Cebu Travel Guide: Cebuano Designers on Their Favorite Spots
Artwork by Bea Lu
From seaside dining in Mactan to the beaches of Bantayan, Jun Escario, Edwin Ao, Mike Yapching, Neil Felipp, OJ Hofer, Protacio Empaces, and Anthony Romoff share their top places to eat, explore, and experience the island.
Known as the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu is composed of a narrow main island surrounded by 150 smaller islands. It is the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines and is considered the cradle of Christianity in the Far East. Culturally, the region is famous for the Sinulog Festival, one of the largest and most vibrant religious and cultural festivals in Asia, honoring Santo Niño. And, of course, who hasn’t heard of Cebu lechon?
With many places to discover and experience in Cebu, Vogue Philippines asks Cebuano designers Jun Escario, Edwin Ao, Mike Yapching, OJ Hofer, Protacio Empaces, and Neil Felipp for their recommendations.
Cowrie Cove
Many things may have changed in Mactan, but Jun Escario still considers Cowrie Cove as one of his favorite places. Officially known as Cowrie Cove Seafood Bar & Grill, the restaurant is an upscale, open-air seaside restaurant at the five-star Shangri-La Mactan. The cuisine includes fresh seafood, fusion dishes, and premium meat platters prepared with local and farm-fresh ingredients. In their menu, signature dishes include the tuna kinilaw, charred wagyu, and other multi-course seafood selections.
Address: Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, Punta Engaño Road, Lapu-Lapu City
Hours: Open daily from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Qube Gallery
Edwin Ao is fond of going to galleries and art places, including Qube Gallery at Crossroads on Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City. Founded in 2013, the contemporary art gallery showcases progressive local and regional art, with a mission to elevate contemporary artistic practices, cultivate new audiences, and highlight Visayan and national talents.
Address: Crossroads, Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., Banilad, Cebu City
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Tuesdays by appointment; closed Sunday and Monday)
Bantayan Island
In Mike Yapching’s spare time, he likes to go drinking at Bantayan Island. The island is located off the northern tip of Cebu, famous for its powdery white-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters. Red Horse bottle in hand, the designer likes to stretch out on a big towel, taking in the beach scenery.
“It’s like white sand, but more peaceful kasi konti lang ang mga tao [it’s more peaceful because there are few people there],” Yapching says. “So, yeah, when I have the time, I make it a point to go there.”
Koshima by Nonki
As a vegetarian living in Cebu, OJ Hofer gravitates toward Chinese and Japanese restaurants. But he is particularly drawn to Koshima by Nonki, an upscale, fine-dining Japanese restaurant at NUSTAR Resort and Casino. The restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine, such as fresh sashimi, premium Wagyu beef, gyukatsu, shabu-shabu, and seasonal omakase course meals paired with high-end sakes.
Address: Level 2, The Mall, NUSTAR Resort and Casino, Kawit Island, Cebu City
Hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Monday to Thursday, with slight variations), 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Friday to Sunday)
Boljoon Church
Since he was younger, Protacio Empaces has been fascinated with the Boljoon Church. “It’s so nice because it’s along the shoreline,” he says. “I even had a shoot na the model was on a bangka. It was so pretty. That was way back in the 1980s.”
Officially known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santísima, it is a historic 18th-century Roman Catholic fortress church located in Boljoon, Cebu. It is built mainly from coral stones and is the oldest surviving original stone church in Cebu.
“Every time we go for a vacation, we always pass by that church,” he says. “It looks so secluded; it’s by a little bay. Approaching the church, you pass by a very tall cliff. So you don’t have any picture of the church. And then suddenly, wow, it’s so pretty.”
Address: It is located on Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Poblacion, Boljoon, Cebu.
Hours: Church gates are generally open daily from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, while the parish office operates Tuesday through Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
San Remigio
Anthony Romoff likes to get away to a vacation house. “After all the stress from work, that’s what I need, like a vacation near the beach,” he says. His beach of choice is San Remigio, a coastal third-class municipality in Cebu. It is known for having the longest continuous shoreline in the province, making it a popular beach and diving destination.
Lost Books
In his spare time, Neil Felipp peruses the shelves of Lost Books Cebu, a small, independent bookstore and cafe located on the ground floor of the CAO Mercado building on Osmeña Boulevard. Repurposed from a former bank ATM, the 10-foot-wide space now houses Visayan literature, Binisaya texts, and works from regional writers.
Address: Ground Floor, CAO Mercado Building, Osmeña Boulevard, Capitol Site, Cebu City
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Cebu is a province in the Central Visayas region (Region VII) of the Philippines. It’s located east of Negros and west of Leyte and Bohol islands.
Cebu is known as the “Queen City of the South” and the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines. It is also known for rich Spanish colonial history, white sand beaches, world-class diving, waterfalls, and the annual Sinulog Festival.
Some of Cebu’s popular designers include Jun Escario, Edwin Ao, Mike Yapching, Protacio Empaces, OJ Hofer, Anthony Romoff, and Neil Felipp.
Yes, Cebu is predominantly Roman Catholic, with over 85% of its population identifying with the faith.