Cebu to Ormoc on OceanJet, Again
Boarding
We ended my previous story with this picture:
And as I said, this was one "great ride" again, because it was "not full"; with "great views" - because this was on a bright sunny morning!
Views while boarding
Oy, while lining up, that above, wasn't the only pic I took. There were other views. Like these:
Imagine kung madilim, what will I see? Eh 'di rin naman tayo nakaka-tulog ng mahimbing.
So, daytime travel is more fun when hopping between our many islands in the Philippines!
I apply that to all types of transpo, mind you!
And I also already said: even if it's a repetitive ride from Point A to Point B, there will always be something interesting for us to encounter!
That, makes travel pleasant and memorable.
Aboard the OceanJet
So let's go - starting with my already boarded, although not-so-full Cebu-Ormoc OceanJet 3.
I can't imagine myself sitting there. Instead of a TV, you are what everyone else is watching!
Well, kung KSP o EPAL ka (maraming ganyan, di ba?), that would be limelight enough hehe!
But most Pinoys aren't like that. Probably the reason why, I observed, few people sit there.
Let me tell you a not-so-secret secret: When a fastcraft isn't full (I always ask about that), I'm not really bothered where my seat would be.
Sights & scenes on board
Like this one. I mean the outside view, not the people - because OceanJet was departing na!
In fact, I ran upstairs for an open-air view:
Star Crafts
Ay if I remember right, Star Crafts has trips to Tubigon and/or Getafe. And maybe elsewhere.I also recall, OceanJet has a smaller craft like that. The one I took goin' to Camotes Islands.
Single aisle yan, with a 3-3 seat configuration. Just like an Airbus A320. O diba? Pag mahilig ka talaga sa eroplano, sumisingit din, kahit pa sa mga usapang pang-karagatan na hahaha!
By the way, look at that picture intently. Small as it may be, it also sports an upper deck that is open air too, but not as wide as OceanJet's.
Aw, speaking of OceanJet's upper deck, eto...
Walang tao? Meron naman, at port side. Ito o!
Anopangaba, grand time mag-pectyur-pectyur!
Views "etcetera" from the aft is best
The fastcraft's wake and the pier area. Nice!
Not just passing views, but things back there!
Plus, boat-related things that I think are tools.
Interesting views ba at the back stairs? This!
Taken aback, wala silang nagawa other than just smile at me hehehe! Wasn't I awesome?!
Ahem.., I am not a social decorum expert and business etiquette coach for nothing hehehe!
No Smoking On Board pala ha?! Estoryahee!
Shhh, ayaw mo'g saba. Hush lang. Sekret ba!
Anyway...
Of course it's equally awesome to watch both sides (shorelines), as this is Mactan Channel.
It's an enormously long port
On the Mandaue side, when I clicked, we were past Cebu International Port & Gothong Wharf.
Pier 8 or 9 or 10? Frankly I'm not sure (yet), as to how many Piers the Port of Cebu has. I just know it is very long - about 5 kilometers long? From Aduana aka Malacanang Sa Sugbo up to the back of CDU aka Cebu Doctor's University.
There is even Ouano Wharf, etc., but...
Boardwalk Mall, Mandani and others
Interestingly or puzzlingly, the area next to the RORO 9 (middle of pic, brown-roofed buildings) has been like that since 2009 - or even earlier.It was already hyped-up by many news outfits as a "Cebu Boardwalk Mall", later becoming a "Mandani Bay" whatever or something like so.
In fact, I just remembered now, that is where that crazily popular LifeDance has been held for its past 3 stagings (2012, 2013 and 2014).
As of today, that area is still "in progress"!
Anyway, after that yet unfinished "boardwalk", I could see CDU and the up & coming hospital branches being made for UC and Chong Hua.
Plus and lastly, that prominent zebra-striped mixed-use condominium of Robinsons Land.
That vast reclaimed land is developing fast.
The ill-fated St. Gregory The Great
Looking at the other side of the channel, this:
That's M/V St. Gregory the Great which was on the news last year, after 'issues' near the Siete Pecados Islands - between Iloilo & Guimaras.
8 holes daw? Oh wow kapitan! Gastos yan.
