A PHILLIPPINE FAIRYTALE - Last Day in Cebu - 15 December 2022

I had arranged with the biker who I had engaged last evening to take me on a tour of Mactan this morning. He was to have reported at Marco Polo at 9 am. When I didn't see him till well past that and with no response from his mobile I engaged another bike taxi after detailed rate negotiation. I explained the places I wanted to visit in Mactan to avoid any confusion at a later stage. According to Google Maps the round trip would be about 60 km; a fairly long distance on the pillion through crowded, polluted streets. The rate agreed to was 700 PHP for three hours.

Busy period traffic can be overwhelming in Cebu. The biker, Herman, ploughed on nevertheless. With me clinging on for dear life, but putting on a nonchalant countenance by humming a few Bollywood songs, the ride was a tour of Cebu's business district and the Port area. Past that we got on to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to cross over to Mactan. It is the second Cebu-Mactan Bridge spanning the Mactan Channel connecting mainland Cebu to Lapu-Lapu city. It is also the second longest cable stayed bridge in the Philippines at 1.2 kms. The original name of Mactan was Opong. As the islanders turned to piracy it came to be referred as Mangatang - to wait in ambush - which evolved with the dialect into Matan and then Mactan.

Magellan's Marker and Lapu-Lapu Monument are together known as the Mactan Shrine. The shrine was established in 1969. While Magellan's Marker is dedicated to the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the bronze statue commemorates Lapu Lapu, a native leader who defeated Spanish soldiers led by Magellan.

The site is believed to be where Magellan was killed during the Battle of Mactan in April 27, 1521. The large memorial grounds face the Magellan Bay. A matter of interest to note is that the monuments in Manila overwhelmingly focuses on Jose Rizal and Cebu is all about Magellan and Lapu-Lapu.

ShangriLa, Mactan is very close to the Mactan Shrine and this super luxury hotel offers more than 500 distinctive rooms with views of the Mactan Channel. I went there to check out water sports activities they have advertised. It was a super hot and humid day and I must have looked quite cheeky to try out parasailing, jet skiing and banana boat ride.

The hotel grounds are manicured and huge with exceptional views of the waters. I passed through a small golf training course, a couple of swimming pools and a spa before reaching the Scotty's adventure point. The price they quoted for less than an hour for all three activities combined was a ridiculous 9800 PHP, while it was announced for less than half that at many other locations. After walking around a bit more taking in the glorious sights I got back to the bike to seek out the famous floating restaurant, Lantaw.

When we reached the Lantaw Floating Restaurant through very crowded streets I was, frankly, super disappointed. Firstly, there was nothing floating about the restaurant. Someone tried to explain it away by saying that it was low tide at the time of my visit. Whatever, the restaurant supposedly serves authentic traditional food. There were quite a few during that hour in the restaurant.

I didn't stay for lunch because of the contract with the biker to be back before 12.30 pm. Beside the Lantaw Floating Restaurant is the Korean owned cafe, the 10000 Roses. Its USP are the 10000 led lit roses and a glass fronted viewing deck. Because of its uniqueness, it is popular for weddings and corporate get-togethers. The sun had become insufferable by then.

From the Floating Restaurant we backtracked a bit to get to the highway that would connect the recently opened third bridge, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, in short CCLEX. It is the third bridge across the Mactan Channel and the longest cable stay bridge in the Philippines, at 8.9 km. The tolled expressway is a beauty. Bikes are charged 60 PHP for a one-way trip. It connects the southern part of Mactan to the Cebu mainland. The views of Cebu skyline and the Mactan Channel as well as the architecture of the lovely bridge are indeed awesome. CCLEX was inaugurated on 27 April 2022, just eight months ago.

With that ended the tour of Cebu and Philippines. Whatever I wanted to see was done. Of course, the water sports activities didn't happen. Maybe, that's for another time, another place! I told Herman to drop me at Anzani, touted as the restaurant that serves new Mediterranean cuisine. One look at the menu and I knew it would be the costliest meal in Philippines. Regardless, I ordered a soup and pasta. Disappointing was the portions. The wild mushroom cream soup was extraordinary, but the pasta was just so-so.

The day had been hot and humid. Tough to walk around, but the skies held. Late in the evening it rained heavily with drums of thunder and slivers of lightning accompanying it. When the rain eased a while I made haste to the Marco Polo Plaza. I was told there that the Chinese restaurant in the Hotel had very recently reopened. I decided to give that a try.

With the steward's guidance I ordered a small portion of mushroom noodles and pork belly. In one of the larger enclosures of the restaurant a Christmas party was in progress. The people in there didn't care for others in the restaurant. They were raucous and too loud for comfort.

When the noodles and pork arrived I wondered when I would get through the portions. In the end, most of it got packed up for an onslaught en-route! The food was outstanding. The manager of the restaurant told me that he had worked in Mumbai for a couple of years and had learnt to cook many Indian dishes, biriyani being his favourite.

The Philippines stay has been enjoyable and informative. The weather was almost always in favour of the outdoors. The bags are packed and a short nap away is the ride to the airport.