Category: Shopping in Cebu

Online shopping is often described as convenient and easy. But though adding items to your cart is hassle-free, the logistics aspect can be nerve-racking.

We escape traffic by shopping online, but our orders will most likely get stuck in transit anyway. So, let me say this upfront, you’ll need some patience when expecting a package.

Basically, there are four segments in your shipment’s journey:

• Pick-up (first mile)
• Transfer and Transit (e.g. from Manila hub to Cebu hub)
• Sorting (at the courier’s local hub)
• Last-Mile Delivery.

The first mile, transit, and delivery segments are susceptible to delays. Simply because they are subject to weather disturbance, traffic, and human error.

You might also want to read Best Free Online Payment Methods in the Philippines

How long will your parcel arrive?

It really depends on the courier. But, generally, here are the acceptable timeframes for deliveries:

• Within Cebu: 1-2 working days
• Outside of Cebu: 3-7 working days
• International orders: 12-15 working days.

Saturdays are counted as a working day, Sundays aren’t. So weekend deliveries may take longer.

Usually, the delivery schedule will be shown after you check out and confirm your order. To avoid disappointment, expect the latest delivery schedule. If it goes beyond the latest date, you should follow up with the seller to help track your order. Sometimes, the courier’s parcel tracking system isn’t updated accordingly or doesn’t work at all. Contacting the courier is also an option, but it may take some time to get a reply. Couriers here are notorious for their unresponsive customer service.

How does the courier find you

Most delivery drivers will call or text to inform you they’ll be delivering your package within the day. They will usually ask whether you are available to receive the item or who can receive it on your behalf.

Landmarks

If you haven’t already specified a landmark in your order form, give one to your delivery guy during the call. Additional instructions are welcome. If you have to walk to the agreed location, ask the courier to give you a call when they’re near. They would usually wait for you for a few minutes. Be ready.

Receive notification text

Most new couriers, like Ninja Van, XPost and Entrego, use an automated SMS notification system upon dispatch of your delivery. That means your parcel has arrived at their Cebu hub and is on the way to your doorstep! 

The SMS from Ninja Van includes a shortcode referring to the courier, the seller and your order number. It’s good to have this info when you’re expecting multiple parcels. Later, the delivery guy will contact you to ask whether you’re available to receive your package. Perhaps I’m a little biased, but I personally like Ninja Van because they’re always reliable and courteous.

The delivery driver texts/calls you

Other couriers, including LBC Express, J&T Express, and JRS Express, do not send automated text alerts. But the drivers will call or text you ahead of time.  

If you’re not at your specified delivery address, just inform them and they will try to drop by your location if it’s on their route for the day. Otherwise, they will ask to attempt the delivery the next day. Or if you have someone at home, you can tell them about the delivery and leave the payment with them (if it’s COD, of course).

A few more notes

Parcels will be sent back to the seller after 2 or 3 failed delivery attempts. 

If it happens, then you’re just going to have to contact the seller and work out how to get a refund. Or, you’ll need to reorder the item. 

In some cases, though, it is the courier’s fault. Rogue drivers are common and sometimes are to blame for damaged parcels or missing items. 

Here’s a ranking of local couriers in the Philippines. Check it out so you know which courier to choose if you are given the options by the seller.  

Just remember, every courier will have mixed reviews.

Looking for a place to rent in Cebu. Check out our article on How to find a place to rent in Cebu.

Check out the map of where to buy pasalubong in Cebu. Find out below what souvenirs—or pasalubong in the local dialect—you might want to get, from the tasty to the wearable.

Do you like collecting mementos for your trip? Or maybe you bringing gifts back home to your friends? Good news: Cebu has all sorts of souvenirs to offer you! 

LEGEND: Blue indicates tasty pasalubong and where you can buy them. Green indicates places where you can buy wearable/lifestyle souvenirs.

NOTE:  You can also buy pasalubong and souvenirs at the airport.

Wearables/Lifestyle

You’ll find these in most souvenir shops in malls, pasalubong centers, and ports:

Handmade accessories

Wherever you go in Cebu, there will be an accessories shop or borloloyan nearby. These shops are usually owned by local entrepreneurs. They like to spoil you with assorted fashion choices – native bracelets, beaded necklaces, pearl earrings, handcrafted purses, abaca (jute) hats, coconut shell bags, and more! They’re very affordable – prices start at PHP 10 ($ 0.19). But if you buy in bulk, you may expect a discount or an extra piece in your bag.

