Let Them Have More Pizza

I dreaded special days since the day I started working. I do not mean the holidays like Christmas and New Year, which are also special days. What I mean is the special days which are called as birthdays, promotions, and other events that entail me to treat my officemates for some blow-out. I dreaded those special days not because I am stingy but rather I fear that they will not be pleased with my blow-out.

Last week, I was promoted from probationary to a full officer. Thus, I would have to treat my officemates. Since we are satiated with the pancit canton and other pancits from Savory, I have decided to get some pizza for my blow-out. Shakey's Pizzanatic Card came in handy. :-)

For pizza addicts like me, Discount cards like the ones offered by Shakey's is a must. Because of my Shakey's Pizzanatic Card, I am able to buy lots of pizza so as to please my hungry officemates. I have used it in my previous work in a bank and now I used it in my current office. I am able to let them have more pizza without spending too much money.

The Pizzanatic Card can be bought from any branch of Shakey's for 199 pesos. Just ask any crew of the restaurant and they will give you a form fill out when you are getting your card. A Pizzanatic Card lasts for six months and can only be used for pizza deliveries of up to three purchased pizza. The promo for this card is buy one pizza and take one pizza for free. You can choose any pizza that you want and Shakey's will give you either pepperoni or Hawaiian pizza as freebie.

Imagine how much money you can save if you have this card. If you order a large prize pizza, you will get another large size pizza (pepperoni or Hawaiian) that cost for 303 pesos. Order three of large sized pizza and you will feel how much money you had saved.

So for pizza lovers out there, or for those who are in pinch for a blow-out in the office, I enjoin you to avail Shakey's Pizzanatic Card. It will save you money while eating your favorite delicious pizza.

For those who are not fan of Shakey's, Pizza Hut also offers their discount card. The card entitles the buyer to get one pizza for every pizza ordered for delivery or take - out. Pizza Hut's card expires after a year, which means that it last longer than Shakey's Pizzanatic Card.

.

No Mistress Allowed

I just found this weird announcement on one of MGP Transit’s Cubao – Fairview bus:

 

Sorry if the photo is not of good quality and the words are hard to read. :-(

What the announcement trying to say is:

“Bawal sumakay ang kabit ng empleyado ng MGP Trans”

Translated in English, that announcement would read: “Mistresses of employees are not allowed on board the MGP Transit bus.”

Weird!

Why is this announcement placed inside the buses of MGP Transit? Is there an incident in the past that involved the employee, the mistress, and the employee’s wife? Or, is it because the owner of the bus company experienced terrible fate with her husband?

What do you think it is? Give me your thoughts.

---

Follow me in Facebook and Twitter.
.

Mactan Shrine, Mactan Island

21st of April 1521, Ferdinand Magallanes and his men landed at Mactan Island to subdue the natives who do not to submit themselves under the rule of Spain. Unfortunately, Magallanes and his men were the ones who were subdued by the Mactan Island chieftain and now a national hero, Lapu-Lapu. The rest then is history.

This special event in the Philippine history is being marked by Mactan Shrine, also known as Lapu-Lapu Shrine. Mactan Shrine was established to honor the first resistance against European colonization in South East Asia. It serves as a monument to honor Lapu-Lapu and his fellowmen in defeating Magallanes and his Spanish crew.
.

Mactan Shrine is located in the place where the fight between Lapu-Lapu and Magallanes occurred. It is on the coast of Mactan Island and the sea beside it is shallow. The place is partially covered with mangroves from the open-sea.

.

This sea witnessed Magallanes’ death and the victory of Lapu-Lapu.

How to Go To Mactan Shrine

There are many means to go here from the Cebu – Mactan Airport. The easiest would be to hire a taxi cab and ask the driver to take you to Mactan Shrine. I have never rode a taxi cab to reach Mactan Shrine so I do not know the actual fare to get there. My approximate is that it will cost about 200 pesos to reach Mactan Shrine from the airport. Any price above that would be too much. Taxi cabs are also available from Mactan Shrine so it is not a hassle for you.

