Press Releases
May
Top 6 Free Things to Do in Cebu
Cebu, the Queen City of the South, is oozing with history, culture, and sights. You won’t need to spend much—or don’t even have to spend at all for a 360-degree experience of the place. Besides, who doesn’t love free things? Here are 6 free things to do and places to visit in Cebu that won’t put a huge dent on your budget. 1. Stroll and take in the scene for free in Cebu Parks and natural spaces are essential to every city. They are the fresh and green lungs that allow locals and tourists to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of city life. The island is adorned with both stunning land and seascapes. This makes Cebu home to different public areas with scenic views open to the community. These are just some of the spots where you can take in the peace and quiet—no entrance fee required. Senior Citizens’ Park One of the great things about Cebu is how much the locals still respect and care for the elderly. The Senior Citizens’ Park, opened to the public in 2012, can be found right across Cebu City Hall. The park is covered in green grass and lined with several trees. Its layout was inspired by Cebu’s famed Fuente Osmeña Circle with walk paths radiating from the statue at the center. Take an afternoon off from adventuring! Sit in silence, or read a book under the shade of trees with the sweet music of the waves in the background. After all, it’s only a park named after senior citizens; anyone is free to come. Golden Haven Memorial Park Could sound a little weird, but yes, you read that right – a memorial park. Despite it being a cemetery, Golden Haven Memorial Park Cebu is known to be one of the most breathtaking parks in the city. At Golden Haven, people are free to sit, stroll, or jog around lush greenery. Within the park are several awesome photo spots to visit as well. The open butterfly garden, koi pond, and fountain area are just some of the park landmarks definitely worth exploring. Moreover, because the park stands on top of a hill, the view is spectacular. Golden Haven Memorial Park Cebu is the perfect resting place—even for the living. Location: Binaliw Rd, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu, Philippines – VIEW MAP Contact: +63 32 346 7847 | Website Hours: Monday to Friday from 9AM to 8PM (closed Saturday and Sunday) SRP Baywalk South Road Properties is a reclaimed area containing different commercial developments. Aside from shopping malls, locals and tourists alike frequent the baywalk for the sea breeze and ocean view. Regardless of the sun being too hot or the clouds being dark, you can enjoy the peaceful sound of the waves sitting on the benches under the covered walkway. And at the end of a long day—whoever you’re with—watch the colors of the sky change as the sun sets on the horizon. 2. Free nature watching in Cebu The Philippines is blessed with various flora and fauna. While there are places and tours one can get up close and personal with exotic species, there’s really no need to spend anything to spot some of the local wildlife. Birdwatching is an activity totally free of charge. Plus points for you if you own a pair of binoculars. If you have left your bins at home, do not worry – just sit at a comfortable distance near trees or flowering plants early in the morning or during golden hour, and wait. Some birds…
May
Celebrating Sustainable Tourism: LoveBoracay
The famous island of Boracay boasts a 4 kilometer stretch of postcard-ready white sand beach and crystal clear blue waters. On top of that, it is home to one of the world’s best sunsets best enjoyed while sailing on a paraw or while enjoying an ice-cold beer at a beach bar. Aside from being a picture-perfect destination for honeymooners and backpackers alike, Boracay Island has been a famous party destination for both foreign and domestic travelers. From small bars by the boulevard with live music to epic electronic dance music beachfront parties, the island has been everyone’s go-to vacation spot to party until its 6-month closure on April 26, 2018. Interestingly enough, it was closed for rehabilitation just before LaBoracay, one of the island’s biggest (if not the biggest) celebration year after year. What is LaBoracay? “LaBoracay” (born from the combination of “Labor Day” and “Boracay”) started in 2012 when tourists, both foreign and domestic, started coming to the island during the Labor Day weekend. Funnily enough, it was a group of university students, not employees, who started coming to the island to celebrate this particular holiday. It started small with groups of young travelers partying on the beach and just merely having a grand time. The year after, following the surge in the number of tourists visiting the world-famous island on this holiday, various resorts and promoters have started organizing beachfront events and concerts, bringing in world-class talents from both the Philippines and abroad. From then on, year after year after year, the event has gotten bigger and bigger with more and more people coming over to experience the famous LaBoracay party. It has proven itself to be an established event, even dubbed as the “only” time to visit the island. The Boracay Closure While tourism is good, it is always a double-edged sword. The island did not enjoy proper urban planning since its rise in popularity, neither did many establishments adhere to the rules imposed by the government with regard to waste management and waste water treatment. Unfortunately, business owners never made this as a priority either. This has been the situation for many years, with many businesses failing (or rather skipping) to comply with the rules and regulations imposed by various local government units. The island has been suffering and a rehabilitation effort had to happen. In 2018, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called Boracay