Liloan

Liloan is a growing coastal town about 18 km north of Cebu City, at the northern edge of Metro Cebu. Most Cebuanos know it for one thing: rosquillos, the light, crunchy ring-shaped biscuits first baked here more than a century ago. A trip to Liloan makes an easy half day out of the city, with a stop for coffee and biscuits, a look inside a Spanish-era church and a ride out to an old lighthouse above the sea.

Why go to Liloan

• Titay's, where rosquillos have been baked since 1907.
• The San Fernando Rey Parish Church, built in 1847.
• The Bagacay Point Lighthouse, a National Historical Landmark with views of the Mactan Channel.
• It is close to the city, cheap to reach and easy to combine with a trip further north.

Titay's and the rosquillos

The story goes back to 1907, when Margarita "Titay" Frasco began baking small, golden ring-shaped biscuits in a clay oven at home. A provincial governor is said to have named them rosquillos, after the Spanish word for a ring. The family business is still run by Titay's descendants, and the main shop, a short walk from the church, is now a modern café with a small history wall.

Come hungry. Besides rosquillos, the shelves are stacked with other Cebuano biscuits and sweets such as otap, galletas, hojaldres and polvoron. Have a coffee with a few warm biscuits, then buy a box or two of pasalubong (gifts from your trip) to take home. Packed boxes travel well and make great presents.

The old church

The San Fernando Rey Parish Church was built in 1847, soon after Liloan became its own parish. Unusually for a Spanish-era church on the coast, it faces the mountains, with its back to the sea. Step inside for a quiet moment, and dress respectfully, especially during Mass. The town's fiesta and the Rosquillos Festival are held in the last week of May, with street dancing and plenty of food.

Bagacay Point Lighthouse

In the barangay of Catarman, on a point overlooking the sea, stands the Bagacay Point Lighthouse. The first lighthouse here was built by the Spanish in 1857. The current tower, about 22 metres tall, dates from 1904 and still works today, powered by solar energy. It was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2004. You can usually walk around the grounds and enjoy the breeze and the view across to Mactan. Climbing the tower is not always allowed.

How to get to Liloan from Cebu City

1. Take a jeepney marked Liloan from Mandaue or near SM City Cebu, or a northbound bus from the Cebu North Bus Terminal. Buses heading to Danao and beyond pass through Liloan.
2. Ask to get off at the Liloan church in the town centre. The trip takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
3. Walk to Titay's and the church, then hire a habal-habal (motorbike taxi) or tricycle to the lighthouse in Catarman. Agree on the price first.

Grab and taxis also go to Liloan, and are easier with a group or with lots of boxes of biscuits. Traffic on the northern road can be heavy at rush hour, so leave mid-morning if you can.

Where to eat

Apart from Titay's, Liloan has plenty of local eateries, bakeries and grills along the main road, plus fast-food places and a mall. It is an easy town for a casual lunch. Many visitors simply snack on biscuits all afternoon.

When to go

Liloan works all year. The dry months, from about December to May, are best for the lighthouse views. Visit in the last week of May for the Rosquillos Festival, and go on a weekday morning to avoid the heaviest traffic and the busiest hours at Titay's.

Tips for a good trip

• Buy boxed rosquillos last, so they stay crisp on the way home.
• Carry small bills for jeepneys, habal-habal and snacks.
• Wear clothes with sleeves if you want to go inside the church.
• Bring water and a hat for the lighthouse. There is little shade on the way.
• Wear a helmet on a habal-habal, and agree on the price before you ride.

Carry on north to the beaches and mountains of Danao, or catch a ferry to the Camotes Islands.

Photo gallery

Tap a photo to see it full size. Gallery photos come from Wikimedia Commons; each photographer's credit shows when you open the photo.

Watch before you go

Photo: "Liloan Church" by Elmer B. Domingo, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated October 15, 2026