NUSTAR Skydeck: How A Sky-High Walk Made Me Love Cebu Again

I don’t drink, don’t smoke, and sure don’t fucking gamble. So the NUSTAR Skydeck, a glass walkway hanging a hundred meters above the most gorgeous casino in the Philippines, was the last place anyone expected to find me on a random Wednesday.

And while influencers keep peddling online casinos to people who can’t afford to lose, I despise everything about gambling.

But I wasn’t there for any of that.

I was there because I was curious. I wanted to see what my city looks like from a hundred meters up.

So, is the NUSTAR Skydeck worth the ticket for someone who earns his views the hard way?

Is the glass floor as terrifying as everyone’s reels suggest? And what does a mountain guy see when he finally looks at Cebu from above?

My answers surprised even me.

My NUSTAR Skydeck experience

I hadn’t been exploring my own backyard lately.

When I started blogging years ago, my goal was to explore Cebu, along with the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao. But most of my recent adventures have been taking place in the Cordilleras, in hidden provinces like Quirino and remote villages like Batad.

Then one day, my high school friend Lemuel, the owner of Queen City Cebu, asked if I could represent the page to help promote the Skydeck at Nustar.

Normally, I don’t go to events like this, especially when they involve luxury brands and activities that don’t fit my values.

I don’t consider myself an influencer or a vlogger either.

Don’t get me wrong. Although I hate some of the content ideas influencers produce, like money hunts and poverty porn, I have nothing against them as people. 

I even admire the ones who make bold, honest, creative work.

It’s just that I’m not one of them. I prefer blogging because it inspires people without me needing to be seen or famous.

But I said yes anyway, for two reasons. Lemuel is an old friend. And I was curious about what Cebu looks like from a hundred meters up.

And besides, it was free, and I wasn’t busy at that time.

Getting to NUSTAR Skydeck

The call time for our NUSTAR Skydeck experience was 11:00 am. I arrived at around 11:30.

I don’t usually show up late. But on this day, I did, for a few reasons. The meeting with the team took longer than expected. And then, for some bizarre reason, I realized I was no longer familiar with the routes and streets of my own backyard.

I had every reason to turn around.

I was already late, and I had no business being there.

As I’ve said, I’m not an influencer. And though thousands of readers visit my blog every month, I wasn’t sure my story was the voice the NUSTAR company wanted.

NUSTAR is known for its elegance, a vibe that exudes the luxurious lifestyle.

That wasn’t Aldrich at all. I’m a hiker, an adventure-seeking son of a gun who has almost died more times than I can count in pursuit of adrenaline.

I put my life at risk in remote lands to learn about life, melt my stress, and experience the world abundantly.

Come to think of it, maybe I’m not so different from the people betting fortunes inside the casino.

The only difference is I never lose.

Even if things didn’t look good on my end, I went on with the short trip anyway.

I had nothing to lose and a few things to gain. In a casino, those are the best odds in the house.

And more importantly, I was excited to see a different side of Cebu through the NUSTAR Skydeck.

When I arrived at the casino, I apologized to Hannah, the one who invited me, and to the other influencers.

Fortunately, they were kind and patient enough to wait for a local Cebuano who was no longer familiar with his own home.

Going to the top 

From the hotel lobby of NUSTAR, we followed Hannah to the Skydeck.

Along the way, we passed projections of galaxies, whales, and deep space drifting across the walls.

For a moment, it felt like we were crossing into another dimension.

Then we took the elevator to the 26th floor.

Twenty-six floors in about forty seconds. The last time I stood a hundred meters above sea level, it took me an hour and a liter of water.

From there, a ramp brought us to the welcome desk of the NUSTAR Skydeck.

Even if we weren’t in the actual view deck itself yet, I could already see the stunning views of the city skyline and iconic CCLEX.

There were guests on NUSTAR Skydeck, the moment we arrived.

So we had to wait for a bit, until we were cleared to walk on the glass floor of the NUSTAR Skydeck.

Walking the glass floor of NUSTAR Skydeck

When Hannah informed us we could go the the NUSTAR Skydeck, I didn’t waste any time at all.

I went outside, and did a full walk around the view deck.

It wasn’t big or long, but the views are insane and stunning.

And I especially love the views below my feet.

Was it scary? Not as what most people think it is, unless you have fear of heights. 

The whole walkway was stable, durable, and had no signs of wear and tear.

I felt safer than walking on a muddy trail, a steep incline or a 90-degree vertical cliff.

I couldn’t feel anything shaking or see any loose screws.

The whole design was flawless. 

As the influencers took videos and did their vlogging thing, I just stood there, and admired the view. 

I didn’t take a single photo for a few minutes. It’s an old habit from the mountains

I admired the expanding skyline of Cebu and the emerald mountains in the backdrop.

I looked below, and was amazed by the azure waters that sparkle under the sun.

It was something relatively new for me. 

Most of the views I’ve seen as of late were rice terraces, rolling hills, towering mountains, and sea of clouds. 

This was different, and something I didn’t see every day. 

I stared at the buildings and the bridges again.

Cebu looked nothing like it was a decade ago.

It continuously to evolve and grew, and I hadn’t really appreciated it even though I lived there.

Maybe there was a reason for this NUSTAR Skydeck experience.

Perhaps the Universe was sending a sign to me.

For some reason, I felt like there was an invisible string pulling me towards the NUSTAR Skydeck that day.

