This is the third and final part of our whirlwind Cebu vacation. After a quick check-out from our hotel, we piled into the car, the air thick with the humid Cebu heat, and headed straight for Birhen Regla in Lapu-Lapu City. Our mission: to light a candle and offer a silent prayer. But the shrine was bustling – a vibrant wave of people flowed in and out, a cacophony of prayers and hushed whispers filling the air. It was beautiful, but the sheer number of people made it impossible to linger. We quickly found a quiet spot, lit our candle, whispered our intentions, and retreated back to the car, the scent of incense lingering faintly in the air.
Next on our itinerary: Tops Lookout in Cebu. By this point, everyone was dragging their feet – the excitement of the previous days had waned, replaced by a collective exhaustion. My dad, ever the pragmatist, decided to bypass the usual route and take the CCLEX (Cebu Cordova Link Expressway) to Cebu City.
He figured the drive through Cordova would be unnecessarily long, and he was right. The CCLEX offered stunning views of the Mactan Channel, a welcome distraction from our fatigue.
I don't recall the exact route after that; I must have dozed off. I only remember waking up as the car wound its way up a mountain road, the air noticeably cooler. We were following a bus heading towards Tops Lookout – a surprise to me, as I'd thought we were going to the Temple of Leah. The unexpected change of plans, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The entrance fee at Tops Lookout came as a bit of a shock: ₱100 for adults and ₱50 for children, with an additional charge for parking. It was a hefty sum, and we briefly debated whether it was worth the expense. But my sister, ever the optimist, argued that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we reluctantly agreed. And honestly? She was right.
The view from Tops was breathtaking. A panoramic vista of Cebu City sprawled beneath us, a tapestry of lights twinkling in the fading daylight. The city lights shimmered like scattered diamonds on a velvet cloth. The air was crisp and cool, a welcome contrast to the humid city below. Despite the crowds – people leaning on the balcony, their faces lit by the city lights – it was a magical moment. On the second or third floor, a mass was in progress, adding a layer of serenity to the scene. We managed to snag a few photos amidst the throngs of people, each capturing a piece of that unforgettable view.
Afterward, we headed to SM City Cebu Mabolo. My sister was determined to buy a new mattress, and we figured we'd grab dinner there as well. The drive, however, proved to be a bit of a challenge. The winding roads and the lingering effects of the day's activities resulted in a chorus of nausea – everyone, including me, felt queasy. We even had a bit of an impromptu vomiting session in the parking lot before we could even make it inside.
The mattress shopping adventure was an experience in itself. Navigating the appliance section of a large shopping mall is never easy, but finding a money changer in a crowded place is a whole other level of stressful. My sister’s initial lack of cash added another layer of complexity to the situation, as did the slow internet connection that made the PayMaya transaction take forever. To top it all off, my father’s incessant calls only added to the mounting stress. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the payment was processed, and we could finally head home.
The drive back was quiet, everyone exhausted and drained. My sister had a prior commitment to visit her cousin, but I was too tired to even think about it. I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep, the memories of our quick but unforgettable Cebu adventure swirling in my mind. Looking back on those days, I wish I had truly lived in the moment. Now that my sister is back in Finland, it's sad that we have to wait another year for a similar trip. As a new year approaches, I'm always apprehensive about what's to come, because the possibilities are endless, and it scares me that the next trip might not be the same as this one.
