Cebu as a Travel destination

Note:
I first came to Cebu to do some job assignments with my bosses who were Japanese. I took the chance, too, to reach out to a cousin of my late father who told me that he's somewhere staying in Hipodromo (or Hippodrome as translated in English). In between tasks I had to complete, I was making phone calls to everyone with the last name of my uncle whom I've never remember seeing. Fortunately, some kind heart-ed soul responded to me and I was able to talk with my long lost Uncle. We were soon meeting up, and I was enthralled by the idea that something like a small reunion could be happening. He and I went around the city and I had a good introduction to how most Cebuanos live and work. I got the strong and positive impression that most Cebuanos make the most of what they have, and endeavor all the time to do better than who they are now.

My Uncle and I promised to get in touch with each other, but it didn't happen. I heard he soon passed away years after we first met again in Cebu.

However, my first trip to Cebu was followed with many more subsequent visits. I remember having visited Cebu at least 15 times. There were even occasions when I just had to do day-trips to this city that's interesting and very dynamic. I can only wish it will be physically connected with other islands down south, which will link all the other major places in that region. They're very possessed with that gung-ho attitude in life; they're very entrepreneurial when in comes to creating business and enterprises. I can very well understand why most Filipinos I meet who were born and raised there would prefer to use Cebuano instead of Tagalog whenever I approach and talk with them the first time.

The article I wrote, with the first paragraph copy-pasted below, is meant for those who haven't heard much about Cebu yet. It's more of an introductory piece for those curious enough to venture and visit Cebu, which is not at all laid-back unlike most other big cities outside of Metro Manila. This is one of those cities I've been to where people are upfront when it comes to commercial sex done on the streets especially at most nights --- it's all about business, period. This may shock others as it's not supposed to be discussed openly but that's just how plain people from Cebu deal with anything commercial - "it's just business, period." Of course, there are many, many more of the positive that I can highlight about Cebu. Please feel free to read and share what I wrote from the perspective of someone who's being honest about his thoughts on this leading and very dynamic city; thank you!

Would you believe that some foreign travelers have thought that Cebu, the country's oldest city established since the arrival of Spanish colonizers in mid 16th century, is not part of the Philippines? This idea could probably be considered indirectly and outrageously disloyal in form to the Philippine Republic, but when you have been to Cebu, you begin to understand that in more ways than one, it behaves differently from much of the rest of the Philippines.

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