cebu tourism slogan

• Siloy is watching

• INQUIRER.net
• RADYO INQUIRER

‘Danao here and now’: Danao unveils new tourism branding

Photo courtesy of Danao City Government FB

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Danao City is banking on new brand identity in a bid to attract more tourists.

And it comes with the tagline called “Danao Here and Now.”

The city government of Danao unveiled their new tourism identity last Friday, September 16, 2022, during its month-long fiesta celebration.

It took city officials and tourism experts approximately a year to conceptualize Danao’s newest branding, as well as its logo and new jingle, the local government said in a statement published on Wednesday, September 21.

“Now with its new tourism destination brand, complemented by its incredible diversity of offerings, from resorts, culture, and cuisine, to natural landscapes, people and vibrant economy, Danao City is looking forward to breathing new life into the local tourism scene and eliciting renewed enthusiasm on its own tourism industry,” they said.

For his part, Danao City Mayor Thomas “Mix” Durano also said the new tourism branding represents the ‘strong cooperation among its constituents and stakeholders.’

“Danao City is an emblem of our strength as a people,” said Durano.

“This celebration motivates us more to promote unity and cooperation among us… There is indeed no doubt that with our celebration this year we will continue to shine as we continuously live with the fullness of our heritage and tradition,” he added.

Local officials, meanwhile, clarified that the new tourism branding should not be confused with the city’s famous tagline “Sidlak Danao”.

“The tourism tagline is also set to define and embrace the city’s diverse offerings that will make it stand out as one of the province’s most unique and desirable places to visit, NOW and into the future,” they added.

Danao City is a third-class component city of Cebu province, located approximately 48 kilometers north of the capital Cebu City.  

READ MORE :

Cebu sees full tourism reopening in October

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.

Latest News

Supreme court disbars previously suspended lawyer, shaabaa introduces league-wide changes for season 27, millie bobby brown gikasal na kang jake bongiovi, house bill sets rules for chocolate hills in bohol, padayon cebu: cbm 2024 officially kicks-off with exciting activities in line, magsayo fights world title eliminator in june, why men love interesting ladies over nice ones, live updates: tropical depression aghon, cebu city is 436th best city to live in 2024 – study, cebu fc clashes with united city fc in pfl tomorrow.

Subscribe to our regional newsletter

• Environment

© 2024 Cebu Daily News - All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.

MyCebu.ph: Re/Discover Cebu

Re/Discover Cebu one story at a time

19 Samboan attractions that make it a top Cebu destination

With several waterfalls thriving in the hills and forested areas of Samboan, no doubt a journey to this humble town begins and ends with a splash.

It’s not always about the quantity, of course, but talk about flowing waters — from loud, shallow currents to inviting hushed cascades — it’s on these God-given gifts that Samboan’s strength as a travel destination rests.

Complementing these natural wonders are heritage structures that can magically transport visitors to colonial times. As one of Cebu’s oldest settlement grounds, Samboan plays host to various heritage sites echoing its glorious past.

Water abounds in Samboan, and it’s something one can not only drink but experience.

Fresh, salty, brackish, easy-flowing, challenging, buried in the woods or stretched by the roadside, water is ubiquitous in this resource-laden town.

Here’s a list of Samboan attractions – from waterfalls and other nature spots to heritage monuments – that makes a visit to this town a worthwhile experience. For a handy, mobile guide to travel in the town, with details on getting to its different attractions, download the Samboan Guide at Google Play.

Samboan attractions

1. aguinid falls.

In fact, what greets a weary traveler from an energy-draining ride from the metro is water, specifically the waters of Aguinid Falls in Barangay Tangbo, conveniently situated 200 meters from the national highway.

Aguinid Falls is composed of five different tiers along the Tangbo River, with each level having a unique cascade. One can only reach the other falls by passing and climbing the limestone paths of the flowing waters up to the highest level.

This is why Aguinid is described as the kind of falls that get a visitor really wet, with its shallow waterbeds that also serve as the only pathway up, rocky terrain, and fast-flowing waters.

Going up the falls to the water source, according to a hotel and travel magazine, is like climbing Rapunzel’s long, long hair

Guess what you’ll find in the waterway’s surrounding canopies if you’re lucky enough. Iguanas! ( Read more about Aguinid Falls )

2. Da-o Falls

The tallest waterfall in Samboan, if not the whole of Cebu, is the one in Barangay Suba. Da-o Falls is a 90 feet vertical drop of water in lush surroundings of endemic and other tree and plant species.

It’s a long trek on a narrow and winding trail to Da-o Falls but the sight of the cascade that flows unbroken from a very high point set amid an untouched environment is quite breathtaking.

The journey to Da-o begins with a walk on a hill followed by a trek that traverses the riverside. The way is not very easy, especially as it involves a steep ascent along a narrow walkway by the slopes holding on to makeshift bamboo railings.

