This Week in Cebu (March 26 to April 1, 2018)

Rain showers and thunderstorms will be prevalent this Holy Week. Monday and Tuesday will start with cloudy weather with thunderstorms in some spots. It will be rainy on Wednesday, and on Thursday going to the weekend, locals and tourists should brace for cloudy weather with a couple of thunderstorms. Thus, it is advisable to bring umbrellas and raincoats. Minimum temperature will be at 31 ºC, while maximum temperature will be at 32 ºC.

Around 40,000 travelers are expected to flock to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal (CSBT) to go to their hometowns for the long Holy Week break. CSBT management has put security measures in place to manage the anticipated crowd which is the double the daily average that they see at the terminal. One of such measures is adding 25 security guards and a bomb-sniffing dog at the terminal. There will be strict security inspection for travelers, including an open-bag policy to check for contraband and sharp objects. A priority lane will also be put up for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and women with small children. [1]

Local food to try: binignit

A traditional Cebuano dish that locals cook during the Holy Week is binignit. This dish is made up of plantain bananas, jackfruit, sweet potato, landang (tapioca product), glutinous rice, and sago (tapioca pearls). The root crops and fruits are then cooked in coconut milk and sugar to produce a thick, creamy stew. You can buy binignit ingredients from Carbon Market or at major supermarkets in the city.

Local activity: Visita Iglesia

One activity that is fit for the Lenten season is Visita Iglesia (church visit). For Catholics, this tradition involves visiting seven churches on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday while praying the Stations of the Cross. In Cebu, a few of the churches you can visit are Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Shrine of St. Joseph. You could also travel to Lindogon, Sibonga to see the Simala Shrine.

Major malls around Cebu City have now announced their Holy Week schedule. They are as follows:

SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu

When traveling via the Cebu South Bus Terminal, do not bring liquor, sharp objects, bladed weapons, and other contraband as these will be confiscated. Do not tightly seal or lock big bags and luggage for faster screening at the inspection areas. [2]

If you’re going on a road trip to southern Cebu, it’s best to avoid Minglanilla on Easter Sunday as the town will hold Sugat Kabanhawan sa Minglanilla. This is the culmination of a series of events for the Kabanhawan Festival, and is marked with street dancing, games, and entertainment which could contribute to heavy traffic.