The Marco Polo used to be the old Cebu Plaza, a local landmark, where locals and tourists could enjoy fine accommodations and fine dining. Today the land is owned by the Metrobank Foundation, which spent a pretty penny to update and renovate the existing structure.

Now the Marco Polo stands poised to become a landmark in its own right just like its predecessor, with world class rooms, friendly staff, and an excellent poolside pizzeria.

After the initial party which opened the hotel (there were three parties over three days), my Mother and I took a trip around the city, visiting the various tourist spots. 

We first visited Magellan’s Cross, which is the site where he planted the first Cross of Philippine soil when he first arrived. Don’t ask me when, I was never any good at remembering dates. Right next to it we visited the Shrine of the Sto. Nino. And then we went hotel hopping.

Cebu is known as the “Second City” of the Philippines, trailing not too far behind Manila in various aspects. Traffic is one, which is a good thing.  It’s not as congested as Manila, and better laid out. Zoning is more respected there, so you won’t find a port of container vans next to a residential area.

But wait… What’s that you say?  You thought this was a technology column?  So then what’s all this tourist/lifestyle stuff you’re reading? Where’s all the technology? 

Well… that’s the point. There was none. At least nothing overt.

In my entire three day stay I saw only two internet café’s, and I use the term loosely because they appeared to be small one bedroom houses where the ground floor was fitted with two or three PC’s. I didn’t see anything like NetOpia here, though I might not have looked hard enough.

I did see a branch of CDR-King, which was comforting, like seeing and old friend in a strange place.

But is Cebu left behind, technology-wise? Not really. Several times we passed by their IT Technopark, which hosts several Information Technology and call center companies.  And when you talk call center you’re talking highs-peed fiber optics for real-time international communications.

At the Marco Polo, the computers at the front desk all sported sleek Liquid Crystal Display monitors, so no lack of technology there. Nor is there a deficit at the Hilton where they have three computers controlling an archive of MP3’s that get piped through the hotel’s different areas.

The issue I think is more of the mentality of the people. Not to say that they’re slow or ignorant, only that they don’t care too much about it. 

We talked to some people and asked them about the May 1 rallies, and the general consensus was that, “Yes we heard about the rallies, but just let them have one and be done with it.” They’re tired of the fighting in Manila, of all the politics and destabilization threats.  They live in a world of their own, just wanting to get their kids through school and a solid roof over their heads.

And this applies to technology too. There are few computer stores, because, really, there isn’t much demand for computers. I’m sure you could find a place to put together an AthlonXP64-based system but you might have to wait for parts to come in from Manila.

Cebu is a great example of how you don’t really have to be on the cutting edge of technology. You don’t need the iPod with four gigabytes of memory.  You’ll probably only have fifty favorite songs and fifty alternates anyway.  You don’t absolutely need the cell phone with three megapixels and an operating system that crashes once a day.

They’re cool, yes, no doubt. But, like Cebu, its just as good to take a step back once in a while.