VIRGIN BEACH RESORT CEBU
"a tropical paradise"
BANTAYAN ISLAND
Bantayan, Cebu PhilippinesBantayan island, the shining tropical paradise in Asia is commonly known as an island paradise in Philippines. Tourists as far as Europe fall in love with its fine white sand and crystal clear blue waters. Many of these foreigners even settled down on the island to spend the rest of their lives. They build single-cottage beach houses along the shore but as time went by, construct a couple of new cottages instead to accommodate the growing number of tourists who seeks safe haven on the splendid island paradise. Two of the main attraction of the island is its crystal-clear waters and it's long stretch of powdery white sand. The stunning sunset will really spice those romantic walks on the beach. One of the reasons the island is famous is its peacefulness, the way a resort should be. Unsaturated beauty and a combination of sweet smiling natives made the island as it is now.
When you get to cool, crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, pleasant town folk and delicious sea foods ... you're in the island of Bantayan. Coming to Bantayan is like coming out of a time machine. It's like entering the time and place when life was simple and quiet.
The island, which is composed of three municipalities, specifically Bantayan, Madridejos & Santa Fe is also generally known as the "Egg Basket" in the neighboring regions because it has been generating over one and a half million eggs a day to supply the growing demand of eggs for mainland Cebu, Negros, Panay and even Leyte.
Peter and Paul Parish Church, Bantayan Island, Cebu, PhilippinesIn Bantayan, there are 405-year-old church the one-and-a-half century house of Anun Escario, the Ogtong Cave and the rest of the ancient unarmed caves the old Spanish kota (fort) in Sta. Fe, the beautiful island in the district and the sunset at the pier.
The people in Bantayan island is mostly Christian, aside from the fact that it has the oldest church in the Visayas and Mindanao, it is also named as the Lenten capital of the Visayas. Many people from Cebu and as far as Manila go to Bantayan not only for a swim and relaxation but also to witness the holy week procession and to observe the most solemn practice of faith. Because of this, almost all resorts double their rates at this time of year.
Holy Week on Bantayan Island, Cebu, PhilippinesDuring holy week, on Maunday Thursday and Good Friday, both locals and visitors get together by the thousands at the town center of Bantayan to be part of the Lenten procession of religious symbols and images symbolizing the Passion of Christ. Such religiosity only reflects the Bantayanon's unquestioned faith in Christ therefore making the island one of the safest place in the country.
But there is also the human aspect. You see kids with even tan running around the beach lines, naked, simple-hearted and friendly. Bantayan Island has a remarkable dialect, mixture of Ilonggo, Waray and Cebuano but one that is Greek to both Cebuanos and Ilonggos. And its tone changes from town to town. The people in every town just have their own of expressing it.
Ferries going from Hagnaya, San Remegio to Bantayan IslandLike its dialect, each of the three towns has its own character. Bantayan considered as the town proper of the island has 25 barangays and the basic infrastructure. The town is known for its mouth-watering dried fish and squid. Aside from fishing, the people are also into rock phosphate and limestone mining.
If the other two towns are busy with their income projects, Sta. Fe is busier during the Lenten Season with hundreds of people who gather to its white sandy beaches. Reservations to Bantayan's beach resorts for the Lenten Season should be done six months to one year earlier. As early as February this year, the resorts have already been fully booked.
With regards to the food in Bantayan, a combination of cuisine is served on the island with a taste of restaurants serving Filipino, Thai, and Japanese to European menus. A massive selection of sea foods fresh from the day's catch is very well dished up since most of the people of the island are fishermen that cast their nets on the abundant Visayan seas. One can even visit the wet market to see fishermen unpack their precious catch from the sea. Fresh live fish from groupers to blue marlin's are just two of the many surprises. Shrimps, crabs and lobsters are displayed in large quantity in the market. After a full meal one can choose a selection of fresh fruit shakes with choices from mango to choco banana.
Contact Us or Make a Reservation
Virgin Beach Resort, Sitio Suba, Barangay Malbago, Daanbantayan 6013 Cebu, Philippines.
