Cebu, Philippines: The Place to be This Winter
/Now that the pandemic is over and things are going back to normal, you might be booking a well-deserved vacation. If you’re not sure where to go yet, read on to learn why the Philippines should be your next stop. Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by palm trees and coconuts?
1. Sirao Flower Garden
Do you love flowers? Then you’ll definitely have to stop by this botanical garden in Barangay Sirao, Cebu City. It’s also named Little Amsterdam because of the windmills and all the flowers. There are giant statutes and structures for people to sit and stand on. It is the perfect spot for taking pictures! Entrance fee is cheap (about $2 CAD) and there are food stalls run by locals nearby to reward yourself from all the selfie-taking.
one of the many gardens in sirao garden. credit: stefanie velichkin
2. Temple of Leah
Built in 2012 by Teodorico Soriano Adarna for his wife Leah Adarna, this is the perfect spot for romantics. The water fountains and nude statues will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Grecian temple. It features a museum, an art gallery, and a library. The most impressive art piece is a nine-foot brass statue of Leah. Like the Sirao Flower garden, it requires a small entrance fee. It’s not a big place, so you’ll be able to squeeze it into a busy day.
one of the statues at temple of leah. credit: rj trazona, unsplash.
3. Bantayan Island
For the island lovers, you’ll have to stop here. Bantayan Island offers many activities such as swimming, cliff-diving, island hopping, and kayaking. The island supplies the fish for the city, and even Manila and Mindanao. The best time to go would be during the dry season, from February to mid-May. There are plenty of hotels and resorts to stay in. It’s less crowded than Boracay Island, another popular vacation spot in the Philippines.
palm trees at bantayan island. credit: Stefanie Velichkin
4. Oslob Whale Sharks
Located in the Oslob municipality, this spot became popular when fishermen would feed the sharks and tourists would gather to watch. People can go snorkeling and diving with the sharks, or just watch from a boat. They are harmless and while you can get pretty close, you can’t touch them; they’re still wild animals, after all. It’s a pretty cool experience, especially if you can manage to get a picture or video with them. It’s not everyday you can swim with sharks!
a single whale shark. credit: olga ga, unsplash.
5. Simala Church
If you didn’t know already, Filipinos are very religious; most of them are devout Catholics. Even if you’re not religious, the Simala Parish Church in Sibonga is worth a visit. It looks and feels like a castle. While there’s no entrance fee, visitors must adhere to a dress code. That means no sleeveless tops, shorts, or skirts. It is a very spiritual place and visitors must be careful not to disturb fellow patrons.
a view of the church. credit: Stefanie velichkin
In addition to all these beautiful places, everything in the Philippines is cheap: food, hotels, and souvenirs. English is one of the official languages so as long as you stay in the city, you’ll be able to converse with most of the locals without knowing any Tagalog. So what are you waiting for, book that ticket already!
Stefanie Velichkin is a young actor and writer from Ottawa, ON. She is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Theatre program and a student of Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program. Her interests include true crime, cats, and drinking bubble tea.
