Cebu: Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Mactan Island and Amuma Spa

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is a seven-hectare beach resort in Buyong Maribago, Mactan Island, Cebu. I was looking forward to my stay after a relaxing visit to the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort. It was another long drive from Oslob to Lapu-Lapu City. We arrived at Maribago just in time for dinner.


They have themed dinners every night. And on Sundays, they serve the five-course Chef's Special. For my visit, it was a kebab theme which included Trio of Maki Kebab (Dragon Roll, Dynamite Roll, California Maki) for the appetizer, a choice of chicken, pork tenderloin or seafood kebab for the main course, and fruit kebab with dark chocolate sauce for dessert.


The highlight of my stay was getting pampered for close to four hours at Amuma Spa. Amuma is Cebuano for pamper. And indeed, that's what I got with their Lapu-Lapu Package. The treatment is a combination of the skin pampering Makisig Treatment (I got scrubbed with barako coffee and painted with chocolate tableas, virgin coconut oil and cream before relaxing in a jacuzzi), and a two-hour deep-tissue body massage called duot (which I can't remember since I was so relaxed and slept through it).

Their signature treatment is the Amuma Hilot which combines massage techniques from around the Philippines including the use of warm banana leaves to soothe your muscles. It even comes complete with native rituals such as pausok (space cleansing through medicinal herbs and mineral smoke), dasal (prayer), and orasyon (blessings, chants and spiritual invocations).

Before calling it a night after four hours in Amuma Spa, I took a stroll around the resort. It was nice walking around in the evening since the mellow lighting around the resort, the many pools and fountains and its thatch-roofed buildings give the resort an enchanting feel.



Before trying out their sumptuous breakfast buffet spread in the morning, I walked towards the beach area to enjoy the morning sun. Unfortunately, I had to rush to the Mactan Airport in a while. Too think there was so much to do at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

If you're a chess fan, there's a life-sized chessboard in the beach you can play around with if you want to get more than your mind moving. Then there's the in-house Aquamania Water Sports which offers wake boards, wave riders with banana boat, isotope catamarans, wind surfs, ocean kayaks, masks and snorkels, fishing lines, scuba diving and banca tours to other islands.

There's also a calendar in your rooms which outline the various educational activities (they teach you how to dance the tinikling or play native games), entertainment and shows and other things to see, taste and experience. That being said, I hope I get a chance to stay longer because that last stay was bitin!

How to get to Maribago
A stay in Maribago includes free airport transfers. The Mactan Airport is just 15 to 20 minutes from Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort
(032) 4920100 / maribago@bluewater.com.ph
(02) 8175751 / 8871348

Cebu: Sumilon Island's Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort

Sumilon Island is a 24-hectare coral island off the coast of Bancogon, Oslob, Cebu. The island hosts the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort which developed the island into an eco-friendly haven for those who want to get away from the stress of city living.

Previously, this marine sanctuary had been accessible to just anyone. Unfortunately, just like in many places around the country, locals and visitors alike left their garbage on Sumilon's beautiful shifting sandbar, which is known for changing shape and shifting locations around the island depending on the season. With the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort there, the island is well-maintained and protected from this utter disregard for the environment.


I got the chance to visit Sumilon Island over the weekend. I took the first flight to Cebu. One thing I noticed about NAIA Terminal 2 was that the lines were much longer than NAIA Terminal 3 and 4. I usually ask for front row or exit row seats. But effective March 1, 2010, PAL now charges Php224 for the seats! So I thought, since it was a full flight and I wanted convenience having had no sleep, I'd get a front row seat. Unfortunately the next step was to pay at the cashier. And the lines were even longer! So there goes Philippine Airlines' paying for convenience... FAIL!

As soon as I arrived, I was brought to the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort where the rest of the group was billeted. For the morning, we were going to make our way through various centuries-old churches of Southern Cebu (I'll talk about that in another entry), as we drove down to Oslob.


Without the stopovers, the trip from Mactan to Oslob is about three hours. But with all the stopovers and annotations, we arrived in Bancogon in six hours. The resort has its own port facilities in Bancogon. If you arrive in the evening, there are rooms available in the mainland if you're not comfortable making that boat ride to Sumilon Island in the dark. The boat ride is about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the water condition.


Sumilon Island was made a fish sanctuary in 1974 under the care of the Silliman University Marine Reserve. Which is why the island offers really great diving opportunities. There are a lot of activities available to everyone such as kayaking, snorkeling, trekking, birdwatching, windsurfing, etc. And for those who simply want to relax, they have lounge chairs by the beach, an infinity pool, and benches conveniently located all over the island for those who want to find a quiet spot for themselves to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.