Da-o Falls require endurance and those with fear of heights may find the way difficult.

The flowing water of Da-o drops into a wide pool that’s perfect for a dip on a hot and humid day.

3. Hidden Falls (also called Triple Drop Falls and Binalayan Falls)

Just a 10-minute ride from Tangbo, which hosts Aguinid Falls, is the Barangay of Bonbon. It is in Bonbon that the Hidden Falls is located. The journey to the cascade requires a 15-minute walk along a difficult terrain and a stream crossing.

The path down to the 47 feet-tall waterfalls is narrow and slippery and located alongside a cliff. Like the other falls of Samboan, the one in Bonbon has kept its pristine and unspoiled beauty.

4. Candayvic Falls

A product of wordplay, the name Candayvic is coined from “Kang Inday Marivic,” the falls being named after the wife of the town’s incumbent mayor.

Candayvic is perched on a hill in Cañorong, a barangay adjacent to Suba. Since the area is remote, it can be reached by motorcycles for hire for a fare of P20. Visitors who plan to visit Candayvic should bring food and water supplies as there are no stores in the vicinity.

Aside from its much deeper dive spots, Candayvic serves another very important purpose: it’s the source of the water that flows down all the way to the 90-foot Da-o Falls.

5. Balay’g Sawa Falls

It’s not clear how the waterfall got its name, but Balay’g Sawa – which means “python’s nest” – is another beautiful waterform in Samboan where visitors can plunge into the cool and clean water.

Balay’g Sawa is nestled in the woody portions of Sitio Calin-ay in Barangay Poblacion. It’s small but its lagoon is wide and perfect for a swim.

To make the way to Balay’g Sawa more accessible, the town of Samboan has recently placed makeshift railings to facilitate going up and down the slopes leading to the area.

6. Tabon Falls

This waterfall is located in the boundary of Tangbo and Bonbon so they called it Tabon after the first syllables of the barangays’ names. Like the others, getting to this cascade also requires a ride on a motorcycle for hire or what the locals call habal-habal and a trek along a footpath in the woods.

7. Mini Falls

The town is also home to several other waterfalls with still undeveloped pathways, making a trip to these natural marvels quite a challenge. These include the mini-falls in the barangays of Calatagan (Kang Minggay), Jumangpas (Trabon), and Cambigong (Kanciahan). A journey to these places requires a guide and will be quite an adventure in itself.

Marine sanctuary

8. Colase Marine Sanctuary

There’s no better proof to Samboan’s effort to protect and preserve its marine resources than the Colase Marine Sanctuary in Barangay Colase. It is being managed by the municipality in partnership with a fisherfolk organization.

To snorkel or dive at the marine sanctuary is to experience the town’s unsullied marine ecosystem. Sharks, dolphins, and whales would often swim close to shore at the marine sanctuary, according to town officials.

Diving and snorkeling activities are allowed at Colase for a certain fee.

Aside from Colase, other coastal barangays in Samboan include San Sebastian (Bato), Dalahikan, Tangbo, Bonbon, Suba and Poblacion.

9. Ponong Lake

Within the town center, there is a lagoon that is about a hectare wide and up to three meters deep. It is named Ponong, after the sitio in Barangay Poblacion where it is located.

More lagoon than lake, the water in Ponong is brackish. What makes it interesting, according to locals, is the way the manolong bird dives into its waters to escape hunters.

10. Kang Yup-ot Spring

In Barangay Calatagan, there is a cold water spring that’s perfect for a dip on a hot sunny day. The main mode of transport to the spring is the ubiquitous motorcycles for hire or habal-habal in the town. Habal-habal drivers are familiar with the area and can take visitors to the spring for a fee.

Samboan’s natural wonders are not limited to water forms, they take the shape of mountains and caves as well.

11. Mt. Bartolina

In fact, the highest peak in Southern Cebu is located in Samboan. It’s called Mt. Bartolina.

The mountain sits on Barangays Bulangsuran in Samboan and Barangay Canang in Oslob. One can see both sides of the narrow island of Cebu, Bohol Strait on the east and Tañon Strait on the west, from the apex of Mt. Bartolina.

The way is not for the fainthearted but it is possible to scale the mountaintop within 15 minutes using a motorcycle-for-hire or what locals call habal-habal. Be warned though that the motorcycle path sometimes narrows to foot-wide trails alongside sheer drops.

Spelunking is also a top to-do list in the town. Like its waterfalls, the way to the town’s unspoiled caves can sometimes border on the difficult to the challenging. Many of the town’s caves are rarely explored natural marvels.

12. Calatagan Caves

Two of these caverns – Kang Berol and Kang Nancia – are located in Barangay Calatagan. One will have to crawl to get inside the caves since the entrance is quite small but their interiors are huge and host bats, small snakes, and streams.

