Cebu City: Humidity, Halo-Halo, and Honestly, Just Trying to Cope
okay, so i just landed back from Cebu City, Philippines and my brain feels like a melted popsicle. it’s…a lot. i was there scouting locations for a low-budget indie film - think gritty realism, not rom-coms. the director wants “authentic,” which basically means “cheap and chaotic.” mission accomplished, honestly.
first off, the *heat. i just checked and it’s…sticky, like someone poured honey into the air. 22.18 degrees Celsius, they say. feels like 22.18 degrees Celsius, also they say. the pressure is 1011, humidity is 66%, sea level is 1011, and ground level is 1014. numbers, numbers everywhere. it doesn’t feel like numbers, it feels like you’re wearing all your clothes at once, even the winter coat. i swear i saw a dog wearing a tiny fan.
finding decent coffee was a struggle. i’m a bit of a coffee snob, okay? i need my fuel. i ended up at this little place called “Coffee Culture” (you can find reviews on Yelp) and it was…fine. not life-changing, but it had air conditioning, which is a win. someone told me that there’s a hidden gem near the university, but you have to know the barista’s cousin’s dog’s name to get the good stuff. i didn’t have the energy to investigate.
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“Don’t trust the taxi drivers. Seriously. They’ll take the scenic route…through a karaoke bar.”
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that was a tip from a fellow filmmaker i met at a random bar. he’d been there before. he wasn’t wrong. i took a taxi from the airport and ended up driving past a karaoke bar twice*. i think the driver was trying to recruit me for a duet. i politely declined.
food-wise, it’s amazing. i ate so much halo-halo i’m pretty sure i’m 80% shaved ice now. and the lechon! oh, the lechon. crispy skin, juicy meat…it’s a religious experience. i found a great place on TripAdvisor called “House of Lechon” - definitely worth the hype. i heard that some places serve it with a side of…questionable sauces. stick to the classic liver sauce, trust me.
my neighbors were…loud. not in a bad way, just…enthusiastic. there was a constant stream of music, karaoke (surprise!), and the sound of people just generally living their lives. if you get bored, Bohol and Dumaguete are just a short ferry ride away. i didn’t have time to explore, but i’m adding them to the list for next time.
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“The traffic is insane. Just accept it. Bring a book. Bring a friend. Bring a therapist.”
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that was a local warning i got while trying to cross a street. it’s true. the traffic is…an event. it’s a chaotic ballet of jeepneys, motorcycles, and pedestrians all vying for space. i almost got run over three times. i’m pretty sure i aged a year each time. you can check out some local transportation tips on Cebu City Guide.
overall, Cebu City is…an experience. it’s not for the faint of heart. it’s hot, it’s loud, it’s chaotic, but it’s also incredibly vibrant and full of life. i’m exhausted, i need a shower, and i think i’m still sweating halo-halo, but i’d go back. maybe with earplugs and a very large bottle of sunscreen. and definitely a translator for taxi negotiations. you can find more information about Cebu City on Wow Philippines.
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