A Foretaste of Cebu in Mactan Cebu International Airport

Mactan Cebu International Airport


The terminal building of the Mactan Cebu Airport is always a pleasant sight whenever I visit the Province of Cebu.

Mactan Cebu International Airport

It is a familiar sight for me since I visited Cebu for five times already. It seems like the terminal building never changes.

Going to the Mactan Cebu International Airport


The Cebu-Mactan International Airport, just like most of the airports in the Philippines, started out as military airport. In fact, the US Air Force used it as base for C-130 during the Vietnam War. The air base was converted into a commercial airport in the 1960s to replace the old airport in Lahug in the heart of Cebu City.


I read in the news that the government will expand and modernize the airport as response to the growing number of flights to Cebu and the increase in size of airplanes.

Passengers in Mactan Cebu International Airport

There’s nothing much to see inside the Mactan Cebu International Airport but the usual airport thingies like the x-ray machines and check-in counters.

Check-in counters in Mactan Cebu International Airport

The airport also has souvenir shops, coffee shops and restaurants.

Pasalubong centers in Mactan Cebu International Airport

I didn’t buy from these shops since their items, specifically the pasalubong items, are twice as expensive as those being sold outside of the airport.

Food court in Mactan Cebu International Airport

The restaurants also sell food that is more expensive. Jollibee has a branch inside the airport and a friend confirmed that their Yum Burgers is more expensive than the ones being sold in other Jollibee branches outside of the airport.

Zubuchon in Mactan Cebu International Airport

Despite the pricey food in the airport, I decided to try one of the popular restaurants in Cebu:  the Zubuchon!

The things they say about Zubucchon

I am making tipid I just bought their lugaw with chicharong baboy.

Zubuchon lugaw in Mactan Cebu International Airport

It’s fine but not something to shout about. I guess I ordered the wrong food. Maybe, I should’ve ordered their world-famous lechon. It’s expensive unfortunately, so I just decided to try the lechon when in Cebu City.

There are others things to try in the Mactan Cebu International Airport. They have the famous Cebuano treats like the otap, the dried mangoes, and the rosquillos. I, however, passed them by because they’re just a foretaste of what’s in store for my adventure around the Province of Cebu.

Read my adventures in Cebu:

Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 17): A Great View of Cebu City from Tops Busay
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 16): A Taste of Mandarin in Cebu City
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 15): Taboan the Pasalubong Center of Cebu City
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 14): My Accidental Visit to Mt. Carmel Church
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 13): Another Visit to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 12): Why Cebuanos Call Mama Mary as Birhen sa Regla?
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 11): Sto. Niño Basilica - Mother and Head of All Churches of the Philippine Islands
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 10): A Visit to the Fake(?) Magellan’s Cross
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 9): The Story of Rajah Humabon - King of Cebu
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 8): Calle Colon, the Oldest Street in the Philippines
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 7): The Worst Cebu Hotel
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 6): The Colorful Lighthouse of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 5): The Mysterious Church of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 4): Bagacay Point Lighthouse
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 1): My Boat Ride Under the Bridges of Mactan Channel

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Information about Mactan Cebu International Airport was referred to the official website of the Mactan Cebu International Airport and Wikipedia.
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It’s Cebu Again for the Nth Time!

Cebu Province


Cebu is now my most visited province in the Visayas Region.

I went to this island province for the first time in 2010 when I roamed Mactan Island and visited iconic Cebuano places like the shrines of Lapu-Lapu and Magellan, The Minor Basilica of the Sto. Nino, Cebu Cathedral, Magellan’s Cross, and the Taoist Temple.

I visited Cebu again for the second time in 2012 when I once again saw the Cebu Cathedral, the Basilica of Sto. Nino, and the Magellan’s Cross. I also traveled northwards to Danao City and then took a RoRo to Camotes Islands. I also drop by Lilo-an to buy the famous treats from Titay’s. I also took the opportunity to learn a little about Cebuano culture and history in the Cebu Cathedral Museum.


In 2014, for my third and fourth time visit to the island, I enjoyed the sights and scenes along the Mactan Channel and then had a short stay in the town of Consolacion.

My latest (and fifth) visit to Cebu was this year when I enjoyed the food around the city of Cebu and then visited the Temple of Leah.

Being a five-time visitor made me feel like being resident of Cebu City. I can travel on my own around the city without getting lost. I even made friends with many people living there. Maybe all I need to do is learn Cebuano and I had to ask my Beloved Wife Lei for that.

Here are the stories of my latest adventure in Cebu:

Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 14) – My Accidental Visit to Mt. Carmel Church
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 13): Another Visit to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 12): Why Cebuanos Call Mama Mary as Birhen sa Regla?
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 11): Sto. Niño Basilica - Mother and Head of All Churches of the Philippine Islands
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 10): A Visit to the Fake(?) Magellan’s Cross
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 9): The Story of Rajah Humabon - King of Cebu
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 8): Calle Colon, the Oldest Street in the Philippines
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 7): The Worst Cebu Hotel
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 6): The Colorful Lighthouse of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 5): The Mysterious Church of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 4): Bagacay Point Lighthouse
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