This is the time of the year when the Philippines celebrates one of their biggest festivals of the year, Sinulog, to honor Santo Nino culminating in a street parade during the third Sunday of January in Cebu City. Truth be told, ever since the Sinulog has been marketed as a tourist attraction, many youngsters and those young at heart make the Sunday as an excuse to party, dance on the streets and drink to their hearts content ala mardis gras style. While it brings in tourism money, the city is deadlocked mostly for the entire day. In fact a few years ago, I made a big mistake of booking an international flight during the third Sunday of the first month of the year. That mistake tripled my normal travel time to the airport. The 2+ hour drive in a car that almost overheated caused me to be sick for my long haul flight and thereafter. Lesson learned.

Hotels and resorts' prices are jacked up as well so while the other kids are partying and soaking up the energy in the city, there are a few options for those who just want to chill away from the crowded streets of Cebu. Besides from staying indoors, plan well in advanced whether you decide to go island hopping, use a day pass at a beach resort or, in my case, not fly out of Cebu. Of course, you need to leave the city during the wee hours in the morning before you get stuck on reroutes after reroutes. Rest assured by the time you get back to Cebu from island hopping or frolicking at the beach, you can have a relaxing dinner at Cordoba's Lantaw restaurant. By the time you are in the city proper, the crowd has dispersed.

The view in Mactan before hopping on a boat.

On the other hand for those party revelers or who just want to witness the celebration, there are many street food vendors but be very careful what you eat if you have a sensitive tummy and watch out for your valuables! I can't stress that enough. If you're still hungry after the show, check out my past blogs on where to dine in Cebu here, here and here.

Viva Pit Senyor!