Palaboy-laboy

REASON: I am the kind of person who has “palabra de honor” or word of honor. So, when I attended the iBlog 6, I met Winston who invited me to join the Cebu Blog Camp, and immediately I said “yes.” I was thinking, that since I could go to Luzon and attend events like this, why not in the same state where I live – Visayas? So, off I go into planning on getting there.

WHERE TO STAY: I remembered that my friend Eric, blogged about a cheap accommodation in Cebu so I made my reservations there, online. I was not able to pay the reservation fee, but still they honored my reservation. I got a First Class accommodation which cost me Php 350 / night, this includes linens. However, if you want the Business Class for Php 250 / night you need to have a towel ready.

HOW TO GET THERE: It was 2 days before the event and still I don’t have plane tickets. Good thing my cousin owned a ticketing outlet, and so I got a ticket from them. Haven’t paid them yet, but will do soon. I got a Cebu Pacific ticket which is usually cheaper than Philippine Airlines, but it cost me more than Php 7,000 for a round-trip ticket Iloilo-Cebu. My fault for not buying it earlier. Anyway, I noticed that the plane used is smaller than the plane being used in Iloilo-Manila flight.

Cebu Pacific vs Philippine Airlines:

• Only baggage are being weighed on Philippine Airlines, while in Cebu Pacific you will be weighed. I  was really conscious on how I gained weight, so I really noticed this procedure.
• In Philippine Airlines, upon exiting the airport, if you had baggage a security will check the baggage tag and your ticket if it will match or if you have picked your own baggage, while in Cebu Pacific, there’s no checking (could be a reason why there are many instances or reports of lost baggage, since anyone could just pick a baggage and pray they wont get caught by the owner).

Airport Procedures:

Iloilo to Cebu

• Upon arriving at the airport, proceed to security and present your printed ticket with a valid ID.
• Put all your bags in a machine to be checked and surrender yourself for a body check.
• Proceed on getting your boarding pass on the area labeled with your flight “example: Cebu Pacific PR145 Iloilo to Cebu”
  • If you decided to have your baggage deposit, note that the limit for Iloilo to Cebu flight is just 15kg. If you exceed, you have to pay an excess fee which is Php 100 per kilo excess.
  • If you decided to have all your bags hand-carry, be sure that you could carry all those bags.
  • Cebu Pacific: You will be weighed.
• Go and pay a terminal fee of Php 200.
  • At this point, you could keep your ticket and ID for you will only be needing the boarding pass.
  • Present boarding pass.
• Again your bags will be checked (those you have decided to hand-carry) including your shoes/slippers and surrender yourself for yet again, body check.
• Go to a gate where you will depart.
  • Check your boarding pass for that info.
  • Observe because sometimes gate listed on boarding pass is changed and it is hard to understand the call because usually it sounds more like murmur than actual words.
• If your flight is boarding, know where you will be seated. This is listed on your boarding pass.
  • Since the plane is smaller than the usual, you have to climb stairs to go to the plane, this could get you a photo op, but the ramp is much convenient for me.
• On flight it is advice you switch off your mobile phones and listen to stewards for guides.
• On Cebu, from deplaning a bus will fetch you to go to arrival area of Cebu Airport.
• Now you are in Cebu Enjoy Your Stay.

Check the post I have on my other blog which discusses steps to take in Iloilo to Manila flight.

Cebu to Iloilo – (similar procedures)

• Upon arriving at the airport, proceed to security and present your printed ticket with a valid ID.
• Put all your bags in a machine to be checked and surrender yourself for a body check.
• Proceed on getting your boarding pass on the area labeled with your flight “example: Cebu Pacific PR145 Iloilo to Cebu”
  • If you decided to have your baggage deposit, note that the limit for Iloilo to Cebu flight is just 15kg. If you exceed, you have to pay an excess fee which is Php 100 per kilo excess.
  • If you decided to have all your bags hand-carry, be sure that you could carry all those bags.
  • Cebu Pacific: You will be weighed.
• Go and pay a terminal fee of Php 200.
  • At this point, you could keep your ticket and ID for you will only be needing the boarding pass.
  • Present boarding pass.
• Again your bags will be checked (those you have decided to hand-carry) including your shoes/slippers and surrender yourself for yet again, body check.
• Go to a gate where you will depart.
  • Check your boarding pass for that info.
  • Observe because sometimes gate listed on boarding pass is changed and it is hard to understand the call because usually it sounds more like murmur than actual words.
  • In Cebu my gate was 7 and there is an area with Label Gate 7 & 8, I didn’t know at first that you have to enter that area and go downstairs to see the actual gate 7 and 8. So, be mindful of everything that goes around you.
• If your flight is boarding, know where you will be seated. This is listed on your boarding pass.
  • A bus will fetch you from the airport to the plane.
  • Since the plane is smaller than the usual, you have to climb stairs to go to the plane, this could get you a photo op, but the ramp is much convenient for me.
• On flight it is advice you switch off your mobile phones and listen to stewards for guides.
• On Iloilo, from deplaning marshals will guide you to where you should exit.
• Now you are in Iloilo Enjoy Your Stay.

FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL: Since I don’t know the place I went for a metered Taxi, and unfortunately I took the airport Taxi (yellow colored) which has a start meter of Php 70 in where the usual Taxi (white colored) would just have Php 30. I mentioned my hotel and Taxi driver was kind enough to give me some TIPS: Lock the taxi doors for you don’t know there are bad people out there and Be careful of your belongings.

ACTIVITIES:

So, I attended the Cebu Blog Camp, but the day after that was the day I begun my Cebu adventure – SOLO FLIGHT.

Anyway, after the Cebu Blog Camp, I went to SM City Cebu and remembered that my friend is working in PAGCOR. I texted him and he gave me instructions on how to get there. He mentioned that Taxi drivers in Cebu are good people. I think he is right because I arrived safely. I just noticed that when on the stop-light or traffic, the Taxi engine tends to turn off and this happened to 4 of the Taxi’s I hired.

I played on slot machine and beginners luck won me about Php 2,100.

My friend invited me to have breakfast with him in which I agreed because I don’t know where to have breakfast in Cebu. So he took me into this 24 hour tapsilogan and ordered “bangsilog” which is bangus and itlog. It satisfied me.

Now, on my solo adventures.

Magellan’s Cross – paid Php 100 to a dancing praying lady who also took the picture.

Sky Experience and Adventure starting with the Edge Coaster at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers

Extreme Skywalk at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers

Went to Ayala to buy Break Talk Floss for pasalubong and had lunch at Moon Cafe. I tried their Moon steak and had a Thirsty buko shake.

That was my last stop.  I then went to the Airport and off I go back to my Iloilo.

My friend promised me a trip to Bohol – all expenses paid by him Looking forward to that, for now back to busy life in Iloilo.