T-Shirts

Souvenir shirts are a big thing in the country. From the iconic “I Love Cebu” design, many local artists have gone on to create cool graphics you’d love to wear. You can even have your souvenir shirts personalized.

Cebu shirts are especially popular during the Sinulog Festival, where locals and tourists would have the sleeves and hem torn into fringes for a more festive look. Prices start at PHP 100 (USD 1.92).

You might also want to read Best Free Online Payment Methods in the Philippines

Home decor

Want something that showcases the culture and artistry of Cebuanos? Take home unique pieces of handcrafted home decoration and accessories. You’ll find everything from woven abaca rugs to shell lamps and wooden sculptures.

Keychains

The quintessential souvenir, keychains are a great choice when you want something cheaper and less bulky. Depending on where you visit, you can get keychains in all kinds of shapes and designs – a thresher shark (Malapascua Island), a small guitar (Lapu-lapu), a whale shark (Oslob), etc.

Where to Buy Wearables or Lifestyle Souvenirs

Kultura Filipino

Found in SM Malls, Kultura shops carry high-end Filipino clothing, accessories, and home decor.

Islands Souvenirs

Your go-to for Cebu souvenir shirts. In addition to apparel, they now also sell food products, chocolates, toys for kids, and travel accessories. They have a standalone shop in P. Burgos St. as well as branches inside Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu. They offer personalization and more shirt designs than other similar shops.

Colon

The oldest street in Metro Cebu is lined with shops selling everything from furniture to souvenir items. You can buy food pasalubong, keychains, shirts and home accessories for a fraction of the mall price.

Mactan Shrine

When visiting this tourist attraction, do check out the surrounding souvenir stalls. The items they sell are pretty much the same as what you’ll find in malls. Selling crafts is their source of living, so we recommend buying directly from these stalls.

Want to buy T-shirt? Here are some well-designed T-shirt, great for souvenirs. 

String Instruments

Cebu is known for many things, including world-class guitars and ukuleles. And, yes, people actually buy these as souvenir items because they’re high quality but still affordable.

Guitar

You can find handmade guitars in souvenir shops around Lapu-lapu City, hailed as the ‘Guitar Capital of the Philippines.’ Many tourists would visit some of the most popular manufacturers in the area for a sneak peek of their guitar-making process:

• Jerry’s Guitar – They use the best quality wood for superb sound quality, and they can even install acoustics for your guitar. The shop is located at Pajac-Maribago Road, Lapu-lapu City
• Alegre Guitar Factory – They use locally sourced wood and shell ornaments for decoration. The shop is located at Pajac-Maribago Road as well.
• Guitar Master – This one’s for those on a tight budget. The shop is located at M.L. Quezon National Highway, Lapu-lapu, Cebu
• Inday Celia’s Guitar Factory – Sells an array of string instruments, including ovation guitars. Find them at Pajo Road, Mactan, Lapu-lapu City.

Ukulele

Aside from guitars, Cebu’s handcrafted ukuleles do not escape the eyes of tourists. Their exceptional quality and customized design always seals the deal.  

Where to buy them:

• UkeCebu Ukulele Shop. Here, you’ll find a selection of 100-percent handcrafted ukuleles for beginners and advanced players. They offer design customization and name engraving, too. Located at Door 3, MLSRDC Apartment, P. Remedios St., Pine Tree Banilad.
• Uke Hub Kafe. The first uke-themed cafe in Cebu, Uke Hub Kafe offers good coffee, music, and ukuleles for anyone who’s looking to buy. Check them out at Stall 3 Mactan Arcade, Matumbo-Pusok Rd., Lapu-lapu City.

Read this next: Cebu North Bus Terminal

Tasty Pasalubong that Everyone Loves

Have to bring something? Can’t go wrong with food! So, what food can you bring? Boy, there is a lot to choose from. But of course when it comes to Cebu, it all starts with Mangos.

Dried Mangoes

This one’s always on top of the list of pasalubongs (bring-home gifts) from the Queen City of the South. You can find this delicacy anywhere in the Philippines, but nothing beats the world-famous dried mangoes of Cebu. It’s so famous that the makers have created all sorts of dried mango snacks – dried ripe mango, dried green mango, chocolate-coated dried mangoes, spicy peanuts with dried mango bits, and tamarind mango candy.

Otap

Otap is an oval-shaped puff pastry usually made from flour, shortening, coconut, and sugar. It’s light, flaky, and crunchy, with a hint of sweetness from the saccharine coating and sprinkled sugar on top. Best eaten on its own or with your afternoon cup of coffee.

