LSS (Laag Sa South): #TeamLaagan Southern Cebu Adventure

The island of Cebu is home to numerous cities and municipalities, each of which has its own unique character. From historical sites to breathtaking sceneries, colonial architectures to modern structures, beaches to mountain resorts; Cebu is a true heaven for tourists and adventurers. Much about the Cebu that you know comes with the fun. But more than being a metropolis of fun and entertainment, Cebu is a place to explore history, nature and oneself. For our latest adventure, #TeamLaagan decided to take another uncharted trip to the southern strip of Cebu. Laag Sa South (LSS) was another memorable and enjoyable journey for the gang.

Carcar and its Museum

The City of Carcar is known for its delicious ampao (rice crispies). Carcar which is considered as one of the four heritage cities in the country is home to various architectures originating from the American colonial era. One of these structures is what houses now the Carcar City Museum. The building was once used as a public bath during the American occupation and was later used as an infirmary and a prison during the Japanese occupation and the reigns of WW2.

The museum is an eloquent structure principally in white. It is a two storey building with the remnant of the old pool still seen at the back of the museum. Inside, you will see artifacts, old documents and pictures which showcase the rich cultural history of the city. After a short stroll and picture taking, we decided to move forward to our next destination, the Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Argao. But before this, we dropped by to the public market to buy the famous ampao and chicharong baboy.

Saint Michael the Archangel Church and Argao Nature Park

After the short stop in Carcar, we headed to our next destination, the Saint Michael the Archangel Church of Argao. Just a few kilometers from Carcar, Argao is combination of coastal plains and mountainous terrains. We took a 25 pesos PUJ ride from Carcar to Argao and were dropped on the street connecting the Church to the national highway. The Saint Michael the Archangel Church has stand for almost two centuries now. Folklore says that during an attempted bombing of the church, the canons were not able to shot since something has blocked them. It is said that it was Saint Michael himself who protected the church from destruction.

     

After the visit to the iconic Saint Michael the Archangel Church, we decided to check Argao Nature Park. The park has been in existence for a couple of years now but it still gets a relatively small number of visitors. The park houses a huge replica of Mary holding a huge rosary. There is a manmade lake, a hanging bridge, caged animals, a recreational center, Blind massage and other stuff. We visited Argao Nature Park because we wanted to try the hanging bridge and zipline. Sad to say, these two facilities were under maintenance when we went there. We simply enjoyed our stroll at the park. It was relaxing and the place is really good.

     

Dalaguete’s Obong and Luyang Spring

     

After the short stop in Argao, we went straight to Dalaguete to take a dip at the famous Obong Spring. The spring which is found near the shore has varying salinity throughout the day. When it is high tide, the water tastes more salty and it is easier to float. When the tide is low, the spring’s water is really cool and is less salty making it a more tedious to swim. The spring is found in Barangay Obong. There is a huge signage along the national road on the entrance towards this natural pool. Entrance fee is 5 pesos and tables and cottages are available for as low as 100 pesos. There is also a grilling station for those who are sinugba lovers. As the place is quite known already, it can sometime get crowded. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the evening when most visitors would have left already.

     

There is also a smaller spring which is not so know called Luyang. It is still in barangay Obong. You can ask the locals for direction as you have to walk towards it as there is no road for vehicles to pass. The spring actually has the same outlet as Obong. You can even traverse from Obong towards Luyang which I believe would be fun.

     

Tingko Beach of Alcoy

     

After the soothing dip in Obong spring, our group decided to visit another affordable destination. That is Tingko Beach in Alcoy. We actually rode on the tricycle with our wet clothes. The trip from Obong to Tingko is around 20 minutes. Tingko boasts a stretch of white sand. If you want to experience a mini boracay that is close to Cebu, you can always try Tingko. There are also more expensive beaches along the stretch where water sports and other activities are being offered. They also also have accommodations. If you are actually planning to go Oslob for whale watching but finds the room rates there too expensive, then you can stay here as a good alternative.

     

At home in Dalaguete

After Tingko, we decided to stay in the house of a friend in Dalaguete. We did not inform them that we will be staying there so it was actually a gamble. Thankfully, we were welcomed and allowed to stay. We spent the night in Dalaguete and traversed to Luyang spring in the morning to take a short dip. After that we went to the last part of our journey which is to visit the famed Osmeña Peak.

     

Osmeña Peak

      

Osmeña Peak is the highest elevation of Cebu. It is found in Mantalungon, Dalaguete. The barangay is actually dubbed as the vegetable basket of Cebu. On your way to the peak, you’ll be seeing farms planted with vegetables of all assortments. The view is relaxing to the eyes and if you have spare time, you can always buy fresh harvest and cook it for a sumptuous “utan bisaya”. Arriving to the foot of the peak, you will be asked to register. There is no entrance fee. If you want also to make your journey easier, you can have a guide to help you. We actually tapped the help of a guide and asked him to lead us to what he referred as a much treacherous path towards the peak.

 

Truly, it drained my energy and it was really a relief when we were able to reached the top. Kapoy! Super Kapoy! Going to the top is really fun (specially if you choose the difficult path) and the beauty of being on top of the world este of Cebu is a moment of success that you will surely savor. The beauty up there is just spectacular.

#TeamLaagan Southern Cebu Adventure was Awesome!

LSS was another fun adventure for #TeamLaagan. On top of that, we were able to explore much of Southern Cebu without spending that much. After LSS, we are back to square one. We are now on our planning board and are thinking of where to go next. You have any suggestion? Let me hear them in the comments.