It’s been a while and it’s good to be back in a busier and more developed township by the Mactan seaside. Two years went by quickly and Megaworld’s progress was apace with the speedy sands of time. Mactan Newtown became—and is becoming— the choice address for residents, corporate centers, learning institutions, and even special events and festivals. Expect more structures to rise, like the Mactan Expo Center, the largest convention center on this side of Cebu, to fill up the 30-hectare live-work-play estate.

Play is extended to another exciting facet of the island township’s most recent addition that fulfills a vision of a resort destination within a destination—the Mactan Newtown Beach. An infinity pool and a white sand shoreline facing the blue waters of Hilutungan Channel within the Cebu Strait and the Olango Island beyond. The relaxing sights and site make for the perfect vacation or weekend getaway. Go ahead, order a cocktail, get a tan and take a relaxing dip in the cool water.

More than a holiday locale, Mactan Newtown Beach can amp up any celebration, be it natal or nuptial. The “resort” styles its areas with specially curated sections, like an enclosed, air-conditioned gazebo embraced with picture windows that won’t let the indoor fun miss any of the out-of-doors island vibe, or the breathtaking al fesco setting with the rising sun and azure sea as its backdrop, which can make every I do extraordinary and unforgettable.

As alluring as the coast, day in and out, the township’s mango-tree-lined main boulevard lures in the city’s foodies hungry for a variety of cuisines, from the famed Cebu lechon at the Mactan Alfresco to the Asian bites of sushi and bibimbap, sweet tooth soothers and swigs of crisp, golden lager streetside.

Exciting enough? How about some hearty servings of UK and German fare? Hell’s Kitchen’s Gordon Ramsey’s menus are up to please the palate. Recently opened, the Fish & Chips and Street Burger joints are getting the Cebuanos to queue at peak dining hours and past for a bite of the “bad boy” chef’s culinary creations. Where? Right beside the door of Belmont Hotel Mactan. Lucky are those staying in this hotel because they can grab a bite of the good stuff ay time between the restos clocking in and out.

Easy access to Mactan Newtown’s offerings, easier access to top-notch amenities within its four walls. Guests at Belmont Hotel Mactan can feast on local and international favorites at the all-day dining Belmont Café, a selection of cocktails and refreshing beverages at the Zabana Bar or the Float Pool Bar, where one can also catch the sunrise while taking a cooling dip in the pool.

Undoubtedly, Belmont embraces Cebuano culture and warmth and lets each guest experience it. Design-wise, Belmont takes its inspiration from its location, paying tribute to Cebu’s rich history, marine life, culture, and heritage with carefully selected décor. Hospitality-wise, Cebu’s charm is sensed the moment guests enter this home in the township.

More than a place for rest and relaxation, Belmont Hotel Mactan is MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions)-ready. It has built facilities specifically for MICE events, as well as team buildings and intimate corporate events.

Exciting times are ahead for Belmont Hotel Mactan as Megaworld Corporation partners with French hospitality giant Accor to scale up the reach and competitiveness of its homegrown hotel brands, with plans to introduce international standards in operations and loyalty rewards across select properties under its Megaworld Hotels & Resorts unit.

The transition will begin with Belmont Hotel Mactan, which will be rebranded as Mercure Mactan Cebu within the year. The rebranding will bring the property under one of Accor’s key midscale hotel chains. With Mercure Mactan Cebu, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts aim to redefine Cebu’s tourism landscape by combining the group’s local expertise with Accor’s global leadership in hospitality.

On the next visit to Mactan Newtown, my favorite Belmont address will be bearing a new name, the Mercure Mactan Cebu. What’s in store for its guests? Let me find out first hand. 

Living in VisMin and flying out of the country? Make the Cebu airport your international gateway to the world and back home. Why? It’s way more convenient with its next door-walkable domestic-international connectivity, far less crowded, quicker immigration clearance than Manila’s. Plus, MCIA is far more aesthetically pleasing in- and outdoor, and passenger-friendly than any of the NAIA terminals today.

With the Cebu hub offering a good list of international carriers, non-Cebu residents may need a separate ticket for their domestic leg of the journey. If it’s not with the same airline, it’s best to plan well, especially if you have trust issues with local carriers having a reputation of “plane always late” or changing, if not cancelling, flight time moving it too close to your onward flight. It can be anxiety-inducing, truly. Best option? Arrive a day earlier. I would. I did. It relieves the stress of being late, or worse, missing the flight to the USA. 

What to do in Cebu in 24-hours or longer? Plenty. An airport hotel like Waterfront Airport Hotel can be the most convenient choice, but its sister property, Waterfront Cebu City hotel in the city center, is a smart choice for longer layovers. Here’s why. 

