mantalongon cebu

 

all the while i thought Cebu was dependent on the nearby provinces in terms of crops as it has achieved big time in the manufacturing and tourism sectors. but Mantalongon has revealed so much thus it was a big surprise for me to found the side of Cebu that i never knew. 

if Baguio is the summer capital the Philippines, Cebu considers the municipality of Dalaguete particularly the mountain range of Mantalongon as their own summer capital. a spot that covers Cebu's highest peak and holds Cebu's coolest breeze.

 

but as one would expect a summer capital to have many options for an overnight stay, this town holds a few. as the most preferred stay here would be to camp over Osmena peak. in our case, we were offered the option to stay overnight in a barangay hall. yes in a barangay hall.

 

Mantalongon is different from the typical towns in the Philippines, its central area is composed of a small playground, the bus terminal, the public market, the covered court while the barangay hall and the church is located far from it.

 

a morning walk on a weekend gives one the chance to experience up close Mantalongon's market day. the town's covered court is converted into a large vegetable market. here vegetables are sold by baskets. large, packed and heavy. 

 

 

despite a tiring day that comes out of hard work on a busy market day, i believe i found one of the best reasons that kept the locals motivated to work. the genuine smile of the little ones.

 

Profile:

Barangay: Mantalongon
Altitude: 900MASL
Municipality: Dalaguete
Province: Cebu
Region: Central Visayas
Island: Cebu

Location: 
Distance from Cebu: 90km
GPS Location: 
9' 50'' 9 N
123' 26'' 8 E

How to get there:
By commuting:
[1] From Cebu City, take a bus to Dalaguete from the Cebu South Terminal or buses that is bound to Boljoon and Oslob which will also pass by Dalaguete. (2.5hours due to some stopover)
[2] From Dalaguete, look for the crossing where motorbikes or locally known as habal-habal that will bring you to the small humble town of Mantalongon.
By car or private vehicle:
[1] Go directly to Mantalongon via the Cebu South road and take a right turn from the Dalaguete crossing to Mantalongon market (2.5hours).
[2] You can park your vehicle somewhere around town.

eskapo recommends:

1. if in case you plan to stay overnight in Mantalongon, you can approach the barangay hall which offers an overnight sleepover room for a minimal fee.