Travel Jams

It took a great deal of brainstorming, months of careful planning, and a whole bunch of passion to make it happen.  All those week upon week of meetings, throwing emails back and forth, and following up all communications sent and received, boiled down to this: 5 long days of exploring and discovering Iligan, giving the invited bloggers from all over the country reasons to like and love Iligan as much as we do.

Photo Credit: Diyandi Festival fan page

The prepared itinerary was somewhat ambitious, especially for me who has lived a sedentary lifestyle for quite a while now. In all honesty, the last "mountaineering" activity I had prior to this event (other than the unexpected Hindang Cave [mis]adventure) was way back in college when I did my undergraduate thesis. That was about 8 years and *coughs* 30 lbs *coughs* ago. 

Seven waterfalls in Iligan City visited during Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0

We knew it wasn't going to be easy, and we don't really know if the organizers and our guests can endure waking up early and going home rather late for 5 straight days. If we ourselves don't die out of exhaustion... well, we feared our invited guests might kill us -- online and/or offline. So yes, we had a really flexible itinerary, adjustable according to everyone's pace and state of mind and well-being. :)

Luckily, we all survived! And surprisingly, the itinerary was stretched and extended in unimaginable ways. We promised six waterfalls, and we ended up with seven! We even added an extra day to include a visit to the neighboring Marawi City. We often have coffee nightcaps and head home close to midnight under the guise of having to sleep early for an early day ahead. BUT we still had time to "you know, make kulitan online pa."  All thanks to the unbelievable enthusiasm and fast-charging energy of this very clingy group. 

• (Malabon City) Christian:  http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/
• (Bukidnon) Sandre:  http://www.pagduaw.com/
• (Bukidnon) Shugah:  http://www.wandershugah.com/
• (South Cot) Nanardx: http://nanardxz.southcotabato.org/
• (GenSan)  Doc Remo:  http://www.hikersitch.com/
• (CDO) Ding:  http://www.traveltabai.com/
• (Cebu)  Michy: http://memoiresofalice.com/
• (Iligan) Francis:  http://www.simplyfrancis.com
• (Iligan) Gab:  http://neoticviews.blogspot.com/
• (Iligan) Kathleen:  http://www.dasocialclimber.com/
• (Finland)  Petri https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=510635835613980&set=o.199976960015228&type=1&theater&notif_t=like

Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0 happened last year. Despite the "ambitiousness" of the plan, we pulled through, thanks to our very generous sponsors and the adventurous participants. Five days, seven waterfalls, and thirteen destinations after, the clingy WAT1.0 family formed a priceless bond with each other, centered around our common love for Iligan -- not only for the waterfalls, but for its food, culture, and people as well. 

And their love manifests in their posts when they share their stories of the beauty of Iligan to their networks, and the stories are shared further and further through the world wide web. Slowly, we'll making our mark as a tourist destination -- far from the war-torn image commonly pictured of us, leaving digital footprints that our city truly has a beauty that's unforgettable.

This year, as Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. starts preparing for an even more ambitious Waterfalling Adventure Tour 2.0, we're putting all our hearts and minds in this project. This time, we're involving more people -- the Iliganon netizens! Because who else knows a city better than its locals, right? Together, as a city, we will make more and more people experience and fall madly in love with our Iligan. 

To borrow the words of Toni Morrison, 

“[And] When they fall in love with a city it is forever, and it is like forever. As though there never was a time when they didn’t love it."

It took a great deal of brainstorming, months of careful planning, and a whole bunch of passion to make it happen.  A ll those week upon wee...

Strategically located between uptown and downtown Cebu, and within close proximity to commercial districts, recreational venues, and tourist spots, Pacific Pensionne in Cebu City is an ideal place to stay in for a quick trip to the Queen City of the South. I stayed here recently when I was privileged to be invited as one of the speakers during the Social Media Day Meetup 2013.








This inn has a warm, homey feel to it. It's comfortable, clean, and generally well-maintained. Design-wise, I'd say there are so many cute and interesting details here -- too many perhaps, it gets a little too confusing. There's a bit of European, mixed with a dash of Chinese influence, and few Filipino elements. (Well, maybe that's just the minimalist in me speaking.) But then again, maybe that's their way of telling the customers that they welcome everyone from all parts of the world, and ensure that the inn is going to be their "home away from home." ;)

Location

Pacific Pensionne is located on Osmeña Boulevard (formerly Jones Avenue), in the city center of Cebu. It is within close proximity to a shopping mall, convenience store, banks, and some places of interest, including Fuente Osmeña, Capitol, Sky Experience at Club Ultima, Basilica Del Santo Niño, Carbon Market, and Magellan’s Cross.

Staff

The staff is well-trained. They all looked neat, attentive, and accommodating. They were warm and quick to respond to the customers' needs.

Room

We stayed in a basic double matrimonial room, fully air-conditioned with private toilet and bathrooms. Room amenities also include hot and cold shower, cable TV, secured and automatic key cards, and telephone. The room is clean and comfortable. Wi-Fi connection in the rooms is available for a certain fee (PHP 50 per hour, PHP 150 for 24 hours).

Breakfast

Pacific Pensionne serves free breakfast until 9:00 AM. The menu features a variety of breakfast options, including continental, American, and Filipino. The free meal ticket covers only Filipino breakfast -- the famous "silog" -- tapsilog, chosilog, longsilog, etc. The restaurant also serves other meals and snacks. The servings are satisfactory, prices are reasonable, and service is quick.

Value for Money

The rooms are reasonably priced, with the tariff rate ranging from PHP920 (for single-bed room) to PHP1,755 (for family superior room, good for 4 persons).

Pros

• Conveniently located within midtown Cebu. 
• Rooms are complete with basic amenities. 
• Equipped with 24-hour security. 
• Staff are well-trained, warm, and friendly. 
• There is a cafe / restaurant that serves good food at a reasonable price. 

Cons

• Fee for Wi-Fi inside the rooms (though Wi-Fi use is free in the lobby and restaurant). 
• The hallways need a little more lighting. 
• The lobby area needs a design update to give it a simpler and unified ambiance. ;) 

Bottom Line & Overall Rating

★★★☆☆

If you are looking for a basic accommodation, and location weighs more in decision-making rather than luxury, then Pacific Pensionne is a great choice.





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Note: The Privilege Coupon used for my stay in Pacific Pensionne was given by Rent.ph as a prize for Mother’s Day Staycation raffle promo. All opinions and recommendations are my own. :)






Virtual hugs and kisses to the Rent.ph team! ^____^

Strategically located between uptown and downtown Cebu, and within close proximity to commercial districts, recreational venues, and tourist...