The 'angry chef' in Cebu, 'at marami pang iba'
Published Aug 10, 2025 12:05 am
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE
The invite was to witness the launch of two Gordon Ramsay-themed food concepts in Megaworld’s Mactan Newtown; and thanks to the genial hosting laid out by Megaworld Corporation’s Senior Vice-President and Head of Public Relations Harold Geronimo, the one day, fly-in and -out (my choice) visit became so much more. It turned out to be an illuminating eye-opener to what has been transpiring within Mactan Newtown, and the grand vista of possibilities still beckoning.
A 30-hectare township of Megaworld, the ongoing development includes residential condominiums, office towers, retail areas, hotels, and a beachfront. Situated in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Newtown is just a convenient 15-minute drive from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and is well on it’s way to becoming a vibrant community, a premier investment, and a lifestyle destination on the island. With more exciting times up ahead!
KEVIN TAN with the special Lechon Burger of Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay
The two Gordon Ramsay concepts are the Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, and Burger Street by Gordon Ramsay. The Fish & Chips is the very first outside the US, and lucky Cebu for being the site of this personal favorite of mine. As for Burger Street, it exists in the United Kingdom — London, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, and in South Korea; but we are the first in Southeast Asia — and again, it’s Cebu enjoying this privilege. Along with the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill at Newport World Resorts, we now have three established eateries in the country that carry the Gordon Ramsay name. An expanding footprint that hopefully has him returning to our shores, given how his first visit last year, was such an unqualified hit.
Alliance Global CEO Kevin Tan was proud to point out that Burger Street has a special lechon burger — we’re in Cebu, so this is inevitable and exciting. It’s charcoal spit roasted pork, a smashed beef patty, house pickles, and jalapeño slices. I had the chance to try this Philippine-only variant, and it’s a real winner. Think pulled pork in a bun with the jalapeño offering a righteous, spicy kick.
AT GORDON RAMSAY Fish & Chips, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts Managing Director Cleofe Albiso, and Lapu Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan
Guests of honor for the launch were newly installed Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan. Both super-friendly and charming, the two gamely posed for photos, and were engaging with stories and anecdotes, while the food was being served. The governor’s husband was born in the UK, and was looking forward to the fish and chips. As for the mayor, she was excited to talk of 2026, and how Lapu-Lapu City would be playing a major role during our hosting of the ASEAN Summit.
In the course of the Philippines hosting the 2026 summit, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Cebu, and the imposing structure that’s rising right beside the Belmont Hotel is the Mactan Expo, home to the tourism meeting. This ASEAN Summit is the one where President Marcos invited US President Donald Trump to attend, to recognize 80 years of diplomatic relations between Manila and Washington (since 1946), and the 75 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty (since 1951), a cornerstone of Philippine security policy.
There are presently two hotels in Mactan Newtown, the Belmont and the Savoy. What I was happy to see at the Belmont lobby was how active and busy it was. And this was with foreigners making up more than 80 percent of the guests; whether arriving, or those just lounging. I commented on this, and how it was such a far cry from what one can observe in Manila hotels.
InsiderPH’s Dax Lucas and Megaworld Corporation SVP and Head of Public Relations Harold Geronimo; my fellow-traveler, and our host, at the Belmont Mactan
If in Manila, the hospitality industry is still highly dependent on domestic tourism to keep the hotels in business, Mactan and Cebu seem to be tourist destinations that genuinely enjoy foreign visitor arrivals. We should be analyzing why this is so. An efficient, dependable airport? Solid tourist offerings that encompass both beach and resort activities, as well as city attractions, and with bountiful food options that offer diversity in price points?
I mentioned “vibrant community,” as Harold and his team were ready to point out that within the 30-hectare township, from the outset, a lot of thought and intent had been injected to precisely project community and purpose. We saw the Newtown School of Excellence, so families with children of school age would be assured of quality education, with proximity. The Mactan Newtown Beach is in operation, providing weekend recreational options, this includes event structures. The Saturday we were there, a wedding was being conducted at their non-denominational “chapel.”
Along the main avenue, we saw thriving mango trees, something that Andrew Tan had insisted on; commenting that Cebu is known for their mangoes, and so Mactan Newtown should have physical recall for that. A portion of the township perimeter is shared with Shangri-La Mactan Resort, and there are currently steps being taken to create better synergies and interaction. Office spaces that were originally earmarked for the expansion of BPOs are now being occupied by English schools geared for Koreans and Japanese.
What’s wonderful to see is how Mactan Newtown is thriving, in flux, evolving, and being dynamically responsive to changing needs.