A Footnote to Cebu

Clockwise from top left: Cebu’s famous danggit, lechon, ripe mangoes, and the otap

About to leave Cebu, I knew that my trip would not be complete without the customary pasalubong (going-back gift) for my family. My family’s overtures only made it more urgent. So, I made it a point to pass by Shamrock, located at Fuente Osmeña, to buy the finest Cebuano delicacies.

Even with a limited budget, I made sure I had the essentials for transport back home. I tried picking up some danggit/dried fish (Php 150/pack), dried pusit/squid (Php 162/pack) and rosquillos (Php 65/pack). I was not able to buy their famous otap since they ran out that night we bought at their store. (Nonetheless, I thanked my lucky stars that I was already been given some otap to send home.)

Now, having almost maxxed out my travel budget, I saved some of my money to enable myself to buy Cebu’s famous lechon or roast pig. Having sampled their lechon in one of our previous meals, I was amazed by its rich flavor, which rendered its Manila counterparts pale in comparison. Lechon Cebu was indeed so flavorful that you can forget about dipping it in sauce. Thus, having such a great experience with their lechon, we proceeded to a local litsonan or roasting place and bought several kilos of the stuff (Php 260/kilogram).

Having been satisfied with the stuff we are bringing home, we then waited for our plane ride to Manila via Cebu Pacific. For this particular trip, I was indeed very satisfied with Cebu Pacific’s rates. Having spent a little over Php 2600 for a round trip from Manila to Cebu and back (I chose the Go Lite fare, which meant that I only brought hand-carried baggage), it became easier for me to budget the rest of my cash for going around Cebu. As a friend and I were talking on the plane ride home, we discussed about the need to make destinations in the Philippines cheaper, in order to allow more of us Filipinos to explore our country. Honestly, I felt that it was a crying shame that flying to Hong Kong or Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia was cheaper than going around the Philippines! I mean, the Philippines is a very nice country, and even with our many problems, we can still give other better-known destinations a run for their money. I mean, if Malaysia had run this ad encouraging foreigners to explore their hundred or so islands, we have 7000 or so more!

These thoughts, as well our hopes for local tourism, became our conversation piece as our plane touched land in Manila. Going back home, as city denizens through and through, we were thankful to arrive safely back in our Manila’s arms. Nonetheless, our Cebu trip – going around the city, sampling their good food, doing some island hopping and beach combing – was such an awesome experience. Truly, Cebu’s title as the Queen City of the South was well deserved; and as early as now, I am making plans to go back there and explore more of its southern charms.

(the end)

Note: I would like to say thanks to the following sites as the sources for this entry’s pictures:

http://bp0.blogger.com/.../ s400/cebu_mangoes.png

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r249/KeenoBoi/otap-1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2283853762_897cfaea49.jpg?v=0

The editing of these pictures was, of course, mine.

 Do you have a favorite Cebu memory? Come on, share it with us! Reply at my guestbook, or email thepedestrianfoodista@gmail.com. Thanks!