What: Visita Iglesia of Northern Cebu Churches and Beach at Bantayan Island
When: July 11-12
Travelling Companion: Pedro
Day 1 – July 11,2012This was my Nth time to go to Cebu and my first time to Visit the Towns and Cities North of Cebu. Like my Last Year Trip to Cebu, this trip became a Visita Iglesia as well. It was a trip worth remembering as we had to Walk, ride a Pedicab, Tricycle, Habal Habal (Single Motorcycle), Old Bus, Ceres Bus, Ferry, Taxi and Van to get to one town to another.
Our Itinerary for the Trip:
0500am – Departed House
I Stopped at a BDO Atm to get some Dough
0545am – Arrived at Airport
I Paid the Terminal Fee (P200x2) then we had Breakfast at Mrs Fields after exiting the final security check. Ordered Coffee and Roast Beef Sandwhich (P295). After breakfast proceeded to Gate 120 to wait for boarding
0705 – Commence boarding
The Boarding was on the dot. Boarding was scheduled at 705am and they started boarding at 705am.
0735 – Departure for CEBU
The departure time was right on schedule and there seemed to be no more Traffic. Once the plane had positioned at the runway it took off unlike before wherein the Pilot would announce a delayed take off. This is probably an effect of the orders of the DOTC.
0835 – Arrival at Mactan Cebu International Airport
0850 – Taxi to Church of Consolacion
They changed the way going to the white metered taxi. Once you exit the Airport Turn right and cross the road then turn left. Just follow the Taxi Signs. The Taxi stand for the White Regular Taxi is now at the Departures Area. For the White Taxis Flag Down is P40.00 compared to the Yellow Airport Taxis with Flag down of P70.00 and equipped with a Fast Meter.
0910 – Arrival at Consolacion Church (Taxi Fare 153)
The Church of Consolacion was open. I was able to take a lot of pictures of this Church. (For more about this please Visit. The Church of Consolacion at pinoychurches.wordpress.com)
0928 – Took Jeep to Liloan (Fare 8×2)
0938 – Arrived at Liloan Church
The church was old but unfortunately it was closed. Contented myself by taking pictures of the exterior. (Visit The Church of Liloan at pinoychurches.wordpress.com to know more about my visit)
0947 – Took Jeep to Compostela (Fare 8×2)
0957 – Arrived at Compostela – The Church like the Consolacion church looked fairly new or it was just probably renovated. It had a year 1866 written outside so i guess that is when the Church was started but judging from how it looks, it doesn’t look Old. (Visit the Church of Compostela for more about this Church)
1013 – Took Jeep to Danao City (10×2)
1027 – Arrived at Danao – The jeep stopped at the terminal so we walked a few minutes to the church. And after a few minutes a beautiful and huge coral stone rock greeted us and this one looked really old. I took a lot of pictures of this church and also included all the Stations of the cross. (visit the Church of Danao to see more pictures)
1050 – Lunch at Ogis (Bill 190) – We saw this place while walking to the church. It is located near the Plaza. We ordered their Lechon Manok (160) and Rice and Pepsi.
1127 – Arrived at carmen – We nearly missed the Church. The Church was being renovated. Everything was being changed. From the looks of the bell tower which was still unchanged, it will be having a new look. Took pictures of the Inside and the Outside of the Church. (Visit pinoychurches.wordpress.com to see more pictures)
1215 – Arrived at Catmon – The Church of Catmon is located at the top of a hill and the church is Old. I though i would not be able to see the inside but a door at the back was open. (Visit pinoychurches.wordpress.com to see more pictures of the Church of Catmon)
1241 – Arrived at Sogod – The church of Sogod, like Catmon’s sits on top of a Hill. While on top, you will be awarded with a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The Church was closed but the doors were see through so i was able to see the inside. The grounds were very beautiful, well maintained.
1400 – Arrived at Bogo City – The Bus did not stop near the church instead went straight to the Public Market. We Took a tricycle to the Church (8×2). The Church was very impressive. It boasted of an ornate facade with many carvings. It was an Archdiocesan Shrine to San Vicente. At the side of the Church is an altar dedicated to San Vicente.
1455 – Arrived at Hagnaya Pier – At the Pier we Paid 170×2 for the ferry which was for the 330pm departure and 10×2 for the Terminal Fee.
1540 – Departed Hagnaya to Sta Fe
1640 – Arrived at Santa Fe
Upon exiting the Pier we were greeted by Men who were offering a ride. 100 pesos on a motorbike. Instead we took a tricycle which you can find near the terminal building. We were supposed to Stop at Santa Fe first and check in at the Resort but i forgot to tell the driver to Stop! So we just decided to go to Bantayan.
The trip to Bantayan by Tricycle took almost 30 minutes. Fare at 25 pesos each.
We stopped at the Church which was Old. It was a coral stone rock church which boasted of a beautiful facade and an equally beautiful interior. The stone carvings were astounding. The walls of the church were full of stone carvings situated on top of windows, doors and some near the ceiling. There was a mass going on so we just finished the mass before i went on a picture snapping frenzy.
We went to Julie’s to eat a snack while the mass was going on and buy swimming shorts.
