Points of Interest Traveling from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Virgin Beach Resort

POINTS OF INTEREST traveling from MACTAN-CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to VIRGIN BEACH RESORT!

Mactan-Cebu International and Domestic Airport is the second busiest airport in the Philippines with more than 600 commercial flights weekly and more than 10,000 passengers daily or 4.5 million per year.  The runway is 1,000 meters long, capable of accommodating the 747-400 jet planes.  It was built in the mid 1960s by the U.S. Navy Sea Bees (construction battalion) to allow U.S. military personel to have R&R in Cebu City, the Lahug, Cebu City Airport being too small to land the larger planes.  15 commercial airlines from 7 different countries plus 12 different Philippine domestic cities service the airport along with 2 cargo carriers, Fed Ex being one of them.

Mactan Island is connected to Cebu Island by 2 bridges, the first being constructed in 1970-71 during the Ferdinand Marcos administration.  It is 846 meters long and 9 meters wide (two lanes only) and is know as the first mactan-Mandaue Bridge.  The second bridge, the Marcello Fernan Bridge (named after a famous Cebu Senator), was built by the Japanese in 1999 and is 1,237 meters long with the middle span of 185 meters, a cable stayed bridge that is the longest and widest of this type in the Philippines.  Before the bridges were built, passengers made their way to Cebu island via ferries and the Oauno family in Mandaue accumulated wealth from their pier operations in Mandaue City.

Mandaue City is home to a diverse group of manufacturers:  rattan furniture, shell craft, stone craft, fashion jewelery, furniture, batteries, food and beverage processing, clothing and an endless list of other products.

As you go north along the Natiional Hiway, the next town of interest is Lilo-an (after Consolacion).  The town plaza on the left as you make the curve, is typical of the Spanish settlements in the Philippines...the municipality one one side and the church on the other.  Most likely at one time the public market was on another side of the plaza also.  Lilo-an is also known for it's clay pottery businesses.  You will notice all types of clay pots for sale in front of houses and small stores.  The red clay comes from the nearyby mountains.

Danao City is the next town noteworthy of interest (after Compostela).  First you may notice the large Cebu Mitsumi factory on the left...employing tens of thousands of local workers.  They manufacture electronic components for brand names like Sony, JVC and others.  Danao is also the port for native pumpboats going to Camotes Island and home to a large fishing fleet.  Note the fish being sold along the road on the right side.

Also of interest is the Colonial Church on the left side just before the left turn opposite the pier.  Built in 1755, it is one of the oldest and largest churches on the island and in the country.  During World War II, it was almost completely destroyed, but rebuilt by the Durano family by 1985 to the original splendor.  Danao City is often called Durano City as the family has dominated politics, business (they own the sugar mill you see on the right as you leave town), shipyard, ice plant and untill a few years ago, the cement plant...and they dominate the social scene.

Danao City is also notorious for the illegal gun manufactureing industry.  It is said that more than 1,000 illegal gunsmiths operate in the town.  The industry is rumored to float on export to the Yakuza in Japan.  Any gun can be copied or imitated in Danao City.  the industry's mass product, however, is a 38 caliber six cylinder revolver, localled "palik".

After Danao City is the town of Carmen, noteworthy for the Antillian houses built during the end of the Spanish era and early American era.  These houses are built of mahogany wood that resists termites.  They also exhibit ornate architectural features and are typical of the houses of the era with the bodega or warehouse (sometimes made into a store) on the lower level and the living quarters on the upper level.  They also use capiz shells as windows as glass was very hard to come by at that time.  A few are preserved and are painted in period colors and you can even see the date 1943 on one home.  After leaving the town, a large factory on the left processes red sea weed from Mindano into garrageenan, a food stabilizer used in toothpaste, ice cream, puddings and others to keep them from seperating.  Shermberg Marketing is the name of the factory.  Lots of small beach resorts are along the highway as you pass by the sea...some for day use and others for overnight visitors.

