Traveling is one thing I enjoy doing. Aside from knowing the heritage and culture, I love trying local delicacies. I always travel in group and most of the time, work-related. But this time, I decided to try solo backpacking and try traveling to one province a year.
One of my target destination was Cebu. The first time I visited Cebu was last January 14-19, 2010 to witness and cover the Sinulog Festival with Kriz Ryan Zara, RJ Palad and Gian Hendrik Lingad. We also visited Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross, Basillica Minore del Sto. Nino de Cebu, Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral, Plaza Parian, Yap-Santiago Ancestral Home, Taoist Temple, Casa Verde, SM City Cebu and Ayala Cebu. Check out my photos here and see how slim I was back then. Hahahahaha.
This year, my Cebu itinerary is to see Mactan and Lapulapu. And enjoy more authentic Cebu foods. I arrived March 20, 9:00 AM via Air Philippines, and before checking in at Gran Prix Econotel in Cebu City, I dropped by Mactan Shrine ended up disappointed because I spent Php300 for the taxi fare just to see an almost plain-looking park with just a statue of Lapu Lapu and a piece of stone as the only landmark. That’s when I decided I will focus on trying Cebu delicacies then.
Aside from my planned food tripping, I also took the chance to meet some of the Cebu-based bloggers here. I planned the meet-up and asked help from Mark Monta (founder of Cebu Bloggers Society) whom I met during a premiere night in ResortsWorld Manila, and was also referred to bloggers Miong Filimon and Xerxs Chua to seek help in inviting bloggers.
The simple Bloggers Meet-Up I planned turned into an event after my good friends at Greenwich Pizza and Pasta in Manila offered not just the food and venue I requested but even went all the way to Cebu just to assist us and gave out goodie bags and raffle prizes! And since Greenwich offered more than what I asked from them, I also looked for some stuffs I have (given by my sponsors) to give away as well.
Yesterday was actually a not ideal day for meet-ups as most of the bloggers are working or studying and there’s a scheduled big event that night. But luckily, 10 bloggers showed up to support the “event” we did at Greenwich store in Raintree Mall. Cebu bloggers who participated were Jervie David Montejar, Kristine Roa, Marco Paulo Diala, Jeemah Villaverde, Alexa Martin, Chanel Marie, Clarisa Briones-Bernal, Mark Monta, Bjornson Bernales and John Mendoza. The event was made even special with the surprise visit of Greenwich Barkada endorser / model Vince Canizares who happens to be living in Cebu as well.
The best part on meeting new friends is when you’re doing it while having delicious meal. Greenwich served their latest offerings: the Mango Pearl Cooler, the Greenwich Lasagna Supreme, and the Greenwich Ultimate Special Overload Pizza and the Greenwich Ultimate Hawaiian Overload. We exchanged stories and blogging experiences and I admire them a lot because unlike bloggers in Manila, they are more united as a group, and no horror stories yet of unwanted bloggers or what I call the Dirty Blaggers.
Everyone won from the raffle draw and two of them was lucky to win a GE camera designed by Jason Wu, again, courtesy of Greenwich.
Thank you to everyone who joined the event and hopefully before I leave this coming March 24, I would still manage to meet some more Cebu Bloggers. Thank you also to Cookie Cabrera and Maf Billiones of Greenwich Pizza + Pasta for all the love and support. Till the next bloggers meet-up!
