SOUTHERN COMFORT...

A THRILLER OF A HALLOWEEN TOUR...
It's not really widely known that despite an immediate association with The City of Manila, this Intramuros tour guide named Carlos Celdran actually traces his roots down to the Queen City of the South. Back in the early 20th century, my grandfather Pedro Celdran moved his wife, Josefa Fortich and their sons from Misamis Occidental, Mindanao to the City of Cebu. Above, the waters of Mactan Island.

So it was a real comfort for me to go back and rediscover my Cebuano roots and tailor a tour that mixes both the old and new, the post-modern and the gothic, and all that is pretty cool about that little island in the center of the Philippines. Photo above, BE Resort.



SATURDAY October 30
11:00am Depart Manila
12:00noon Arrive Mactan International Airport in Cebu (above)
1:00pm Check into BE Resort
3:00pm CPRDC Prison Dancers Exhibition
6:00pm Dinner at Casa Verde (Brian's Ribs below)

SUNDAY October 31
Depart Hotel at 11:00am
12:00noon Lunch at Mancao Mansion and Cultural Show
Tupas Funeral Parlor
Carcar Walking tour starting from St. Catherine's Church
Walk to Carcar Museum (above), then towards Noel Mansion and Balay na Tisa
5:00pm Return to BE Resort on Mactan
There are many selections around Cebu/Mactan area to dine should you wish to dine out.

MONDAY November 1
10:00 Cruising around Mactan on Islands Banca
(a Cebu Lechon Lunch out at sea)
2:00PM Historic tour of Downtown Cebu
Museo Sugbu
Tartanilla Ride around Fort San Pedro, Magellan's Cross, Santo Nino Shrine, Cebu Cathedral,
Archbishop's House (Cathedral Museum of Cebu), Gorordo Mansion, Jesuit House
5:30PM Cocktails at Dusk at Yap-San Diego Mansion (below)
8:00PM Airport and depart for Manila.


Date:
POSTPONED...

Costings:
To be announced...

Only 20 spaces available. Please inform us immediately if you have any dietary restrictions.

Accomodations at BE Resort, Transportation, meals*, and tour services by yours truly and Cebu City's Top tour guide, Bino Guerrero.

*Tour does not include dinner on October 31. There are many selections in Cebu to enjoy.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS CEBU!

MI CASA VERDE, TU CASA VERDE...

Tucked away in a small sidestreet in uptown Cebu City is a lovely little restaurant called Casa Verde. Run by the Noel-Escano family, I believe that this is one of the best restaurants in city. Located on a leafy lot, inside a green ancestral house (hence it's name) with elegant grills and capiz windows, Casa Verde is an unpretentious operation that mixes both charm and value. Their facade (above), their patio (below).

Here's their legendary "BRIAN'S RIBS" (above). Wild. Huge. Less than Php200.00 (believe it or not). Aside from the ribs, they also serve pasta, barbecued chicken, sandwiches, and milk shakes. Most of the menu is "American" as someone described it. I'll just call it delicious.

The garlicky "Tricia ala Pobre" (above). A lot of the stuff on the menu is named after members of their family. I.e "Peter Piper Oriental Chop", "Antonizza" , "Jay's Chinese Chicken Salad", and "Therese's Pieces". Cute.

And right through a lovely narra staircase (above) right above the restaurant is their cute little budget dormitory/hostel. Ideal for long term guests on a budget (starts at Php4000.00/month), students who are looking to be centrally located, or those who consider FOOD as a major consideration when choosing accomodations. Their sala with 60's era silkscreen prints (below). Only hitch is, you gotta be a woman. Sorry dudes, no guys allowed to sleep in these digs. It's the Barbizon Hotel of Cebu. But perhaps with better food.

The Tocino de Cielo, Leche Flan, and Mango sampler (above). Totally Cebuano old skool desserts. I'm amazed that even though the prices are low, the effort put into the Mise en Place is high. It's all Jeremiah Tower type plating here. Nice. Classy.

And best part of all. The folks who run the place are my relatives (above). I found out as I was lunching there that our maternal grandmothers are both from the Fortich clan. Their grandma married an Escano. My grandmother married a Celdran. Small world. Always thought that being in Cebu felt like visiting family, and now I realize that it's quite literal.

I hope to include Casa Verde on my SOUTHERN COMFORT tour of Cebu soon.

Casa Verde
#69 Lim Tian Teng St. (V. Ranudo Ext), Cebu City

Telephone nos.
(032) 2536472
(032) 2538234
Fax nos.
(032) 2536472