Magellan's Cross
Planted in April 14, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, this marks the spot where the first Christian Filipinos, Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana and about 400 followers were baptized by Fr. Pedro Valderama. In 1535 to 1740, the Agustinian priests built an open shrine for the cross, but the natives began to take chips from the cross believing it had miraculous power. So a kiosk-like structure was built to protect the cross from total destruction. To protect is further, a hallow cross of Tindalo wood was made to encase the original cross which is what we see now.
Lapu Lapu Monument
Stands at the site where the battle between Mactan Island Chieftain Lapu-lapu and a foreign agressor Ferdinand Magellan ocurred in 1521. It depicts the hero holding a bolo in one hand and a pestle in the other. Said weapons were believed to have been used during his battle with Magellan. This monument stands as a reminder to the youth of today, that his ancestors were brave and freedom-loving people. There is also a picture of the Battle of Lapu Lapu adjacent to the Lapu-lapu Monument.
Mactan Island
A coral island and a famous scuba diving area, where famous beach resorts of international standard are located. Major resorts are Tambuli, Costabella, Coral Reef, Hadsan, Bahia, Cebu Beach Club, Mary Cielo, Club Kon Tiki, Maribago Bluewater, Pacific Cebu Resort, Cebu Mactan Members Center, and Cebu Marine Beach Club.
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Urdaneta on the site of the house where the image of Santo Nino was found in 1565. The first structure of the church was, however, destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568. It was rebuilt in 1602 under the administration of Juan Albaran and was rehabilitated in 1740. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minore del Santo Niño by Cardinal Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.
Magellan Marker
Encouraged by the succes of Christianizing the people of Cebu, Magellan crossed the channel to Mactan Island in an effort to spread Catholocism. Before he could reach the shores, he was killed in knee-deep water by the Chieftain of the island, Lapu-lapu and his men during the battle for supremacy and freedom on April 27, 1521. Efforts to retrive the body of Magellan were futile inspite of the offer to trade jewelries and spices for the dead body. This marker was erected in 1866 to mark the spot where the great explorer died.
University of San Carlos Museum
A product of years of research, the collections in view are anthropological and biological. The anthropological section portrays the cultural development and influence into society and its close affinity with the people of Southeast Asia. The biological section presents samples of the flora and fauna of the country in general and Cebu in particular.
Bolok-Bolok Mineral Spring
Located in Barili, 61 kms. south of Cebu City, a spring emitting sulphuric water that cures skin ailments.
Heavenly Temple of Charity
(Peace Valley, Lahug). It is a temple built on top of a hill. Beneath the hill flows water from a natural spring believed to have a curative effect.
Known as the "Queen City of the South", Cebu is revered among the Philippine islands as the hub of both tourism and business opportunities. All-year round blessed with enjoyable tropical weather, Cebu enthrones herself among sapphire and emerald waters. Beaches mindful of their fine white sands and exquisite views are enough to keep the senses attentive.
As the focal point of growth and development in the south, its sphere of influence extends with a radius of 200 miles covering the Visayas, Mindanao and Southern Luzon. It is not only the center of social, economic, and educational activities but also the hub of local and international shipping and air travel due to the presence of Cebu International Port and Mactan International Airport (map), one of the finest in the Philippines.
Cebu's metamorphosis - from Zebu, the fishing village and busy trading port in 1531 to Villa San Miguel, later to Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus in 1575, the municipality of Cebu in 1901, to a chartered city on February 24, 1937, makes her the city with the greatest historical significance in the Philippines.
Cebu has 53 municipalities, a land area of 5,088.44 sq. kms. Cebu City is known as its capital.
Cebu City has been given the honor as having the many "first" in the nation's history. Established by Legazpi in 1571, Cebu became the first city in the Philippines antedating Manila by 7 years. In point of fact, it is the oldest city in the Philippines with the oldest church, oldest school, and oldest street. It was on the shore of Cebu that Magellan planted in 1521, the cross symbolizing the faith of the New World, an event which gained for Cebu City the distinction in the history as being the cradle of Christianity in the Far East.
Climate is relatively moderate and has no distinct wet or dry season. The warmest temperature at 30°C generally comes in March and reaches its peak in April and May. The coldest temperature at 18°C comes during the months of December to February. Then the month of November has the heaviest rainfall.
