Some days are simply about going somewhere new. But every once in a while, a day out becomes more meaningful because of the stories, people, and experiences you discover along the way.
Last Wednesday, we were invited by Miss Ludy Atillo of JourneyEscapes with Ludy to spend a day discovering three very different Cebu destinations: Daniel’s Diet, Dahlia Chocolates, and Dubby’s Ultimate Burgers.
What I thought would be a food-filled day turned out to be a journey of wellness, meaningful conversations, Filipino cacao, entrepreneurship, and compassion.
Our First Stop: Daniel’s Diet
Our journey started at Daniel’s Diet, located at Molave, Escario.
Daniel’s Diet is a vegan food destination offering plant-based meals and snacks. They are open Sundays to Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Our lunch and snacks were all vegan, and I honestly didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did. I am not always the first to choose vegan food, but the dishes we tried were flavorful, satisfying, and surprisingly enjoyable.
By the end of our meal, I found myself thinking, I could definitely become a vegan lover!
But our visit wasn't just about food.
We also had the opportunity to listen to Coach Kristine, a coach who talks about dating, compatibility, and family planning. Her compatibility talk gave us a chance to look deeper into relationships, communication, understanding ourselves and our partners, and making thoughtful choices when it comes to building a future and a family.
It was an interesting and meaningful conversation, especially because these are topics that are often overlooked when people talk about relationships.
So our first stop nourished not only our bodies but also gave us something to reflect on.
A Sweet Afternoon at Dahlia Chocolates
At around 2:00 PM, we continued our journey at Dahlia Chocolates for their famous and trending Dubai Chewy Chocolate Workshop.
This was definitely one of the highlights for me because Dubai chewy chocolate has become one of my personal favorite desserts and one of the treats I order most often.
This time, however, I wasn't just eating it. I was learning how to make it!
We also had the chance to meet the people behind Dahlia Chocolates, including Filipino pastry chef Grace Aquino and her husband, Marlon Aquino.
The couple had spent several years working in California before deciding to retire early. But their story took another direction when they discovered their passion for cacao.
They came to appreciate the incredible potential of Philippine cacao and realized that our country has the gift of producing cacao that can be transformed into exceptional chocolate.
But for Grace and Marlon, it wasn't simply about chocolate.
They developed a love for the cacao farmers and a desire to help showcase what our local cacao can become.
Around two years ago, they opened Dahlia Chocolates, creating chocolates that highlight our very own Philippine cacao.
I also loved learning that Dahlia doesn't just sell chocolates. They conduct workshops to introduce people to cacao and help them understand more about the journey behind the chocolate we enjoy. Their workshops are usually held twice a month.
The Dubai Chewy Chocolate Workshop was such a fun experience, especially for someone like me who already loves the dessert. It was exciting to get a closer look at the process while learning more about cacao along the way.
Dahlia Chocolates Operating Hours
So if you're craving chocolates or want to experience one of their workshops, it's worth checking their schedule before visiting.
Our Final Stop: Dubby’s Ultimate Burgers
For our last stop, we headed to Dubby’s Ultimate Burgers, a Cebu burger spot that has gained recognition for its burgers and, more importantly, the inspiring story behind the business.
We were fortunate to meet the owner, JP Maunes, who shared with us how Dubby’s started during the pandemic.
His story began with his wife, who was working as a nurse.
During those difficult days, JP would prepare burgers as baon for his wife and her colleagues as his own way of supporting them and the medical team. It was a simple gesture of love and support during a time when healthcare workers were giving so much of themselves.
Then one day, there were six extra burgers.
Instead of letting them go to waste, he decided to sell them online.
Those six burgers became more orders, and those orders eventually became the beginning of Dubby’s.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
But what really touched my heart was learning about sir JP’s advocacy.
Sir JP is very athletic and is part of PADS. His connection to the PWD community is also very personal because he was born to a mother with a hearing disability.
During the pandemic, he saw how many persons with disabilities lost their jobs and livelihood. He carried a desire to help, and one of the ways he did this was by opening employment opportunities for them at Dubby’s.
Some of their PWD team members work as servers, giving them not only a source of income but also an opportunity to be part of a workplace where they are valued.
That story stayed with me.
Because behind the burgers is a story of a husband supporting his wife, a businessman who turned six extra burgers into a thriving business, and a person who chose to use that business to help others.
And, of course, we didn't leave without trying the food!
Dubby’s has a variety of burger options, so there is something to satisfy different burger cravings. Personally, I loved their fries. They were definitely one of my favorites during our visit.
Dubby’s Ultimate Burgers Operating Hours
More Than Just a Food Trip
Looking back at our JourneyEscapes with Ludy, I realized that the day was so much more than simply visiting three food destinations.
At Daniel’s Diet, we discovered delicious vegan food while listening to meaningful conversations about dating, compatibility, and family planning.
At Dahlia Chocolates, we discovered the story behind Philippine cacao and the passion of people who want to put our local cacao in the spotlight.
And at Dubby’s, we discovered how six extra burgers became a business and how that business became an avenue to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Three stops. Three different stories.
But all three reminded me that behind every restaurant and every business are people with dreams, struggles, passion, and purpose.
I came expecting food.
I went home with new discoveries, meaningful conversations, a newfound appreciation for vegan food, a fun chocolate-making experience, and a burger story that genuinely touched my heart.
Thank you, Miss Ludy Atillo and Journeyscapes with Ludy, for bringing us along on this wonderful journey.
Sometimes, the best escapes aren't just about the places we visit.
They are about the people we meet and the stories we bring home.
CebuanaDiaries ❤️
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