Sogod is the last town on the highway along the sea as the road now goes into the mountains.  You can see the limestone very clearly on the hillsides and caves with bats and monkeys.  Barangay Lugo at the top of the mountains has a road going to the port of Tuboran (ferries from Negros) and is known for the local delicacy "bodbod kabog".  Try to stop and buy some from the people selling along the road.

As you begin to descend the mountains, you will begin to see large sugar cane fields lined with cocnut trees.  Barangay Illihan, a part of Tobogon town is the home to some of the original haciendas of the large Spanish land grants that are now farmed with sugar cane.  You will notice the abbreviation "hda" which stands for hacianda.

The first barangay of Bogo City is Binibag and soon after that, you will see a large public market selling all kinds of animals (bought by Cebu City buyers) on the right side in San Antonio.  Nearing the main part of Bogo City, you will see the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Medal, on the right side on the hill.  Try to visit the shrine when you are at Virgin Beach Resort.

Entering the main part of town, you will see the Bogo City Hall on the left side, where Ron and Fe Perry, the owners of Virgin Beach Resort were married in 1990.  Bogo is a growing, progressive city with 5 colleges, a dozen banks with ATMs, a very large public market, several department stores, a cineplex, library, museum, several parks, supermarkets, fast food outlets, public pier with large native pumpboats going to Masbate and Leyte.  Capitan Celio Island, a very small lighthouse island just off Nailon Point is being developed as a tourist sport and worthy of an island hopping trip.  Another pier in Palambato is used for roll-on-roll-off ferries for buses, cars and trucks goint to other islands.

Continuing after Bogo City is San Remegio with a pier at Hagnaya for ferries going to Bantayan Island.  But before San Remegio, the highway turns north at Don Pedro Rodriguez and on to Medellin, home of the BoMedCo Sugar Mill and the Mercedes Golf Course, on the right side of the highway.  You will see more haciendas and seemingly endless acres of sugar cane...all hand harvested between December and June (the dry season).  the sugar mill makes for an interesting visit if you have time.

The highway goes to the right at Barangay Curva and nearing the end of Medellin is Barangay Tindog (next is Lingkod?) and finally Barangay Batteria on the border of Daanbantayan.  Malbago is the next barangay of Daanbantayan and Virgin Beach Resort exit is on the right side at the waiting shed by the Virgin Beach Resort sign.  If you are coming by bus, just tell the conductor you want to get off here.  You can text us at the beach and we can fetch you by jeepney or you can walk the 1.5 km to the resort or take a ride on a habal-habal motorcycle.

The Malbago Christian Fellowship Church is in Sitio San Vicente on the right, a Christian Ministry started by the First Baptist Church of Tulare in joint effort with Virgin Beach Resort.  You are always welcome to visit here and volunteer if you wish to help the poor people in the area.

After the church, you will see a fork in the road, the left road leadinng to Sitio Suba and the right leading to Virgin Beach Resort.  It is clearly marked by a small sign.  Almost there, you see the private road to the beach again marked with a sing and then the entrance.  By the way, look for the very large lizard, locally called a "hawo" (looks like a little alligator).  They seem to be plentiful in the area.

AND FINALLY, WELCOME TO VIRGIN BEACH RESORT...A TROPICAL PARADISE!!!!

Retire at Virgin Beach Resort for ONLY P5,000 per Month and Enjoy a Tropical Paradise!

Virgin Beach Resort is offering a "Retirement Package" for ONLY P5,000 per month for the Superior Room in the Orchid Hotel.  This is for single occupancy and requires a one year lease with 6 months rent due at check in. For a second person in the room (rooms have either one double bed or two twin beds) please add P2,000 per month.  A utility package for water and electricity of P3,000 is due monthly.  Please email us with your questions at virginbeachresortcebu.com and please visit us online at http://virginbeachresortcebu.com

Virgin Beach Resort Cebu is the beach resort you've been looking for...quiet, peaceful, secluded, out ot the way, off the beaten path, private beach, beautiful swimming pool with water slide, lush tropical landscaping, gentle sea breezes, crystal clear warm coral sea, romantic stary nights, award winning gourmet meals, multilingual attentive staff, all the amenities of a first class resort at affordable prices...and more!

