Cebu is a good place to buy handicrafts- especially rattan work. The island accounts for nearly two-thirds of the country’s entire production of rattan work, yet- surprisingly enough- does not grow any rattan of its own!. Other interesting buys- perfect for souvenir-hunters- include guitars (the two main centres for producing guitars are Mactan and Maribago- their guitars are rated very high by musicians), woodwork, and embroidery. You’ll find other instances of local handicrafts too, such as trinkets, cloth and shell ornaments, and in the town of Mambaling lives the lepido-mosaic artist, Professor Julian Jumalon, who produces mosaic pictures by piecing together damaged butterfly wings- an unusual art, to say the least.

Of course, in Cebu City’s Colon Street, you’ll find slick and smart shopping malls where you can pick up lots of things with designer labels (don’t imagine you’ll get bargains here!), but if you want atmosphere, try Carbon Market. That’s the place where all the hawkers and vendors congregate, and you’ll be able to buy everything from vegetables and flowers to handicrafts and household items.