As soon as we arrived, we were served a sumptuous lunch which was soon followed by cocktails by the beach and a barrio fiesta dinner. Sumilon Island is a perfect honeymoon destination. And the resort can arrange romantic beach dinners or sunset picnics on the water just for you.

The daily breakfast buffet is served by the beach which is an experience in itself. I wish I could have stayed longer on the island to enjoy it even more.

How to get to Sumilon Island
From Dumaguete City, the resort can arrange pumpboats to bring guests directly to Sumilon Island. Travel time is between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the sea conditions.

Or you can take the ferry from Dumaguete to Bato Port, Oslob where the resort can pick-you up and ferry you to the island. The earliest ferry leaves Tampi Port, Dumaguete City at 5 a.m. while the last one leaves at 6:30 p.m.

From Cebu City, you can either take a bus, van, or hire a private vehicle to take you to Bancogon, Oslob. Private cars take about 3 hours while buses could take you up to four hours. Car rentals are Php3,000 while vans cost about Php5,000. The public vans charge Php200 per head, while buses cost about Php90 for air-con and Php45 for ordinary buses. Both buses and public vans depart from the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort
(032) 4810801 / reservations@sumilonbluewater.com.ph
(02) 8175751 / 8871348

Cebu: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort and Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort

I just uploaded photos of the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort and Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort plus our visita iglesia in Southern Cebu in the Ivan About Town page on Facebook. Check it out!

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort
(032) 4810801 / reservations@sumilonbluewater.com.ph

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort
(032) 4920100 / maribago@bluewater.com.ph

Manila Office
(02) 8175751 / 8871348

SEAIR is giving away discounts for its 15th anniversary!

SEAIR is offering special anniversary promos in celebration of its 15th anniversary on March 25, 2010. Check out the special morning rates of as low as Php1,999.20 per way all-in for flights to and from Boracay before 7 a.m. Selling and travel period is from February 1, 2010 onwards.

There's also a Php1,500.00 discount per way for all seats, flights and routes if you book via www.flyseair.com from March 14 to 25, 2010 for travel from for travel on June 15 to October 15, 2010. Just type iloveseair15 in the promo code field when booking. Find out the latest promos by joining the SEAIR Fan Page on Facebook.

Arnel Pineda disrespects Philippine National Anthem!

Minsan lang ako magsulat sa pambansang wika. Nakakairita na kasi! Di pa ba sila nagsawa?! Dahil nasa Sumilon Island ako noong Linggo, ngayon ko lang napanood itong video ni Arnel Pineda na kumanta ng Pambansang Awit sa laban ni Pacquiao at Clottey.

Sana may makulong na para matauhan na sila lahat. Arnel Pineda, kahit isa kang international celebrity, wala kang karapatan bastusin ang Pambansang Awit ng Pilipinas. No one is above the law!

Nasabi ko na lahat ng kailangan kong sabihin dito: The Philippine National Anthem is not a pop song! Ito ang video kung hindi pa ninyo napapanood: Arnel Pineda’s version of RP anthem criticized

How to get to Clark Airport from Dau Bus Station

Good news to Clark Airport travelers! An air-conditioned shuttle service has started operations at the Clark Airport or Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). The DMIA shuttle service utilizes new and fully air-conditioned jeepneys of the Clark Special Economic Zone Transport Federation (CSEZTF).

The service plies the route from the DMIA to the Dau Bus Terminal in Mabalacat and vice versa with stops at the Clark Main Gate and SM City Clark. The fare is Php30 from the Clark Airport/DMIA to the Clark Main Gate and SM City Clark, and Php45 from the airport to the Dau Bus Terminal.

To get to other destinations around Clark, directions to/from Clark Airport to Metro Manila and North Philippines, and the bus schedules, read How to get to and from the Clark Airport which gives the complete details of transportation to Clark Airport.

Update: There is now a free shuttle bus service for AirAisa guests from Clark Airport to Marquee Mall and vice versa. Buses leave Marquee Mall at 09:00, 10:20, 13:00, 15:00, 16:30 and 19:00 arriving in Clark Airport after 20 to 30 minutes. Buses leave Clark Airport for Marquee Mall at 10:00, 11:00, 14:30, 16:00 and 17:40. Another free shuttle is for Dau Bus Station, leaving Clark Airport at 21:20. For more information, contact Victory Liner at +63(2) 5597735 or info@victoryliner.com.

Batanes: Batanes food adventure!

Batanes food is quite unique, it would be a shame if you did not try out the local cuisine. At every Ultimate Philippines tour to Batanes, we make sure everyone gets immersed in the local flavors of Batanes.



