You can live comfortably for a month in Cebu for less than the price of one month’s worth of mortgage in an American City.
Columnist Kirsten Raccuia claims this to be true in her article entitled, “A First World City for $1000 a Month.” Offering a plethora of great food, amazing tourist spots, and cultural activities, Cebu has become a favorite of many foreign expatriates. The province—considered a mellower version of Metro Manila—offers modern comforts surrounded by natural wonders and historical sites.
If you’re looking to settle in the Visayan islands, look no further than the “Queen City of the South.” Cebu offers many reasons why it ought to be the next place you live in.
Rich history and colorful culture
From Ferdinand Magellan to Hollywood actor Christian Kane, people have been falling in love with Cebu for centuries. Composed of 167 islands, the province was home to natives even before Spanish conquistadors set foot in Mactan in 1521. It bore witness to some of Philippines’ most significant events in history, such as the Battle of Mactan and the founding of the first Spanish settlement in the country.
Today, if you visit Cebu, you’ll find many relics testifying to the city’s enduring history.
Magellan’s Cross, a popular tourist site, features a Catholic wooden cross planted on the land by the Magellan expedition in 1521. Nearby, you can visit the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, the oldest Christian artifact in the country. These are only some of the amazing pieces from the past you can still see and appreciate in Cebu. As the country’s oldest city, Cebu City is also home to the country’s oldest street (Colon Street) and oldest church (Basilica del Santo Niño Church).
The Basilica del Santo Niño Church is the Philippines’ oldest Catholic church.
Besides being a rich historical place, Cebu is also a melting pot of culture.
The annual Sinulog Festival, for example, celebrates the iconic Santo Niño through colorful parades, street dances and beauty pageants. The city is also considered the birthplace of “BisRock’, a term coined by the writer Januar E. Yap to describe Visayan rock bands. It hosts an annual Reggae festival and the Cebu Pop Music Festival. With events such as these to look forward to, Cebu offers a multitude of things to do to both tourists and locals.
The Sinulog Festival is an annual celebration marked by street dances and colorful parades.
Modern offerings and natural sceneries
Cebu is one of the few places in the Philippines where you can work in a high-rise building on weekdays and go swimming with whale sharks on weekends. It is home to many natural attractions such as Budlaan Falls, San Vicente Marine Sactuary and Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden. Islands such as Oslob and Camotes offer pristine beaches and diverse marine life.
Kawasan Falls in Alegria, Cebu is a great place to recharge and relax on weekends.
Despite its rich natural resources, Cebu is still considered a highly urbanized city due to the numerous businesses and corporations operating in the area. This also means that there are numerous job opportunities that await in Cebu. The Cebu Business Park, Asiatown IT Park, and South Road Properties are all home to large local and international companies.
Santa Fe is one of many islands in Cebu offering exceptional beaches
Other institutions in the metropolis also provide world-class services that can rival any first-world country. Medical facilities such as Chong Hua Hospital and Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital are topnotch as they feature state-of-the-art equipment. Schools such as University of San Carlos, Cebu Doctors’ University and the University of Cebu are noted for their distinguished alumni and competitive rankings. Living in Cebu gives you easy access to these exceptional institutions for a fraction of a price that it would usually cost in Metro Manila, making the city a truly attractive place to relocate to.
World-class infrastructure and travel ports
While the city has its share of jam-packed roads, traffic is considerably lighter in Cebu compared to the bustling cities of Metro Manila. Prime roads such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Cebu North and South Road all help ease travel, with paved secondary roads providing easy access to the rest of the city.
Currently, there are several infrastructure projects that will soon rise in the city. Examples are the Metro Cebu Expressway, New Cebu International Container Port, and the Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road. These upcoming developments aim to further ease travel and trade in the Queen City of the South.
Besides land and sea travel, Cebu caters to visitors traveling through the skies as well. The Mactan Cebu International Airport takes pride in its eye-catching architecture and exemplary service. It serves as the primary gateway to the Central Visayas region and has been dubbed the second busiest airport in the country after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay. The airport definitely makes Cebu more accessible as it serves as a direct link between the Visayan city and the rest of the world.
A city like no other
With all its offerings, it’s no wonder why many people flock to Cebu.
Whether you’re visiting the place for vacation or for immigration, you’ll definitely have a multitude of activities and tourist spots to see in the area. There’s no dull moment in the city, with its rich offerings of music, gastronomy, culture and history.
Overall, Cebu is arguably one of the best places to live in the Philippines, if not the world. Head to the Queen City of the South today and discover the adventure that lies waiting for you there.
Sources: Raccuia, Kirsten. “A First World City for $1000 a Month.” 16 July 2018; https://internationalliving.com; https://www.cebucity.gov.ph; BongVideos Production, Christian Paul del Rosario, Daniel Lazarov, and Jeremiah Odejerte via Pexels.com