Masareal

Never heard of it? Well, now’s your chance to get acquainted with this sweet, nutty treat. Masareal is basically a concoction of finely ground peanuts, water/milk, and sugar, made into rectangular bars and wrapped in paper.

Rosquillos

These biscuits look like flat, scalloped-edged donuts, hence the name rosquillos which comes from the Spanish for ringlet, rosca. The well-guarded recipe has been passed down to four generations of the Frasco family of Liloan. The taste of rosquillos is as rich as its history. It is said that, in 1907, President Sergio Osmena Sr. gave the then-nameless treat its name.

Danggit

Cebuanos love to eat it for breakfast along with sinangag (garlic fried rice) and sunny-side up eggs. Danggit is dried rabbitfish that’s split open and salted to perfection.  It takes a little getting used to the fishy smell. But once it’s cooked, the aroma is a welcome treat. If you’re going to bring some on the flight home, you’ll have to buy the vacuum-sealed ones. Otherwise, prepare to pack your danggit in multiple layers of newspaper and boxes. If you’re keen on buying tons of dried fish, the best place to go is Taboan.

Chicharon

Pork crackling, locally called chicharon, is an addictive snack. It’s savory, crunchy, and super tasty – especially when dipped in vinegar or chilli sauce. Chicharon is made of boiled pork rinds, air-dried then fried in hot oil. You’ll find the best kind in Carcar City, a little south of Metro Cebu.

Read this article next: Ways to get from / to Mactan Airport – Cebu City.

Where to Buy Food Pasalubong in Cebu

Most food gifts are sold in supermarkets. But if you have time we recommend buying them straight from the manufacturer’s place where you can usually get a fresher package and lower price.

Shamrock Pasalubong Center

 The first place tourists go to get their stash of Cebuano food and delicacies. Their prices are generally cheaper than in supermarkets and other outlets.

• Locations: 1) Corner V. Gullas and Mabini Sts., Cebu City; 2) Fuente Osmeña Circle; 3) Don Gil Garcia Street in Capitol; 4) National Highway, Barili in south Cebu

Islands Pasalubong

In addition to dried mangoes, chicharon and otap, Islands Pasalubong also stocks native snacks like puto, biko, fresh lumpia, and ensaymada in their Pinoy Deli section. Their flagship store can be found at Magallanes St. in front of the Sto. Niño Church. They have five other branches.

• Locations: 1) Salinas Drive, Lahug across Golden Cowrie; 2) Molave St. across Ayala Center Cebu; 3) Raintree Mall at Gen. Maxilom Ave.; 4) Marina Mall in Pusok, Lapu-lapu; 5) Punta Engaño in Lapu-lapu

Titay’s

Titay’s is another household name when it comes to pasalubong items from Cebu. Famous for quality home-baked goodies, the 112-year old brand is the original maker of rosquillos. Now, their product selection includes torta, peñato, ensaymada, and assorted breads and pastries. They produce an average 360,000 rosquillos a day!

• Location: Danao Rd., Liloan City, Cebu

Profood Gallery

A dried mango store/museum owned and managed by the biggest manufacturer in Cebu, Profood International Corporation. Aside from getting the freshest batch of dried mangoes, you can book a tour for some dibs on the local mango industry. Profood products are sold under different brands, namely, Cebu Brand, Philippine Brand, Happy, and Grace.

• Location: Maguikay Highway, Mandaue City

7D Food International, Inc

The award-winning manufacturer is best known for their export-quality dried mangoes. 

• Location: Sacris Road. A.S. Fortuna Street., Mandaue City

Camiluz Enterprises

hey made chocolate-coated dried mangoes popular. But they also sell the original variety.

• Location: 787 Happy Valley Road, Cebu City

Carbon

Carbon is Cebu City’s public market. Everything around here is jaw-droppingly cheap, which explains the huge crowd. You can find all sorts of handcrafted goods and delicacies here, so prepare for a shopping spree. Also, keep a tight grip on your pocket – the place is susceptible to petty thefts and small robberies.

Map of Where to Buy Pasalubong in Cebu

Read this article next: Cebu South Bus Terminal.

Online shopping is a growing trend in the Philippines, be it with Shopee, Lazada, Zalora or your niche Facebook group. Shopping keeps getting more convenient as e-commerce sites continue to add more payment methods for a hassle-free shopping experience. Speaking of which, what payment method works best for peso transactions? 

Online payment options:

Cash on Delivery (COD)

Cash on delivery minimizes the risk of fraud. This is why it’s the top payment method among Filipino online shoppers. 

