This Week in Cebu (May 22 to 28, 2017)

Motorists using their cellphones while driving will now be apprehended in line with the Anti-Distracted Driving Act which became effective last May 18. Republic Act No. 10913 defines distracted driving as writing, sending, or receiving a text, and making or receiving calls on a mobile device while the vehicle is moving or temporarily stopped.

Motorists are still allowed to use their cellphones hands-free as long as it does not interfere with their line of sight. Fines for violating the law range from PhP5,000 for the first offense to PhP20,000 for the fourth offense.

A new and unique dining destination brings Egyptian and French architecture to Cebu. With a glass façade similar to the Louvre Museum, The Pyramid is a multi-cuisine restaurant, wine bar, and art gallery all rolled in one.

Located in West Geonzon Road, Lahug, Cebu City, The Pyramid serves pizza, pasta, salad, wine, craft beer, cheese, cold cuts and more at affordable prices. Food prices start at PhP50, and wines start at PhP250 per bottle.

History buffs who would like to get a glimpse of Cebu from the past can visit the restored Museo Sugbo in M.J. Cuenco Ave. The building used to be Carcel de Cebu, a prison during the Spanish era before it became the Cebu Provincial Jail, which was then converted into a provincial museum in 2008.

After touring the 12 galleries and four exhibits inside, visitors can munch on quirkily-named sandwiches like Not Guilty BLT or Crime of Passion Eggplant Sandwich at 1871 Celda Café.

Museo Sugbo is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with an entrance fee of PhP30 for locals and PhP75 for foreigners.

Read: Museums and Exhibits in Metro Manila That You Must Visit (Part 1)

A local family-run business has given the usual dried a mango a decadent twist. Improving on their original recipe from the 1970s, Cebu Best sells dried mangoes covered in premium dark chocolate at PhP25 per piece or PhP600 for a box of 24. Aside from mango chocolates, they also sell chocolate-covered pineapple and mango chocolate coins.

Cebu Best Mango Chocolate can be found at selected branches of Kultura Filipino, SM Snack Exchange, Metro Supermarket, Rustan’s Department Store, and Rustan's Supermarket in Metro Cebu, Metro Manila, and Metro Davao.

Read: The Most Popular Pasalubong Items from Cebu and Where to Buy Them

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and participating heritage sites and museums will hold Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) this May 26, from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Held every last Friday of May, the event is staged in celebration of Philippine National Heritage Month and International Museum Day. For its 11th year, the Gabii sa Kabilin route will include 27 museums and heritage sites in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. Some roads in the downtown area will be closed to traffic for the event.

For locals and tourists who would like to make the most of the remaining summer days, traveling to nearby Camotes Island just got more convenient. Jomalia Shipping Corp. has started offering fast craft rides to the public from Mactan to Camotes. The vessels leave Mactan Wharf at the back of Island Central Mall twice a day from Mondays to Thursdays, and three times a day from Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. One-way fare costs PhP350, with the trip lasting for 1 hour and 10 minutes, compared to a two-hour ferry boat ride from Danao City.

A giant casino which is touted to be the first integrated resort outside Metro Manila will start development three months from now. The $300 million project, dubbed Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan, will rise on a 12-ha. lot in Punta Engaño, Mactan giving visitors access to the longest stretch of beachfront in the island.

Read: Big Events in Cebu City Happen in These Big and Grand Spaces

The property will have modern buildings set amidst greenery and infinity pools, a skydiving center along the pier, retail establishments, a convention center, luxury hotels, condotels, villas, and private residences. The casino, retail complex, and hotels are set to open by 2019, with completion of the project targeted for 2022.

Try your luck at these casinos in Cebu or browse the ShoppersGuide Directory for more local choices.