Cebu City: Where My Guitar Case Gets a Workout (and My Patience Tested)
okay, so… Cebu City. Wow. Just… wow. I’m Leo, by the way, guitarist for ‘Static Bloom’ - we’re, uh, touring the Philippines. It’s been… an experience. We’re supposed to be playing a gig in Dumaguete next week, but getting there from here feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.
First off, the heat. I just checked and it’s hovering around 22 degrees Celsius with 95% humidity. Yeah, that’s… that’s a thing. My guitar’s practically weeping with condensation. Seriously, I’m considering building a tiny dehumidifier for it. I’m not even kidding.
We landed in Cebu City a few days ago, and the sheer scale of it hit me immediately. It’s massive. Like, seriously sprawling. The Queen City of the South, they call it. I guess that’s accurate. It’s definitely got a regal air about it, even with the constant honking and the… well, the everything. The port is insane - ships everywhere. Apparently, it’s the busiest in the Philippines. You can see why. It’s a major hub, a real artery for the whole region.
Finding a decent place to practice has been a nightmare. The hotel room is tiny, and the walls are paper-thin. I’m pretty sure the neighbors think we’re summoning demons with our feedback. I overheard someone complaining about “that awful noise” - classic. I did find a little cafe near Colon Street that lets me plug in for a few hours, but the coffee is… questionable. Let’s just say I’m sticking to bottled water.
I’m trying to soak in the history, you know? It’s the oldest city in the Philippines, the first capital. They say it was nearly destroyed in WWII, but the port survived. It’s got this weird juxtaposition of old and new - crumbling colonial buildings next to these massive shopping complexes. It’s… a lot. I’m trying to find some good angles for photos, but the light is tricky. Everything’s either washed out or in deep shadow. I need to scout out some locations for better lighting. Maybe head up to one of those mountains they mentioned - Mount Manunggal, apparently. That could be cool.
Someone told me that the traffic here is legendary. They weren’t kidding. It’s a constant, chaotic ballet of jeepneys, buses, and scooters. I’m pretty sure I aged five years just trying to cross the street. If you get bored, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are just a short ride away - though “short” is a relative term here.
I heard that the food scene is amazing, but I haven’t had a chance to really explore it yet. We’ve been so busy trying to navigate the logistics of touring that eating has been… an afterthought. I need to prioritize that. Maybe check out TripAdvisor for some recommendations? https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298460-Cebu_City_Cebu_Island_Visayas.html
Honestly, it’s exhausting. But there’s also something… compelling about it. The energy here is palpable. It’s a city that’s constantly moving, constantly evolving. I’m just trying to keep my head above water (and my guitar in tune).
Oh, and the population density is insane. Like, 3,061 people per square kilometer. No wonder it feels so crowded. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out of the city and into some quieter areas. Maybe head to Olango Island for a few days. https://www.olango.gov.ph/
Wish me luck. And send coffee. Strong coffee.
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