Even if the seller is legit and trustworthy, sometimes there can be problems on the logistics side. Incomplete or lost packages are not uncommon. So if your package doesn’t reach your doorstep within the delivery schedule, you have no worries about getting your money back.

More than 80% of local merchants offer this payment option, according to the State of eCommerce in Southeast Asia 2017 published by the Malaysia-based iPrice Group. So if COD is an option, definitely go for it. 

Deliveries within the metro usually take 1-2 days, while deliveries to other provinces take 5-7 working days. International shipping can take up to a couple of weeks. Couriers like 2Go and Ninjavan usually give you a heads-up that a delivery is coming your way. That way, you can prepare the cash and be at the specified address at the time of delivery.

You might also want to read Best Free Online Payment Methods in the Philippines

Payment center

All major malls feature payment centers, where you can pay your bills including your online shopping orders. Of course, this requires you to go to a mall and be there during opening hours.

Over-the-counter bank deposit

If your bank’s online banking facility is acting up (as they sometimes do), you can do a direct deposit to pay for your order. Then, you will usually need to send the merchant a photo of your bank receipt as proof of payment. It’s a bit of a hassle since banks close early in the day. And while most banks don’t have lunch breaks, there’s usually a queue around that time.

These three modes of payment require you to go or be somewhere at a specific time. And that defeats the purpose of online shopping: the point is to do it from home when you want, right? That’s why we’ll now look at modes of payment that you can do online or that are at least pretty flexible with their time.

Bank transfer

Make use of your bank’s online banking facility – it’s fast and easy. Plus, the funds are transferred in real time. So you can have your order shipped faster. 

Tip: After processing the fund transfer, take a screenshot of the acknowledgement receipt. The seller will likely ask you to send them a copy for confirmation before they proceed to shipping.

Credit/Debit card

Credit cards offer a two-layer protection against online scams, thanks to 24-hour fraud monitoring services and the chip card technology (EMV) upgrade. 

 It’s the ideal way to pay. But many Filipinos don’t use it unless they’re paying installments. When using your credit card to shop online, be sure to check the website’s secure payment systems first. 

If you are using BDO, BPI or Metrobank, consider availing of their virtual card, i.e. the BPI eCredit, BDO Virtual Card, or Metrobank ON Internet Mastercard. These cards have different numbers from your physical credit card. So you have another layer of protection against fraud.

E-wallets: Smart Money, GCash, Coins.ph, PayMaya

Virtual wallets simplify the process of refunds and point redemption, like in Lazada and Shopee. The latter runs in-app games which allow you to accumulate virtual coins as a reward. Then, the points can be used to offset the price of future purchases. 

Major telco companies also offer e-wallet services. There’s Smart Money provided by PLDT and GCash by Globe Telecoms. Here are their service fees:

• Smart Money
  • Php 120 (US$2.32) – one-time fee upon creating an account
  • Php 2.50 (US$0.05) – fee for every online purchase
• GCash
  • Php 50 (US$0.97) monthly charge

Trading platform Coins.ph also serves as an e-wallet, for Pesos but also for bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies. You can use this service on top of daily deal sites like CashCashPinoy and Metrodeal.

PayMaya is a mode of payment for online shopping whose biggest feature is the PayMaya card—a virtual debit Mastercard. You have it only on your phone, so you cannot use it to “swipe”, but you can use it to pay online—note though that these types of cards are not accepted everywhere. Apart from that PayMaya offers various payment products for load and bills, similar to coins.ph.

7 Connect

You won’t have trouble finding a 7 Eleven store in major cities like Cebu. If you don’t have a credit card, 7 Connect is a good alternative payment method. Or if you don’t have time to go to the bank, any 7 Eleven branch will accept your payment at any time. The only drawback is not a lot of online sellers are utilizing this payment method at present.

Payment Gateways Philippines

Dragonpay

Hundreds of merchants have integrated Dragonpay into their virtual shops. By doing so, their customers can pay online (via PayPal or banks), over the counter (via partner banks and payment centers), or using an ATM. The fees are shouldered by the merchant, so buyers only need to pay the item plus shipping.

Is it safe? Yes. Dragonpay uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to protect your online banking data. It’s the same tech used by all financial institutions worldwide. 

How it works:

1. After confirming your order, you will be given an email or SMS instruction. It’s pretty straightforward.
2. If you go to a remittance center, you simply need to fill out a payment form using the details in the email instructions.
3. You’ll receive a text confirmation once payment is done. Dragonpay will process your payment the following day. But some sellers will ask you to take a photo of the receipt and send a copy to them so they can ship your items immediately.

