A casual mention of it is enough to send eyes looking at you and women hiding a giggle. Or even a condescending stare trying to look at you from head to toe (and stopping at the crotch) and thinking if you’re having inadequacies under the sheets. But for its believers, lansiao is better than that blue pill.

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.

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.

Around one and half hours travel south of Cebu City, the heritage town of Carcar provides a welcome break from the typical urban sprawl that characterizes the city and municipalities that lies before reaching this place. Antillan designed houses, typical bahay-na-bato that has stood the test of time as well as the onion like dome, of the 19th century neoclassic church with elements of baroque make Carcar a unique town.

Jai alai has been quite a popular sport a few years ago during the 60s, 70s and a few years in the 80s. Yes, its the Basque ball game of a thousand thrills that has many Filipinos agog. In Cebu, former professional and amateur pelotaris still meet every week at the lone fronton for a weekend of camaraderie and fun.

Liloan is just 18 kilometers north of Cebu City and can be reached within, depending on traffic, 20 – 30 minutes by jeepney. It’s a welcome change from often chaotic and the uninteresting structures of Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion. Mention this town and four things come to my mind and Titays is one of these. Yes, that food stop that has become an institution which celebrated it’s centennial last 2007.

For the traveler, Bantayan Island is bulad/buwad (dried fish) country. It is one of the important industries of the local island economy. Visit the fort ruins of Madridejos in the north, now a landscaped park, on any given sunny day and one can find across the street fish being lain under the sun.

When passing the towns of Catmon and Borbon, don’t forget to get a mouthful of these place’s delicacy in the form of the budbud kabog and bibingka. Down south, when in the vicinity of Argao town, have a bliss when you endulge in the town’s special delicacy, torta.

North Cebu particularly the western side, might not be as developed as the rest of the province, but I really had fun. Life is simple and uncomplicated. People are friendly and it has enough surprises that makes traveling here enjoyable.

The south of Cebu’s land area is mountainous and inhospitable. Roads wind, rise and drop as one drives through but it has one of the beautiful landscapes and seascapes in the province. It has pristine and beautiful beaches, well paved roads, century old trees as well as a hospitable people thriving and persevering in adversity.