Bantayan Island

April 2026

Bantayan Island is a wonderful, low-key resort destination with beautiful experiences at affordable prices. Located northwest of Cebu, it’s an hour boat ride from the small Cebu port of Hagnaya, or a 45-minute flight* from Cebu Mactan airport. We drove from Cebu City, across the mountains on the Transcentral Highway, then north along the west coast along the Antonio Y De Pio National Highway.  It was a 4-hour drive at a leisurely pace, followed by a 1-hour ferry ride to Santa Fe port in Bantayan.  The ferry cost was just over 4,000 pesos for a vehicle and 3 passengers.

Below are some of the places we found enjoyable. I recommend all of them. In fact, I did not find a place on Bantayan island that I would not recommend.

Lodging

Anika Resort

We stayed at Anika resort in Santa Fe. It is a beautiful, quiet beach-front resort with comfortable accommodations. The rooms are converted shipping containers, but done so well that I didn’t realize it until I had been there over a day. Beautiful décor, comfortable beds, air conditioning, modern bathroom, and a cozy porch where you can eat a meal ordered from the resort restaurant.  Room options offer a variety of poolside, garden or beach front.  We booked four nights for just under 21,000 pesos.

The Amika beach front is beautiful and pristine. Facing east, it features some beautiful sun rises and a clear view of nearby Hilantagaan island. The beach dogs love to frolic and play in the surf right as the sun peeks across the horizon.  Jet skis are available for rental. We took advantage of renting one for an hour. The people renting it to us said rentals are available for island hopping.

It is quiet and relaxing, both day and night.  The resort restaurant is well stocked, but there is a corkage fee for anything you bring in. There are many dining options just a few minutes down the road in the town of Santa Fe.

Dining

Bantayan Burrito Company

Bantayan Burrito Company is located in MJ Square, an open-air shopping and dining area in the heart of Santa Fe.  It was highly rated, so it was my first stop for dining. It did not disappoint. We had excellent, very large, burritos for a very reasonable price. It’s hard to find genuine Mexican burritos overseas, but these come close and are every bit as delicious. Great sauce. Huge portions. The owner (an Australian, I believe) told us that he just acquired some tuna steaks, so we returned the next day for seared tuna tacos. They were also delicious.

Coco Café

This is a great place to grab breakfast or just stop for a while and chill out with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink. It is located one block south of MJ Square in Santa Fe. They have a wide range of options, ranging from healthy fruits and nuts, to waffles, to eggs. The vibe is eclectic and relaxing.

Steaken Sizzle

Located in MJ Square, Steaken Sizzle is a fun and tasty venue. The steaks are the typical Philippine version. Not quite like the American steaks, but still very flavorful and affordably priced. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. We felt very welcome and lacked nothing. The sides of mashed potatoes, corn and fries were also delicious.

Stumble Inn Beach Club

We literally stumbled in after dinner at MJ Square. We weren’t ready to call it a night, so we continued there for drinks. It is situated right on the beach in Santa Fe, on the southeastern tip of the island. It was nighttime and the atmosphere was quiet. We sipped our drinks at a beach side table and played a few games of darts. Nice end to the evening.

Twisted Ice Cream & Café

Located just down the road from MJ Square. They create this cream while you watch. You select the flavor, they mix it, then pour it onto a frozen “griddle” and perform their craft with spatulas. The final product is a tasty work of art in a cone. My daughter enjoyed it so much that we returned two more times.

HR Music Bar

Located in Santa Fe, near MJ Square. We ate lunch here the day of our departure. It had a nice island vibe, good food, and good drinks. Also more of the chill beach dogs lounging about. If we’d had a few more days on the island, we would have returned during the evening to see what the nightlife offered. It looks like a fun place.

Destinations

MJ Square

This is the dining and shopping hub for the Santa Fe area of Bantayan Island. It is an open-air strip mall arrangement of dining establishments, bars, and small shops.  It’s the go-to spot for your first visit to grab a meal, do some light shopping, or have a few drinks. The open-air vibe is relaxed, complete with friendly street dogs. There is a small, but well stocked, supermarket just a block away.

Amihan Beach Cabanas

This is resort lodging. We did not stay there but stopped by to have lunch and enjoy the beach. It is located in Santa Fe, at the southeastern corner of the island. Very laid-back ambiance. Separate air-conditioned cabanas. Cozy bar right on the beach with great drinks and burgers. We may stay her if we make a return trip.

