“Home
is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to,”
so goes a quote attributed to American journalist and author John Ed Pearce. I
bet you’d agree this couldn’t be more important during the Christmas season.
For many of us Pinoys, it’s a time-honored tradition to be always home for the
holidays—an occasion to be with family and friends, a time for bonding, binges,
booze sessions, the works.
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Aerial view of Fuente Osmeña Circle
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More
often than not, people who couldn’t make it home for the Christmas season would
be filled with sadness and desolation. But not this vagabond. Why? Because I
choose not to! Besides, the most wonderful times of the year (Christmas and New
Year’s Day) are the most opportune moments for staging my escapades to other
places!
For
this desk jockey, the long holidays also offer the best time to indulge in
“unli-sleeping” to compensate for the many sleepless nights spent eking out a
living. Mind you, celebrating the holidays on my own—away from my comfort
zone—has been a ritual of sorts for me
these past ten years or so. But it wasn’t something that came so quick and
easy. Breaking away from tradition can be difficult even for someone who has a
progressive and devil-may-care approach to life.
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Cebu sizzles at night
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The
getting away part was quite tough, emotionally, that is. Making the case for
those first few absences to the people I love definitely had its fair share of
emotionally-charged discussions, complete with histrionics and all.
Most Pinoy families rarely and
openly discuss when it’s time to let go of traditions, but those talks we had
in ours surely paved the way for that. Whew, it was a relief that we went
through it all!
I
guess I’m just lucky that my loved ones understood my reasons—selfish as they
may be. In time, they’ve gotten used to celebrating the holidays without me—and
just as important, I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own time, pace and
whim. So far, I’m enjoying the freedom I have as I make the most out of the
holidays away from home.
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Cebu's ever-changing cityscape
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This
year, I opted to get away from it all and spend my Christmas vacay in the
loveliest city in the Visayas—where else but Cebu! The city has long been
regarded as one of the best destinations
for spending the long holidays in the country.
(By
the way, feel free to go over my older posts about Cebu at
http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2006/02/contemplating-in-child-jesus-country.html,
http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2006/02/caught-up-with-cebus-colonial-past.htm;
and http://scorpio-sojourn.blogspot.com/2012/02/moon-gazing-and-more-in-cebu.html).
Here
then are the five happiest moments I had while exploring the Queen City of the
South during the most wonderful times of the year:
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The gigantic Christmas tree at Fuente Osmeña Circle
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Gazing
at the giant Christmas Tree at Fuente Osmeña Circle. Through the years, the
lighting of the biggest Christmas tree in the city signals the start of the
month-long celebration for Christmas. Standing over a hundred feet right smack
in the heart of downtown Cebu, the spectacular tree, replete with colorful
lights and decors, never fails to dazzle both locals and visitors alike.
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Fuente Osmeña Circle at night
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Strolling
at the popular landmark, I felt like a kid once again while gazing at the
glittering tree. Geez, whatta a vision! I also noticed a huge icon of one of
Cebu’s popular symbols, the Santo Niño (Holy Child) near the tree’s foundation.
It sort of reminded me that Sinulog, Cebu’s most spectacular festival, was just
a few days away.
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A glimpse of the rotunda at night
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If I’m in town, I
often go there to pray and bask in the beauty of its amazing architecture.
History hounds and art aficionados will be amazed to see the plethora of
artworks found at the basilica—paintings, murals, sculptures, icons and
what-have-you. At present, it is undergoing rehabilitation following the
destruction caused by the strong quake that hit Cebu, Bohol and other nearby
islands in 2013.
As
the queue wasn’t that long when I came, I joined the crowd who lined up to see
the centuries-old statue of the Holy Child. As always, I left the basilica
feeling blessed twice over than the previous visit. To make the most out of my
sojourn, I lit a candle and said a little prayer.
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Christmas lights illuminate the gardens at The Terraces
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Enjoying the nightlife at Ayala Center’s The Terraces. Just a few
blocks away from my hotel stands one of the country’s swankiest shopping
malls—Ayala Center Cebu—where you can find of one of my favorite hideaways, The
Terraces. Opened to the public about eight years ago, the hotspot used to be an
ordinary lagoon that was later transformed into a food and beverage strip.
Bearing
the trademark Ayala landscaping and lighting that never fails to draw ohs and
ahs from shoppers, The Terraces is surrounded with numerous shops and
establishments where people gravitate to savor local or foreign cuisines, sip
their favorite booze, strike up a conversation with a friend, snap a selfie,
stop for a break after a shopping spree, or simply stare at the amazing
Christmas lights.
