Ashley Judd F. Alon / UV Communication Student
A CONCERNED hiker group in Starbuk’s, Banawa, Cebu City, took the initiative to post public advisories to maintain peace in the residential area amid recurring noise disturbances from visitors, highlighting the absence of official trail regulations from the barangay.
Despite the growing popularity of Starbuk’s, a trail named by hikers after combining “Starbucks” and the Cebuano word bukid (mountain), the area remains largely unregulated.
Residents have reported that their daily lives and sleep are disturbed by loud voices, shouting and group activities from hikers. Photos of signboard advisories in the area were posted on the Facebook page of Proud Bisaya Bai.
Though the trail falls under the jurisdiction of Barangay Tisa, no formal noise-control policies, curfews, or visitation guidelines have been implemented.
Interviews revealed that most of the tarpaulin advisories were placed by a hiking group called “Tig Dong Walkers,” who are concerned for the residents frequently disturbed by loud visitors.
“Sila ra ana gabutang. Pagkakita namo, naa na ang mga tarpaulin, nahibung ra mi naa na dira gibutang, wala mi kabantay kinsa gapilit ana,” clarified a local resident, Bebien.
Only one advisory sign, placed within the Spartan Trail area by a resident, reads “Respeto mo sa natog.”
JR, 35, a resident near the Spartan Trail, noted that this specific sign was placed by his neighbor for JR’s ill grandmother.
“Bisan kadlawn, naa nay mo-hike anhi og gabii nga dako unya usahay masamokan mi sa saba, nya nasakit raba ako lola,” JR explained. His wife, Joan, also gets disturbed by hikers’ noise: “Masamokan pud mi taga kadlawn sa saba sa mga hikers.”
Jojo, a young man running a sari-sari store in the area for two months, noted that noise is generally controlled where they are.
“Ang kuan lang diha sa ubos kay naay tiguwang masakiton, dili nila pasaba-on,” he said, referring to stricter noise enforcement near the Spartan Trail due to a sick elderly person nearby. When asked about typical disturbances, he added, “Naay uban mag shagit-shagit, samot na ang mga hubog.”
In an interview, June Daclan Labitad, 37, said the trail gained popularity during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“Daghan kaayo’g tawo ari pag-Covid kay layo sa syudad, walay bawal,” he said. “Pag-Holy Week, mura lagi ga Sinulog ari kay daghan kaayo’g tawo,” he added.
The number of visitors has significantly increased over time, with people visiting regardless of the day. Even on weekdays when there are classes, many still come due to the trail’s popularity.
“Pero mas kusog jud siya taga Sabado ug Dominggo,” Labitad noted.
Despite the trail’s proximity to residential areas, Barangay Tisa officials stated that they have not received any formal or informal complaints.
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council focal person and dispatching officer Genie Binondo said, “Wala ra man mi nadawat formal/informal complain ari, mosaka ma na si Kap Ada kuyog sa secretary didto sa Starbuk’s, mag-hike nya mag-monitor pud.”
According to Rosalinda Calvo, the barangay captain’s secretary and summons in-charge, “Gi adto nato nila ni Kap kay naay reported nga daghan daw kuno magsaba-saba.” However, the barangay has yet to implement specific rules or restrictions regarding trail access and visitor conduct.
According to Jasmine Tanlangit, a food vendor near the trail, Starbuk’s gained popularity in 2022 when her uncle Paulinicio Lapina and his hiking group “Tribu Saag” began exploring the area.
The site drew further attention through posts by local influencers and a visit by Cebuano musical artist Winston Lee.
A resident also mentioned that the name “Starbuk’s” was coined during the pandemic to avoid legal issues with Starbucks and to emphasize the location’s mountainous nature (bukid).
“Pagdaghan na nakahibaw sa Starbuk’s, daghan na ni anhi. Kami jud una naninda anhi hantud naa ni sila ni sunod,” said Jasmine, referring to the influx of vendors following the trail’s popularity.
The lack of formal complaints and regulatory action presents a unique disconnect between community experience and governance. While some residents report being unaffected, others call for respect and noise discipline.
The issue may continue to gain traction on social media, potentially leading to barangay-led guidelines or restrictions to balance tourism with the needs of the community.