13. Kang Porning Cave

In Jumangpas, getting to Kang Porning is a short 10-minute walk from the main road.

Heritage buildings

Samboan also boasts of a rich and colorful past and nowhere is this best seen than in the town center where centuries-old Spanish structures dating back to colonial times still stand.

During Spanish times, the central unit of the settlement of Samboan was built on a plateau about 65 meters above sea level.

Within this perch, Spanish authorities constructed the church, municipal hall, rectory and plaza.

14. St. Michael Archangel Church

Of these buildings that were central to Spanish administration of the towns, the church still remains and continues to be used today. Construction of the St. Michael Archangel Church dates back to 1842 under the stewardship of Fr. Romualdo Avila.

The Cebu Archdiocese book Balaanong Bahandi said the church, made of hardwood and coral stones, underwent reconstruction in 1915 but it wasn’t clear what alterations were carried out in the structure.

15. Jacob’s Ladder (Escala de Jacob)

To make it easy for parishioners from the coastal communities to go to church, Fr. Torebio Gerzon had a staircase built on the side of the hill leading to the church in 1878. These steps number 147 and are made of manunggol stones. The stairway is still the best path down to the town’s coastal area.

16. Campanario de Antigua (Ancient Watchtower)

Made from cut coral stones, the tower is three storeys high and was used in olden times to watch out for and give warning of incoming pirate raiders.

The best views of the seas, surrounding islands, and picturesque town plaza are from the campanario’s vantage point.

17. Samboan Museum

Still within the town center is the Samboan Museum with its galleries that display the paintings of local artists as well as stoneware and pottery, wooden implements and tools, religious artifacts and ceramics.

18. Boluntaryo Monument (World War II Volunteers Monument)

Found at the national highway in the center of the town, the monument pays tribute to the many volunteers who fought for freedom during the war.

19. Stone walls

Old walls of coral stones can be found in Barangay Basak and San Sebastian. The stone walls or old stone structures are located just near the San Sebastian Parish Church. This may be the reason why this barangay is popularly known as “Bato,” meaning “stone.”

In Basak, locals believe the stone structure is what remains of the old cemetery fence since a graveyard used to exist on the other side of the wall.

To get a handy guide to the town, download the Samboan mobile app guide at Google Play.

(Photos provided by Smart Communications, Inc. and Irwin Gamallo of Samboan.)

You may be interested

Marlen Limpag

Marlen is the editor of MyCebu.ph and co-founder of Cebu-based journalism startup InnoPub Media. More by Marlen Limpag

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .

New tourism slogan draws mixed reactions

The new slogan of the Department of Tourism “Love the Philippines.” (Photo from the Facebook page of the DOT)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ new tourism slogan has drawn mixed reactions from local business groups, with some of them loving the new catchphrase while others expressing reservations about the tagline not being catchy enough.

Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa) president Fe Abling-Yu on Wednesday told the Inquirer that the “Love the Philippines” slogan, which was unveiled on Tuesday during the Department of Tourism ’s (DOT’s) belated 50th anniversary celebration, was “good enough” and can afford the country enough leverage in the tourism industry.

“You can never go wrong with the word ‘love.’ It indicates love for the country, love for the people, love for our beaches and love for our cuisine,” Abling-Yu said in a phone interview.

Room for improvement

But the Philtoa official said there is room for improvement and that tourism officials can still tweak it in the future to be “catchier and have better name recall.”

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Professionals Association also received it positively, citing that their members like the new three-word marketing line.

“It’s candid, simple, and easy to recall. We will support DOT’s new campaign,” the association said in a statement.

Not impressed

Sought for comment, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Ebb Hinchcliffe said: “I haven’t seen an ad yet, so I’m not sure what context it is being used [in]. At first glance, it’s not catchy enough. However, it is time to move on. Let’s give this one a try and let’s help it be successful.”

But Albay Rep. Joey Salceda called out Tourism Secretary Christine Frasco for the seeming lack of “love” for Albay and the Bicol region.

“Dear Secretary Frasco — why no Mayon in DOT Love the Philippines? And the whale shark most likely in Oslob, Cebu, so no Bicol?” Salceda said.

RELATED STORIES

‘catchy and easy to recall’ – ex-tourism chief gordon on new dot slogan, tourism ad just start of campaign; albay will get turn in spotlight – frasco to salceda, give ‘love the philippines’ slogan a chance, escudero urges public.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

News that matters

Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER

© copyright 1997-2024 inquirer.net | all rights reserved.

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.

Why Do We Care So Much About Our Tourism Slogans?

A nother day, another tourism slogan. In late June, the Department of Tourism unveiled a brand new battlecry for the country’s perpetual campaign to lure in more visitors to spend their money here. As always, instant marketing, branding, and tourism "professionals"—as well as casual commentators—all rose out of the woodwork that is the internet to have their say. 

