Taste of Cebu: Cebuano Famous Viands

A race is often identified with the food that they make and eat. As a saying goes "You are what you eat"

Filipinos are generally food lovers. Meals are served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, dinner, even midnight snacks and for some, anytime of the day.

There are several delicacies Cebuanos are famous for nationwide and most probably known worldwide as well. The following are just few examples of Cebuano delectable cuisines and food products:

Zubuchon and Carcar Lechon

image from cebu tourism

Anthony Bourdain, an American chef and famous author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly hailed Zubuchon's Lechon (Roasted Whole Pig) as one of the best and tastiest roasted pig. One can find several outlets of Zubuchon within the City.

When in Carcar, however, you can find the famous original Cebu lechon at the back of the Carcar public market, there will be a lot of small stalls that offer you a taste of this famous roasted pig. 

Carcar Chicharon 

image from iluvcebu

Craving for some fried pork rinds? Carcar's chicharon is one of the best if not the best there is. 

There are several brands to choose from but all of them really taste good.  It is ideal that one should buy them when they are freshly cooked and all you need is just a small bowl of vinegar and you are solved.

Bantayan Island's Boneless Dried Fish

For those whose taste are more eccentric, when in Bantayan Island, aside from strolling around the famous white sand beaches of theirs, one should sample it's famous boneless dried fish, that is, if your nose is up to it.  Although many would resent the smell of any dried fish, once you have tasted this dip it with vinegar and accompanied with rice, it would be like heaven. You can also add fried ripe tomatoes to the fried dried fish as it's juice blends well with the oils. Another way to prepare it is add it as the meat ingredient to your "utan bisaya" or Visayan native vegetable soup.

Chorizo de Cebu

image from familyeatsandtravels

One famous street food in Cebu is barbecue and if you see a barbecue grill anywhere, chances are you will find the famous Chorizo de Cebu on a stick.

Chorizo de Cebu differs from other chorizos made like in Mexico or Spain, it is one of the legacies left by the Spanish to Cebuanos although chorizo de Cebu is reminiscent that of the Mexican style chorizo.

Utan Bisaya

image from Tamgu Grill

There are different ways to cook Utan Bisaya but it's main ingredients are Moringana Olifera, yellow squash, eggplant and Okra or lady's fingers which is the main ingredient that gives the soup it sticky feel.

To cook this, just boil water. Add in the necessary spices like pepper, then onions, tomatoes, salt.  Once it is already boiling add in the squash or those ingredients that take a while to cook first then just before turning the heat off, add in the moringana, just be careful not to overcook the vegetables.

Puso or Hanging Rice

As everyone know, rice is the staple food of the Filipinos but Cebuanos are well known for it's hanging rice. A variety of Ketupat but instead of using palm leaves, Puso is made using young coconut leaves. the leaves are then woven in an intricate pattern that forms like a heart, thus the name puso or heart , rice is placed inside and then boiled until cooked. It is then hanged to avoid spoilage. You will see puso in every barbecue stands as well as carinderias throughout the entire island. Puso is the best option when going to beaches as compared to the regular cooked rice.


So if you plan on exploring Cebu, might as well try some of our dishes and who knows, you might crave for more...

Cebu City: Fuente Osmeña Cebu

If you look at the front side of an older version of a Philippine Fifty Peso Bill you will find at the right side a symbol of a fountain. This fountain is actually one of the infamous trademark of Cebu and is found at the heart of Osmeña Boulevard roundabout.

History:

Fuente Osmeña Circle was built around 1912 in time of the inauguration of Cebu's waterway system.  

The design of the circle, which was proposed by William E. Parsons, then customs head of Cebu and a great contributor of Philippine Architecture during the commonwealth era, is actually patterned to that of Paris' Arc de Triomphe but instead of the arc, a fountain was in place probably to symbolize of the success of the waterways. Parson's plan did not fully realized since he planned for a six diagonal avenues and in the center would be the Cebu Provincial Capitol which is where the Fuente is now located.

Memorabilia:

image from wikimedia.org

The name, Fuente Osmeña, means Osmeña Fountain which commemorates the 2nd Philippine Commonwealth President, Sergio Osmeña Sr., the Grand Old Man of Cebu since he was the oldest president at 65. Osmeña served the country from 1944-1946, in time of World War II and closely worked with the Americans just before USA granted the Philippine independence in July 4, 1946.

