Cebu Regal Pension House

In my quest for better produced news features, I again decided to get myself booked in one of Cebu's many pension houses to give me a fresh perspective 

Located in a nondescript but safe neighborhood, Regal Pension House is probably one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest budget accommodation in Cebu. 

It seems to have gone past its majestic days --- looking old and a bit frayed. But for a minimal amount, it provides the essentials.  You only get what you need. There are different rates for aircon and fan-rooms, as well as rooms with or without television.  At least, you are assured of getting only what you need. I paid only Php 500.00 for an aircon room with TV.

Although there is a bakeshop near the pension house, there are no decent restaurants within the area.  So I do a lot of walking to get to jeepneys going to Ayala or Asiatown IT Park.  I don't mind the hike in the mornings as long as there is not too much heat.

For those interested, Regal Pension House is located at Junquera extension and may be reached through telephone numbers 255-6758 or 255-6759.

Cordova Food Park

In my search for good food options, I stumbled across the Cordova Food Park in Pilipog Cordova.  I tasted their Talaba (baked oyster with butter and cheese), sinigang tangigue, and cucumber salad and these were delicious. In fact, it's a good alternative to the overpriced, hyped-up Sutukil food in Opon.

I know that Sutukil in Opon is in a tourist area so the high food prices aren't really surprising. But for locals looking for value for money, I believe Cordova Food Park is a place that people should check out. 


Cordova Food Park is located right after the bridge in Cordova. 


The restaurant has its own fish pond, so I suggest ordering fresh seafood. They actually have a menu.

For advance orders, you can call tel No. (032) 412-3783

Cinnamon wheat bread and soya milk fresh from the hospital

I've heard patients around the world complain of bad hospital food. But H.W. Miller Memorial Sanitaium and Hospital is an exception. 
 

Miller hospital's cinnamon wheat bread and soya milk is worth the plaudits.  There are not many hospitals in the Philippines that can boast of producing among the best cinnamon wheat bread and soya milk in the country.
 

Not only do they produce bread and milk, they also cook healthy budget meals for guests or non-patients.

This is actually the only hospital I know where non-patients go out of their way to eat lunch or buy bread and milk. Their food is good for vegetarians, hypertensives, adventists (sabadistas), and health conscious.

I recently tried their gluten steak (which is cooked like beef steak for those who can't seem to wean themselves away from meat), chopsuey, egglant and soya milk.

Miller hospital is located at 400 Tres de Abril Street, San Nicholas, Cebu City with contact number 262-2100..

Bethel Guest House

Yes, it's an old inn but still remains one of the best in Dumaguete.

This lodge is just along the Rizal Boulevard and, because of the locals' familiarity with the place, it has also become a landmark.

Because of its squeaky clean image and its set-up, Bethel Guest House reminds me of a hospital.  Nonetheless, it is a comfortable place for sleeping and writing.

I like their cafeteria. It has a good selection of delectable dishes. They currently have this dinner buffet every Friday, Saturday and Sunday which I took advantage.

Hanging-out at their restaurant has been a pleasurable experience since this overlookI like their cafeteria. It has a good selection of delectable dishes. They currently have this dinner buffet every Friday, Saturday and Sunday which I took advantage.

For travelers interested in the staying at the Bethel Guest House, you can book a room through their website at: http://www.bethelguesthouse.com/   or you can call them at tel no. (035) 225-2000.  The studio room where I was in was worth Php 850 for one night.

Walking around Dumaguete

Why Dumaguete?  Why not?!  It's near Cebu and is not as overdone as Bohol with regards to tourism promotion. I'm assured that there won't be hordes of visitors when I arrive at the seaport.
 
I was not disappointed. Dumaguete's Rizal boulevard is a welcoming sight.  Its attractive promenade is immediately visible when the Cokaliong vessel which I rode arrived at the port.   From the white lamp posts lining up the stretch and trees swaying in the sea breeze, I was quickly taken in by this provincial charm.