I hesitated going there, but somehow, I sensed a magnetic pull from the NUSTAR Skydeck.

And that same invisible string I felt was the same one that brought me to several parts across Mindanao.

And you know what that lead to? It gave me ideas for the characters of my debut novel, 101 Letters to Juliet. 

I didn’t know what this NUSTAR Skydeck experience would lead to. But I believe everything happens for a reason.

The views from the NUSTAR Skydeck

I didn’t read any NUSTAR Skydeck reviews before this trip. I didn’t search Facebook or Google for “the Skydeck at NUSTAR Cebu City photos.”

And Facebook, with its prolific algorithm, only shows me natural wonders on my feed and reels.

Occasionally, it shows Vivamax. But let’s not talk about that.

So I was genuinely amazed by the bird’s eye view of Cebu from the NUSTAR Skydeck.

For some reason, it reminded me of photos of people skydiving in Dubai. Maybe it was the skyscrapers standing next to the sea.

I didn’t know why skydiving crossed my mind that day. But I believe there was a reason for that too.

I took photos of the view and the NUSTAR Skydeck, and talked with the influencers.

Amazingly, they were just as low-key and no-frills as me, even though they have thousands or even millions of followers on Facebook.

Lunch at Il Primo Italian Steakhouse – NUSTAR

After our NUSTAR Skydeck experience, the whole gang was treated to a scoop of soft serve.

Then we followed Hannah to Il Primo Italian Steakhouse, where we met some of the company’s managers. We had lunch there and were treated to a variety of mouth-watering food, including steaks, pasta, and gelato.

I admit, I often look out of place in fancy restaurants like this.

But unlike the younger version of me, I didn’t care.

I didn’t feel small, even though I was in a fancy steakhouse surrounded by notable people. And if someone asked me about myself, I would proudly tell them everything.

In the past, I wouldn’t share a single detail about my life. I was too shy to speak what was inside my head.

But all my daring pursuits outdoors, and all my encounters with tribes and strangers across the country, have given me the confidence to say what’s on my mind.

I guess that’s why I said yes to this adventure, even though it made no sense on paper.

The post NUSTAR Skydeck experience 

I had no regrets going to the NUSTAR Skydeck that day.

I walked out of a casino having lost nothing. Not everyone can say that.

I don’t go to influencer events. But I went, and met the most humble influencers in town.

I don’t go to casinos. But I went, and experienced something more thrilling and rewarding than winning a jackpot.

When we parted ways, I was all smiles. And it wasn’t because of the photos on my camera and phone. It was because this whole experience made me fall in love with Cebu again.

I travel every month to escape the stress and experience the world abundantly. I’ve been to almost every mountain and province in the country. And somewhere along the way, I forgot how beautiful my hometown was.

Sure, it’s not perfect. I still hate the traffic, the floods, and the tiny streets that aren’t pedestrian-friendly.

But like me, Cebu is perfectly flawed. And it keeps reinventing itself.

There’s still so much to explore here, even for someone who thought he had already explored it all.

Maybe that was the reason the Universe brought me to the NUSTAR Skydeck that day.

The only bet I placed was on my own curiosity.

It paid out.

One week later 

I was originally planning to fly to Manila and travel to Apayao that Friday. I hadn’t booked my flights, but my Paid Time Off was already approved.

And there was no way I was spending my day off in bed, doomscrolling or binge-watching.

I roughly have a thousand weekends left in my life, and I don’t want to spend my extra days off staring on my smartphone.

As I was looking at my options, I remembered my experience at the NUSTAR Skydeck. I remembered what it felt like to see Cebu from a bird’s perspective.

Then a light bulb went off.

What if I went paragliding in Oslob?

So I did. And it was unforgettable. But that’s a story for another post.

I guess that’s why the invisible string pulled me toward the NUSTAR Skydeck that day.

And remember when skydiving in Dubai randomly crossed my mind on that glass floor? I finally understood why. After Oslob, I found myself eyeing skydiving in Bantayan next.

The Universe wasn’t showing me a casino. It was showing me the sky.

In short, if I hadn’t gone to the NUSTAR Skydeck that day, none of this might have happened at all.

I know these experiences are risky and a bit expensive.

But I’d rather take risks, fail, or get lost than die with regrets.

How to book NUSTAR Skydeck tickets online?

You can book NUSTAR Skydeck tickets through NUSTAR’s official e-ticket portal at e-ticket.nustar.ph. Select your preferred date and time slot, pay online, and present your e-ticket at the Skydeck welcome desk on the 26th floor. Tickets are subject to availability, so book ahead if you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday. Walk-in guests may also be accommodated, but entry depends on venue capacity, and short waiting times are expected during peak hours.

How to go to NUSTAR Skydeck?

The NUSTAR Skydeck is located inside NUSTAR Resort Cebu on Kawit Island, South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City. From downtown Cebu, it’s a quick drive via the SRP road. It’s around 10 to 20 minutes by taxi or Grab, depending on traffic. Once inside the resort, head to the hotel lobby, take the elevator to the 26th floor, and follow the ramp to the Skydeck welcome desk. You won’t get lost. The staff will point you in the right direction, and the projections of galaxies and whales along the way are worth the walk.

Does NUSTAR have an entrance fee?

NUSTAR Resort itself is free to enter. You can visit the mall, restaurants, and lobby without paying anything. The NUSTAR Skydeck, however, has an introductory ticket price of PHP 500 nett, which includes one entry to the glass walkway and viewing deck.