Have you ever felt the pulse of a city awakening? From here at Nustar Lighthouse you can almost feel it. The Nustar Resort and Casino complex sprawls beneath us a dazzling testament to Cebu’s ambition. This isn’t just any resort. It’s a nine-hectare marvel a city within a city.
Nustar Lighthouse itself is a more understated landmark. It’s a quiet sentinel watching over the bustling activity below. It stands as a symbol of guidance a beacon for ships navigating the waters surrounding this rapidly developing part of Cebu City. Opened in 1998 it’s a veteran of this scene.
The resort’s name Nustar is inspired by the North Star Polaris. Just as Polaris guides travelers the resort aims to guide visitors to unforgettable experiences. Nustar is a truly integrated destination. It blends luxury hotels fine dining a sprawling casino world-class convention center a shopping mall and even a planned theme park. All this sprang from an ambitious joint venture between the Cebu City Government and Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc.
Construction began in 2019. The initial groundbreaking took place in 2018. Mayor Tomas Osmeña initially proposed the name Isla dela Victoria. It was a tribute to Elpidio Jojo dela Victoria a project director who fought against illegal fishing. His tragic death in 2006 shaped the city’s memory. The name changed but the spirit of vision remains.
Nustar’s rise has been swift. The Fili Hotel’s convention center had its soft launch in 2022. The resort partially opened in May of that same year. By June 30 2023 the Nustar Convention Center opened its doors. It became the largest such venue in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The whole complex is a breathtaking achievement.
It boasts an array of restaurants from the sleek Il Primo Italian steakhouse to the unique Mott 32 a renowned Chinese restaurant. The Nustar Mall features international luxury brands. This is a place that caters to every desire.
From this vantage point at Nustar Lighthouse we can see the culmination of a vision. The city’s future shines bright. The lighthouse stands as a reminder of the past. Nustar itself is a symbol of Cebu City’s transformation its ambition and its unwavering spirit. This is more than a resort. It’s a story. A story being written day by day. A story we are privileged to witness unfold.