Thousands of people flocked to Lapu-Lapu City’s beaches including Mandaue City’s coastal areas to celebrate Easter Sunday.
Upscale beach resorts like Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in barangay Punta Engaño were fully booked.
“We are filled to capacity, that’s 407 rooms occupied.” said Cassandra Cuevas, Shangri-La Mactan’s communications officer.
Eric Monsanto, communications officer of Maribago Blue Water Resort, said domestic and foreign tourists including walk-ins or day tour guests who flocked to their place to spend the holiday.
Many city residents in mainland Cebu also favor Mactan beaches during the Holy Week if they can’t go farther out of town to swim, hire a banca for island hopping, scuba diving and other recreational activities.
Simplicio Gilig Jr., diveshop and boating services operator, said many tourists booked in advance.
In Mandaue City, families who can’t afford a pricey resort went to “Pajara”, the public park beneath the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to hold picnics and swim in the Mactan Channel despite the strong current and muddy waters.
“It’s nice to spend Easter here because of the cool sea breeze,” said Benigna Jugan, a 65-year-old resident of Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.
Most of the park goers come from neighborhods in Mandaue City. Policemen were kept busy on patrols to prevent any drinking session from getting rowdy. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza