Paradise Philippines

Davao has been known as the largest city located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. if you're coming from manila, you either ride an airplane via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, or Zest Air (1 hour travel time) or by boat (2 days travel time).

When I went there, I experience the best weather to tour the city. It wasn't so hot considering that this was summer. A lot of people went there that time but it still doesn't get too crowded. That was holy week though, so some of the places that was included on my itinerary were close. however, i still enjoy my trip and I did learn a lot from the trip. here are some of them:

1. Davao is 6x larger than the whole Metro Manila
2. Davao has been awarded as the cleanest city in the Philippines
3. Davao's prides are: durian, waling waling, and of course Mt. Apo
4. Davao is a no littering province. They have round the clock street sweepers to maintain the cleanliness of the city
5. No one is allowed to smoke anywhere in Davao. With this, you won't see any cigarette butts in the street
6. Davao is a drug free city. Their mayor is known as 'the punisher' and once you're caught with drugs, you sure is dead!
7. Taxi drivers in Davao are known for their honesty
8. They don't experience typhoons. They have two beautiful doormat mountains around them. unfortunately, they are more prone to earthquakes
9. When you're in Davao, the must trys are: durian, marang, mangosteen, and skyrider (this is not a food though. this is for the adventorous people and who are not afraid of heights)
10. Davao International Airport is stricter compared to NAIA and Mactan International Airport.

Paradise Philippines now presents tips and list of location you might want to visit while staying in Cebu.

Cebu is a small province all the way down to the south. It is considered as the queen city of the Visayas region, and it celebrates Sinulog festival every January. It is only an hour and a half flight away from Manila and you can go there anytime IF you have the means of doing it.

Cebu has many wonderful places to offer. When I came to Cebu, I didn't waste my time doing nothing. I booked a city tour trip and in a span five hours, I already visited eight beautiful locations in Mactan and Lapu Lapu City. If you decided to visit Cebu, don't forget to check out these places:



Mactan Shrine is also known as 'Lapu Lapu Shrine'. It was built in honor of Lapu-lapu for being brave in defeating the Spanish soldiers, including the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the year 1521. It is located in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island.

You will find a 20-meter bronze statue of Lapu lapu on this site. You will also see the exact place where Ferdinand Magellan died and a painting that shows how Lapu lapu defeated Magellan. Few steps away from the Lapu lapu shrine will lead you into a showcase of colorful boats.

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Magellan's Cross is located very near the Sto. Niño Shrine. It is a Christian cross embedded by the Portugese and Spaniards as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan on April 21, 1521.

There are lots of old women standing outside the Magellan's Cross that are very eager to do sales talk to tourists saying that they can pray for your petitions and all they ask is some little amount of money. I didn't fall for those so I can't really tell something about it.

Nothing really special Magellan's Cross. It's just that since it's included in the Philippine history, you might as well visit the place. Beware though... since this is a crowded place, you have to look after your belongings especially your phones and cameras. Our tour guide told us that there are snatchers wandering around and people who also mastered the term 'salisi'.



Sto. Niño Shrine is just steps aways from the Magellan's Cross. I'm proud to say that they have their own website. You can visit it at http://www.basilicadelsantoninodecebu.org.ph. Not all churches can provide their own website so it's a plus factor for Sto. Niño Shrine to have one because it'll be very helpful for tourist and researchers.

Sto. Niño Shrine was formerly known as San Agustin Church. It is the exact same place where the image of the Sto. Niño was found in the year 1565.

Outside the church, you will see a place where you can light your own candle and pray to God. I did lit two candles and asked God for a safe and wonderful trip in Cebu.



Fort San Pedro was built in the year 1738 as commanded by Miguel López de Legazpi. It is triangular in shape with two sides facing the sea, and the third side facing the land. By this time, it is not surrounded by water anymore but is considered as a historical park under the government of Cebu.

You need to pay an entrance fee amounting to 21 pesos per person. Also, it is best to come to this place on the afternoon or it the weather is not very hot so you can enjoy the scenery and maybe spend lots of time inside Fort San Pedro.



Casa Gorordo Museum is a home of the first Filipino Bishop in Cebu - Juan Gorordo (1862-1934). A tour inside this residence is a brief journey into a Filipino lifestyle in a particular period between 1860 to 1920. The place presently features noted paintings, museum relics, a courtyard, antique household items and furniture.

At first, I was a bit hesitant to go inside the Casa Gorordo Museum because I was expecting to see uninteresting things. But when I made my way on the second floor, I was so amazed because they managed to keep the original form of the furnitures and items. It was like traveling through time and I was imagining myself on the 18th century. The chairs, tables, cabinets, even the beds are well kept. I was also able to take a peek on how the restrooms look like on the 18th century. It is interesting enough that their toilet bowls are all made up of wood.

Casa Gorordo Museum is located in 35 Lopez Jaena Street on the city proper. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10a.m till 6p.m. They are closed every Monday except when prior arrangements have been made. For inquiries, you can call them at (032) 2555630.




Parian Monument is also commonly known as Heritage of Cebu Monument. It is made up of brass, steel, and bronze tableau that took almost five years to be completed. It is located at the Parian district specifically at the former plaza across the Parian Fire Station. There's nothing much to say about the Parian Monument. But one thing we have to remember: Parian Monument signifies historic events in Cebu.






SM Cebu is the best last place to visit after a long day of Cebu city tour. You can find amazing restaurants in here to eat your lunch, meryenda, and dinner. There are also lost of coffee shops such as starbucks, figaro, and coffee bean to chill out, relax, and to hang out with your friends and family.



Touring Cebu can be both exciting and educational. It is safe to say that Cebu is one of the majestic and a 'must visit' city in Paradise Philippines. And if you wish to have a magnificent city tour in Cebu, I recommend that you contact rainbow car and services. I booked them for my Cebu city trip and I'm very pleased on how my tour turned out. Aimee is very friendly and is easy to talk to. She gave me a very courteous driver/tour guide, and his name is Joel. If you wish to have a memorable Cebu tour, request for Kuya Joel as your tour guide/driver and you'll never be sorry.

Rainbow Car and Services
For inquiries and bookings, call:
(032) 2728847
09198014713
Monday thru Sunday 6am to 8pm

Check out their Sulit Ad in here: http://tinyurl.com/dyt43b

Glorietta Bombing happened last October 19, 2007. Coincidentally, it was also the date when Robinson's Place Ermita finally opened its newly made annex. I was so suprise to see it because I wasn't expecting that all the renovations is for the mall's annex. I was thinking it will be another condominium building that has a passageway going to the main mall. Robinson's Place Ermita has expanded again for everyone to enjoy more of their mall stay. In my opinion, It's size is now just the same with Megamall. Imagine the original size of Robinson's Place and then double it. That's how big it is right now. The last time I went there (I was with Chris of course) has only housed few stalls/shops particularly timezone, the old spaghetti house, motorola, and ericsson. I'm sorry for the memory gap thinggy. I know there are more stalls/shops that I haven't mentioned, it's just that I can't remember them all.

Anyway, that's not the only changes they made. Some of the stalls/shops were also renovated and expanded. Among of which were

1. Friday's: very beautiful expansion and renovation. They doubled their size that they can now accomodate more customers than before. I also noticed that they have totally removed the door of their restaurant making it more inviting and open for everyone to dine in.


2. Figaro: very classy renovation. They replace the wood divider into glass walls making it appear larger compare to its old style.


3. Starbucks: although they haven't opened this coffeeshp yet, I assume and expecting that they have renovated and expanded their place into a more relaxing atmosphere. We all knew Starbucks as a place to chill, hang-out and relax especially when were stress. I'm hoping they will be placing more sofas so that everyone could sit and enjoy their coffee comfortably.

Since I'm the breadwinner of the family, my parents are the ones who stays in our house to do the household chores. And the only consolation they want is to watch a movie at least one to two times a week. They're probably the biggest movie fanatics in the whole world because they love spending their time at a theatre watching movies. For them, that's the best way to relax in this busy world. Unfortunately, what they want is what I can't afford. Thank God there's a free movie pass every morning of Monday and Tuesday on the theatre houses in the malls. That sounds good enough right?! But Robinson's Place Ermita even offer a much better surprise for the oldies. The new cinemas they have on their newly constructed annex lets our senior citizens watch a movie even if it's not the first showing. They can go even on the afternoon or on the last full show for free provided that it's Monday or Tuesday and they have their senior citizen card. My mother described the new theatre houses as very clean, very relaxing, cozy, comfortable, and smells good! (I'm not sure what did she meant by that. But I can't wait to go there to feel the ambience of their newly opened cinemas).

I considered Robinson's Place Ermita as the extension of my home. Whenever I need something (a dress, a food, or just to pass out my boredom), its just a one jeepney ride away. I can go there either on my 'japorms' clothes but i can go there with my 'pambahay' clothes as well. Very convenient, wonderful, beaituful... Truly, Robinson's Place Ermita is one of the nicest mall here in our Paradise Philippines.

Here are some of the picture I tool when the security guard hasn't seen me yet. (For some reasons, it's prohibited yet to take pictures of the newly constructed annex. Hehe...)

the center view of the annex		escalators on the annex

Here are the pictures of the old and original Robinson's Place Ermita

fountain view		foodcourt