One of Cebu's best kept secrets is Virgin Beach Resort, located just 120 km north of Cebu City and only 17 km north of Bogo City.
Virgin Beach Resort Cebu has accommodations for everyone's budget including the economical Barkada Lodge, the Bougainvillea Hotel (standard rooms), the Orchid Hotel (superior rooms), and the Orchid Deluxe Cottages (deluxe suites). We have an award winning restaurant and bar available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have a conference room for banquets up to 250 persons. We have all the amenites you can think of for a beach resort including island hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving nearby, progolf course nearby and so much more.

Virgin Beach Resort offers individual attention to our guests. Food and drinks are "American size". Guest amenities are almost endless...swimming, snorkling, fishing, boating, volleyball, basketball, tennis, ping pong, skating, biking, karaoke, videoke, video games, billiards, games/puzzles, books/magazines, fitness center, business center, motor scooters, horseback riding, island hopping and so much more. Scuba diving and pro golf course are nearby and side trips to visit the Virgin Mary Shrine, colonial churches, haunted cemetaries, native crafts factories, mango farm, sugar mill, orchid nursery, public markets, fishing villages, malls and department stores and special festivals are available.

This is what our guests say you'll experience: *Attractive, clean, modern comfortable rooms *Excellent, sumptuous, well prepared food served "American-sized" portions. * Passionate moonlit nights filled with ecstasy *Inspiring picture perfect sunrises and sunsets *Soft, gentle, warm tropical breezes *Soothing symphonic sounds of the sea *The patter of rain on the roof *The clinking of ice cubes in the glass *Warm summer weather year round *Sun-kissed white sand beach *Beautiful, romantic, magical setting *A helpful multilingual trained staff *Crystal clear coral sea *Fragrant lush flowering landscaping *Relaxing sparkling swimming pool

To get to Virgin Beach Resort: From Cebu City North Bus Terminal take the Ceres Bus Lines bus "Daanbantayan, Maya via Bagay" to Virgin Beach Resort in Malbago, Daan- bantayan. The conductor will let you off at the waiting shed just before the Malbago Elementary School. You can text Junior at 0915-455-6990 and he can pick you up by VBR Jeepney. We also have an airconditioned van and coaster bus for your Airport or Cebu City transfer.

BOGO CITY, THE MAIN MARKET TOWN OF NORTHERN CEBU, PHILIPPINES

BOGO CITY, THE MAIN MARKET TOWN OF THE NORTH

Bogo City, Cebu, Philippines

The Land

Bogo is located in the northern part of Cebu province, in mainland Cebu. It is 101 kilometers away from the regional capital of Central Visayas, Cebu City. Bogo is accessible by land and sea transportation. The adjoining municipalities of Bogo and their approximate distances are as follows: Tabogon in the southeast, 18 kms. Via the provincial road; Tabuelan in the southwest, 40 kms. Via San Remegio; San Remegio in the  west, 9 kms; and Daanbantayan, 26 kms, in the north. Bogo Bay, which lies to the east facing Camotes Sea, separates  Bogo from Medellin.

Dr. Jose Rizal Park

Physical Features

Bogo has an area of 10,545 hectares, which constitutes 2.7% of the total land area of Cebu province. It has 29 barangays or villages, seven of which are located along the coast. The city belongs to the 4th Congressional District of Cebu. The city has a gentle rolling terrain to nearly level along the northeastern portion consisting of barangays Don Pedro Rodriguez, Polambato, Cayang, Poblacion, Dakit, Malingin, Gairan, and Nailon. It has a coastal line running approximately 27 kms., fringed with coral formations with pockets of sandy shores at Nailon, Siocon, and Odlot.

