The answer is there are lots of things to see and do on Cebu and its islands. Hotels in Cebu during high season should be pre-booked and beach frontage is a popular choice!

In no particular order they are as follows:

● Magellan's Cross, Lapu Lapu Monument and Cebu Cathedral

After the Spanish arrived, the Philippines rapidly became converted to Catholicism, but not without a struggle. The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan (of Straits fame) first landed on Cebu in 1521 and planted a cross on the beach as a symbolic act of piety. This cross was eventually inserted into another cross that is now kept safe in Cebu's Basilica Minor del Santo, and today it is a very important and sacred symbol of the Filipinos' faith and history. Magellan then decided to cross over to Mactan Island with the idea of converting more of the natives but was instead killed on landing by the island's chieftain, Lapu Lapu. To commemorate these bloody events in Filipino history, a monument has been set up on the spot where Magellan died. The site is today attractively landscaped and has several restaurants worth trying for fresh seafood.

● Taoist Temple

Although the Spanish and their Catholic faith have provided the main background to Filipino history, there have been other religious influences such as Islam in the south. One group who have made their presence felt around much of the Pacific are the Chinese, and they retain a strong grip on their cultural traditions. The interesting Taoist Temple in downtown Cebu clearly demonstrates this. Its 81 steps stand for the 81 chapters in Taoism scripture, and make for a steep climb in the tropical heat.

● Warm sea, silver sand and glorious sunshine

These traditional delights must be what most visitors come here to experience, and who can blame them? With its 167 companion islands, Cebu has become a tourism hotspot for the Philippines. Although June to October can be rather rainy, the temperatures remain balmy and the months of January to April enjoy mostly dry weather.

The clear waters make these islands a paradise for scuba diving, offering clear views of a diversity of marine life including black coral and sea snakes. Most visitors stay on Macatan Island, which is connected to Cebu via a bridge, while Macatan is probably the best location for diving. However, many visitors need an occasional break from the beach life, not least to escape the tropical sun for a while, and there are a number of interesting places to visit here. The focal point of today's Catholic faith on these islands is the splendid Cebu Cathedral. It started life as a very modest bamboo and wood barn in 1591, but gradually grew to become an impressive building which provides a welcome retreat from the heat and bustle of the world outside. Resorts in Cebu on the beach are by far the most popular.

● Tops

When you tire of visiting all these historical and religious sites, why not try escaping to the appropriately named Tops, with outstanding vistas of Cebu city and its necklace of islands? At 2000 feet, the tropical air is cooler here but make sure you have good transport for the steep climb.