The circle is named as such to celebrate the life of the first ever Visayan President of the Philippines and his countless achievements as a Cebuano leader.

Present Times:

image from cebubloggers.com

Fuente Osmeña Circle has become the center of activities especially during Sinulog and Christmas.  During Sinulog, a lot of activities are held inside the circle, like the crowning of Miss Cebu, and around the Fuente Osmeña Circle especially that the parade will pass through the upper left street of the circle going to Colon and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño 

image from tumblr

During Christmas, one will be in awe upon seeing a giant christmas tree built inside the circle courtesy of M. Lhuiller, well known jewelry and pawnshop tycoon in the country.  The christmas tree is mostly made out of native and recycled materials and every year the design of the christmas tree changes.  There are also giant lanterns displayed within the circle grounds, several barbecue and street food stands and nightly activities.

image from cebulive.com

During regular days, one can see joggers and practitioners of tai chi occupy the circle early in the morning, there are also people who would come to the circle to just sit down and have their siesta in the afternoon while others use the circle as meeting place for friends and even general assembly for rallies.  At one point during the 80's, the fountain ground was even used as a skating rink.


Advice for the tourists:

Fuente Osmeña is open to everyone and anyone, there are no charges or fees if you want to visit the place however just be careful with your belongings, although crime seldom happens at the circle, one can never be too careful when in a public place.

Cebu City: Sinulog Festival

Cebu's vibrant festival is called SINULOG from the local dialect "sulog" which means wave or sea current movement.  The festival is called as such because of the dance patterns done by candle vendors in Sr. Sto Nino de Cebu church.  Whenever there is a patron buying their candles, these candle vendors would make a prayer offering by dancing and waving the bought candles in front of the church.  The dance steps is called sinulog because of it's pattern which simulates the movement of the sea current.

The firt ever provincial wide Sinulog parade was held in 1981 under then Mayor Florentino Solon and from then on sinulog is celebrated yearly every third Sunday of the month of January.

Today, Sinulog has evolved into a long event rather than just a one day street parade  due to separation of it's religious influences and of course the spirit of mardigras. The festival start early December with the Sinulog Street Fair, you can already see vendors putting up their small stalls in goverment allowed spaces near Abellana National Highschool in Osmeña Blvd. They would sell nearly almost anything and everything, mostly products made from the Philippines and among other things.  These vendors will stay until the end of January.

image from sunstar

Whilst the Street Fair goes on, the Sinulog Fun Run will then commence around December 30th. Runners usually follow the would be route of the Sinulog Parade. A lot have joined this event, some would even dress up for the occassion.

There would then be the Opening Salvo with the assembly at Fuente Osmeña circle, prayer rally from the circle to the basilica then the installation of Hermana & Hermano Mayores, this is the start of the religious part of the festival wherein the church delegates two representatives for the year's Sinulog celebration.

Afterwhich the sinulog Kick off would then start.  At this time, Miss Cebu, the oldest running beauty pageant in Cebu will commence but will have a different coronation date.

There are more activities that would happen everyday until the actual Sinulog parade such as Sinulog sa Kabataan wherein the participants of the parade are students from different Primary Schools within the City and as well as the entire province.  Before, students actually joined the actual parade but since then the Sinulog committee have separated them and they have their own parade on a different date.  This is to give more attention to the participants of the elementary division.

image from dinno sandoval's flickr page

Then there is also the festival queen since every participant of the Sinulog Parade always has a woman bringing the image of Sto. Niño as the leader of the team, the Sinulog committee decided to give honor to them as well and every year, these queens will showcase their Sinulog dance abilities with their adorable and colorful gowns that depicts the spirit of Sinulog as they wow the crowd with their smile and their beauty.

image from skyscrapercity

But there is more, the most awaited activities are the Fluvial procession.  This happens in Mandaue City wherein the image of Sto Niño will be paraded in a beautifully adorned shipping vessel.  This happens early in the morning, a day before the Grand Parade.

During the grand parade the street dancing competition is divided into different categories:  

The Sinulog Base, which depicts the history of how Sto. Niño came to Cebu. The dance is depicted usually with how the Spanish introduced Christianity to the country through King Humabon and Queen Juana.

The free interpretation usually depicts how Sto. Niño saves a village from disasters and calamities depicted either in usually large animals like a bird trying to destroy the village's crops.

