"Philippines - A guide to explore the humanities and oceans in Cebu, Philippines. What places will the local guide not take you to?"

The group itinerary I signed up for was a trip to Cebu + Shiseido Island. Originally, I only had one day of free travel, but as soon as I got off the plane, the tour guide spread out the sightseeing spots in Cebu on the third day to the mornings of the first and fourth days, so there were two Day free time. The local guide highly recommends self-funded projects to go to Bohol Island. I personally prefer to read humanities and history, and I don’t go for self-funded projects. But friends who are very interested in the sea can go to Bohol Island, where you can see whale sharks, sardines, diving and other marine projects, of course the cost will be higher.

Luggage equipment

Change of clothes: The humidity in the Philippines is very high. Clothes need to be blown under the air conditioner to dry. I only wear one set of clothes a day.

Sandals and slippers: The hotel I stayed in does not provide bathing slippers, so I recommend bringing your own.

Toiletries: Many hotels do not provide them, so it is recommended to bring your own.

Rope hanger: The rope is used to dry clothes under the air conditioner and will not dry in the toilet.

Sun protection supplies: sunglasses, sunscreen, and parasol, as ultraviolet rays are very strong there.

Charging equipment: The sockets in the Philippines are the same as those in China, and there is no need to convert plugs.

Black pen: Fill out the immigration card and luggage card on the plane.

Coins: It is most cost-effective for us to exchange money with the tour guide this time. The exchange rate difference is not very big, 100 yuan is exchanged for 688 pesos at the airport, and 700 pesos is exchanged by the local escort. However, the money exchange window at Huanghua Airport charges a 50 handling fee. Be sure to change extra change when you arrive in the Philippines, as tipping is always required there. Buying a bottle of water at the 7-11 convenience store can break the bank.

Backpack: The school bag we used for two days of free travel is very useful. Passports, water bottles, parasols and umbrellas, snacks, tissues, etc. are all stored in the bag, which is very convenient.

Mosquito repellent: We don’t have many mosquitoes in October, but it’s still useful to bring a bottle of Fengyoujing or green ointment.

Google Maps: Download the Google Maps APP and there will be absolutely no problem with navigation.

Mobile data: The data card we bought from Amazon. 2G for 7 days, 18 yuan. It’s enough not to watch dramas or use Tik Tok, the internet speed there is not very good. The hotel has wireless

Schedule

DAY 1
In the morning, fly to Cebu and have a flight meal at noon. Arrive in Cebu at 15:00 and visit [Fort San Pedro]

DAY 2
SM shopping mall in the morning. Afternoon Cebu Museum, Gorordo Museum

DAY 3
AM University of San Carlos . Afternoon Colon Road, Santiago Yap’s ancestral house

DAY 4
Full-day group trip to President Island + snorkeling + encounter with an unknown island

DAY 5
Morning shopping spot - latex store. Then we walked to [Cathedral of the Holy Infant] and [Magellan’s Cross]. Take off back to Changsha at 16:00 and arrive at 19:15.

About eating

Filipinos love fried chicken! There is also seafood, but the cooking methods are certainly not comparable to those in China, where the taste is more original. Personally I think the fried chicken is pretty good. Moreover, I feel safe inside the department store. The store is clean and tidy, just like in China. The food is rich in variety and the price is acceptable. A full meal for the two of us usually costs around 15$.



There is also a roadside stall, which should be a very authentic Filipino taste. I had no choice but to worry about my stomach. If I ate something bad and it would affect my subsequent itinerary, I would lose more than I gained, so I gave up.



About transportation

I must try the Google Maps APP, it is quite powerful. During our two days of free travel, we relied on Google Maps to guide us, and we made no mistakes.

I didn’t dare to ride on the beautiful local buses in Cebu. One was because I couldn’t understand the place names, and the other was that I couldn’t communicate. But it can be seen that this is a very popular small bus in Cebu, which is convenient and plentiful. This small bus also has stops and conductors.



About language

I can communicate in English, but it is difficult to understand. Their Filipino accents and our Chinglish were incomprehensible to each other, and in the end we could only respond with awkward yet polite smiles. But being able to speak English is enough. The staff at universities and museums speak English very well.

Okay, here are the highlights of my “Philippines” trip to Cebu. The second to the fourth day – a 48-hour trip to experience the humanistic Philippines + a full day at sea to get close to the tropical ocean. I recommend that you also take a very niche trip. A journey of free exploration.

Hotel-sm shopping mall

The most attractive thing on the streets of Cebu are these colorfully painted buses. They are all unique and shuttle through the streets and alleys. Despite their small size, they also have conductors, stops, and prescribed driving routes.





Cebu Museum...

At the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, Spain, a European maritime power, went to the East to develop colonies. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the Philippines not being unified at that time, it occupied Manila in 1571, and the Philippines began a period of Spanish colonial rule.

In February 1899, the United States launched a war of aggression against the Philippines to suppress the Philippine revolution. The first bourgeois republic in Philippine history was strangled, and the Philippines became a colony of the United States.

The Cebu Museum tells the history of the Spanish and American colonial periods in the Philippines.







Gorordo Museum

The Cebu Museum tells the history of the religious, economic, and cultural attacks brought by Western colonists, while the Gorordo Museum shows the history of the cultural integration of the West and the East.

I passed a school on the way, just in time for the school day to end. At the school gates in the Philippines, counselors in blue overalls stop vehicles and escort students across the road. There is also a family chapel and a basketball court at the door. There are many colorful pictures of life waiting to be discovered.