Anyway..,
No front-center view
Here's a full back-view as we forded along...
Thus, still from the back of upstairs (since the public isn't allowed at the pilot's deck), I tried to capture my best shot of the front, at portside.
Well what can we do, bawal e! Anyway, for the memories, and for me to have some things to show to you my dear readers, pwede na diba?
That's Bridge 1, and far at the back is Bridge 2. Yup, Mandaue side as we were headed north.
That dangerous junk yard
You see that "dark hill" at left, that looks like a mountain of rubbish? Well, it is hehehe. That's Ting Guan Junk Yard. Yes they have their own wharf there. Look intently to see docked boats.What's the significance?
Ay, for those who don't/didn't know, especially those not from the Metro Cebu area, juicy ito!
About 2 years ago, there were vintage bombs in that scrap yard, that took long for the gov't authorities to act on - and that scared people!
Not just one or two or three, mind you. Ala eh, 385 yata. Eh mga vintage. Eh kung sumabog?
Ahh, it was on the news everyday for so many days. Eh ang lapit sa tulay o! Kulbaan tanan oi heheh! Nabawasan nga ang traffic sa Bridge 1!
It was hot news. Brgy. Tipolo officials (I think) even went to City Hall, for the Mayor to attend to the issue, but I didn't follow na when it was resolved (detonated at a mine in Toledo City?).
I remember during that time, all I thought was aba kahit na pang World War II pa ang mga yan, bomba pa rin yan na pwedeng sumabog. Kulba!
That, is how that dark dune of junk by the sea port became known to many of us the public!
GMC, a historical handmark of its own
I walked to starboard, also for the view. This:
A view of GMC, this time clear, from the sea.
Here's the best way to remember them: if you are an '80s kid, you surely have known Granny Goose Tortillos, Kornets, or even the "wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska". Even Swan's Down Flour - yung pula na box! Magnifico Pasta too. O ha!
Ah, GMC is an interesting story. It started as a flour mill on that spot way way before the first bridge even became an idea. And long before the CEB airport transferred to where it is now.
Kumbaga, GMC can be considered (well it is) the pioneer in industrializing Mactan Island!
Oist, GMC is such a good topic on the history of Mactan and/or Cebu, syempre even on the prominent surnames of Uytengsu and Young.
Anyway..,
Giant tanks "for rent"!
Takbo uli to the other side of the fastcraft! Ah, I missed the Petron Depot, but this is similar. I learned it is called a 'Tank Terminal'. A what?
Unlike in that Petron Depot at left (white tanks na mukhang golf balls) these silo-like tanks on foreground are for short or long term leasing.
It's owned by a certain company (Arctura yata) then rented to smaller businesses that need to stock some raw materials/ingredients in tanks.
I heard it is not just the small companies, but even big ones too, that don't need huge tanks every day and forever. So, rent lang sila dyan!
Travel is really education. Sa kakatingin kaka-picture natin ng kung anu-ano, we get curious about things, we ask and we learn about them!
Bridge 2 has many names, Bridge 1 none
Then we were already passing under Bridge 2. I think I shot a short video clip as we did that. I will put that somewhere here - pag naluto na!The Mandaue-Mactan Bridge 2 is also called Marcelo Fernan Bridge. Si Bridge 1, no name!
Ganito yan... during planning and early stages of construction, news people (and politicians) referred to it as "Consolacion Bridge" or even "Lacion Bridge" - to easily differentiate it from Bridge 1, commonly called the "Mactan Bridge".
Then on inauguration by Erap in 1999, it was called "The 2nd Mandaue-Mactan Bridge" or "The 2nd Mactan-Mandaue Bridge" based on the preferences of anyone speaking. Ganern!
Some use 2nd Lapulapu-Mandaue Bridge, or the reversed 2nd Mandaue-Lapulapu Bridge.
Ang uban, especially people from the capitol kay isingit pa gayud ang word nga Cebu. Na!
Then came June 27, 2000. This Bridge 2 was re-named to be Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge via RA8795 - the 'longest' republic act I have ever read in my life - as in isang sentence lang. Da!
Walang whereas whereas wherefore wherefore now therefore na ka-artehan ng wordy flowery ek ek. Straight to the point. 'Pede naman pala!