Cell/Txt 0915-455-6990
Phn/Fax 032-437-0106
Your Hosts, Ron & Fe Perry
1542 E. Glenwood Ave.
Tulare CA 93274
Cell/Txt 559-736-0401
Phn/Fax 559-688-4835
To contact us with questions or reservations,
simply send us an email.
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Virgin Beach Blog
Greetings from Virgin Beach Resort Cebu. Please check here daily for a new blog about Virgin Beach Resort, The Philippines, Cebu and any interesting related subjects about our unique place.
Welcome to Daanbantayan (KANDAYA)! Located at the northernmost tip of the Province of Cebu, the Municipality of Daanbantayan as of December 3, 2008 is now a 1st class municipality composed of 20 barangays (2 island, 13 coastal and 5 inland) with a total land area of 10,455 hectares. It has a population of 78,452 as of profile year, whose main source of livelihood is farming and fishing, owing to its mostly agricultural and coastal areas. It is 128 kilometers from Cebu City, with about 3-4 hours travel time.
According to pre-Hispanic history, Daanbantayan was believed to be once ruled by a local chieftain or Datu called Datu Daya who was known for his good deeds and bravery by
driving away invading foreigners and marauding moros. To help strengthen his defenses, he built strategically placed watchtowers dubbed as “bantayan” which is
constantly manned by the natives/residents keeping watch, or in the dialect “daang bantayan”, and so the present name “Daanbantayan” originated. But before the town
took on the name Daanbantayan, it was then called Kang Daya, in brief Kandaya, named after Datu Daya or Datu Daya’s, in his honor. Not much
has been known as to the actual date of the town’s establishment but as was the custom during the Spanish times, the friars or prayles decided to construct the church, now the Sta. Rosa de Lima
Parish Church way back in 1886, hence the establishment of the church marked the establishment of the town as well, being at the center of most settlements at that time.
The town was formerly known as Kandaya – from the name of the leader of the first Malayan settler, Datu Daya. Kandaya was changed to Daanbantayan when the area was recognized as a municipality.
Daanbantayan was originally a visayan term for an old watchtower located in Brgy. Tapilon, which used to serve as a lookout for Moros marauding the coastal towns in the Visayas during the early Spanish times.
There are no definite records to indicate the exact year of the founding of the town of Daanbantayan. However, from the book called “Reseñas Historicas de los Dioceses de Cebu” published in the year 1886 it is mentioned that a certain priest, Rev. Juan Protacio Gallares, had been doing periodic inspection in the parish of Daanbantayan. The parish was inaugurated on August 10, 1858. Due to the fact that during the Spanish regime, the church and the state were more or less one in essence, it is logically assumed by many that the establishment of the town was made to coincide with the date of the inauguration of the parish.
The first municipal building called Tribunal was constructed by the Spanish authorities. Highly knowledgeable residents before the Second World War revealed that the Spanish authorities with the help of the Capitanes Del Pueblo constructed the first Municipal Tribunal or Municipal building to serve as seat of Power of the Local Officials at the side of the present parcel of land owned by the late Severino dela Peña.
The first Municipal building was made of wooden materials and bamboos with cogon grass roofing. The Capitanes ruled the municipality using the Tribunal as office of the previous town executive.
The late Municipal President or Mayor Don Pedro Corro constructed the first concrete Municipal building of Daanbantayan on its present location in 1916 as shown by the engraved markings on the front
side of the said building.
Right after the Second World War, the late Mayor Braulio M. Arriola Sr., constructed the two stories wooden buildings annexes, one at the southern side and another in the northern side of the old
concrete building to meet the growing demands for expansion due to the increasing number of employees.
Former Mayor Lamberto Te demolished the two story wooden building annexes constructed by the late Mayor Braulio M. Arriola and replaced them with a more durable concrete two story buildings after the wooden materials began to deteriorate.
Not to be outdone, then municipal mayor, now Vice-Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot, ventured to construct the present two story concrete Legislative Building, thus forming now a complete square concrete Municipal Building, where the people could easily go around the various offices, either in the first floor or in the second, without the trouble of going up and down to complete all the papers needed.
Haladaya Festival, Daanbantayan, Cebu
St. Rose of Lima Church, Daanbantayan, Cebu
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