The most affordable way to reach Mactan Shrine is to ride the jeepney or what the Cebuanos call as multicab. From the airport, you should ride a multicab and ask the driver to drop you at Save More grocery, which is just outside of the airport proper. When you are dropped near Save More, walk to the highway and ride a jeepney/multicab with a signboard saying “Punta Engaño.” Ask the driver to drop you at Mactan Shrine.

The shrine is just beside the highway, which is the main road used by jeepney/multicabs, so going to the airport or downtown Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island is not a problem.

Entrance Fee

Please donate. :-)

There is no entrance fee in Mactan Shrine. However, the shrine management is asking for donations for the maintenance of Mactan Shrine. Donate to help in keeping the shrine well-maintained. Even spare change and coins would be enough as donations.

What to See Inside Mactan Shrine

Lapu-Lapu Shrine

Lapu-Lapu’s statue is the centerpiece of Mactan Shrine. The statue is made of bronze and 20 meters high. This is where most of the visitors in this shrine take their souvenir photos.

Magellan’s Monument

Few steps away from Lapu-Lapu’s statue is Magellan’s Monument. This monument is erected in 1866 to honor the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (Hernando de Magallanes according to the monument). It is an obelisk with a base broadening like that of in a pyramid. This monument bears the words “Glorias Españolas.”

The Battle of Mactan Mural

This mural is placed to commemorate that Battle of Mactan Island. The mural depicts Lapu-Lapu and Magellan as fighting one another as in a duel. However, historical accounts from the Italian priest Pigafetta says that Magellan was surrounded by many soldiers of Lapu-Lapu and fought him.

Souvenir Shops Inside Mactan Shrine

This is the right place where to buy your souvenir items in Mactan. Items here is much lower compared to what could be found in the souvenir shops inside the airport. For instance, the keychain here is just ten pesos apiece while the same keychains costs 100 pesos for 3 pieces. Common items for sale in the shops inside Mactan Shrine are necklaces and bracelets made of shell or stones, souvenir T-shirts, guitars, and other items that are made of shells, wood, and stone.

Other Photos

Here are some of the photos I took while in Mactan Shrine. I hope that you like them all. So that’s it. The places and tips I wrote in this article may help you as a guide when going to the most popular historical spot in Mactan Island, the Mactan Shrine.

Lapu-Lapu: Do I look good?

Litterbugs and vandals will be sacrificed to this wooden god…

Glory to Spain.

Breaking News: Santa Claus seen in Mactan!

---

This blog post is the third part of the article series about my travel in Mactan Island. Read the first part, which is about Mactan Island, and the second part, which is about the hotels available in Mactan.
.

5 Hotels in Mactan Island and My Attempt to Find a Place to Sleep

Tourists in a tight budget will have a hard time looking for a place to sleep in Mactan Island. As in my case, I had a hard time looking for Mactan hotel that is affordable but still a suitable place to stay. However, for those who have the budget, there are so many hotels and pension houses to choose from in Mactan Island. Some of the hotels are located near the airport. There are some that are located near downtown Lapu-Lapu and more accessible to shops, restaurants, and public transportation that are going to Cebu City.

Here are some of Mactan hotels that were included in my canvass:

GV Hotel

Address: G.Y. Dela Serna St., Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City
Telephone Number: (032) 340-3017 and (032) 495-4388

Looking at the website of GV Hotel makes me smile. The rooms that could be found in the GV Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City are a far cry from the rooms that they are showing their website. The GV Hotel in Mactan Island is at least three levels higher than the apartelle that could be found in Quezon City. However, I am not complaining. This is the place where I stayed for the whole duration of visit in Mactan Island. GV Hotel is affordable but is a nice place to sleep to. It is also in the Lapu-Lapu City’s poblacion or town center.

Each room in GV Hotel have its own bathroom that have shower, an air-condition, and a cable TV. The place is clean and secured. I leave some important things to my room but none of them were stolen or lost. You could request for room cleaning without additional fee. Heater and hot shower can only be found at deluxe rooms. However, Mactan Island’s weather is quite warm that you do not even need a hot shower in wee hours of the morning during the coolest season in the country.