Island a “cesspool,” citing that it is the worst it has ever been and that it needs shutting down to allow the island to naturally rehabilitate. Filipinos initially thought this was one of the president’s jokes (as he is known for it). It is known that the country thrives so much on tourism; given that Boracay is one of the most visited islands with 2,000 new visitors every single day, the closure sounded impossible. True enough, however, the president’s perseverance took over and he has mandated the closure of the island for six months. This is to allow for its natural recuperation, as well as to give way to necessary updates on obsolete infrastructure. This happened on April 26, 2018, just before the biggest weekend on the island. Instead of LaBoracay, the island was closed to tourists and had a full-on extensive rehabilitation plan encompassing both public and private properties. This mainly included the improvement of roadside sewerage and drainage systems on the main throughways, ensuring the environmental compliance of restaurants and accommodation providers, and the installation of waste water management facilities. The New Boracay Six months later, a rebirth has happened. A ‘new’ Boracay was…
Apr
17 Facts About Plastic Pollution | Earth Day at Mad Monkey
You might not notice it in your every day life, but plastic pollution impacts every single person on the planet. Some feel the effects more than others, however, particularly those in lower-income countries. Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to learn a bit about this global problem, but we believe that #everydaySHOULDBEearthday! Here are some fast facts everybody should know about plastic pollution: 17 Things You Need to Know About Plastic Pollution 1. Only about 9% of plastic ever made has actually been recycled. 91% of plastic has been incinerated or gone into landfills or into our natural environment. -National Geographic 2. More than 9 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean each year. -National Geographic 3. The equivalent of a truckload of plastic enters the ocean every single minute. -Greenpeace 4. 40% of plastic produced is single-use packaging. -National Geographic 5. Almost 50% of all plastic ever created was made after the year 2000. -National Geographic 6. Plastic recycling rates are highest in Europe at 30%, China recycles 25%, and the United States recycles only 9% of its plastic trash. -National Geographic 7. Every minute, nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold around the world. -National Geographic 8. 500 million plastic straws are used DAILY in the United States — enough for straws to circle the world two times. -Greenpeace 9. Almost 2 million single-use plastic bags are used around the globe every minute. -Greenpeace 10. About 8% of the world’s oil production is used to create plastic. At the rate we’re going, it’s projected that this will rise to 20% by 2050. -National Geographic 11. Around 9 out of 10 seabirds, 1 out of 3 sea turtles, and more than half of whale and dolphin species have consumed plastic. -Greenpeace 12. High-income countries in Europe and North America have only 16% of the world’s population but produce a third of the world’s waste. -Greenpeace 13. Over 90% of worldwide waste is exported to lower-income countries that often lack sufficient waste management systems and facilities. -Greenpeace 14. The areas most impacted by plastic pollution are the coastlines and rivers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. -Greenpeace 15. At the rate we’re producing plastic and other waste, global waste will grow 70% by 2050. -Greenpeace 16. Not only does plastic waste contaminate the earth and ocean, but it clogs drains which results in floods, it causes respiratory issues when burned, and shortens animal lifespans when consumed. -The World Bank 17. The plastic we use degrades into “microplastics”, which are tiny particles that are nearly impossible to recover. These microplastics end up being ingested by animals, which people in turn consume. -The World Bank Earth Day 2019 at Mad Monkey Hostels For Earth Day 2019, Mad Monkey pledged to pick up 1409.5 pounds, thanks to our followers on Instagram! We posted a photo saying we would pick up one pound for every 5 Likes and 2 friends tagged, and you all sure delivered! We organized cleanups in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia with our staff, guests, and others in the local community. While we know that cleanups aren’t the solution to plastic pollution, we’d like to think that every bit of rubbish cleaned up results in fewer sea turtles, birds and other animals ingesting plastic bags, straws and other trash. What we’ve seen from our regular cleanups across Southeast Asia and Australia is that the biggest impact we…
Mar
20 Ways to be a Green Traveler Now: Instant Sustainable Tourism Guide
Okay so you’ve bought your reusable straw and stainless steel water bottle. You carry around a cute tote bag to do your shopping, and you make your own coffee at home rather than spend $7 at Starbucks every day. Maybe you’ve made the changes to be more environmentally-friendly in your everyday life, but are you taking the same measures when you travel to practice sustainable tourism? Take our quiz to find out how green of a traveller you are! Far too often when we travel, we don’t realize how wasteful we’re being. As cute as those travel shampoos are, it’s a massive waste of plastic. As convenient and cheap that private taxi might be, it’s far more environmentally friendly to rent a bicycle (and also heaps more fun). Mad Monkey was founded on the principles of social responsibility, and this includes being mindful of how we affect the environment at every destination we’re located. We’ve come up with the best environmentally-friendly tips so you can be the ultimate green traveller! 