Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines. My one-year old nephew enjoys being around animals so I suggested we bring him to Crocolandia at barangay Biasong, Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines.

Crocolandia in Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines

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Compañia Maritima: A Neglected Piece of History

There is this abandoned building at the north end of the Cebu South Coastal Road at the South Road Properties. It's an old building, more than a century old actually. It's abandoned, and for a building of such historical value, I should say neglected. I'm talking about the Compania Maritima building, probably among the prominent buildings at the Cebu City waterfront during the American colonial era.

Compañia Maritima Building in Cebu City, Philippines

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Grill All You Can at Kogi-Q

I've been missing my buddies since I stopped playing basketball some months back. So we set a reunion of sorts. I've been wanting to try Kogi-Q's PhP 270 grill all you can offer at Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, so I suggested we had dinner at the place near the tail end of 2015. There's five (5) of us that used to play together before but due to some circumstances, only Peter and DJ showed up. JR was somewhere in Bantayan Island with his family and Mark had other things to do.

DJ and Peter at Kogi-Q in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines

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Shawarma: Persian Avenue Calls Them Tortilla Rolls

Filipinos are known to prefer sweet blend food and Cebuanos are no different. But for food to taste sweet, you don't necessarily have to load up on refined sugar, processed honey, or other sweeteners. I found out that when you use fresh ingredients, food is naturally sweet. This was my realization when I got to sample some of the food in the menu of Persian Avenue. I was invited to the food tasting with some of my fellow bloggers last 27 December 2015 at the first branch of Persian Avenue outside Luzon and the National Capital Region. RJ and Paolo Lapid hosted us during the event. They are relatives of the owners of R. Lapid's Chicharon.

Persian Avenue at Robinsons Galleria Cebu in Cebu City, Philippines

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