Earlier this year while I was in China, I made an impromptu decision to join Nick in the Philippines and meet his family there. Coming from the bone-chilling cold in China, the heat and humidity of the Philippines hit me like a brick. I had just one outfit with me suitable for the 85+ degree heat (initially packed for a long layover in LA), which I wore every single day and hand-scrubbed at night. Despite this, I had an incredible time experiencing a new culture, and am happy the two pieces I brought turned out to be rather appropriate for the vibrant, colorful country.
Buying streetside bbq’d skewers for dinner, grilled on the spot then paired with mangoes, sticky rice, and salted fish. 
While flying Philippine Airlines, I got hooked on their Happy brand chicken adobo-flavored peanuts. Unfortunately, each package contains about 5 peanuts so I had to restock early on. When asked how much, the lady at this shop replied “one twenty five.” Aghast that she was trying to charge me a hundred and twenty-five pesos (~ $3 USD) for five little peanuts, I huffily went off, looking for another vendor. Turns out this flavor is more popular than I thought, and I ended up right back at this vendor 30 minutes later, faint from the heat and still peanut-less. I forked over the money and found out that she had meant 1.25 pesos (~ 3 cents USD) per package.
We first stayed at Casa Escano, a bed & breakfast run by a young UC Davis graduate. It was fun to wake up every day and try a new breakfast out on the terrace. Below top: chicken arroz caldo, a Spanish-influenced rice porridge served with egg, scallions, peppers and fish sauce. As a Chinese congee lover, I couldn’t resist trying this despite the heat and humidity. Below bottom: A variation of loco moco, a Hawaiian-influenced breakfast involving a hamburger patty, a fried egg, plus gravy. 
We had dinner once at AA BBQ at the recommendation of our hotel owner. Thank goodness growing up in China trained me to not be skeevy about food safety : ) We got in line to pick our “catch” and skewers of meat from open displays, then handed them over to be cooked in whatever way we pleased. The open-air restaurant was quite bustling with many families enjoying a meal together.
I hope you enjoyed the first part of my Philippines travel diary. This post was comprised mostly of snapshots from Cebu city, before we made our way to Nick’s aunt’s remote beach hut. The second part of the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I can’t wait to share photos from that next.
Good you loved the Philippines…:)
LOVE this post! Great pics and descriptions! You and Nick are adorable. I was in the Philippines in June. Too bad you did not get to go to the markets/bazaars. I bought some beautiful fresh water pearl necklaces and other jewelry for very inexpensive prices. Looking forward to Part 2.
Great pics! When are you posting Part 2 of your trip?
Look like you had a great time your story made me laugh out loud. I adore your blog.
x
cammi
http://www.cammilicious.com
It's my first time to read your blog, I was so happy and proud to see a post about the Philippines! I wish you could come back to explore more Pinoy cuisine and shopping places. You should try Boy Bawang (Garlic flavored cornicks), pork sinigang and dirty ice cream, just to name a few. Cebu is such a nice place, Manila should be next on your list! 🙂
This posts makes me miss Philippines more especially Cebu. The food makes me hungry :(… I hope you have a great time there. Enjoy your trip.
http://a.k.a.chymecindy.net
I just found your blog on Bloglovin's Popular section. I got interested on your alterations so I decided to scan more and seen this post. I'm from Philippines, I hope I have known your blog a long time ago. It looks you had fun and enjoyed your stay. 🙂
xx,
stylegrenade.blogspot.com
Love your post,
Wish you all the best.
Loved all your pictures! Last year, we went to Korea and had a spa day with the fish as well. It was kind of scary at first, but fun. Lol. I've never been to the Philippines. I've visited Korea, Thailand, China, and Japan. I will have to put that on my list. I love seafood and the food looks amazing.
Loved all your pictures! Last year, we went to Korea and had a spa day with the fish as well. It was kind of scary at first, but fun. Lol. I've never been to the Philippines. I've visited Korea, Thailand, China, and Japan. I will have to put that on my list. I love seafood and the food looks amazing.
Love this blog post just like the rest of the fellow Pinays who commented! My parents are from Leyte and Davao respectively, but we also have family in Cebu, Metro Manila, and Pangasinan. So we island hop whenever we go.
I never tried the foot spa, and will now need to try it once I go back again. How long did you have to sit there for? Just curious. And, which foot spa did you go to? Was it in Ayala?
Can't wait to read more stories about the Philippines from you. It's been 5 years since I've been back but hope to go there in the next few years with my baby in tow.
PS is your boyfriend Filipino or half? he looks mestizo 🙂
xo annie
http://inspiredbythesethoughts.blogspot.com
Gimingaw kog samot sa Sugbu (makes me miss Cebu more)! AA was the old hang-out.Are the bbq's at Larsian near Robinson's rotunda? Thanks for posting these pics.glad you had a swell time.
Hi Jean, love your photos. I agree with your "grandma"…you two make such a cute couple. I always laugh whenever you mention about him and/or his opinions. Btw, where did you get your yellow skirt?
How embarrassing! Thank you for pointing it out : )
Aww I love this!! Makes me the Philippines so much 🙂 I just had a hefty lunch and looking at all these pictures just made me hungry again.
It's definitely not a perfect country, but the people are lovely and kind, always trying to make you feel at home. I'm glad you enjoyed your time!!