1. Pack Lightly – Green Travel Luggage We know you’ve heard it a million times but this isn’t just to save you money on baggage and overweight fees (although, these are bonuses as well). Remember that every extra kilo you pack is more fuel being used when you’re flying. Packing light also means you won’t be sweating your ass off dragging a giant suitcase around dirt roads and up dozens of flights of stairs. Less clothes also means it’ll be easier to pick out what to wear. Pack neutral colors and mix and match tops, bottoms and cardigans. Bring a few accessories to jazz up your outfit. 2. Use packing cubes – Green Traveler Tips Avoid using plastic bags when you pack and instead, invest in packing cubes! These babies are game-changers, trust us. Use them to separate your dirty clothes from your clean clothes to reduce the amount of times you’ll have to do laundry. 3. Use a reusable shopping bag – Sustainable Travel Tip Carry one around with you everywhere; not just when you’re grocery shopping. Use it when you’re clothes/souvenir/anything shopping to avoid plastic or even paper bags. 4. Drink from a reusable water bottle – Sustainable Travel Trend To Follow We all know plastic water bottles are super wasteful. Sometimes it’s the only option, but most of the time you’ll find that there are plenty of places to refill a bottle with clean, potable water. Aluminium water bottles are our personal favourite, as they’re lightweight, durable and easy to clean. Opt for the ones with the simple screw-top lid and avoid fancy sippy-cup types of tops that harbour bacteria (and will make you less inclined to use it). 5. Refill shampoo and conditioner bottles – Green Travel Tip Either buy some durable travel bottles (the cheap ones won’t last long and you’ll end up buying them fairly regularly, which defeats the purpose) or reuse travel-size containers. 6. Buy soap/shampoo bars – Reduce Plastic Waste Reusing shampoo and conditioner bottles is sadly still pretty wasteful, as you’re probably still getting your products from bigger plastic bottles. A more environmentally-friendly route to go is to get those shampoo bars that have gone viral. Not only are they plastic-free, but they’re lighter in weight, which means they’re cheaper to ship. They’re also usually without all those nasty chemicals that dry out your hair, as well. Seems like a win-win to us! 7. Opt for reusable cotton pads – Go Reusable …
Nov
The Top Coworking Spaces in Cebu
As with any Southeast Asian destination at this point in human history, coworking spaces in Cebu City are starting to boom. Finding a good coworking space in Cebu is not hard and there are sure to be more sprouting up over the next few years as the digital nomad trend continues and grows in numbers. Since we’ve now launched a Mad Monkey location in Cebu City, check out our coworking suggestions for our guests, prospective guests, or anyone traveling in Cebu City! In alphabetical order, here is our list of quality coworking spaces in Cebu City, Philippines. ASPACE Cebu As advertised by their own website, ASPACE Cebu is “coworking central, leading in coworking workspace for small teams, creative professionals, and startups.” Their space offers meeting rooms, lounge areas, and space big enough for groups of up to 20 people. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of space. Located at the Cebu City IT Park, getting to ASPACE is simple as it’s so central. They boast about super fast internet, a bar and pantry, parking, lounge space and “cozy corners”. Best for freelancers and small teams, you can find ASPACE at the location below. Location: Crossroads Cebu, Gov. Cuenco Ave., Kasambagan, Cebu City 6000, Philippines — VIEW MAP Contact: (+63 2) 542 7842 | Website Hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Saturday and Sunday) The Company Cebu Offering an artsy vibe while you work, The Company has a few different options for whatever fits you best. For as low as $7.50USD per day and $125USD per month, you join in the shared space work environment. If you’re looking for a dedicated space that you’ll be able to access 24/7, it only costs about $150USD per month. As expected, The Company has super fast wifi but it also allows for free parking, unlimited coffee, water, and tea, meeting rooms, and printer services. Location: Ground Floor, Building 4, JDN Square, P.Remedio Street, Mandaue City, 6014, Philippines — VIEW MAP Contact: (02) 384 2040 | Website Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., access to dedicated space 24/7 Headquarters Cebu (Coworking Cafe) Headquarters Cebu has a bit of a different vibe. As more of a study and chill or work and chill sort of area, HQ isn’t as professional of a feel and that’s exactly what it’s going for. A big differentiator for Headquarters Cebu is the fact that it’s open late — really late. Most coworking spaces close up shop around 7 or 8 p.m. while Headquarters Cebu is open till 4 a.m. every day of the week. Got a last minute paper or project to finish? Working a long night for a business proposal? Headquarters Cebu is the place to go. If this is something that’s really important to you, be sure to check out The Workplace Cafe Cebu mentioned below! They’re open late too! As they state on their Facebook page, Headquarters Cebu was a concept for an MBA thesis that was eventually turned into reality. Location: 3rd Floor CAIAA Building Vibo Place, Escario St., Cebu City, Philippines — VIEW MAP Contact: +63 917 701 8796 | Facebook Hours: Daily from 10 a.m to 4 a.m. iiOffice Cebu Most places don’t have a fully equipped kitchen. iiOffice Cebu does. In addition, iiOffice Cebu offers what you’d expect: conference/meeting rooms, printer services, and free coffee. An interesting offer that may or may not be available elsewhere is that their monthly services include a postal address, so your business mail will be accepted by them and distributed…