Now ngayon karon yana subong... because of RA8795, I made gatong one pulitiko na "dapat si Bridge 1 aduna pud nga'an na in memory-of"!
Aw ay hehe, kinagat! Mag-file na dayon kuno! So mark my word dear fellow Pinoy Travelers, one of these days, si Mactan Bridge (Bridge 1) will also have a name nga tawo! Pupusta ako!
Whaahehehe! Anyway...
As is obvious, that 2nd bridge was erected to ease traffic since Bridge 1 wasn't enough na! Nowadays, both are always heavily congested!
Well there's talk as in sabi-sabi, haka-haka that the ever wanted 3rd bridge is being pushed by politicians (purportedly all Cebu congressmen). All I can say is, kahit mag-Bridge 4 pa, GORA!
Eh ang trapik trapik na dyan, grabe na ra ba.
Cebu Yacht Club
I looked to the Mactan side again.., expecting to see the cute little boats docked at the CYC as in Cebu Yacht Club. Me ganyan din dito oi!
Anyway, if you haven't been in that area, try to swing by. There are restaurants there, and the views are great - from early morning until late at night. Entrance is across the clock tower of Mactan Marina Mall in Pusok, Lapu-lapu City.
Northern end of Mactan Island
Then we were out of Mactan Channel, and the OceanJet 3 went faster. Here's Punta Engano:
Also worth noting pala that the northern tip of Punta Engaño (the northern-most barangay of Lapu-lapu City) is rapidly developing into what looks like a hip commercial-residential place.
When that happens, my 'fearless forecast' is: traffic will be crazy in this area or Brgy. Mactan.
Aru, if it is something similar (or bigger/better as 'crowd drawer') than Mactan Newtown that opened just recently, humanda na you Ladies & Gentlemen. They do not touch the barangay roads (na walang alternate routes) leading to their places - dahil di naman nila saklaw iyon.
Da epek, trapiiik - AS IN! Anyway...
Liloan, a view from the sea
And I told my royal self okay, no more island to watch here, so transfer again to port side! This:
How do/did I know that place down to minute details? Aw, wala lang. Here is that pic again:
Sabi nga ni Mana Zoi: 'kay sige ma it im lalaag nga bata ka, permis da anay bas it matikangan'!
With matching taga-Tubig nga accent yan ha!
Yes taga-Taft! I love you Mana Zoi!
Anyway, after Liloan, OceanJet was out in the open (Camotes Sea?) - but not for a long time.
Camotes Islands fly-by
After just 67mins this was my starboard view:
Well, if you have been there, or you know that island.., you would agree with what I just said.
That's the western shore of Pacijan Island aka the town of San Francisco, Camotes Islands.
Those white sand beaches right to left should be Nonok, Bakhaw & Esperanza - I'm guessing!
What I am very-sure-of though is: behind all of them is the calm and serene Lake Danao Park.
Mangodlog would likely be to the right (not in photo) since that picture is already the north-western side of the island. Yep, I clicked late!
Oh, the little island at left edge of that photo?
It's here, left side. That's called Tulang Island.
And by the way, this area is a "corner". This is where big vessels take a 'right turn' to Ormoc!
Ormoc would be somewhere in that haze of a landmass on the horizon (left edge of photo).
Merida
Next on my viewing pleasure would have been Ponson Island (aka the town of Pilar). That is if I stayed at starboard. Ah, I went portside. This:
From Isabel to Merida town center, everything is a lush & healthy mangrove forest. No beach.
The beaches of Merida are supposedly to the right, going towards Ormoc, at Brgy. Lamanoc.
Anyway, far as the OceanJet was, I could see the town's wharf/pier whatever. It looked wide & concreted-everywhere than what I can recall.
Aw hehehe, I guess I will never ever forget my "Ride of a Lifetime"! The craziest trip I ever did!
Anyway too, the OceanJet 3 arrived at Ormoc uneventful. I got off to find a connecting flight to Tacloban hehehe, that I already knew how - sa parking lot. Ah, you already know that drill!
Okay. The end muna. Itutuloy ang kwento!
#CentralVisayas #TravelPhilippines #OceanJet
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