For starters, there's (1) humet or seaweed soup, (2) supas or turmeric rice, (3) chipuhu or breadfruit, (4) tamiduk or Ivatan salad which includes steamed pako or fiddlehead fern, eggplant, string beans, chopped tomatoes, and minced onions, (5) pinasu wakay or roasted kamote, (6) vunes or dried gabi, (7) wakay or boiled yam and (8) amay or mashed kamote and taro.



Then for the main course, there's (9) payi or lobster, (10) arayu, dorado or mahi-mahi, (11) tatus or coconut crab, (12) lataven a among or kinilaw na isda, (13) lunies or Ivatan adobo made with liempo, and (14) uvud balls made with pork, flying fish and banana trunk.


For dessert, there's (15) bukayo, (16) ducay salad, (17) glorified gabi and (18) rawut or millet.

As part of the tour, we arrange buffet lunches and picnics by the beach, and cocktails and sunset dinners at picturesque attractions Batanes.

Of course we have some Filipino comfort food too. But rest assured, you'll be getting an authentic Ivatan food experience on every Ultimate Philippine food tour. Our first tour to Batanes for the year ended today. We're all flying back to Manila tomorrow. There are five more tours for this year. So book now!

Cebu: Zubuchon lechon is Anthony Bourdain's best roasted pig in the world!

The best lechon in the Philippines may be found in Cebu. And Cebu as the producer of the best whole roasted pig in the world has found an endorser in Anthony Bourdain who had ranked the Philippines as his top pick in the hierarchy of pork, dislodging Bali and Puerto Rico from the top slots!

So what lechon did Anthony Bourdain get to taste when he was in Cebu which made him declare such? Well, we found out during our trip that Market Manila served his own Zubuchon lechon. And the great thing about Zubuchon lechon is that it's available for sale to the public (while supplies last).


A kilo sells for Php450. They serve it fresh, or if you plan to bring it to Manila, frozen and properly boxed up, very convenient to bring as carry-on luggage.

There are two branches. One is in the Banilad Town Center. And the other is at the Mactan Airport Pre-Departure Area. But they only sell it at the Mactan Airport beginning at 4 p.m. until supplies last.

I got to taste the Zubuchon lechon while in Cebu. The skin itself is crispy and packed with so much flavor. Even the meat of the Zubuchon lechon is so rich in flavor, there's no need for the usual sarsa.

Related article
Lechon, chicharon and more from Carcar

Bohol: Danao and the Dagohoy Rebellion

Who is Francisco Dagohoy? Do you know his significance in Philippine history? Dagohoy led the longest revolt in Philippine history, the Dagohoy Rebellion, from 1744 to 1829. I'm sure most of us learned that from our grade school textbooks. We all know he's from Bohol and that the revolt was in Bohol. But it was only when I visited Danao did I realize that I was standing on the ground which served as the headquarters of the Dagohoy Rebellion.

Magtangtang in Danao was said to be the headquarters or hideout of Dagohoy during the revolt. People in Danao were telling us stories about the Francisco Dagohoy Cave which was his main headquarters. It is said that hundreds of Dagohoy’s followers preferred death inside the cave than surrender. Their skeletons still remain in the site. But unfortunately, like in many places of historical interest, stupid treasure hunters imagined that there was gold or valuable objects in the cave, and did irreversible damage to it.


Today, a statue of Francisco Dagohoy stands in Magtangtang, Danao, a few minutes from the Danao Adventure Park, a silent reminder to the heroism of the Boholanos. The Dagohoy Marker was installed by the Philippine Historical Committee (now NHI) in 1953 to honor his heroism.

Danao Adventure Park
E.A.T. Danao's Plunge, the only canyon swing in the Philippines!
Danao Adventure Park's E.A.T. Danao
Spelunking at Danao Adventure Park's Kamira Cave

Bohol: Organic farm tour in Danao, Bohol

Aside from the Danao Adventure Park, among the activities in Danao, Bohol are visits to an organic farm. Our accommodation, the Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc. (JLGFFI), was in fact situated in an organic farm. Which is why we enjoyed fresh greens during our stay there.

We had fresh lettuce for our salads and basil for our pasta. There's a supply of rosemary for roast chicken or tarragon for tea. Plus we had a constant supply of freshly-picked mint leaves for our mojito night!

Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc.
Ian Gonzaga (0917) 3252426
Php300/person per night

They also arrange airport and ferry terminal transfers to Danao and meals. Ask about their custom-made tour packages to the Danao Adventure Park. And I highly-recommend that you have them arrange your visit to Danao.