Santa Fe Beach Club

This is also resort lodging. It is located a few hundred meters down the beach from Anika, where we stayed. It has a beautiful beach front, and the lodging looks quite good. They have a romantic dinner special for which we returned the following evening. Under 5,000 pesos for a three-course meal by candlelight on the beach. Highly recommended.

The Ruins

Former property of a German national who passed away, and then a typhoon destroyed the buildings in 2013.  Popular local stopping place on the road for pictures or (it appears) to add to the graffiti.  It’s nothing special, but still a neat stop for some great pictures.

Kota Beach Resort

Located in Santa Fe, at the southeastern tip of the island, close to a lot of the other venues. Beautiful resort with an amazing beach. Nice bar and restaurant. We just stopped by for drinks and some pictures. Possible destination for our next visit to Bantayan.

Kota Park

Not to be confused with Kota Beach Resort. The park is located on the other side of the island, on the northern tip. It was a 45-minute drive from Santa Fe, which gave us a chance to see more of the island. Entrance fee is whatever you care to donate. It is a beautiful and quiet place, offering a nice view north across the Visayan Sea to Masbate and Leyte Islands.  If you are a bit brave, you can walk the precarious board walk out to the observation platform. It has fallen into disrepair and many of the planks have collapsed into the ocean. Not life threatening, but a bit adventurous.

Camp Sawi Mangrove Garden

Camp Sawi is a must see. A beautiful, winding mangrove forest growing out of the ocean. Elevated walkways guide you through this amazing nature reserve. Entrance fee is about 100 pesos. There is a restaurant among the mangroves, but we did not have time to partake. Highly recommended visit.

* Flights from Cebu Mactan airport cost between 1,500 and 3,500 pesos as of this writing.

Site Footer

Sliding Sidebar

Archives

No archives to show.

Categories

  • No categories

Articles

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Officially defined as policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals. Except it doesn't include white men. It specifically excludes them while silencing them by calling them racist or misogynists if they object. It organizes traits of the rest of the people according to a notional victim status, with those higher up in the hierarchy gaining privilege at the expense of those below. Grifters calling themselves DEI experts and consultants have extracted millions of dollars from business and government offices promoting this divisive traitism. Reducing social cohesion makes people easier to control. Working in a diverse setting increases, rather than decreases, the breakdown of social trust, even within the same socio-economic class.

Men Going Their Own Way. A general philosophy (not a movement) of men focusing on themselves, rather than playing the rigged Western game of engaging with women and losing their assets and children to them through a legal system biased against men. As with all philosophies, there are some elements that are more radical.

Judging, elevating or favorably treating others by physical characteristics, or traits. Replaces racism due to the fact that there is only one race, human.

The overriding view that women are strong and independent, don’t need men, and are more competent and wiser than men. Men are to realize and admit that they are both inferior and toxic.

Giving too much attention and affection, whether through gifts, compliments, or acts of service as a way of seeking validation from someone else.

Instead of accepting responsibility and facing the uncomfortable situation head-on, the deflectors will try to move the focus from themselves, usually by passing the blame onto someone or something else.

Individuals are confronted with two choices, both of which have negative results. The choices are framed to produce an emotional response in the person, forcing them to choose or look bad. The individual will fail, no matter what choice they make. The abuser will use this as leverage to further manipulate the victim by depicting them as weak, flawed or ineffective.

The manipulative process by which individual or collective freedom of choice and action is compromised by agents or agencies that modify or distort perception, motivation, affect, cognition and/or behavioral outcomes. The person being mind controlled is not aware of the influence process, nor of the changes occurring within themselves. They believe they are acting according to their own choices.

A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc. to frighten and emotionally force a person to do something.

The intentional manipulation of another person’s emotions to induce feelings of guilt. It is a form of emotional blackmail that is often designed to manipulate other people by preying on their emotions and making them feel responsible for something they are not.

Using sarcasm and put-downs to increase fear and self-doubt in the victim. Manipulators use this tactic to make others feel unworthy and therefore defer to them. Manipulators can make one feel ashamed for even daring to challenge them or say no.

Attempting to establish a perceived close bond with someone very quickly to overcome their natural caution and use them for money, resources or work. This is often involves a quick push for friendship or intimacy.

A manipulative tactic where someone portrays themselves as a victim to gain sympathy, attention, or caregiving. The goal is to make the person eliciting pity seem like a victim, which can make it easier to get what they want without being seen as a bad guy. This is because people are naturally inclined to help those they pity.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A woman is simultaneously a victim and empowered, until something happens. Then she chooses which state benefits her the most.

