Pacific Cebu: Adventure, Travel, and Explore Philippines

Cebu City Christmas Tree

December 2nd, 2009
Posted in Christmas

Christmas is in the air and its fast approaching. Twenty-three days more to go before Christmas. People are busy preparing and looking for gifts for their love ones. Christmas decorations are everywhere such as Christmas outdoor decorations and Christmas trees which is evident when you happen to pass by different stores and houses.

Construction of the Cebu City Christmas Tree

Cebu City has its own tradition regarding Christmas. Middle of November they started to build the Cebu City Christmas Tree. It’s not easy to construct one huge Christmas tree. More than 5 people are helping hand in hand to be able to put up the traditional tree. This has been made possible with the contribution of MLhuillier and the local government of Cebu.

Cebu City Christmas Tree

Now the traditional Cebu City Christmas Tree has already been lighted. It symbolizes and signals that Christmas is just around the corner. The traditional symbol has a different look which has more lights and Christmas decor surrounding the huge tree at Fuente Osmeña.

Lighted Cebu City Christmas Tree

Lighting the giant Cebu City Christmas Tree has always been the highlight in celebrating Pasko sa Sugbo every year. Adding more color is fireworks display and the celebration continues until January when Cebu City is celebrating Sinulog Festival. Therefore it’s more of a month long celebration for the Cebuanos.

The base of the huge Christmas tree

People start to stroll around Fuente Circle to take some pictures of the giant Cebu City Christmas Tree and to witness live bands. This is the time of the year when almost everybody is looking forward.

Advance Merry Christmas everyone!

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Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

December 2nd, 2009
Posted in Churches

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the ecclesiastical seat of the metropolitan archdiocese of Cebu. Back in August 14, 1595 when Cebu was established as diocese and then later on elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese in April 28, 1934 together with diocese of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran, and Talibon as suffragans.

Facade of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

The construction of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral took long due to interruptions such as lack of funds and other unexpected events. Another factor that contributes to the delay in constructing the church is vacancies in the office after the death of an incumbent bishop who spearheaded the construction/reconstruction of the church.

Inside Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral after the renovation

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral architecture is distinctive with baroque colonial churches in the Philippines. It has squat, cruciform, and with thick walls to withstand typhoon and other natural catastrophes. The trefoil-shaped pediment is decorated with carved relieves of floral motifs, an IHS inscription and a pair of griffins.

The new look of the altar

Very recently the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral underwent a major renovation after so many years just in time for the 75^th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Cebu last April 28, 2009. A petition was also sent to Pope Benedict XVI for its elevation into a basilica minore in honor of St. Vitalis. The church interiors where newly embellished. Chandeliers are everywhere that made the church look elegant and bright. They’ve also improve the parking area for the church goers and devotees.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at Night

At the night when all the lights are on, Cebu Metropolitan Church looks exquisite inside and out. The parking area looks like a park with the kind of brightness the surroundings have. Although the church has changed a lot after the major renovation, the solemnity of every mass is the same. Bishops and priest see to it to deliver the message of God vividly to the people attending the mass.

Another Angle of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at Night

Through time, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral has witness the ups and downs of Cebu. And now with its new look and feel, the church continues to convey the people to strengthen our faith in God. For any inqueries you can contact the church office at 2558823/2536422.

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Cebu Guitars

November 28th, 2009
Posted in Business

Philippines has been known for its hand-made cebu guitars. These guitars are crafted to get the best vibra which makes it sounds great. The city of Lapu-lapu had been very popular for making the most affordable guitars with the finest quality.

Guitar Collection

Cebu Guitars

The cebu guitars are often used by Cebuanos as instrument for harana (singing outside a lady’s house) . Most istambays (group of people hanging outside) are using their guitars to play different variety of songs from alternative to love songs to rock.

Manny Maranga, one of Cebu’s best guitar inventors is currently selling Acoustic Guitars at a very minimum price with the top quality and fine tuned. He is currently staying in Tisa, Cebu City but his production is in Lapulapu City.

