The Escano Recipe Collection of Cebu

Cebu is the first and the oldest city in the Philippines. The Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan, as a result of navigational errors in his search for the Moluccas [Spice Islands], sailed into Cebu harbor on April 17, 1521. One of my nieces likens modern Cebu to Manila fifty years ago, before it became a traffic-clogged, overpopulated metropolis. This vibrant and pleasant city in the heart of Visayan country is the envy of many Manileños today. My second visit to Cebu, in 2003, proved to be one of my most memorable and enjoyable trips back home. I was hosted by members of three old Cebuano families, the Escaño, Unchuan, and Moraza families, all of which have contributed to the financial and manufacturing lifeblood of this historic city.