There are those who love the simplicity of "Love the Philippines"—a direct, no-nonsense expression of devotion for a country that has so much to offer. But there are the critics turned off by the seemingly blunt, desperate plea to solicit affection. A simple punctuation mark, some have argued, would’ve vastly improved the copy, and it hasn’t helped the cause of the DOT that certain images from the promotional video that was launched alongside the new slogan were apparently—gasp!—shot in countries that were certainly not here in the Philippines.

What Happened to the Titan Submersible Is Sad. But How Some People Reacted Is Revolting

Opinion: Magkano Ka Ba, Bakla? Examining Queer Pride and Corporate Profits

There were other issues attached to the new slogan: a supposedly inflated budget, questionable visuals used in the logo, and why there was a need to change the slogan in the first place from one that was (relatively) popular and worked quite well. From the perspective of a cultural spectator, it seemed about right. It wouldn’t be a tourism slogan launch without a little (or a lot of) controversy.

This begs the question: why exactly are many of us so invested each time the powers-that-be take it upon themselves to scrap the previous campaign, start fresh, and launch a brand-new tourism rallying cry? Why are these branding and advertising refreshes such a big deal?

There’s the obvious reason, of course, which is that most Filipinos feel directly impacted by the campaign by virtue of their being Filipino. A new slogan reflects not just on the government and people working in the tourism industry—hotel and restaurant staff, airlines and tour operators, resort staff and guides—but all of us with friends and loved ones abroad, and even ourselves making plans to discover more of our homeland. The slogan amplifies how we communicate our love and fondness for our country and so we naturally have things to say, whether for or against, each time there’s a slogan reboot.

But I suspect it’s something more. The DOT may claim otherwise, but a new tourism slogan and campaign is a tacit admission that the old one isn’t working, or, at the very least, that it needs an update. Tens of millions of pesos are poured onto multi-media, multi-year campaigns like this, so of course the government would like to ensure that it goes beyond mere awareness into tangible returns. And for a country like the Philippines—a perceived tourism powerhouse based on numerous international awards and citations, not to mention a general reputation as a place blessed with abundant natural resources and stunning geography—the question is why that doesn’t exactly translate into concrete numbers. 

In ASEAN, Thailand is the runaway winner, recording nearly 40 million (39.8 million) tourist arrivals in 2019. Malaysia came in second with 20.1 million, followed by Vietnam with 18 million. Tiny Singapore managed 15.9 million, with Indonesia rounding out the Top 5 with 13.6 million.

The Philippines came in sixth with about half of Indonesia’s numbers: about 8.2 million tourists. Cambodia (6.7 million), Myanmar (4.3 million), Laos (3.4 million), and Brunei Darussalam (213,000) follow. 

The pandemic, of course, upended global travel, but 2022 marked a vast improvement in tourism arrivals compared to the two previous years. Thailand still led with 11.2 million inbound tourists, Malaysia with about 10 million, Singapore with 6.3 million, Indonesia with 5.5 million, and the Philippines at two million.

One can’t help but wonder, then, that for all its breathtaking natural beauty—our pristine beaches, our mountain hideways, our colorful festivals, our mouthwatering cuisine, and our much-vaunted Filipino hospitality— why the Philippines can’t seem to punch above its weight in terms of getting more tourists to come.

Could it be that so much attention and emphasis are heaped on these tourism slogan changes that we forget that there are numerous other factors to consider if we want to increase tourist arrivals to our shores? Tens of millions of pesos are spent on generating ideas to get people to come; how much have we spent on improving the overall experience of our guests once they get here?

This isn’t a dig at the DOT and the other government agencies who we’re sure are working tirelessly to elevate the entire tourism industry. And people have every right to criticize and complain when public funds are used on a campaign that ends up not just being substandard but downright sloppy. But there are many other factors beyond slogans and marketing campaigns that contribute to tourism arrivals that we can work on and maybe we should start turning our attention on those, like further developing some of the country’s culturally important sights and attractions, enhancing tourism support infrastructure and accessibility, strengthening the country’s economy, and many others.

The way people are seemingly obsessed with tourism slogan changes, you’d think they actually believe they’re wholly and exclusively responsible for drawing visitors in. Just over the last 20 or so years, we’ve had no less than seven tourism slogans, almost all of which were cooked up by a new administration, no doubt eager to show off what it can do. We’re no tourism or marketing professional, but we’ve always believed that a message of simplicity and consistency would trump one of novelty any day.

Perhaps it’s time our tourism leaders got to work crafting a creative, coherent slogan—one that communicates how much we are all proud of where we are and what we have—sell the hell out of it to us and to the rest of the world, and work on all of the other things that would make us truly, finally love the Philippines the way she deserves to be loved.