One can pretty much tell which is the Sinulog Base and the Free Interpretation participants through their costumes.  The Sinulog-Based often has the spanish feel in their costumes since they are depicting the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines whilst the Free Interpretation participants often have the muslim feel in their costumes although lately, it also has a modern feel as well. One thing is common though, the lavish costumes livens up the street route.

Apart from that, lavish floats adorned with flowers and muses such as the one in the picture also joins in and from time to time local and national celebrities can be found riding the floats.   Giants, made out of  paper mache, foam and cloth are also visible as part of the Grand Parade.

The entire event will end with a lavish firework display and the the street will be filled with people dancing ang walking and of course merry making...

Advice to the tourist:

Sinulog is one of the biggest festivals in the entire Philippines, hotels and inns are often fully booked as early as December some avid tourist would even book for the next year in advance. So if one is planning on being part of this activity, might as well make sure that you have a roof in you head before coming to Cebu but not to worry, Cebu government have enticed several hotel moguls to invest and a lot of hotels have sprouted since then.

2015 Sinulog Schedule:

December 01 – January 31, 2015 : Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.

December 27, 2014 – January 24, 2015 : Sinulog 2014 Photo Exhibit at SM City Cebu

December 30, 2014 (Tuesday) : Sinulog Fun Run5:00 AM : Elimination Sinulog 2015 Dance Crew

January 8, 2015 (Thursday) Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus4:00 AM : Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña4:30 AM : Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño5:30 AM : Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2015

January 9, 2015 (Friday) 2015 Kick Off
10:00 AM : Sinulog Trade Fair at SM City Cebu by Department of Trade and Industry2:00 PM : Solemn Mass (Basilica del Santo Niño)3:00 PM : Launching Parade (Basilica del Santo Niño to CCSC)7:00 PM : Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña8:00 PM : Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)9:00 PM : Street Party Bands

January 10, 2015 (Saturday) Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan
1:00 PM : Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center2:00 PM : Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan at Cebu City Sports Center6:30 PM : Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)

January 11, 2015 (Sunday) Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan
4:00 PM : Cebu City 2015 Marathon1:00 PM : Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City  Sports Center2:00 PM : Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan at Cebu City Sports Center6:00 PM : Grand Finals of Sinulog Choral Competition6:30 PM : Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)8:00 PM : Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña)9:00 PM : Concert at the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands

January 12, 2015 (Monday)6:30 PM : Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)8:00 PM : Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña)9:00 PM : Concert at the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands

January 13, 2015 (Tuesday)6:30 PM : Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)8:00 PM : Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña)9:00 PM : Concert at the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands

January 14, 2015 (Wednesday)9:00 AM : Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)6:30 PM : Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)7:00 PM : Ms. Cebu 2015 Coronation Night

January 15, 2015 (Thursday)Sinulog 2015 Idol Grand FinalsSinulog Festival Queen Runway Competition and Photoshoot

January 16, 2015 (Friday) Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM   Sinulog 2015 Dance Crew FinalsSinulog Festival Queen 2015 Coronation Night

January 17, 2015 (Saturday)6:00 AM : Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of the Sto. Niño9:00 AM : Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah   Humabon Bsilica del Santo Niño2:00 PM : Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño7:00 PM : Sinulog Fireworks Competition at SM City Cebu7:00 PM : Street Party at Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia

January 18, 2015 (Sunday) Sinulog Grand Parade
4:00 AM : Mañanita Mass at Basilica del Sto. Niño6:00 AM : Pontifical Mass with His Eminence Jose S. Palma8:00 AM : Holy Mass at Cebu City Sports Center9:00 AM : Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off7:00 PM : Grand Finale and Grand Fireworks at Cebu City Sports Center7:30 PM : Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña9:00 PM : Pyrospectacular Show (Pyromusical Show at SM City Cebu)5:00 PM – 2:00 AM : Concert Series sa Sugbo at SRP Grounds12:00 MN : Sinulog Fireworks at SRP

January 19, 2015 (Monday) Awarding Ceremonies at Cebu City Sports Center

January 23, 2015 (Friday) “HUBO”

January 24, 2015 : Judging of Finalists Short Film/Video Documentary ContestSinulog 2014 Photo Contest Winners Exhibit

January 31, 20151:00 PM : Judging of Finalists Sinulog Short Film Festival at SM City Cebu6:00 PM : Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest, Short Film andVideo Documentary Contest at SM City Cebu

January 31, 2015 – February 8, 2015Photo Exhibit “Winning Photos Sinulog 2014” at SM City Cebu