ABOUT CEBU

Often called the "Queen City of the South" and the seat of Christianity in the Philippines, Cebu is the country's oldest city. Exploring Cebu City, one encounters a rich historic past. Cebuanos are extremely proud of their cultural and historical heritage, a legacy which has endured thru the centuries from the time the great explorer Ferdinand Magellan first planted the cross on Cebu's shore.


                                                Magellan's Cross

Time has been kind to Cebu. From Zubu, the fishing village and busy trading port in 1521 has evolved a highly urbanized metropolitan center which now serves as focal point of growth and development in Southern Philippines. With its five cities; Cebu, Danao, Lapulapu, Mandaue and Toledo; and its 48 smaller towns, Cebu has more than kept pace with the nation's progress. Today, the island province leads in traditional and non-traditional exports and has the highest economic growth rate anywhere in the country. Likewise, recent indications pointed out that Cebu has become the country's most favorite tourist destination.

In contrast to the bustling metropolis, the rest of Cebu's 167 islets and islands are lined with idyllic white sandy beaches and pristine clear waters.
Cebu has gained wide popularity for it's fantastic diving grounds evidenced by the proliferation of resorts which offer luxurious accommodations, excellent dive facilities and the services of competent dive masters and dive guides.

Cebu's strategic location makes it ideal for those who wish to travel to the other islands and provinces. By plane, boat or bus, nowhere could be too far from CEBU.

QUICK FACTS:

Population/language:
Cebu Province has a total population of around 3 million. Cebuano is the native tongue. English and Tagalog are commonly understood and spoken.

Weather:
Cebu is best from December to May when the weather turns dry. It is coolest from December to February, hottest from March to May. Temperature can rise higher than 100 F in the summer. The rainy season begins in July bringing torrential downpours that would sometimes inhibit movement.

Philippine Time
Philippine standard time is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime.

Dress /What to bring:
Wear natural fiber, lightweight clothing. You'll feel more comfortable. Bring shorts, hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, insect repellent, flashlight, sun block cream, tough shoes for walking, rubber slippers for the beach. Pack tissue paper in your purse as public toilets almost never have any.
The Barong Tagalog is acceptable formal wear for men. Shorts or sleeveless shirts should never be worn when visiting churches, mosques or temples.

Electrical Appliances:
Most areas in Cebu are supplied with 220 volts, 60 cycles. A plug with 2 flat parallel prongs is the norm.

Money:
The Philippine currency is peso, divided into 100 centavos. Next to the peso, the US dollar enjoys wide acceptance. Most foreign currencies can easily be changed at banks, hotels, and authorized dealers. Foreign currency is not readily taken by the establishments in Cebu. Major foreign credit cards may be accepted only at major hotels, resorts, shops, and restaurants. Visitors are advised to bring sufficient amount of change in small bills or coins.Travellers Cheques are highly recommended.

Business Hours:
Banks - 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday; government agencies and offices - 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; private firms - 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 12noon Saturday; Shops-9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Most department stores stay open on Sunday and holidays.

Tipping:
Bellhops expect a tip, as do waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers, beauticians, porters and tour guides..

Public Transport:
Getting around Cebu, one may take a colorful jeepney or a bus at a minimal fare. Tricycles (motorcycles with sidecars) are popular in outlaying areas and in the suburbs, quiet notably within mactan island. Taxicabs are widely available.

the Philippine Jeepney - this is a popular mode of transportation amongst the locals. it used to be a remnant from the military jeeps from the second world war II. Now, it is a classic philippine folkart piece.

How to Get Around the Island:

Getting Around by Land
Jeepney                       rub elbows with the locals on the
(fixed route)                famous Filipino commuter vehicle;
                                     for city trips.



tartanilla (horse-drawn cart)- clippety-clop,clippety-clop... get a
feel of how Cebuanos got around in times past. it is not a popular means of transportation these days, but still popular for special occassions like weddings.

taxi (with meter)- ideal for really going around and seeing the sights, .
the local drivers are usually honest and some form of government control is also imposed especially from the airports.

