Butterfly Sanctuary
One of the must-sees when in Cebu is the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery of the multi-awarded artist-lepidopterist J. N. Jumalon. This haven for nature and butterfly lovers is located near the Basak Elementary School, Barangay Basak – Pardo, Cebu City, is a butterfly sanctuary cum botanical garden. The sanctuary provides a natural habitat for at least 53 butterfly species and different kinds of moths. More than a hundred plant species that are mostly the life support of butterflies in their larval and adult stages are also being grown in the sanctuary.
Aside from the butterfly sanctuary, the place also boasts of Lumalon’s lepido-mosaic “paintings” which are not actually paintings but artworks made of discarded butterfly wings. The butterfly wings, which come from other butterfly collectors, were recycled using their natural colors in creating art, rather than use factory-processed pigments.
Jumalon’s butterfly collection, which is perhaps the oldest in the country, is also featured in the art gallery. The collection includes exotic butterflies from different countries. Also available for viewing are Jumalon’s other collections which include coins, stamps, dolls, key chains, seashells, rocks and artifacts.
The place is definitely ideal for students who want to research on butterfly and moth habitats, as well as local or foreign tourists who want to relax and enjoy a day with butterflies and interesting collections.
Orchid Farms
Thett Orchid Gallery in Moalboal has one of the biggest orchid displays in South East Asia. Growing over 200 kinds of orchids, the orchid farm is even a major supplier of potted plants and orchids in Cebu. Here you can find tropical orchid varieties from Asia, South America and Hawaii, rare orchid varieties and even Vandas and Cattleyas that have big flowers. After a stroll in the farm, which has a tropical garden settings and visitors can relax in the gallery’s swimming pool.
Olango Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the ways to experience nature in Cebu province is to visit the Olango Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern part of Olango Island. The island is located six miles off the East Coast of mainland Cebu. The wildlife sanctuary has atotal area of 920 hectares and consists mainly of sand flats and mudflats, mangrove forests, sea grass beds, sandy ridges and coconut groves.
Olango became famous after the Philippine Wetland and Wildlife Conservation Foundation Inc. discovered the presence of 40,000 to 60,000 migratory birds in the area. The discovery had a great impact on bird studies in the East Asian Flyway, one of the most important shorebird and water bird migration pathways in the world. The PWCF says that there is a total of 77 species of migratory waders that use this Flyway and the Philippines host half of this number in Olango Island.
The best time to visit the sanctuary is during the peak of the migration months when most birds have arrived at the island. The peak of the Southward Migration is from September to November while the peak of the Northward Migration is between February and April.
Getting There:
To reach the island, one can take a jeepney ride from Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City at the terminal at the North Reclamation Area. Upon arriving in Lapu-Lapu City, take a tricycle or multicab bound for Angasil then disembark at wharf beside Portofino Beach resort, take a pump boat to Sta. Rosa in Olango Island. One can reach the sanctuary found in Barangay San Vicente by foot or by tricycle from the Sta. Rosa Wharf.
Diving Around Cebu
Cebu is a haven for diving enthusiasts, whether beginners or experts divers. The island is surrounded with beautiful diving spots that will surely captivate local and foreign tourists. Among the popular dive sites in this island province are the dice sites in Mactan Island and in Malapascua Island such as the Monad Shoal, Tapilon Japanese Wreck and the Doña Marilyn Wreck. There are also the popular dive sites in the southern part of the province such as the House Reef, Pescador Island and Sunken Island in Moalboal and the Wall of death in Santander.
Cebu, aside from being s diver’s haven, is also very diver friendly. Almost all hotels in the island’s coastline and all the beach resorts have complete diving facilities and have diving instructors. There are even dive operators that offer dive tours called dive safaris. These dive packages are inclusive of accommodations, round trip transfers, meals, boat, guides and other incidentals.
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