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Sutukil (sugba, tuwa, kilaw) market and restaurants near Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan, Cebu never fails to baffle most Manila residents with the freshest sea bounty laid out for personal pickings. It's not so much of the variety -- because there's always Manila's SM Hypermarket in Mall of Asia or the neighboring Seaside restaurants -- but the fresh fishes' bright, rainbow colors. The colors will just blow you away -- it's like shooting with the almost extinct Velvia in this pixel age.
Parklane International Hotel, near Cebu Business Park, is one of those new hotels built in time for the Asean Summit. Barely six months old, it was designed by the same architect who built Cebu International Convention Center. Parklane has everything -- rooms with chic furniture (very Cebu), a pool with a view, and a decent buffet selection. However, their service falls short of a five-star -- atypical of most Cebu hotels I stayed in. The locals seem to not mind, though, as it has become a popular venue for weddings and small conventions.
I like shooting a Nescafe product launch since its production numbers have the flair (and pomposity) of most Philippine festivals. It's easy to get into the groove and plan your shots steps ahead because at the back of your mind, the performers will do something formulaic -- like a Vilma Santos or Alma Moreno dance pose finish in the 80s. Chicken.
The last time I was in Cebu four years ago, the only place to get a decent cup of coffee was The Tinder Box, a deli cafe showcasing a Wallpaperesque interior and Santis product lines. And now there's Cafe Georg, a couple of steps from The Tinder Box. It has the moistest and chewiest carrot cake you will find on this corner of the Philippines to go with your good cup of coffee.
This is the view from room 506 in Parklane International Hotel. At one glance, it seems a mockery at me for not staying at the Disney-like Waterfront Lahug from a distance but at the same time, it's a blatant reminder that I shouldn't bother myself with views, especially if I just have two hours of sleep between air shuttling from the last flight out of Iloilo and the first flight to Cebu.
