Need a break from a long road trip north? Drop by The Bastap!
Are there bus stops in northern Cebu?
There is one in particular that has garnered a lot of attention from locals and netizens. The Bastap is a convenient stopover for motorists who are on long road trips passing through the municipality of Carmen.
With comfortable seating and shelter from the rain and sun, you can take a much-needed break from the exhaustion and mundanity of countryside travel.
The Bastap started as a pasalubong center with hand-crafted Cebuano delicacies.
Management later improved its amenities by adding food options like a cafe, a food park, and even a diner to turn it into a full-fledged hangout spot.
It garnered so much appeal that passenger vehicles from the North Bus Terminal started dropping off their passengers to give them a quick break from the long commute, gathering an even bigger fan base.
They have a convenient parking space and are open 24/7. The area is often used for hosting big events as well, like raves and concerts, especially during the local Sinulog sa Carmen Festival.
Now with over 100 employees, The Bastap is the biggest recreational stopover in northern Cebu.
At its core, it supports travelers as a one-stop shop for Cebuano comfort food and delicacies.
HOW IT STARTED
When it comes to local delicacies that are purchased as souvenirs, established names like Shamrock and Titay’s are among the go-to places in Cebu. But The Bastap has an entirely original selection of treats.
It is managed and owned by Charo Gutierrez-Barro of CGB Foods. According to an article in Sunstar Cebu, she opened the bus stop after a local businessman sold her his eatery and bakery. (2021)
She used this as an opportunity to showcase the craftsmanship of bakers in Cebu who are known for expertly handcrafting delicate biscuits and pastries through time-honored recipes.
This paved the way for Carmen to be further known for its culinary offerings.
CGB started selling Filipino pastries like otap, galletas, rosquillos, and egg crackers at affordable rates. Many customers loved their delicacies that they expanded to sell their products outside of Carmen.
After improving their packaging, The Bastap started selling their products online, particularly on platforms like Lazada and Shopee.
They have since added a physical store in Talamban, where Cebu City residents can try their food without having to travel all the way to Carmen.
This also led to the company introducing a selection of bundles and packages with all their bestsellers, including limited edition chocolate-coated versions of their delicacies.
The company’s growing success gave management the idea to open even more establishments around the pasalubong center.
Now, motorists have plenty of options and a good reason to stay longer.
THE BASTAP EATERIES
- Cafeteria
Instead of focusing on individual tenants like other food bazaars in the city, The Bastap only has a few kiosks serving specific types of Filipino cuisine. One in particular serves barbecue, linarang, sutukil, and manok bisaya in one location.
There is another kiosk that sells Siomai sa Tisa, the popular street food dumplings from the barangay of Tisa in Cebu City.
- Bread Station
Many foreigners have lauded Filipino breads, turning them into staple food items to start their mornings. Here, you can order a vast selection of freshly baked goods to take along for your road trip.
You can order singular pieces of pandesals and cheese breads, as well as their own version of the Argao torta. They also have loaves in case you prefer making your own sandwiches while traveling.
- Cafe
Their quaint coffee shop is where most visitors buy the aforementioned delicacies. But this is also where most would go for a quick caffeine fix.
The coffee shop offers brewed coffee, lattes, and their signature cold brew. They also have small cakes and other local desserts sold at affordable prices.
- Diner
Finally, they also offer restaurant quality dishes at their diner, offering delicious burgers, sandwiches, fries, pastas, and more.
It recently revealed several healthier options, like vegetable rolls, salads, and juices. Since opening in 2022, The Bastap has become a completely unique experience for travelers on the island.
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It’s no secret that quality facilities aid in providing a better experience, especially when you’re on a long journey. A study on the improvement of amenities claims that stopovers with shelters and parking spaces leads to a higher likelihood in transit ridership. (2008)
As such, The Bastap serves as a blueprint for how vehicle terminals in Cebu can further accommodate passengers. With that, travelers can look forward to taking a short yet relaxing break when necessary.
REFERENCES:
Cacho, Katlene. 2021. “Cebuano delicacy maker enters overseas market.” Sunstar Cebu.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/cebuano-delicacy-maker-enters-overseas-market
Koh, Konstantine. 2008. “AN EXPLORATORY STUDY INTO THE DESIRED AMENITIES IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS BY CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WORKERS.” National Center for Transportation Studies.
https://ncts.upd.edu.ph/tssp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Koh08.pdf#:~:text=Abstract:%20Many%20researches%20and%20foreign%20case%20studies,of%20additional%20transit%20amenities%20to%20existing%20ones.