I actually liked riding the tricycle down the boulevard towards Bethel Guest House where I was billeted at 3:50 in the morning. Despite being a medium-sized city, Dumaguete has none of the frenzy of Cebu or Iloilo. The city remains peaceful thoughout the day.

I especially liked taking my breakfast at the cafeteria overlooking the acacia trees and the sea. There is something consoling about watching early morning joggers while sipping cold tea and soya milk.  It feels like everything is right with the world.

Forest Camp Resort

I was in Valencia, Negros Oriental the other week and went straight to the Forest Camp Resort via tricycle.  I went there at the spur of the moment.

I originally went to Negros for Dumaguete. I wanted to experience its laid back charm and delicious cuisine. I needed a quick vacation and Dumaguete seems to fit the bill.  But when I dropped by the tourism office and read one of their brochures, I got curious about the camp which is in nearby Valencia.

I called the proprietor asking for directions and inquired about transportation.  And before 7:30 in the morning I checked out of Bethel Guest House and hopped on a tricycle outside the hotel to Forest Camp Resort. I paid Php 150 to the driver for the one way trip.

The camp is just around 2.5 hectares; smaller than Cebu's Kan-irag Nature Park. But this relaxing hideaway makes the most of small area's natural charm with its river fed pools, hanging bridge, brooks, farm animals (geese, birds etc), and quaint cottages for rent.

If you happen to be living or visiting oriental Negros, try dropping by the camp. I do encourage nature tripping for everyone. It is definitely better than malling.

Getting to Dumaguete is easy: You can either take the plane, fast craft or the slow boat. I prefer the slow boat which leaves at 7:00 in the evening and arrives early morning.   Not only is the slow boat cheap (I took the economy which costs Php 300.00), it also allows me to sleep throughout the trip.  Moreover, pier 1 docking area is just near my office.  So after office hours, I can immediately sail away.

Pier Cuatro Hotel

As the name says, it's near Cebu's pier cuatro. It has affordable rooms that range from Standard at Php 980 to Superior Room at Php 1,860 a night.

Their location is convenient for travelers who plan to proceed to other islands the next day via ship. This is also convenient for those participating in one of the trade fairs at SM City Mall in North Reclamation area.

They have a function room for meetings. However, in this period of frequent brownouts, their generator was not adequate to run the aircon and lights during our office conference / meeting.  Food served was generally OK but sometimes soup was too salty or the dessert bland.

My officemates said that the rooms were OK but could be hot during a brownout since the generator cannot carry much of the power requirements in teh hotel.  They feel insecure outside the hotel at night considering that the pier area is known for hold-ups, especially in dark corners.

The Gustavian, a local favorite

There’s a blog that says one would know a city has achieved global hub status when even the most uncommon of international cuisines is adopted wholeheartedly by both natives and expats alike... that explains the success of The Gustavian in Cebu.

An upscale restaurant and delicatessen that specializes in Baltic, Scandinavian food and French style cooking, The Gustavian is the inspiration of Chef Robert Lilja a renowned master Chef and Saucier who was previously named as the No. 1 in customer satisfaction for the Marriott Hotel chain and was one of their star chefs. Chef Robert has risen through the ranks at some of the finest restaurants in Europe.

Lhuillier owned, you may be unaware that The Gustavian now isn’t as expensive as it used to be, food prices now appeal to ordinary mall goers in Ayala, Marina and Paseo Saturnino in Cebu. 

For more adventurous palates, the restaurant has this eat-all you-can lunch and dinner buffets at only Php 490 – 500 which are at par with those offered by hotels.

The Gustavian bakes its own bread. You can also find jams and chocolates from Switzerland and Belgium. For balikbayans who hate lugging all the pasalubong, maybe they could purchase some items here.
 
Now with its own farm, this Euro restaurant caters to expats, tourists who are homesick and locals. 

The Gustavian recently opened branches in Metro Manila.