A Chad is a stereotypical alpha male. He is depicted as attractive, successful, muscular, cocky and very popular among women. He has a tendency to play the field and will not commit to any woman.

An enabler of a highly narcissistic person or someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). A flying monkey is an agent who acts on their behalf.

Projection involves taking an unacceptable part of oneself, disowning it, and placing it onto someone else. The manipulator describes the victim and paints them in a light that more accurately portrays the attacker himself.

Toxic amnesia is a tactic where the perpetrator pretends to not remember abuse, betrayals, lies, and other hurtful and dysfunctional behaviors they've engaged in. Its a form of gaslighting. Its purpose is to make you doubt your perceptions and memories.

Narcissistic rage can be triggered by various situations, such as criticism, perceived rejection, or being ignored. The reaction is often extreme and disproportionate to the event or comment, as the narcissist's fragile ego struggles to cope with the perceived attack on their self-image.

Triangulation is when a toxic or manipulative person, often a person with strong narcissistic traits, brings a third person into their relationship in order to remain in control. There will be limited or no communication between the two triangulated individuals except through the manipulator. It may appear in different forms, but all are about divide and conquer, or playing people against each other.

The action or practice of lavishing someone with attention or affection, especially in order to influence or manipulate them.

Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.

To gaslight someone means to manipulate another person into doubting their own perceptions, experiences or understanding of events. ~ American Psychological Association

Because their sense of self is determined by what others think of them, narcissists use relationships for self-enhancement. Everyone must feed them. In addition, they seek validation and attention in their public and professional life. Other people are used as objects in order to provide their supply. For example, they may need constant compliments or applause, more status and money, or may check their appearance in the mirror several times a day. ~ Psychology Today

Fraud that targets people belonging to a particular community or group, typically that in which someone pretends to be a member of the group in order to gain the trust of others.

Second Attack
Second Attack
First Attack
First Attack
Initial Dispositions
Initial Dispositions
ZSU 23-4
ZSU 23-4 Anti-Aircraft Gun
TOW Missile
TOW Anti-Tank Missile
T55 Tank
T55 Tank
SA7
SA7 Surface to Air Missile
M113
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
M48 Tank
M48 Tank
Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter Jet
BTR-50
BTR-50 Armored Personnel Carrier
BM21 Stalin Organ
BM21 Stalin Organ
Howitzer
Howitzer
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT7 Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
AT3 Sagger Anti-Tank Missile
120mm Mortar
120mm Mortar
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile
AT4 Anti-Tank Missile

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

A religious leader uses valid verses or concepts from the Bible about following and obeying God to generate enthusiasm in people, then misdirects that obedience to himself as a representative of God. The group believes they are following and obeying God, but in reality are obeying the leader.

A fictional, exaggerated version of an opposing viewpoint, especially one that is intentionally created to be easy to dismiss or argue against and to make one's own argument seem stronger. Straw man arguments can be made unintentionally, but most are made on purpose to make the other side seem evil, incompetent, or extremist.

The religious leader distracts members from mentally registering what he is doing.  Screaming praise to God when something he proclaimed does not come to pass.  Acting like a bad thing is really a good thing.  Just keep talking and talking and talking, while ignoring that nothing is happening. It is the same thing politicians have done successfully for years.

The leader calls members flattering adjectives or nouns, like righteous, holy, or saint.  These are often vague and difficult to define, so the member feels the leader’s superior knowledge has recognized something good in them.  Conversely, if the leader later withdraws this praise, the member is eager to toe the line to recover it.

Manipulation of a person or group's emotions in order to make them believe something is factual (or false) in the absence of any evidence. The manipulator tries to draw on the recipient's inward feelings such as fear, pity, or joy with the goal of convincing them that the statements being presented are true or false.

Essentially a black-and-white worldview with the leader as the ultimate moral arbiter. This creates an atmosphere of guilt and shame, where punishment and humiliation are expected. It also sets up an environment wherein members spy and report on one another. Through submission to the guilt-inducing and impossible demand for purity, members lose their moral bearing.

The use of jargon internal to (and only understandable by) the group. Constricting language constricts the person. Capacities for thinking and feeling are significantly reduced. Imagination is no longer a part of life experiences, and the mind atrophies from disuse.

The process whereby the group becomes the ultimate arbiter and all nonbelievers become so-called evil or non-people. If these non-people cannot be recruited, then they can be punished or even killed. This process creates an us-versus-them mentality that breeds fear in followers who learn that life depends on a willingness to obey. This is when individuals merge with the group’s belief.