I woke up having hard time breathing. But past 6 am of April
14, 2013, my brother and I left for Cebu without my mother knowing what was
happening inside my respiratory system. I acted as if I was perfectly fine
because this vacation could have been thwarted by my beloved mother.
I wanted to lie. But my brother was moving too quickly. It
was impossible to get even. So I told him the truth and asked him to try
walking at my pace. He was obedient. We rode a white-colored metered taxi
outside the Departure Area of Mactan International Airport because some say
yellow cabs charge more. Our first destination was Basilica Minore del Sto.
Niño. Both the facade and the intricate interior are flabbergasting. To me the
church became a tourist attraction that I would never leave without pressing a
camera button. Magellan’s Cross is few
meters away from the historical church. A number of old women carrying
multi-colored candles greeted us outside the most famous landmark in Cebu. An
old woman approached us and offered a prayer for us in a form of singing and dancing.
As a true blooded Manileña I didn’t understand a single word. I just hoped
Heaven knows the lingo.
Though both exhausted, we were keen to see the places I
googled before our flight to Cebu. But at 9am we were already hungry. Outside
the Basilica is Jollibee. With our starving tummies, we didn’t have so much
thought. Then, we headed to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral which is just few
blocks away. The church is a mixture of contemporary design and complex structural
forms, old but robust. This is where I was able to pray and pour my heart out.
I had a solemn conversation with God. Outside the church, we met a college
student selling religious memorabilia for a charitable cause. But here’s the thing,
he is also from Manila. So, our first souvenir also came from our place of
origin.
Despite the scorching heat, we walked towards Fort San Pedro
located at Plaza Independencia. It is a reduced version of Fort Santiago in
Manila. The place provides a glimpse of the olden times and a majestic view perfect
for relaxation to pre-nuptial photo shoots. After that, I suggested that we
proceed to Metro Gaisano where, according to a certain blogsite, a lot of cheap
foods are available at the 6th floor. Believing that the mall is
just within the vicinity of the two historical churches, we marched the stretch
of Osmena Boulevard until we reached Colon Street, the oldest street in the
Philippines. Metro Gaisano is located at
the corner. It was actually a long and
strenuous walk. Though fairly near, a walk in Osmeña Blvd is inapt on a sunny
day. My brother suddenly had a change of mind. We rode a jeepney to Ayala
Center, instead. We had lunch at the foodcourt and had my first taste of Cebu
Lechon at CMT. 1/29 wishes in my bucket list was finally granted. And I must
say it was really good. Ayala Center, at first, had no wow impression on us. The
virtual photos seem more attractive than it really is. And the few people strolling
on a Sunday was quite unusual. The landscaped garden outside, however, changed
our outlook. The mini park is truly an attraction.
Our desire to get to some of the popular tourist spot within
Metro Cebu, was hindered by extreme fatigue. Instead of finding the way to
Crown Regency, we took a cab and asked the driver to help us find a budget
hotel near the airport. We checked-in at GV Hotel located at Lapu-Lapu City.
Unfortunately, our room is located at the 5th floor and the only way
to go up is through the stairs. Having difficulty breathing, it was literally aggravating
my physical condition. But I had to
endure the burden to be able to inhale some cool air. We rested for approximately
two hours. While resting, I was hoping that there’s an inexpensive beach resort
nearby. There is. However, the tricycle fare didn’t match my shoestring budget.
We immediately rerouted our itinerary to Mactan Shrine where Lapu-Lapu’s
monument is situated. It is a park located
in Punta Engaño, a 10-minute travel from Lapu-Lapu City via jeepney. The Shrine
as a whole is parallel to Luneta Park but much smaller in total area. Near the
shore stands a life-size statue of our first hero. A lot of souvenir shops can
also be found inside.
Savemore was our last stop. We bought bread, chips, shawarma
and bottled water before heading back to our hotel. And that composed our dinner
for that day. While both of us were trying to get a sleep, the television was
on the entire time that we were there. We barely had long hour forty winks. Parang
namamahay. The hotel room merely served as a rejuvenating haven for our
very tired body. At least we were able to rest before our flight to our next destination
the following day.
To be continued...
P.S. I think a certain virus hit the device memory of my
phone. All photos taken in Cebu were corrupted. Thankfully, my brother also had
some snapshots which will be available once he decides to upload it. Hopefully
it won’t take him a year...
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