Someone said to me that “In taste, there’s no debate”, and I couldn’t agree more. But, these native delicacies in Cebu are just sinfully irresistible for me to be silent about. So here, let me showcase a range of delectable and popular Cebu delicacies.

This is one of the most popular food delicacies in Cebu. You can also find this roasted pig dish in other parts of the country. But what sets Lechon de Cebu apart from others is its distinct flavour attributed to the stuffed spices like tanglad (lemon grass), garlic, onions, and black pepper. If you’re wondering what to eat in Cebu, lechon should be on top of your list. You’ve never been to Cebu if you haven’t tried lechon.

“Tastier than Lechon” as they claim it, Balamban Liempo is a chunk of pork stuffed with some secret ingredients like green grass of some sort, making it so flavourful. It has a crispy outer layer which makes it even tastier. Their tag line must have been true after all. “Mapapa ubos ka sa sarap”. 😋

Dried mangoes are mangoes that go through a long process of drying, sweetening and preservation. This is to prolong the shelf life of ripe mangoes. This is probably the most popular pasalubong from Cebu if you ask the llocals. There are many delicious foods that you can buy and eat in Cebu.

Every town and city in the Philippines has its own festival, but if there is one festival you have to experience at least once, it’s definitely Cebu’s Sinulog Festival. Celebrated every third Sunday of January, the Sinulog is held in honor of the Holy Child Jesus or the Santo Niño. Attended by at least three million devotees and revelers, Cebu has the grandest fiesta in the country.

Sinulog Festival, one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. It was attended, not only by Filipinos, but people coming from different parts of the globe also went to witness the celebration. The magnificence of the festival made Filipinos, as well as our fellow Asians, refer to it as the “Mother of all Festivals”. From the colorful and well-made costumes of the dancers, to the beautiful dances and to the music brought by the drums, trumpets, and the native gongs, the Sinulog Festival never ceases to amaze its audience.

With the overwhelming amount of people who wish to witness the traditional celebration and the beauty of the culture it depicts, this grand festival remains as Cebu’s proudest attraction, along with the beautiful beaches and historical places.

Cebuano Art and CultureThe Arts in CebuCebu’s liturgical art manifests its deeply rooted Catholic tradition. Relief or three-dimensional santos or holy images, murals, and paintings for altarpieces, gold andsilver vestments, and altar accessories have always been Cebuano expressions of religiosity that are stylistically similar with those of Bicol. Cebuano folk art includes basketry and the hand-crafting of jewelry and musical instruments. Basketry wasdeveloped by the inter island trade which regularly demanded cargo containers.Baskets and planters are made of cocomidrib, rattan, bamboo, or sigid vine. Theisland’s furniture industry is related to this art. Chairs of rattan and buri ribs arefashioned using basket-weaving techniques. Mactan produces guitars and ukulelesfrom langka or soft jackfruit wood.Cebu’s abundant shells and coral can be transformed into ornaments, some of whichare set with precious metals. Popular Cebuano arts of the 19th century like sinamayweaving, dyeing, and pottery (especially the alcaaz or water jars of fine red clay), havesince declined. Such is the creativity of local artisans, however, that new crafts, e.g.,stoneware, are constantly being developed.

Filipino cultural life and the arts has thus developed as a hybrid form, with locals proud of their indigenous roots. and a number of artists have explored their roots through their art making.

CONTEMPORARY ART IN A CHURCHContemporary art and religion aren’t the best of friends since artistic freedom often butts heads with the teachings of the Church. Contemporary art has, however, claimed sanctuary in the unused garage of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.Founded by Fr. Jason Dy, Alternative Contemporary Art Studio (ACAS) is a narrow space long enough to fit three cars. Since opening in November 2009, ACAS has established itself as the venue of choice in Cebu for bold souls who wish to venture outside the confines of figurative art.

Filipinos are quite superstitious and religious, more so Cebuanos. We, Cebuanos, believe in a lot of things and observe a lot of traditional practices, even if there is no logical reason behind it. If the practice is rather odd or ridiculous, we would simply say “walay mawala nato kung motu-o kita” or we lose nothing if we believe.

Itchy hands mean wealth

They say that when someone finds the palm of their hands mysteriously itchy, they may be in luck. The itching of hands means that wealth and favor are coming to the person. Now, this is not unique to Cebuanos as other cultures and peoples also believe this, with a slight distinction between the itching of the left palm (money coming in or receivables) and right palm (money coming out or payables). This is one of the Cebuano beliefs. This belief turned into the superstition that an itch meant silver was coming your way. This superstition was later adopted by the Romans, especially by fortunetellers and turned into the version that we know today. However, there might be a simple explanation for itchy palms: skin diseases.

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