The city is characterized by nearly flat coastal plains at the central portion where the Poblacion barangays Gairan, Polambato, Don Rodriguez, Cayang, and Malingin are located. From the central coastal area, running through the interior is a rolling terrain, except along the eastern coastal portion, which is rugged and has a steep slope. Its highest elevation is 252 meters above sea level at Barangay Binabag. Steep slopes are approximately 3.2 kms. from the nearest foothill to the northeast.

Gaisano Department Store

History

Bogo's political community dates back to the arrival of the first waves of early Spanish colonizers in the capital city of Cebu. Settlements were already thriving along the shorelines of the town wherein seafaring tribes and traders from distant islands of the Visayas region and as far as the southern islands of Mindanao occasionally come to these settlements to sell or barter their products with the natives.The year 1600 ushered in the founding of real settlement which was subsequently transformed into a barangay where small huts made of cogon and bamboos squatted at the site where the Bogo Central Extension now stands. While the barangay was then a part of another bustling community of the north, now known as the town of Daan Bantayan. Hence, in January 1850 the Bishop of Cebu appointed Father Jaime Micalot, a Spanish friar, as the first Parish priest of Bogo and declared Saint Vincent Ferrer as the town's patron saint.

The first mass was celebrated in a hastily built structure made of cogon roofing, mixed with bamboo and lumber materials on April 5, 1850, which coincided with the death anniversary of the Patron Saint. Unfortunately, this chapel was gutted by fire of undetermined origin and a new stone church was constructed in the same place where the present Bogo Town Plaza is located.

Early historians aver that the town of Bogo derived its name from a lone Bogo tree which stood on the brink of the shore which is now part of Bogo wharf. Under its foliage, the natives of the place meet incoming traders who rode on frail sailboats loaded with goods to be sold or bartered with the natives of the town. Some of these traders, however, remained and married with the natives of the place.

Prince Warehouse, Bogo, Cebu, Philippines

The People

Per censal period as of 2007, the population of Bogo is recorded at 69,123 with ____ households. The population density of Bogo in that same year stood at 741.6 and with a population growth rate of 1.09 for the past 7 years.

Demographic Profile

There is a population increase of 8.22% from year 2000 to 2007 for a period of 7 years compared to a population increase from 1995 to 2000 which showed a population growth rate of 11.17%.

Geology and Vegetative Cover

The land form and geologic formations of the area reflect the relatively broad limestone plain/mountain landscape. The terrain characteristic of this particularly geomorphic mapping unit is level to nearly flat, with common to many rock outcrops and very thin soils.

San Vicente Parich Church, Bogo, Cebu, Philippines

Climate

Bogo enjoys the third type of climate. It is characterized by no pronounced wet period and a dry season lasting from one to three months. Its relatively dry months are from November to May. The rainy season of the locality usually starts in June and ends in October. The average rainfall data in the area show that heavy rains usually fall from June to November.

Bogo is firmly warmer than most places in whole of Cebu province. Its mean temperature of 27.4oC is 6oC higher than that of the entire province. March, April, and May are usually the warmest months while November, December, and January are the coolest months.

The town is well protected from the full force of wind blows. The northeasterly wind direction is most prevalent during the months of January to May. When the northeasterly wind starts to hit in June the town is well protected by the mountain ranges of Cayang and Banban. July and August is the onset of southwesterly winds (locally called habagat) where low level areas, including the greater urbanized barangays are protected by the mountains of Binabag, Anonang Norte and Anonang Sur. This condition makes Bogo a good shelter for sea vessels during typhoon season.