One
of the things I like about The Terraces are its well-manicured gardens and
refreshing fountains that conspire to provide visitors a chic yet calming
ambiance after a hard day’s grind. Anyone can go there to seek solace from the
cares and uncertainties of the world even for just a few minutes.
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A morning stroll at The Terraces can be calming
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Roaming around the Philippines’ third largest shopping mall. Later this year, the Sys inaugurated one of their largest malls in the country—SM Seaside City. The humungous shopping complex has an eclectic mix of restaurants, designer shops, cinemas, entertainment/amusement centers, department store, supermarket and much, much more!
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Cebu's picturesque seascape as seen from SM Seaside
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What
grabbed my attention are the Seaside Tower, a sprawling 148-meter structure
with a viewing deck that offers a 360-degree view of Cebu, and the Cube, a huge
sculpture made of steel that stands as a symbol of the Cebuano’s strength and
stability. If SM Mall of Asia has the
Globe as its iconic landmark, SM Seaside has the Cube to match it.
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The Cube
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Some of SM Seaside’s other awesome features that caught my fancy
include the Sky Park, Children’s Playground, Bowling and Amusement Center, IMAX
Theater and the Ice Skating Rink. Believe me, they’ll surely amaze you!
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Picturesque seascape facing SM Seaside
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Cebu's Waterfront at Lahug shimmers at night
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Spending
New Year’s Eve at the Waterfront Hotel. Staying at this posh hotel in the city
proved to be the icing on the cake of my recent holiday vacay. Geez, the
prestigious hotel and casino that’s one of Cebu’s enduring landmarks was
definitely at its finest during that time! I have no regrets spending more than
the usual because I enjoyed every minute of my stay there.
As
soon as I stepped inside the hotel, I instantly felt the spirit of Christmas as
I laid eyes on the giant Christmas Tree found at the spacious lobby. Standing
about ten feet tall, the huge tree was bedecked with different pieces of white
crystals, along with glittering silver decors that added pizzazz to it. Of
course, I didn’t miss the chance to snap several selfies with the tree!
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Waterfront's Crystal Christmas Tree
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Mural of Santo Niño de Cebu at the ceiling of Waterfront Hotel
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It
was, however, the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve that really made my stay
there truly a memorable experience. Coming from a place where fireworks and
firecrackers have long been banned, it was something that added zest to my
holiday celebration.
Anticipation
was almost killing me as I waited for the clock to strike 12. And then midnight
finally came. I watched with excitement Cebu’s black skyline burst into a
dazzling kaleidoscope of blinding lights and thundering explosions as Cebuanos
enthusiastically welcomed the New Year with a big bang! Whew, it was
undoubtedly one of my best moments during the holiday season.
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A view of Cebu's cityscape from my hotel room
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More crystal trees at the Waterfront's Gourmet Walk
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For
us Filipinos, the long holidays can be such difficult times to be away from
family and friends. But as I’ve experienced, it need not be so if you know
how—and where. And for the best Christmas or New Year moments, choose wisely
your next destination during this most wonderful of seasons. So, if you’re to
leave home for the holidays, what’s the wiser choice for a vacay to remember?
Definitely, Cebu! :-D
For
this desk jockey, the long holidays also offer the best time to indulge in
“unli-sleeping” to compensate for the many sleepless nights spent eking out a
living. Mind you, celebrating the holidays on my own—away from my comfort
zone—has been a ritual of sorts for me
these past ten years or so. But it wasn’t something that came so quick and
easy. Breaking away from tradition can be difficult even for someone who has a
progressive and devil-may-care approach to life.
Paying a visit to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It’s almost like second-nature for me to drop by this historical
shrine. I guess it’s a mortal sin for any first-time visitor to miss out on
this all-important landmark in Cebu, even if he’s an unbeliever. The basilica is
undoubtedly a must-see—it’s one of the country’s oldest houses of
worship. 
Bearing
the trademark Ayala landscaping and lighting that never fails to draw ohs and
ahs from shoppers, The Terraces is surrounded with numerous shops and
establishments where people gravitate to savor local or foreign cuisines, sip
their favorite booze, strike up a conversation with a friend, snap a selfie,
stop for a break after a shopping spree, or simply stare at the amazing
Christmas lights.
For
us Filipinos, the long holidays can be such difficult times to be away from
family and friends. But as I’ve experienced, it need not be so if you know
how—and where. And for the best Christmas or New Year moments, choose wisely
your next destination during this most wonderful of seasons. So, if you’re to
leave home for the holidays, what’s the wiser choice for a vacay to remember?
Definitely, Cebu! :-D
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