Manny Maranga's Acoustic

Those guitars that can be found in the highways of Lapulapu City are not the most affordable in the area. The best guitars can be found in Barangay Pusok, found in the inner part of Lapulapu City which most people and foreigners don’t know where to go and what direction to follow.

Since Manny Maranga is directly producing his guitars in Barangay Pusok, he can sell these cebu guitars at a very affordable price from a range of P700 ($16) to P1500 ($34). He can be contacted at his house in Tisa at +63 32 4145989. Below are some of his affordable guitars using woods from low end(plywood), hard and good sound(narra wood), soft but great sound (nangka wood), great wood and great sound (spruce wood) and many others.

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Manny Maranga also sells top quality guitars using high-end materials like hard-wood from Canada, spruce wood from Thailand, Fiber glass and many others. You can also have the option to use a all-metal tuning pair instead of the traditional one. These guitars can be bought at a range of P1800($40) to P3000 ($66). You also have the option to avail either the softcase at P120 ($3) or top-quality hardcase at P1500 ($33). So what are you waiting now, simply contact Manny Maranga and get an idea on how to have the perfect guitar quality with an affordable price.

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Pier One Bar and Grill

November 26th, 2009
Posted in Restaurants

Have you been to one of the Live Seafood Restaurants in Cebu? I bet you do because it’s popular and a lot of people love seafood. I have been to one of Cebu’s finest, Pier One Bar and Grill.

I always like to dine at Pier One Bar and Grill Parkmall branch because of the different kind of ambiance the restaurant have. The restaurant’s architecture is more like of a ship and boast an atmosphere perfectly suited for its location especially that it’s located in the North Reclamation Area. The scenic view of the restaurant at night is just really inviting.

Pier One Bar and Grill

Staffs at Pier One Bar and Grill are nice and friendly. With the way they serve, you know they had undergone a proper and intensive training. The restaurant boosts its different kind of approach when it comes to their kitchen. Their kitchen is on the first floor and is covered by a transparent glass window. In that way, customers can actually see how they cook the food and check whether or not the kitchen is clean.

Kitchen @ Pier One Bar and Grill

Pier One Bar and Grill definitely serves luscious food and especially their seafood. The restaurant has adopted centralize outsourcing to ensure that their customer gets the same quality from each of their branches. And you don’t have to worry about the price because it’s absolutely reasonable and would not left you empty handed. Food servings are good for two or three people. They are also serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They are mostly serving Filipino delicacies but are also serving Asian and continental cuisine.

Scrumptious Food

Pier One Bar and Grill have live bands inside the restaurant. Music enthusiast can stay inside and enjoy the upbeat music but if you just want to chill and enjoy drinking and chit chatting with friends, you can stay outdoors at their cozy verandas but still relishing the experience.

Surely one will have a wonderful dine experience at Pier One Bar and Grill. Their Parkmall branch in the North Reclamation Area is open from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM and from 5:00 PM until 2:00 AM and you can visit their site http://www.pierone.com.ph for more information.

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Live Seafood Restaurants

November 26th, 2009
Posted in Restaurants

Seafood defines in Wikipedia as a sea animal or plant that is served as food and eaten by humans. I always love seafood. Here in Cebu, there are a lot of Live Seafood Restaurants.

Live Seafood Restaurants has become known to locals and of course to foreigners. Usually in this kind of restaurant, seafood are delivered fresh regularly and processed promptly assure freshness. That is the reason why mostly, seafood are being delivered and stored in an aquarium alive for the customer to see. That way they can be sure that they are eating fresh seafood.

Live Seafood @ Pier One Bar and Grill

Live Seafood Restaurants are everywhere. You can find one in Maribago Bluewater Resort; you also have Pier One Bar and Grill and one in Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa. Mostly beach resorts in Mactan have their own in-house Live Seafood Restaurants.

Freshly cooked Sinigang na Shrimp

People would love to hangout on Live Seafood Restaurants because of the sumptuous seafood and the cozy place. Commonly there are live bands in this kid of restaurant. And take note, it doesn’t mean that because we are talking about seafood then it will be expensive. Absolutely prices are reasonable and indeed satisfying.

I definitely would like you try out Live Seafood Restaurants here in Cebu. And I bet you can’t stop yourself from coming back.

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