Capitancillo Island, Bogo, Cebu, Philippines

SCUBA DIVING CAPITAN CILLO ISLAND

100 km north of Mactan Island, 10 km southeast of Bogo; 2 ½ hr by banca from Mactan, 1 hr from Sogod or by road to Bogo on Cebu's east coast and 30 min by banca. You would not normally make this journey in bad conditions, but even in good conditions fierce currents can be a real problem. Advanced divers pick spring tides in the hope of spotting larger pelagic species, but less experienced divers should choose neap tides and be with an experienced divemaster.

There are three sites here with similar profiles: A) The Ormoc Shoal, 5 km to the northeast of Capitancillo; B) The Nunez Shoal, 3 km southwest of Calangaman Islet, which is to the northeast of Capitancillo Island; C) Capitancillo Island's own Southwest wall. All have shallow reef-tops at 33 ft leading to drop-offs with colorful soft corals, gorgonian sea fans, caves and black corals. The main interest of the dives are the walls, with their many caves and overhangs, small shoals of pelagic fish, all varieties of reef fish, Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks and the ever present possibility of encounters with larger pelagic species. Shallow reef-flats extend 3km all around Capitancillo Island, but these three dive sites are the best in the area.

Virgin Mary Shrine, Bogo City, Cebu, Philippines

HERE IS WHAT AN EX-PAT WRITES ABOUT BOGO CITY:

About three hours by bus north of Cebu lies Bogo City. Bogo has over 50,000 people and a nice little shopping area featuring a Gaisano department store and supermarket, movies, Jollibee and many other shops around about. Not far away is the new market area and jeepney terminal and you can ride a tricycle there for a few pesos.

Nearby there is the port of Bogo, a long wharf that juts out into Bogo Bay where pump boats from other islands like Masbate and Leyte call in, fishing boats drop off their catch and at night, lovers seek solitude and darkness amidst the romantic backdrop of the sea. From the wharf you can look across the bay to Polambato where the vehicular ferry to Leyte pulls in. This is the vessel the bus to Manila uses to continue its 48 hour journey from Cebu City to the National Capital.

Around Bogo there are sugar cane plantations, coconut trees and mango farms. On the road in from Cebu you pass the imposing shrine on the hill. The best place to stay amongst several clean local style hotels is a way out of town at the Nailon Beach Resort. Otherwise head across the tip of the island of Cebu to San Remigio where there are several other resorts and the road south down the west coast to Toledo and MoalBoal. Just north of San Remigio is Hagnaya where you catch the ferry to Bantayan Island enarby.

North of Bogo is a bridge over the Dayhagon Channel. This make Daanbantayan province actually an island itself but few people realise that. The nearest small town, Medellin has a lovely modern marketplace and is very clean and tidy. Daanbantayan itself further to the north is the jumping off spot for Malapascua Island via the port of Maya. This is where the buses stop and start their daily runs to and from Cebu City.

South of Bogo most people go over the mountains to Sogod but you can follow the coast to Borbon and on to Sogod. That used to be the main route but the mountain road was updated some decades ago and since then time has passed by the coastal houses and compounds. Many of these are forever for sale, waiting the day people come flooding back.

Bogo is a great little town to retire to. Enough going on to keep boredom at bay but not so busy it drives you crazy.

Bogo City Seal, Bogo City, Cebu, Philippines

HISTORY OF CITYHOOD FOR BOGO

The plebiscite for the cityhood of Bogo was held on 16 June 2007. After few hours of canvassing, 97.82% of voters of Bogo voted for "yes" for cityhood. Former representative Clavel Asas-Matinez announced that the cityhood of Bogo has been ratified. It became the sixth component city of Cebu province.

On 19 November 2008, the City of Bogo was demoted along with 2 other cities in Cebu and 13 other cities in the Philippines. The Supreme Court ruled out that the 16 cities did not pass the requirements for cityhood.

On December 10, 2008, Bogo and the other 15 cities affected filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court. More than a year later, on December 22, 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators." As such, the cityhood status of Bogo is effectively restored.