1810 – Took Jeep to Santa Fe (Fare 25×2)
1830 – Check In at Kota Resort – the room i reserved was the Amihan room. The immediate area around the room lacked maintenance. But still decided to just take the room. The room is very simple, 2 Queen Size beds, a dresser, an open cabinet to place your clothes. But most important it was clean.
1900 – Swimming at the Beach – After a long day of touring, we went to the beach to swim. It was already dark and I could not see how the beach really looked like but you can see that the water was clear
1945 – Dinner at Resort Restaurant – We ordered the following for Dinner. Grilled Pork Chop, Adobo Squid and Steamed Shrimp. Total Bill (P685). It was a delicious dinner. Everything was fresh. The Pork Chop was the one which i really liked. It was delicious.
2030 – Visit Town (Gave Pedicab Driver 100)
2100 – Called it a Day
Day 2 – July 12, 2012
0400 – Woke Up – The room had no TV so there was nothing to do. The 3G Speed though was Unbelievably Fast!! Did a Mobile Check In with Air Philippines and searched for Balamban Liempo.
0500 – Went to the Beach – I finally got to see the beach in daytime. The water was clear. The playing of the yellows and reds in the sky was a sight to behold.
0540 – Swimming at the Beach
0640 – Check Out – I paid for the room (P1560.00) in Cash. They have a BDO Credit Card sign but the girl who checked us out is not really the one in charge so i doubt if she knows how to use the CC machine plus the girl who checked us in last night said that the machine was not working.
We stopped at the Church of Santa Fe. Unfortunately it was closed. Visited the Aglipayan Church infront. It was closed also.
0650 – Took pedicab to pier – We took a pedicab to the pier. It turned out that the pedicab at the gate of the hotel was following us and it turned out that he was the same one we hired last night. It is a lean season and there are not much tourists this time so it is probably hard for him to make a living. Gave him P150 for the short trip to the pier.
0700 – Arrived at Pier – Paid 170 each plus 5 pesos and another 5 pesos for Terminal Fee for the 730 Ferry
0715 – Boarded Ferry
0737 – Depart Sta Fe for Hagnaya
0850 – Arrived at Hagnaya Pier
0855 – Took Tricycle to Church of San Remigio (10×2)
0900 – Arrived at Church of San Remigio – The Church was closed but it was easy to see the inside of the church. Did not know that at the back of the Church is the old facade of the Church. Just learned about it when i was reading Simbahan.Net’s feature on Cebu Churches.
0913 – Jeep to Tabuelan (Bogo) (Fare 15pesos Each) – It turned out that there is no San Remigio to Tabuelan Route yet. The Jeepney Conductor told us to go to Bogo and ride a Jeep to Luyang then ride a Habal Habal (Single Motorcycle)
0930 – Arrived at Bogo Central Terminal
We did not have any Breakfast at Bantayan so we ate at one of the eateries at the Terminal. We ordered Humba and A Squid Dish similar to the Adobong Pusit. Our Breakfast including drinks. Total Bill 74.
We asked the Manang at the eatery where the Jeep going to Tabuelan was and she said it was at the back of the eatery. She accompanied us to the back and asked where the Luyang jeep was. The man she asked said it had already left. Manang told us to go to the Bakery just ahead and wait for the Jeep as it will go there.
1000 – Boarded Jeep for Lugang (Fare 37×2) – The Jeep still waited for more passengers before it proceeded. The trip was a long one. And i noticed that there were no other public transport along the route except for private cars and motorcycles.
1105 – Arrived at Luyang / Habal Habal to Tabuelan (P120 x 2) – We rented a Habal Habal (Motorcycle) to Tabuelan. There was no other way to go there besides this. The fare of 120 was for 2 but we decided to rent 2 Habal Habal for 240.
1125 – Arrived at Tabuelan Church
1130 – Departed Tabuelan for Tuburan. – We boarded the first bus we saw. Fare at P15 each.
1155 – Arrived at Tuburan
1235 – Departure for Asturias –The Bus fare going to Asturias was P25 each. The Bus took what seemed like an eternity! It made 2 Long Stops along the way. it was a route which could have been made probably in 30 minutes but via this bus it took almost 2 long hours!!
1400 – Arrived at Asturias
1410 – Rode Tricycle to Balamban (P30 for 2)
1430 – Arrived at Balamban – After visiting the Church we went to the Market to look for Kristian’s Balamban Liempo. We could not find it so we asked around and we were pointed to a stall in front of the market. It turned out that they changed their name to Johnny’s.
We ordered the Liempo and went to the nearby Balamban Food Centre. The Liempo was definitely good. And the Original is definitely better!
1515 – Departed Balamban for Toledo City. Fare P25 each.
1610 – Arrival at Toledo City – We were in a hurry to get back to Cebu City. I did not spend much time at the Church as i wanted to plus there was a group of women reciting the rosary.
1615 – Pedicab to Terminal (P50)
1620 – Arrived at Terminal
1640 – Departed Toledo City for Cebu City via Van (P100 each)
1815 – Arrived Cebu Terminal/ Taxi to Airport – On the way we stopped at Cebu Cardinal Bakeshop at B Aranas, Taboan. Unfortunately the Pastel i was looking for was already sold out! So we just proceeded to the Airport
1855 – Arrived Mactan Airport
2040 – Boarding
2110 – Departure to Manila
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