VIRGIN BEACH RESORT CEBU
"a tropical paradise"
CEBU CITY
Dakbayan sa Sugbo Lungsod ng Cebú |
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Cebu City is the 2nd busiest city in the Philippines. It had been an important trading district for Chinese, Arabs and Malay traders even before the discovery of the Philippines. Despite its multifaceted evolution, Cebu remained the center of commerce in the Visayas, and until this time progressively gathering foreign businesses to build up its economy to greater extent. From guitar making, to dried fruit and fruit juice manufacturing, Cebu proved itself to be the center of trade in the south. The export processing zone at Mactan Island helped to feed Cebu’s demanding growth including its neighboring islands.
The city closely resembles with Manila but without the presence of dense traffic. Massive establishments, malls, big hotels, well developed resorts and large universities are gearing up the daily activities of Cebu’s fast urban life. Its vast sea port terminal provides easier access to neighboring islands both from Visayas and Mindanao. It has a big ferry terminal that easily moves residents of Bohol and Leyte in and out of Cebu.
If you are on a business trip who are looking for alternate places to go in the city, Cebu is a destination for cheap bargains; such as shell crafts, acoustic guitars and handicrafts. Many restaurants offer variaties of dishes with seafood as the most popular. And nightlife ranges from intense discos to loud sing along bars and live bands. No matter where you are in Cebu, the city always has something to offer its wandering visitors
Tourism in Cebu expanded since the migration of huge businesses in the island. Mactan Island, now clogged with resorts targets mainly upscale visitors. These resorts filled with luxurious amenities even reconstructed their beaches to make it look more appealingly natural. Such pampering that pushed other towns further down for being discovered. This, however, didn’t take the pride of some established towns in the South. They possess white sand beaches and great dive sites incomparably better than those of Mactan’s. Moalboal, fairly is famous for its exquisite dive sites and low-budget but more welcoming resorts, while the island of Badian sprang up for its world-class beach resorts and water-sports activities.
Off the northern coast of Cebu are the coated sugar-like white sand beach islands of Bantayan and Malapascua. They are unquestionably best destinations for a slow summer holiday in the Visayas. Malapascua and Bantayan were recently appreciated for its unrivaled white sand beaches, crystal clear seawater, and its rustic atmosphere. Bantayan Island is a long been discovered paradise, but is able to preserve its natural beauty and remoteness. It is located 18 km off the northwest coast of Cebu with three municipalities of mostly home to undiscovered achingly beautiful white sand beaches.
The other island is called Malapascua. It is a small island of not more than 6 sq. km. with bays covered with strips of white sand beaches, and home to several rustic but very pleasing resorts built with restaurants and bars. Not just an unpretentious hideaway for those who simply want to get themselves away from the bustling life in the city, this place also is an ultimate diving destination.
If traveling alone, motor biking is the cheapest rather more exciting alternative to discover these hideaways. Cebu is a big island thus renting a vehicle can be costly. As transport facilities are well organized in Cebu, it is also not a bad idea to experience commuting in most provinces of the island. Vehicles bounded for all towns have their own terminals in and out of the city.
For island destinations, major sea transportations operate in all ports of Cebu. Malapascua can be reached three hours by land from cebu to Maya, and 45 mins boat trip to the island.
History of Cebu City
Originally, Cebu was called Sugbo. Cebuanos lived in stilt houses made of bamboo, wood and nipa. Men were extensively tattooed and women were lavishly ornamented with gold jewelries, silks and lip color.
Prior to Spanish colonization, the city was the center of trade in the south, where Chinese ships arrived with silks and porcelains which they exchanged for honey, gold, wood and spices from Mollucas. Unreasonable trade restrictions of the colonizing Spanish caused the rapid decline of Cebu as a trading port. However, in 19th century, restrictions were lifted and brought back the commercial life of the city.
The Spanish troops headed by Ferdinand Magellan arrived Cebu in 1521 with a friendly reception from the island villagers. He made friends with Rajah Humabon and converted most of the locals to Christians including the leader’s family. But when Magellan reached the narrow strait to Mactan Island, the reception was not similar. He encountered a negative response and had a hard time entering the area. Lapu Lapu, the chief, resisted his entry and fought against the Spanish troops leaving Magellan lifeless on the ground. Cebu’s invasion was delayed until Legazpi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta arrived in 1566.
The historic Fort San Pedro has served many purposes to the Cebuanos. It was constructed in 1565 upon the arrival of Legazpi on the ship San Pedro but remained unfinished until 1738. Originally intended to protect the island from Muslim raiders, the port also served as the barracks and defense post of the US army during the American occupation; a prison camp during the 3 year Japanese invasion; the city zoo; and now a small park. For many centuries, renovations have removed the waterfront lying few blocks from the Fort.
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.
Time at Virgin Beach
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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