Kawasan Falls, Badian Cebu

One of my good  friend Stephanie and I decided to get out of town, so we went to visit my Grannies place in Badian (southern town in Cebu, Philippines) where Kawasan Falls is located, even thought I was there 3 times in summer this year, it never grow old on me.  I always love going there. The waterfalls always makes me feel like I am in paradise.  Stefi, who was extending her stay in Philippines volunteered to drive us.  So, we packed camping tents, pillows and blankets, we really didnt know where we will stay for the night, but it doesnt matter.  I just want to get out of the city.  We were on the road for 3 hours until we reached the town of Badian.  This town is really close to my heart - this is were my mom was born and raised. 

first level waterfalls

We stopped by at the Badian Public Market to gather some food supplies, at least we know we have something in case we cant find a place for dinner.  Stefi brought her 2 year old kid - Crista with us, so we prefer to be safe than sorry.  The market was a typical town market, with live stocks and mostly home made produce, the good thing is there were a lot of fresh fruits and they were cheaper compared to the ones we get in the City and a much better quality.  When we got to Matutinao (the actual place of the waterfalls), it was almost 5pm, so we decided to find a place near the waterfalls and head to the falls early in the morning.  It would be difficult for us to go up to the waterfalls with a kid when its about to get dark, the road can be slippery and dangerous. It wouldn't be fun.  

second level waterfalls

We woke up very early the following morning, perhaps it was the excitement but I was thinking it was the growing noise of the waves splashing on the rocks just outside our beach front cottage.  But whether it was excitement or not, believe I was itching to go the moment I stood up from the bed.  So, we head to the waterfalls right away, we skirted our way following the source of the river.  Crista was getting excited too, she kept asking if we were there yet.  I could sense her excitement as well as irritation every time we passed on something that resembles a waterfalls in a piled up rocks in the river and she thinks we are there but then gets disappointed that we still have to walk further more.

Little Crista

We walked for about 20 minutes and we arrived to the first level waterfalls, it is beautiful and high, higher than the waterfalls from the other levels.  When we got there, there were already people who reserved cottages and some already started swimming.  We were thinking we will be the first to arrive there and get the best spot - it would feel like we outsmart everyone else, but we were late.  Anyway, we went up further to the second level waterfalls. It was a steep climb and luckily we had Alan with us to carry Crista when it gets really steep.  Although, we were already panting with our tongue out when we reached the second level, we were very happy that we were the first to get there.  I guess people only stay on the first level to avoid the climb.  

Alan and Crista

We swam a bit on the second waterfalls and then decided to go up to the third level.  It was a steeper climb, at some point we had to stop to gather our energy and then walk again.  When we got to the third level, I was about to die.  I didn't know if it was the heat of the sun or my trembling knees that felt like I just climbed Mt. Fuji.  But after a dip in the water, I felt refreshed and energized again.  The water was so cool and the swimming area is much better compared to the other levels. The day went by like a flash and we really enjoyed out time at Kawasan Falls.  And even if I been there many times before I could still go there with excitement many times over, again and again.  The only thing is that there are a lot of mosquitos in the area, so you either keep moving or stay in the water.  Also, there are people local people following you all the time.  It's get very intimidating that it feels like someone is watching your every move and then they keep asking you to try the bemboo raft and then tell you to pay for it, some of them will keep following you and then assume that they are your tour guide and ask you a certain fee.  So be clear that you dont want their assistance in the beginning.  Don't be fooled!

The Kawasan Falls just recently voted as the Best Waterfalls in the Philippines 2016.

Night Diving at Palm Beach, Marigondon

As a child, I remembered Marigondon as a weekend refuge from the city life for me and my big family. This is where we usually spend Saturdays, Sundays and all the public holidays specially when the tide is high. We all love the sea so much that we would stay in the water from the time we arrive til its time to go. I would get prune hands it would hurt all night but as a child, it never mattered then.

nudibranch - looking so fragile

However now that I'm crazy about scuba diving, this is how I spend most of my time in Marigondon lately. I didnt realized until now that it has a very vibrant marine life. No matter how many times I dove in this place, there is always something new to see or discover every time. Recently a friend of mine has been asking me to buddy with him for night diving almost every day. And like day time scuba diving there is always something new that we discover. Only that it is more interesting. Night diving is always a different experience, most creatures that you encounter during night time you may not see them during the day, ie. cuttlefish, brittle star, etc. But most of all, we usually feel more adrenalin as it can be a scary thing diving in darkness. I remember my first night diving experience, I almost peed in my wet suit when I was staring at the wall that feels like there is something that will appear ready to eat me alive anytime.

frogfish - so ugly looking yet so beautiful!!!

In one of our dives, we saw a white nudibranch with yellow highlights, which I havent seen before and a frogfish which I thought doesn't exist in this area but with a stroke of luck we saw it a couple of times now. I wish that the local government would protect this area from boat anchors and dynamite fishing, so we can all enjoy this gift of nature. God I love this place and night diving here makes it my top spot in Cebu and Mactan Island. This has become my favorite diving site in the area now, however you have to watch out for the tides, the current can be nasty when its going low. The best time is when the tide is going high or during high tide.

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Why Cebu is No. 1

Even before the Spanish colonization, Cebu already played a vital role in trade and commerce in Asia because the island has been gifted with a natural harbor. Its channel is deep enough to accommodate the flow of goods through international cargo sea vessels, and the Mactan island serves as protection from winds and current.

Cebu’s weather promises to be good for business because typhoon activities are minor and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. Moreover, the island is not located within any earthquake belt, there is no known active volcano, and its international airport has been large enough to connect the island to several continents.

The public administrators of the province have been known to be development-oriented, steering Cebu to greater heights by putting in place infrastructure facilities needed for economic growth.

Cebu has at least nine economic zones that offer to cut bureaucratic red tape by providing a much easier system for investors, plus incentives.

It is number one because of good fiscal management: It ranks highest among the country’s provinces in terms of assets and cash in bank.

Most importantly, Cebu ranks number one because of the current unity that has never been seen before in any province: unity among elected officials, unity among business groups, unity among its people, and unity between the private and public sectors.

There are many universities and other educational institutions that serve as magnet to students from other provinces, a major factor of a highly skilled and efficient workforce in Cebu.

Overall, Cebu continues to excel and investors are drawn to Cebu because of the culture of professionalism and craftsmanship among its people, the vast highly skilled manpower resources resilient amid trying times, its fair weather, relative peace and business-friendly atmosphere.
Source : www.cebu.gov.ph

Cebu - Queen City of the South

Cebu for the Filipinos are real historic place. It is the country's oldest city. It was here that Ferdinand Magellan claimed the country for Spain in 1521. Founded by the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1571, Cebu was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Magellan found Cebu a highly developed trading society, trading with China, Indonesia and Siam. The fact that Cebu's port is typhoon-free had played a major role in this. Today trading still remains an important role in Cebu, however the development of the Export Processing Zone in Mactan Island contributed to the development of the Province. Tourism is another major source of income. It fits not only in Cebu's hospitable environment, it has also all the ingredients for such a development. Cebu's beaches belong to the best in the country, also it's golf courses, it's nightlife, it's shopping malls and dive sites.

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