Convenience, comfort and location. Arrange for a hotel transfer and spare yourself of the hassle lugging luggage and hailing a cab to the city center. The efficient reception carries through check-in all the way to the comforts of a well-appointed, spacious room, onto the rest of your stay. No soiled clothes in the luggage, your day’s look can be freshly laundered, pressed and ready for the next OOTD abroad. Ring up housekeeping for this service. 

Dining out feels without leaving the hotel. Cebu City’s vast culinary offering is exciting, but you need not stray far to dive into the scene. There are three dining spots steps away from your hotel room. Along the Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu are three specialty restaurants marked as favorites by the local foodies: Mizu (Japanese), Tin Gow (Cantonese and Szechuan) and La Gondola (Italian). It may be a challenge to enjoy the house specialties of these three given the limited time, but who says you can’t hop? A sukiyaki or sushi at Mizu, the Crispy Sweet & Sour Pork or Peking Duck at Tin Gow, a pizza or pasta dish at La Gondola, more at each stop if you have a hearty appetite (or you can always return to Cebu for another bout). Don’t forget the desserts! The Green Tea ice cream and the Gelatos are such great meal enders. 

Last minute pasalubong shopping. Admit it, you may have ticked your checklist for everything you need but there is always that nagging feeling that you forgot something to pack. Worry not, there’s a gift shop in the hotel, and a few steps across Waterfront will take you to the Central Bloc Mall. Gifts? Extra clothing? Local delicacies? Toiletries and meds? Find it there. 

Have a nightcap before calling it a night. A Gin Tonic or freshly brewed coffee can make for a good nightcap at the Lobby Lounge. Under the iconic world map painting is a good spot to relax and people watch while enjoying a drink. 

Load up before a long trip. Have a hearty breakfast at Cafe Uno if you have a morning flight. Cafe Uno’s breakfast spread will have a local dish that will that you’ll miss abroad, like a bowl of hot Champorado (chocolate rice porridge) paired with Danggit (local dried fish), or Taho (fresh silken tofu, tapioca pearls with brown sugar syrup). Lucky you if your flight is after lunch, you can have more of the house specialties of Waterfront’s Gourmet Walk restaurants. 

Now freshen up in your room and head to the airport. 

Fly Starlux Airlines thru Cebu's Mactan City International Airport. 

Flown Starlux Airlines yet? You should. The new Taiwanese Airline, serving Cebu, has a fleet of A350 aircraft which has configurations of 1-2-1 on Business Class, 2-4-2 on Premium Economy and 3-3-3 on Economy Class. The last, perhaps, making it the most convenient and spacious seat set-up among the long haul aircrafts. I can attest to it. Plus, getting an exit row seat, the 50 B, C, H, or J will offer the best legroom in the section. It may entail additional cost but it’s still far more economical (by half) than a Premium Economy seat (and I will sit in this section on my next trip). The Cebu-Taipei utilizes A321NEO with all seats having inflight entertainment systems. 

Starlux offers the lowest rate among other airlines at a recent seat sale. The Cebu-SFO/LA-Cebu via Taipei fare is around US$750, add the DVO-CEB-DVO plus baggage allowance via PAL, the total still is the cheapest among the airlines on the list. Like I said above, make sure you have ample time in between flights. Stay a night in Cebu if you must. 

Enjoy the new planes, comfortable seats, good food, yes, in-flight entertainment (not on iPad!) with a long list of movie titles, and the restrooms are constantly kept clean and smelling good by the crew all 11 to 14 hours long.

Mactan Cebu International Airport. Long layovers and delayed flights? It is what it is. But what you do with your time is in your hands. Don’t mope. Have a feast! 

Cebu has a myriad of culinary offerings that will take your mind off the not-so-pleasant-incidents the airlines are causing. Some of it is inside the airport terminal— various local lechon brands and delicacies, coffee shops, and restaurants that offer decent meals. Everything is pricier, that’s a given. 

Here’s my all-time, winning solution. I make my way to the hotel just right across the street- to the Waterfront Airport Hotel. What’s inside? Cafe Uno. It's a more comfortable and quiet space where freshly brewed coffee is good, connection to the internet is free, and a menu that lists fab food choices. And if I come at the right time, there’s a buffet spread for breakfast and merienda, occasionally, lunch and dinner, too, if the hotel’s occupancy is high. Wiser? Indeed. Plus, it’s value for your money. 

