Highlight of our Philippines Trip

After spending 4 weeks at our home in Samar, it was time to leave. Our flights were arranged long beforhand, but Mother Nature had some different ideas in store for us. Rather than flying from Calbayog City to Cebu for our connecting flight to Guam, an approaching storm cancelled all 4 inboud and outbound flights from Samar. Rescheduling on short notice was a challenge and forced us into a flight availability situation. Meaning... we had to reach Cebu only to spend three days there to catch the first available flight to Guam.

Traveling around in the Philippines at will is never a sure thing. I really thought that a 10-hour layover between Calbayog City and our Cebu departure would provide us enough cushion should any flight delays occur. But when all flights in and out of Samar (and all Ferry traffic) are cancelled due to bad weather, it can really mess up some well-intended travel plans. Most times it is better to not be in any hurry when moving around in the Philippines - Because "Shit Happens" as they say.

When the counter agent for Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced the flight cancellation, I immediately approached and asked her for another option to get to Cebu. We had less than 10 hours before our flight departed Cebu for Guam. Her unknowledgeable answer was to drive to Tacloban to catch the afternoon flight from there to Cebu. How could she assuredly be certain about a 4-hour road trek, with terrible road conditions, and no guarantee that that flight wouldn't be cancelled later due to the same impending bad weather? Alternatively, she suggested we take the 6-hour Fast Cat from Calbayog City to make our flight in Cebu, all the while not knowing if there were any seats to be had or, more specifically, that all boat traffic had also been halted due to the same bad weather. We just grabbed our luggage and returned home.

After the short 10-minute ride back to the house, I quicly setup my laptop up and began the daunting online journey into flight-rebooking. It took me over an hour and a half, but not without direct assistance from a PAL representative, to get everything resolved. The next scheduled flight out of Calbayog was in two days, and the next available flight to Guam was 3 days out. So, we decided that if we were going to spend a short day and a half in Cebu, we might as well stay there for 3 days, and that's exactly what we did.

Some Things Turn Out Better Than Planned!

As luck would have it, our niece lives in Cebu and was available to pick us up at the airport. She took care of making our hotel reservations at the Mactan Belmont Hotel (a.k.a. Mactan Mecure Hotel). She and her partner picked us up in her new SUV and, because we had several hours to kill before check-in, we promptly headed to the futuristic SM Seaside Mall located on the south side of Cebu for a lunch.

We got to travel across the new iconic Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX-pictured above) for the first time since it opened in April of 2022. This 8.9-kilometer toll bridge connects Cebu City to Cordova on Mactan Island. It is the longest and tallest bridge in the Philippines, featuring iconic 40-meter crosses on its pylons.

At the Mall, we took in a lunch at Chili's, went bowling, and did some shopping. While I could have played a round or two of lasar tag, or showed off my long-forgotten ice skating skills to the ladies... No, we had to go bowling. As sure as I can never find a bowling ball in the Philippines that can accomodate my thumb, you can't argue with a gaggle of woman and expect to win. After several hours at the SM Seaside, it was time to head back to the hotel for our check-in.

Relaxing at the Belmont Beach Garden

Another Day in Paradise!

The next day, we met up with some old friends (and Navy shipmate) at Tops Lookout (Tops Cebu), a premier, 24/7 scenic viewpoint located on Tops Road in Busay, Cebu City. An amazing site offering panoramic 360-degree views of Cebu City, Mandaue, and Mactan Island, it is a popular spot for sunset viewing and city lights. Entry fee was PHP 100. We enjoyed a delicious steak for lunch at Yaparri Steak (Okinawa Steakhouse) and reminisced about old times while overlooking the city of Cebu. It made for a very enjoyable and relaxing afternoon.

Later that evening, the ladies insisted on enjoying a bit of the Cebu nightlife at one of Cebu's newest clubs, "The High Society," where I had to tutor yet another bartender about the intracies of Scotch and Water (water sold separately!) We went early and left early. My nightclubbing days are well behind me but the ladies still got to dance a little and they were happy.

The morning after was pure down-time. Teri hit the gym and I went for a walk to the beach and hotel garden, then got some sauna time in before a wonderful breakfast buffet at the hotel. Then it was time for a nap before packing out and our return to the airport later in the evening.

It All Worked Out In The End!

From the peaceful shores of Samar and the slowness of the province, to the high-energy streets of Cebu. Our Philippine vacation ended almost too quickly with an unforgettable few days in Cebu with our niece and her partner as our travel hosts. And I have Mother Nature to blame for all the good times we had.

Over the course of a year and a half, we have now scoped out the most modern cities in the Philippines. From Makati and Bonifacio City, Aseana City, and now Mactan's Newtown, it might be time to choose a condo location for the future. Cebu is high on my list, but oh the traffic!

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