Hi Jean! So happy you had fun in the Philippines 🙂
Btw you spelled Philippines incorrectly in the title and tag 🙂
Amazing photos from your trip! I would love to visit the Philippines one day…the food looks so good!
I heard of those foot spas! All the rage. I don't think I can do it. My feet are super sensitive. Your trips are so fun!
Helen
dietingfashions.com
Hello Jean. I'm so glad you featured in your blog my hometown,Cebu City before my family moved to California. I was amused by your experiences especially your expression in your snapshot at the fish spa. By the way, my sister runs the business. You have done almost every foreigner needs to do and eat in Cebu.
Visit landmarks : Magellan's cross, Sto.Nino church, Mactan beaches, purchase fresh water pearls jewelry(sets are so cheap), eat Mandaue delicacies: suman or "budbud" a delicious rice pudding, Otap or Rosquillos cookies (famous Cebu delicacies). Enjoy your stay!!!
Hello Jean. I'm from the Philippines and have been reading your blog for quite some time for style tips. (I'm also petite, and quite on the light side of the scale). Glad to find that you have a post about Philippines and that you enjoyed your visit in our country!
Aww you're so cute in the foot spa photo! I'm like you, Chinese with a half Filipino bf. Neither of us has been to the Philippines though. I would loveee to go there for the food haha 🙂
Hahaha! That 'grandma is that you' is hilarious! Glad you enjoyed your stay here Jean. Manila would be much more of a riot though! The heat was crazy right?! I'm from here but honestly think wouldn't make a day w/o air conditioning. Best time to visit is December to February as the temp is much more pleasant.
haha like everyone else, I loved that fish spa photo! The food markets though look so fun – very colorful and tasty! I can't imagine wearing the same clothes everyday in that heat – you are very brave haha
mmm I love mangosteen 😀
mmm I love mangosteen 😀
Im from cebu philippines..im glad you had a great time..its definetely a different experience..i miss cebu
LOL! You two do make a beautiful couple and I really love your posts!
Hi jean! You should have gone to the tiangges (bazaars). They have pretty good selection for a very reasonable price.
such lovely pictures of my hometown! glad you enjoyed!
I cant wait for your Part 2, I want go Philippines!!
you and Nick are a lovely couple XD
It's an awesome place! Next time try Palawan and Boracay!
Hi Jean. I've been a reader of your blog for about a year now but this is my first time commenting.lol…
Your pics are lovely. I was born in the Philippines but don't get to visit as often as I'd like. You are so eloquent and your post just took me back there even if only for a moment. I laughed really hard at that bit where you thought the vendor was charging you 125 for a tiny bag of peanuts. If there's one thing that's cheap there, it's food. Lol
I agree that it's difficult to find good pieces there that are priced reasonably. Their sales are not as good as they are in our side of the world, I'm afraid (currently residing in Canada). Thanks for sharing your Philippine adventure with us. Looking forward to the next part.
I can't wait for part 2! I didn't know your boyfriend was filipino! Is he full filipino because he looks like a halfsie. Anyway, looking forward to part 2! You should visit Manila!
Jean, I really enjoyed this post! I also have some family in Cebu and haven't been back in 10 years. I haven't been but someday want to go to the rice terraces, Chocolate Hills, and El Nido (which I've heard is the beach with the least amount of tourists).
Lechon is a guilty pleasure! Have you and Nick ventured to Quincy yet. There's a foot spa there and Boston's one (and only) Filipino restaurant! There's also a Filipino grocer adjacent to the restaurant!
Grandma, is that you? : )
Haha…I think I have a fairly strong stomach, but not nearly strong enough for balut.
Very, very tickly…also I could not bear to look at the gaping mouths of the fishes.
I did it within Photoshop (dragged two images into a new blank image) but there's also an app on the iphone called Frametastic which I use.
Lots and lots of fresh mango, some of which was used in desserts. The spa did not turn our feet black…that must be another type of luxury spa treatment : )
Glad you enjoyed the tip, Danielle! Would love to visit Manila someday..have a good friend that lives there.
I visited SM and Ayala and went into almost every store hoping to buy a change of clothes…unfortunately, nothing fit and the prices were pretty high for the quality. I must've not gone into the right places!
I purchased flip flops when I got there, but if you're going to be doing a lot of walking you need flats with good arch support (so make sure the sole isn't totally flat and flimsy). I don't have brands to suggest, but make sure you break them in before your vacation to avoid blisters and any pain during the trip.
i really like the yellow skirt on you 😀
are you two getting married soon?
Fun read! Can't wait for Part 2 🙂
LOL on having to rewear the same outfit! No cheap fashions in Philippines to be had? Great snapshots by the way. I love how you captured the colors and hustle/bustle of the city. So was it the best pork ever ;). LOL on the 125 price difference!!! Those are like dead-skin eating fish right? I'd be so scared too! But I'm assuming it mostly tickled. What a crowded bus! You gotta love Asian though. And my fav in HK/Taiwan are those fresh seafood restaurants. Can't beat them. Nothing like it in the states. Can't wait to see the pictures from the private hut!
Make sure to get some banana-Q and kamote-Q! And.. if you're strong enough… balut?
So amazing! I really want to go to the Philippines.
http://fiveminutefashions.blogspot.com/
I'm so glad that you decided to go to the Philippines, especially Cebu. I was originally from Cebu, before moving to California, and I am very happy that you were able to capture the beauty that is Cebu. The last time I was back there was five years ago and I am glad that it has changed for the better.
ecklection.com