It’s been ages that I haven’t embarked on an honest to goodness trip that takes about a day to travel! That’s why, for my New Year holidays back home in Cebu from Makati, I’ve decided that I will hop on a bus on Christmas Day for a trip via Mindoro, Panay and Negros.

Yep, book me for an errand within the Philippines or Southeast Asia. The farther, the better. You decide how I travel or what route to take. In return, I’ll post a blow by blow account other than completing the task.

It can be simple, complex or just plain crazy.

As a continuation to Arnold Carl’s interview in the previous post, I asked him his top 5 non-religious heritage sites in Cebu. In this post are his recommendations.

Starting with this post, I will be featuring travel and, especially local bloggers who embody a particular place, as well as other personalities from time to time. For this Cebu-Sugbo Kini series, I’m featuring Arnold Carl Sancover.

Kawasan Falls in Matutinao, Badian, Cebu, despite being one of the top natural attractions of the island province and me being a Cebuano, I haven’t really gone up to see this cascade in all of my 30+ years. Not until last week when I went down south and made a short detour.

Jai alai is still being played in the country. In fact, it is not only in Cebu but there is an established amateur group in Metro Manila, specifically in Project 8, Quezon City, home of the Manila Amateur Jai-alai Association (MAJA).

I already knew from last week that I won two awards for Best Travel Blog and Best Photoblog in the national category of the Philippine Blog Awards but since I wasn’t able to join the Manila event, I decided to be at the Cebu leg as I am home for a few weeks. Last night I never expected to get another prize and other items!

A new downloadable photo ebook about traveling from point A to point B focusing on the journey and not the destination. What’s more, its free. IN TRANSIT consists of 20 beautiful black and white images taken in different parts of the country and in Hongkong from 2004 to 2009.

A trip down southeastern Cebu is a trip into a history of blood, predation and the Cebuano’s attempt to defend themselves at the onslaught of Muslim slave raiders during the middle of the 17th to the middle of the 19th centuries. However these fortifications are in danger of being lost forever.

A pig flew. A rooster stood proud. Dragons billowing a firey breath. Christ carrying his cross. These images amidst backdrops of stunning, gorgeous or sometimes gaudy colors drove passed me. I was wide-eyed and very much delighted at what flashed before my eyes. Brief, fleeting seconds it took for these marvelously hued transports winding their way. Welcome to the streets of Cebu!

As I surveyed the surroundings, following the jutting tops of the cliffs, into the interior and just behind the bend where the river emanates, lo and behold, beautiful Marmol Cliff! Standing tall and high, its white limestone face aglow in the early afternoon sun. But reaching this place is no walk in the park.

Is it worth the effort to see beautiful Marmol Cliff? Find out.

PUSO, is quite obiquitous and, like the Sto. Nino, lechon and dried mangoes, it is one of Cebu’s iconic images. this biodegradable, handy and traditional food pouch was said to be exlusively for the deity’s pleasure is now everyday street food paired with barbecued pork, chicken, seafood and entrails in various streetside foodstalls. Your trip to Cebu will never be complete without a bite of this unique food.