It's Sinulog!

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January. It is a festival that honors the child Jesus (also known as the Santo Niño), patron of Cebu City. It mainly consists of a dance ritual that commemorates the Filipino people's pagan past and their embrace of Christianity.

Participants wear brightly colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. The Sinulog Contest is usually held at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Rich Spanish History

There are numerous sites in Cebu that showcase it's Spanish colonial past.

The Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino is a Roman Catholic church were the statue of the infant Jesus (Santo Nino) is enshrined. The statue was Magellan's gift to Raja Humabon upon his arrival in 1521. Nearby is the famous Magellan's Cross; also give by Magellan.

The Cebu Cathedral serves as the birthplace of Roman Catholicism in Asia. There is a museum housing many artifacts from the era.

Fort San Pedro is the first and oldest Spanish fort in the Philippines. It was built to defend the city against Moro invaders coming from the South.

Beautiful Beaches

Bantayan and Mactan island are both well-known for their beautiful beaches. There are numerous resorts in both areas ranging from the larger, established ones to the smaller and less known.

Incredible Diving Experiences

The diving spots located around Malapascua island has been featured on the Discovery Channel for their diversity that is in comparison to the Tubbataha reef. A must for any diving enthusiast!

Moalboal located in the Souther part of Cebu island is also another popular diving destination. Aside from great diving, there are numerous waterfalls, caves and canyons to explore in the area.

Did you know?

-Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines. Cebu was the first Spanish settlement established 7 years before the current capital which is Manila. Colon Street in downtown Cebu is the oldest street in the country.

Quick Facts

Population: Around 3 million

Language: 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.

Dress: Wear naturalfibre, lightweight clothing. 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.

Electrical: 220 volts and a plug with 2 flat parallel prongs.

Money: The Philippine currency is peso. Most foreign currencies can easily be changed at banks, hotels, and authorized dealers. Major foreign credit cards may be accepted only at major hotels, resorts, shops and restaurants.

Tipping: Tipping 5-15% of the bill is appropriate if no service charge is included. P10-P20 for bellboys, porters and like.

Public Transport: One may take a colorful jeepney to get around Cebu. Taxis are widely available.