The hotel personnel are nice and approachable, but do not expect them to wear the attire that is found at their website. For tourists that are in a tight budget, I recommend this hotel. In December, GV Hotel offered the promo rate for their hotels, which I gladly availed. I am not sure though if the promo rate is still being offered.

For me, GV hotel is the best of the cheap Mactan hotels that I found.
.

Mactan Pension House

Address: M.L. Quezon National Highway, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City
Telephone: (032) 340-5524

This is the second affordable Mactan hotel in my canvass. It is located in the highway and is accessible to the Lapu-Lapu town center and the airport. Transportation to Cebu City is just outside the pension house.

The rooms in this pension house are fully air conditioned, with hot and cold shower. Every room also has cable TV and telephone in every room. Mactan Pension House also offers breakfast room service and laundry and pressing service.

Hotel Cesario

Address: M.L. Quezon Highway, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City
Telephone: (032) 340-0211
e-mail: welcome@thebellavista-hotel.com

Hotel Cesario is the first Mactan hotel I saw when I came out of the Cebu – Mactan Airport. I saw their service vehicles for fetching their visitors from the airport. Hotel Cesario is on the same highway as Mactan Pension House and also near to city center of Lapu-Lapu City and the transportation to mainland Cebu.

The hotel offers free airport transfers, room service, and fax and photocopying services. The room rates are inclusive of the Buffet Breakfast for two persons at 1565 Café and free use of swimming pool at Bella Vista Hotel. 1565 Café and Bella Vista Hotel are just beside Hotel Cesario.

Amenities include fully air conditioned and carpeted rooms with direct dial telephone system. All rooms have cable TV. This hotel accepts all major credit cards.

Best Suites Hotel

Address: APP Building II, Quezon Avenue, Lapu-Lapu City
Telephone: (032) 236-9999
e-mail: bestsuiteshotel@yahoo.com

Best Suites Hotel has air conditioned fully furnished bedroom suites with hot and cold shower. Each room have cable LCD TV, broadband internet access, PABX telephone system. For security, they have a 24-hour CCTV security cameras. They also offer laundry and dry-clean services. Best Suites Hotel is a Mactan Hotel that has its own coffee shop.


The Regular and Best Suites have two single beds and kitchen.

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino

Address: 1 Airport Hotel, Lapu-Lapu City
Telephone: (032) 340-4888
e-mail: wahc@waterfronthotels.net

Waterfront Hotel is the best Mactan hotel that I saw during my visit to Mactan. It has the best rooms and the best amenities and, of course, the least affordable. Because of this I did not took a canvass for this hotel. This hotel is located right inside the Mactan – Cebu Airport and is just few steps away from the airport terminal.

Waterfront Hotel offers internet connection for every room. It has a swimming pool and a café inside the hotel lobby. It is beside the Casino Filipino and there is also a KTV bar for those who are aching to have nightlife at Mactan without going away from the hotel.

For room rates, visit the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino website.


---

This post is the second part of my travels in Mactan Island.
.

Mactan Island

Mactan Island is an island located Southeast of Cebu City. Politically, the island is being shared by Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova. The island is the place where the Mactan Cebu International Airport is located. It is connected to the island of Cebu by two bridges.

The island of Mactan is famous for being the homeland of Lapu-Lapu. He is the chieftain who slew Magellan and his Spanish crew on a battle on the beach of Mactan Island. A shrine was built to commemorate Lapu-Lapu's victory against the Spaniards.

Places to See in Mactan

.

Mactan Island is famous because of Lapu-Lapu. Because of this, the well-known tourist spot on this island is the Mactan Shrine or also known as Lapu-Lapu Shrine. Local and foreign tourists visit Mactan Shrine to see the place where Magellan and his crew were defeated by Lapu-Lapu and his hordes. Read more about Mactan Shrine are on the third part of this blog post.