Need cash? Check out our page about withdrawal limits for ATMs in Cebu.

Juanpay

JuanPay is a Cebu-based startup offering an alternative payment gateway for ecommerce merchants in PH. As the “PayPal alternative for Pinoys,” it allows users to pay through credit cards, online banking, and OTC deposits. It also supports e-wallet payments via Smart Money and GCash.

Pesopay

Operated by e-payment service provider AsiaPay, PesoPay caters solely to merchants and consumers in the Philippines. It allows you to make payments via credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and JCB), online fund transfers (Bancnet), OTC bank transfers (RCBC and BDO), PayPal, and physical payment centers. 

PayEasy

Accepts payments via major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB), PayPal, online banking (Bancnet and MegaLInk), e-wallets (Gcash and Smart Money), and direct debit from banks. It shares the same OTC payments as Dragonpay.

weepay

Accepts online payments from all banks through ATM consortia Bancnet and MegaLink, as well as GCash payments.

Where to shop online:

Below are the big players in the country’s fast-growing ecommerce landscape.

Lazada

Lazada is the most preferred ecommerce site for Filipinos, especially around Christmas when prices are the lowest. Health and beaty products, baby items, and electronics are its best sellers. The product selection is extensive and they host a sale every so often. They also offer buyer protection. 

The catch: shipping fees are unreasonable sometimes. Depending on where the item is coming from, you could pay more for the delivery than for the item itself. 

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery
• Lazada E-Wallet
• Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JBC)
• PayPal

Shopee

The site is teeming with buy-and-sell merchants offering bargain prices on items you won’t typically find in local shops. It’s Lazada’s closest competitor site. My personal observation is that Shopee has more product options especially for novelty goods from Korea and China. Prices and shipping fees are generally cheaper, too.  

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery
• Shopee Wallet
• Globe GCash
• Credit and debit cards (Visa or Mastercard)
• Online fund transfer (BPI, Metrobank, Landbank, and RCBC)
• ATM bank transfer (BDO, BPI, and Metrobank)
• Over the counter (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, EastWest Bank, Chinabank, Landbank, Security Bank, PNB, RCBC, and UCPB)
• Bills payment and remittance centers (7-Eleven CLIQQ, Bayad Center, SM Bills Payment, EC Pay, Robinsons Department Store, Palawan Express, M Lhullier, and LBC)

Zalora

It’s the top online fashion destination in Southeast Asia, and for good reasons. Their customer service is superb. And they allow you to return an item if the size, color, or style doesn’t suit you – or if you simply changed your mind. Zalora also stocks some of the newest releases or collections from your favourite brands.

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery
• PayPal
• GCash
• Credit and debit cards (Visa or Mastercard)
• E-gift card or Wallet Credit

Kimstore

If you’re looking for brand-new tech gear, gadgets and electronics, this is your go-to. Kimstore has an online fan base of over 2 million mainly because of their pocket-friendly prices. 

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery
• Bank deposit
• Remittance centers: Cebuana Lhuillier and M Lhullier (with Php 25 service charge)

Poundit

Poundit.com has a well-curated selection of mobile gadgets and electronics from popular brands like Apple, Sony, Samsung, Xiaomi, etc. People rave about the speedy delivery and superior product quality.

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery
• Bank deposit (BDO, PNB, and UCPB)
• Online fund transfer (BDO, PNB, UCPB, and Unionbank)
• Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express)
• ATM bank transfer (Bancnet ATMS)
• GCash
• Bills payment and remittance centers (7-Eleven CLIQQ, Bayad Center, M Lhullier, EC Pay, and Direct Agent 5)

BeautyMNL

Perhaps the best place to shop for all things beauty. BeautyMNL has an assortment of cosmetics, skincare, haircare, health, and fitness products from local and international brands – and at low prices, too.

Payment options:

• Cash on delivery (for Metro Manila and select provinces with purchases below Php 5,000)
• PayPal
• Credit card
• Over-the-counter bank transfer and online fund transfer: BPI, BDO, and Metrobank

Carousel (formerly OLX)

Carousel is a buy and sell community for second-hand items. Here you’ll find anything from used cars to home furniture and gadgets. You can even search for a house or condo to rent or buy. The payment method depends per listing, but you can negotiate with the seller for a more convenient option.

Make online shopping simpler by checking how each online payment methods work. It’s worth your time and effort.