So I was in Iloilo assisting a relative to do some legal documentations and property purchase (I’m not a lawyer but I do have have ample knowledge when it comes to legal matters wink*) when out of the blue the Cebu trip idea came in. I was hesitant because it was supposed to be a three day Manila-Iloilo round trip. It didn’t happen that way. What happened was that I was just carrying an overnight bag to Iloilo and I ended up pulling quite a larger luggage back home to Manila after two weeks! Yep the three day didn’t happen. What happened was TWO WEEKS!
Since this week is about Cebu and Sinulog, let’s talk about Cebu first. And besides I think I will be making a regular post with the category “When in Iloilo” so I'll have a lot of time posting about Iloilo City.
I read a comment from my previous post about not finding a promotional air fares in going to Cebu and that almost everything is expensive during the Sinulog Festival. It is absolutely true not only in Cebu but anywhere where there's an ongoing festival. It is called the “season” rate where air fare is expensive and everything is expensive.
Miraculously (or just pure ability), I was able to get a ticket to Cebu for me and my relative just four days before the weekend of the grand parade. Some of my relatives flew ahead of us – they are the reason why we decided to go on that trip and they are also responsible for our accommodations. We stayed in a private property in Mandaue City. You may find a list of Cebu hotels from here.
Touch down Cebu airport, we were greeted by the festive mood. “Pit Senyor” is the only song that you will hear all over the city.
We were picked up from the airport by our relatives who flew ahead of us. Our first stop from the airport is ParkMall located at Mandaue City also. I was travelling with a shopaholic by the way so it’s no wonder why our first stop is in a mall (lol). Just like in Manila, any celebration is always reflected in the mall’s decoration. The ParkMall caters to all kinds of shoppers. They basically has everything that you will be looking for in a mall including popular coffee shops and restaurants.
It was lunch time when we arrived in Cebu so we ate at the first fast food restaurant that we found and it so happens that it was Dimsum Break located in the same mall. I really enjoyed the dimsum and I will definitely eat at this place again if I happen to be back in Cebu.
We explored the mall and of course ended into a shopping spree – I don’t want to bore you with the details because there’s a lot more exciting to share than shopping so watch out! Meanwhile we settled for the day to re-charge our energy because a bombastic Sinulog shindig was waiting for us that night!
