My trip last October 2009 was my second time in Cebu. A few years ago, I was only able to catch glimpses of the island’s landmarks, as my travel group was only there en route to Bohol. But last October, we held in Cebu the Visayas leg of the Philippine Blog Awards for the first time — and I finally got the chance to fully appreciate touring the island without hurry.

Cebu is a long, narrow island west of Bohol. One of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, it can probably be considered the center of commerce in the Visayas. It’s quite easy to find ATM machines in Cebu, and most of the city’s establishments have credit card facilities so you wouldn’t have to worry about carrying a lot of cash unlike in other provinces. From this, it’s easy to assume that Cebu is very similar to Metro Manila. Well, it is in terms of development, but Cebu has an island charm that you can’t find in Manila (the beaches are just a stone throw away) and a monumental role in the history of Christianity in the Philippines. More…

Banol Beach is one of the popular attractions to visit when island-hopping in Coron, Palawan. Unlike the wide stretch of beach in Boracay, Banol Beach is very small in comparison. But IMHO, its coziness just adds to its charm.

Banol Beach is surrounded by beautiful limestone formations topped with luscious greens. The water is so clear and blue you can actually see the tiny fishes swimming in the shallow waters. It’s so clear you can even see a jellyfish every now and then. More…