.

Another place to visit is the Birhen sa Regla Church, which is also known as the Opon Church. This church is the largest in Mactan Island. Anyone, especially the Catholics, who want to join the Holy Mass can freely enter the church. Be reminded though that the mass in this church is in Cebuano so it is better that you read the day’s readings in a lectionary before you go here. From Cebu – Mactan Airport, the Mactan Church could be reached by taxi or jeepney. The cheapest option is to ride a jeepney from the airport with the signboard that says “Mercado, Simbahan” (Church).

Birhen sa Regla Church is a nice church but not as big and grand as the Cebu Cathedral.

Downtown Lapu-Lapu City is another place to visit when obtaining various necessities. The place has banks, grocery shops, bakery, and a market. This a good place to buy your pasalubongs if you do not want to go to Cebu City. Downtown Lapu-Lapu City could be reached by riding a jeepney with a signboard saying “Mercado” from the Cebu – Mactan Airport.

Where to Sleep in Mactan Island?

There are various hotels and pension houses on Mactan Island. Some of these hotels are located near the Cebu – Mactan Airport and others are located along the highway going to downtown Lapu-Lapu City. Be aware though that hotels on this island are quite expensive and the average rate of rooms per day is about 1,000 pesos (about 50 US dollars).

You could also try some of the “rooms for rent” that are located on the fringe of Lapu-Lapu City. However, be sure to check the rooms or apartments before striking a deal with the house owners.

More details about hotels and pension houses in Mactan Island could be found on the second part of this blog series, entitled "Looking for Mactan Hotel."

Going Around Mactan Island

Mactan Island is just a small island and there are many ways to go to any places on it. The major means of transportation for commuters is by riding the jeepneys, which are locally known as multicabs. There are jeepneys for every major destination on Mactan Island. It is just a matter of knowing what jeepney to ride when going to your destination.

The island has a terminal for jeepneys that goes directly to Cebu City and Mandaue City. This terminal is in the vicinity of downtown Lapu-Lapu City. There is also a jeepney route that goes directly to the Cebu – Mactan Airport. These jeepneys ply the Airport to Mercado route. Tourists on tight budget can ride a jeepney inside the airport to go to downtown Lapu-Lapu City.

There are also public tricycles that are useful if you are going to places that are outside the routes of jeepneys. One tricycle can carry up to six passengers. You could hire a tricycle for “special trips” but the tricycle driver charges a minimum of 50 pesos for such services.

Taxi and vehicle-for-hire are also available but they are usually found in the vicinity of the Cebu – Mactan Airport. You could also rent a motorcycle from the locals in the island. However, their minimum rate is 1,000 pesos per day, exclusive of the fuel for the motorcycle.

Places to Eat in Mactan

Finding a good place to eat in Mactan Island is not a problem, especially if you are in Lapu-Lapu City. McDonalds, Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza and other fast food restaurants are available. The city also has the Gaisano Mall and grocery shops wherein you could buy some supplies. Fresh foods and fruits are available at the market in downtown Lapu-Lapu City.

Of the many bakeries in Lapu-Lapu City, the most notable is Mang Tinong’s Bakery which is located almost everywhere. I recommend their Elorde Bread, which you should buy when still hot. Their ensaymada is too sweet.

Sinugba with puso.

Cebu is famous for its barbecues which are known locally as sinugba. There are barbecued pork meat, chicken, and even hotdogs that are all affordable. These are partnered with their “puso,” which is cooked rice wrapped in palm leaves. You could taste the delicious sinugba in barbecue stalls in the market in downtown Lapu-Lapu City. In less than 100 pesos, you can have a one full meal. Just be warned that the barbecue may be half-cooked or too burnt so you should prepare your stomach.

Mactan Island is quite a nice place to stay because it is urbanized enough like in Metro Manila. Restaurants and stores could be reached easily. Though it is urbanized, the place is not as polluted as Metro Manila. However, with just one historical spot, this island is obscured by Cebu City.
.