Getting Around by Sea

banca - (motorized outrigger) for island-hopping



SOME DO'S AND DONT'S
             IN PHILIPPINE SOCIETY

The most important initial step in efforts of gaining insights about the local resident is to understand him in his own setting. The following are just some general statements intended to help you in your behavior in the local community:
*Avoid wearing sandals when attending special occasions in the local community - wearing shoes is a sign that the event is important to you.
* Do invite people at least 3 times. Local residents are taught that it is proper to refuse the first time or two. To them, insistence is a clear sign that the offer or invitations is genuine.
*Do give the local residents a way out of the situation so he can save face, thus avoiding embarrassment. Embarrassing him will cause "hiya" or loss of face.
*Don't use the common sign of OK - In the local community. It means money. You may use the new sign OK. This is the thumbs-up sign which has been commonly seen on television.
*Don't use your forefinger upward to call a local resident-It is considered somewhat degrading. One way of calling is to beckon with the hand in gentle downward motion. Psst... is another popular way to get someone's attention. As a rule however, it is preferred to call the person by name. it is even better to use nicknames, because these are reserved for close friends.
*Smiling is a form of friendship and a form of greeting.
*Do show respect for age- use the proper appellations for elders and relations. Find out right away what appellations are used in the family.

Try Cebuano...... It's Fun

good morning	maayong buntag
good afternoon	maayong hapon
good evening	maayong gabi-i
how are you?	kumusta ka?
goodbye	ari na ko / adiyos
i'm fine	maayo man
yes / no	oo / dili
how much is this?	tag-pila ni?
expensive	mahal
cheap	barato
I / we	ako / kita
you	ikaw
he , she / they	siya / sila
where are you going?	asa ka paingon ?
who ?	kinsa?
what ?	unsa ?
why ?	ngano ?
beautiful / ugly	gwapa / ngil-ad
near / far	duol / layo
fast / slow	kusog / hinay
open / close	abri / sarado
help me	tabangi ko
stop	hunong
right / left	tu-o / wa
please sit down	palihug lingkod
come here	dali ra
thank you	daghang salamat
you are welcome	wa'y sapayan
what is your name ?	kinsa imong nga'n?
my name is ..	ang akong pangan ..

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HOW TO GET TO CEBU ?

There are 2 ways to go to Cebu. The first, and the easiest, is by direct flight. At present five international airlines offer direct flights to Cebu from abroad:

* Via Singapore. Singapore Airlines offers three direct flights per week to and from Cebu : Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. The flights are flown with a B 737 by Silkair, a daughter company from Singapore Airlines.

* Via Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific offers three flights per week to and from Cebu: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The flights are flown with a Lockheed Tristar or an Airbus 340.

Also, Philippine Airlines offers direct flights Cebu-Hong Kong- Cebu. The flights are every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with an Airbus.

* Via Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Airlines offers twice weekly a flight to
Kuala Lumpur, via Kota Kinabalu. The flights are flown on Thursday and Sunday with a B 737.

* Via Narita, Japan. Philippine Airlines flies every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday direct Cebu-Narita and back. The flights are carried out with an Airbus.

* Via Osaka, Japan. Philippine Airlines flies every Saturday and Sunday direct Cebu-Osaka and back. The flights are carried out with an Airbus.

Philippine Airlines also offers daily it's "Cebu Express" program, linking Cebu directly with 14 international destinations.

The alternative of a direct flight is to fly to Manila and take a domestic flight to Cebu, or take a boat. There are three airlines which fly Manila-Cebu and back. Flights are carried out with Airbuses and B 737's. The flight takes one hour.

The boat trip takes about 20 hours, but sailing on a luxury liner through the Philippine Archipelago is an adventure in itself. Until a few years ago, such trips were not advisable. But the major shipping lines have changed their perception of inter-island shipping.

All Ships offer a wide range of accommodations. There are special two person suites and staterooms, but also there are much cheaper first and economy class cabins. Food is often included in the ticket, all ships have restaurants, coffeeshops and/or bars and discos. Sailing on time, clean, organized and equipped with restaurants and entertainment made the passenger easily forget the 20 hours.

The flight and ship schedules always vary from season to seasons so it is advisable always to consult the airlines or the shipping company for the exact details of the departures and arrivals.

bon voyage! :)