If you love Pinoy food like I do, then you’re in luck. The current chef is pushing regional cuisine to the forefront, in fact, this is his advocacy. When it comes to Binisaya cuisine, Chef June Fernandez goes back to his roots and revisits his grandparents’ love for this kind of cooking. Now, as the new executive chef of Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan, he aims to elevate the dining experience by highlighting the heartwarming Filipino dishes and adding a modern twist to these classics.

It’s always a brilliant idea to befriend chefs because they can always whip up something special. I will speak from experience having ‘crossed the street’ several times and chose to while my time in between flights from Davao to Boracay, Tokyo and Seoul. 

The chef said the Waterfront Airport Hotel’s menu is in the process of changing. From Chef June’s kitchen came “Baka Mamen,” his version of mami/ramen with chunks of tender beef cooked for hours and poured with rich-tasting soup. This dish instantly gained following upon its release in a pop-up market.

Yet to be introduced on the menu (and I pray it does) are Pinoy favorites that will make anyone drool. The “Keviche” is one. It’s the chef’s take on ceviche and kinilaw, a refreshing dish of fresh fish cubes in thick coconut milk, which gives it a rich, nutty, sweet flavor. Green pepper gives the dish a light kick of spice and the crispy dilis offers a nice contrast of flavor and texture to the dish. 

Chef June makes his own Chorizo Cebu using the family’s heritage recipe. It uses lesser cuts of fat but still retains the flavor expected of the dish. You’ll catch this at the breakfast buffet spread.

If your layover is longer, like a night or two, don’t stray far and request for a room by the poolside. This part of the airport hotel exudes an resort vibe in the island. 

Or how about heading to Waterfront Cebu City, where the hotel houses three of Cebu’s specialty restaurants, Tin Gow (Chinese), La Gondola (Italian) and Mizu (Japanese)? 

At La Gondola, Chef Randy Lagas showcases seasonal dishes that excite the resto’s regulars and perhaps you, too! The brick oven-baked pizza (Carnivora, an all meat pizza) and house-made Pappardelle pasta (Pappardelle Filanti) are in order if it’s your first time. The pizzas and pasta are the bestsellers in this Italian joint. It's delicioso and can be very addicting.

Don’t miss the Carpaccio di polpo con aglio olio e crema di limone (Octopus carpaccio with roasted garlic, extra virgin olive oil & lemon cream). When sliced paper thin, it makes the smokey dish awesome! 

The chef’s Italian Lamb Stew I give top score for its rich flavor and tenderness. Cooked for four hours with aromatics and spices, the chef leaves no trace of gaminess. It’s yum!

The chef’s Italian Lamb Stew I give top score for its rich flavor and tenderness. Cooked for four hours with aromatics and spices, the chef leaves no trace of gaminess. Yum!

Desserts in this place are divine. It’s dusted with sweetness, never overwhelming. Whether it’s the coffee-cocoa concoction of Tiramisu, the light gelatinous fare of panna cotta or the Pistachio Gelato, it’s a truly delightful way to close an Italian meal. Order the three, that’s buono x 3.

Mizu offers a new kind of dining experience and transport you to Japan — the omakase. The chef takes the reins and prepares a special meal with the season’s fresh ingredients.

Sit down and let Chef Ken Imamura surprise you. Here’s a sample. A curated 5-course meal starts with the Tofu Cheese, a truly delectable appetizer. Next was the Shinoda Chakin (shinoda is a dish simmered in a dashi stock flavored with soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar), chicken wrapped in a tofu sheet with broth, the warmth of which opened up my appetite. Following next, the fresh and almost creamy slice of Sake Sashimi. 

To cleanse the palate, the Cold Noodles Soup to prepare you for the chef’s main course: Ebi Tempura (perfectly cooked prawn) and very tender U.S. Beef Teppanyaki. And to cap the meal, the Green Tea Ice cream. Oishi!

Which dish I loved most? All! It was a meal that took me to a favorite Asian destination, Japan.

Chef Jimmy Low of Tin Gow

Crispy Squid at Tin Gow

Sweet & Sour Pork at Tin Gow

With little time left before I take off, I will have to miss Chef Low’s cooking at Tin Gow. Not. They wrapped up my favorite Sweet & Sour Pork for me to take home to Davao. 

Now, catch your flight home wearing a smile of contentment while rubbing the tummy with glee. It’s always wise to make the best of circumstances that’s beyond anyone’s control. So when you suddenly have time on your hands arriving at the Cebu airport, make it a culinary stopover. 

Here’s a tip: Why not stay longer and stay a night or two. Get comfortable and don’t rush through the delights of your culinary stopover? The rooms at the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Waterfront Cebu City are quite comfortable. I slept snugly.

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