Almost everyone in Cebu City’s bustling creative scenes has a story to tell about Turtle’s Nest, it seems. Over 26 years, the restaurant, gallery, and artist space has seen generations of artists grow even as urbanization transformed its surroundings.

“It was the last crumbling fort of the weirdos along Gorordo Avenue,” said actress Chai Fonacier, who considered Turtle’s Nest her living room while her acting career was taking off. “A lot of people tried to keep it open for as long as we could.” Turtle’s Nest outlived other beloved venues like Outpost and Handuraw, which were part of the area’s heyday in the 2010s.

On a regular night, you’d find artists, poets, call center agents, students, and an assortment of folks frequenting its tables. It attracted people from nearby universities such as the University of the Philippines Cebu and the University of San Carlos and the IT Park, since Gorordo Avenue was a main road that crossed Mango (now General Maxilom) Avenue. Among its regulars were the visual artist Nunelucio Alvarado, reggae trailblazer Budoy, alternative rock band Urbandub, riot grrrl band Tiger Pussy, and noise rock pioneers Bombo Pluto Ova, and more.

‘ ‘3’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:8b0d1860-d4b2-4d45-8060-d0557763eee8’ ‘imageCaption’: ‘Over 26 years, the restaurant, gallery, and artist space Kukuk’s

The names Turtle’s Nest and Kukuk’s Nest are used interchangeably, though the latter was originally that of the pension house and inn across the street. When the latter closed, the sign was moved to its present location. The house itself, whose architecture and jalousie windows are straight out of the early nineties, is among the last of its kind amid the low and high-rise buildings on the same block.

Bambi Beltran, the owner of Turtle’s Nest, initially intended for the restaurant to be a library cafe. But given the patronage, they eventually added beer, and the place eventually expanded to involve a gallery. Street artists of Cebu — including those from the Ubec Crew — began to adorn the walls, and events for music and performance would pop up as people gravitated to the place.

“Pag Kukuk’s kasi, you can have a death metal show or a punk hardcore show,” said Jerros Dolino, who has been a member of Urbandub, Sheila and the Insects, and many other bands. “Then the next day, there’s a poetry reading session. The next weekend, it could be a reggae show. Tapos meron art exhibit. It was a space for a lot of artists talaga.” Its welcoming of different genres of music extended as well to what art could take place there.
‘9’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:468e76fb-3b9f-47c3-bc6a-064930e1d5e0’ ‘imageCaption’: ‘Ivan Zaldarriaga, son of Kukuk’s owner Bambi Beltran, stands amongst the crowd at one of the many house’s farewell events. Photo by ZACH

“Walang pakialaman, may art lang na nangyayari,” recounted Ivan Zaldarriaga, Beltran’s son, street artist, and filmmaker. “Mga tumatambay din doon na non-artists, na-iinfluence din sila. Parang napapalawak ang utak nila na art is not just a painting. Or going out to party, you don’t just watch music or a live band. Maraming alternatives to what you can do.”

One of the most awaited events at Turtle’s Nest was World Monggo Day, the annual year-end party that initially began as a night where each dish had monggo. Each year had a theme, whether it would be a doomsday get-up or a third eye on your forehead.

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