Doc Jane and Mika's CEBU TRIP

Trip to Cebu collage

🎶And you need to know that I'm hella obsessed with Cebu🎶

(I sang that to the tune of "ILYSB".)

2019 B.C. (Before Corona), I discovered a favorite band of mine is returning to the Philippines for a one-night only concert. (If you're wondering, it's LANY!) So a little backtracking here, LANY has serenaded the Filipino crowd a total of 4 times since 2017. And then, news came out saying they'll be back in 2020 (and the fangirl in me did a celebratory dance because finally! I'd be watching them sing my fave songs). They'll be back in 2020 but instead of performing in Manila, they are bound for Cebu!

With impulse taking over me, I bought plane tickets to and from Cebu. I drafted a simple itinerary for my trip to the South:

1. Sunday activity: Meet-up with my Cebu-based Ninong and attend LANY concert

2. Monday activity: Landers visit and pasalubong hunt

3. Tuesday activity: Fly back to Manila

First solo trip?

Halfway of January, anxieties rolled in. For the record, I've been to Cebu twice. The first time is with my family and my Dad knows how to converse in Bisaya. The second one was a company team building and we have a tour guide. Basically, my fears sprouted from not knowing the Cebuano language. (I apologize if this sounds a little shallow but who knows? One day I'd be able to travel on my own!)

Wanna go to Cebu?

So the solution came in the form of Doc Jane. One day, I just came up with the idea of asking her to join me in my trip to the Queen City of the South. So the conversation went like this:

Me: Do you want to unwind in Cebu?
Doc Jane: ???

I enumerated to her what I'll be doing there: I'm just going to watch a concert, visit a warehouse-type supermarket and go back to Manila. Just like that. At first, Doc Jane was not familiar with the band so she listened to their albums and then the next day, she asked my for my plane ticket info. And voila! Trip buddy!

Doc Jane and her own itinerary

With Doc Jane signing up as my trip buddy, my 4-item to-do list expanded. She wanted us to eat here, dine there, visit here, explore there. So we checked the Maps app, took note of store and tourist spots' opening hours and came up with the best possible plan how to achieve everything in her list.

First day

Sunday came, we were just right on-time for our morning flight. We arrived in Mactan International Airport around 07:30 AM and rode a bus to SM City Cebu. From there, we hailed a Grab ride to BIRDSEED Breakfast Club + Cafe to break our fast.

After that heavy brekky, we went to Landers Cebu (because I just love huge supermarkers!) and met my Ninong. We went around the establishment and I grabbed family favorites and new stuff for my #supermarketfinds tag on social media. Ninong Manny bought items for Mom and Dad (perks of long-time friendship!), treated us to a light lunch from Landers Central and guided us how we can reach our chosen tour locations.

After that wonderful time in Landers with Ninong Manny, Doc Jane and I checked in to our AirBnB room (Horizons 101, thank you very much!). Doc Jane took a nap while I browsed Netflix. 04:30 PM, we headed to SM Seaside City Cebu for the Plus63 music fest. Our feet were so tired from walking and standing for hours but that night was so worth it! Went home around 12 midnight, quickly showered, and immediately took our beauty sleep as we are scheduled for a tour in the morning.

Second day

Monday morning, we started (what we dubbed as) the Long Distance Tour since these tourist spots are miles away from our hotel. Our first stop is West Eco 35 Mountain Resort and had a healthy and scrumptious brunch in their restaurant. Next stop is Sirao Flower Garden and took a dozen of pictures there! Our last destination for this special trip is the Temple of Leah. Being a mythology fan, it was astonishing to visit a location that closely resembles Greek temples. (Hundreds of thank yous to Kuya Salih, our tour guide-slash-Grab ride!)

After Temple of Leah, we returned to our accommodation and doze off for a while before meeting Doc Jane's cousin, Lyka. We rode a jeepney going to Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu and offered prayer of gratitude to the Lord for this relaxing Cebu trip in addition to keeping us safe while miles away from our homes. Magellan's Cross is literally beside the Sto. Niño Church and then we bought Cebu delicacies in the pasalubong center outside the church. While waiting for Lyka, I purchased a number of refrigerator magnets to be given to my colleagues as well as for my fridge back home. (Side note: I have lots of ref magnets — souvenirs from friends and from my trips!)

When Doc Jane's cousin arrived, introductions were made and we rode another jeepney going to Tabo-an Market. Doc Jane purchased a kilo of Danggit to consume for breakfast once we return from our Cebu trip. We rode a cab going to Shamrock Pasalubong Center ('cause when it comes to pasalubongs, you can never have enough. lol!). We bought packs of Otap and I discovered they also have Polvoron so it went to my shopping cart real quick. Then we had Lechon and Dinuguan for dinner in Ayers Lechon and cake for dessert in Coffee Bean Scent. After a long talk in the coffee shop, we returned to our room and started packing up all our purchased goods. Midnight, Doc Jane and I were out for the count.

Third Day

Doc Jane and I prepped for our return to Cainta. We had breakfast in Nippon-Ramen located inside Mactan airport. And because I am a dessert lover, we just had to have cake in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf!

Post-Cebu trip feelings and thoughts

February 4, 2020, we were back from unwinding in Cebu. Doc Jane felt invigorated (me too!) after the trip and ready to help patients in need of her services. Contact The Dental Builders today to stay on top of your oral health and don't forget to follow TDB's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for more information!

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