The island is very rich in mineral resources, matallic and non-metallic. Copper is top of the list and one of the big coppermines in Asia, is found in Toledo City, Cebu. Cement is the number one non-metallic mineral, and two big cement factories are located in the province of Cebu. Processing plants for coconut oil, rice and corn are concentrated in Metro Cebu, which has the prospect of becoming the center of industralization in Central Philippines.
Cebuanos are multi-lingual and most people speak Tagalog and Cebuano-Visayan dialect, the most widely spoken dialect in the Philippines especially in most places in Visayas and Mindanao. English is widely understood and spoken.
Points of interest
Fort San Pedro. The smallest, oldest tri-bastion fort in the Philippines. This served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. It has a total inside area of 2,025 sq. meters. The walls are 20 ft. high, 8 ft. thick and the towers are 30 ft. high from the ground level.
Mandaue-Mactan Bridge. This is the 65-million-peso bridge that connects the industrial city of Mandaue to the historical island of Mactan. This was started in February 1968 and was finished and inagurated in 1972. The bridge is 864 meters long and 9 meters wide with a clearance of 75 ft. on high tide and 90 ft. on low tide, thus allowing inter-island vessels to pass under it.
Colon Street. This is also known as the Parian district. It is the oldest street in the Philippines which was built by the Spaniards during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. At present, it is the hearth of downtown Ceby, a glittering city by night lined with moviehouses, restaurants, department stores and other establishments.
Cebu Provincial Capitol. One of the many beautiful capitol buildings in the Philippines; constructed in 1937 under the administration of Gov. Sotero Cabahug.
Casa Gorordo Museum. Located on Lopez Jaena St. is the house of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu. A tour inside this residence is a brief journey into a Filipino lifestyle in a particular period between 1860 to 1920.
Jumalon's Family Cultural Project. A Lepido Mosaic Art collection, so called because it utilizes butterfly wings as its medium. Beautiful and intricate samples of this artwork can be seen at Prof. Julian Jumalon's residence in Basak, Pardo, Cebu City.
Aznar-Alfonso Antique Collection. Owned by Dr. Lydia Aznar-Alfonzo is of much younger vintage. But already it has grown so rich and so varied in content it has filled a good-sized residence to overflowing. Pieces of lovely period furniture, a very wide collection of antique jewelry, "santoses" as well as authentic "grave goods" from various archaeological diggings in the island of Mactan and Cebu helped enrich Dr. Alfonso's beautiful collection.
Roska Antique Collection. Owned by Col. Ceasar Roska, consists of several varieties of religious artifacts, period furniture, lamps, plates and various archaeological diggings from the island of Cebu.
Arcenas Antique Collection. Spanish period furniture and "santoses", jewelries, pottery, percelain wares, located at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Ramon Arcenas in Banawa.
Rose Ong Orchid Collection. So beautiful and varied, the biggest orchid collection in the province of Cebu.
President Sergio Osmeña Memorabila. Contains the late president's historical car, his personal belongings and memoirs.
Rizaliana Museum. Contains the memorabila of Dr. Jose Rizal given by his sister to the University of Southern Philippines Museum.
Tourist Seaside Resort Hotel. Located in Talisay, or 12 kms. southeast of Cebu City. Facilities include room accommodations, swimming pool, conference halls and restaurant services. It also offers aqua sports like diving, snorkeling and wind surfing.
Cebu Club Pacific Resort. Located 67 kms. north of Cebu, it offers room accommodations and white sandy beaches.
Moalboal. Located 89 kms. southwest of Cebu City, it offers room accommodation, white sandy beaches and excellent corals for scuba diving.
Badian Island Beach Resort. Located 97 kms. southwest of Cebu City, it offers room accommodation, white sandy beaches and excellent corals for scuba diving.
Kawasan Falls (Moalboal). One can feel the coolness of the surrounding lush greenery of this panoramic waterfalls.
Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation. The third largest mine in the world located in Ba. Don Andres Soriano. Mining operations of Atlas is a combination of underground blockcarving and open pit mining.
Nonoc Caves. (Borbon, around 83 kms. north of Cebu City). During the liberation, these caves served as protective shelters for picnickers and bathers.
Chapel of the Last Supper (Mandaue Parish). Life-sized wood carving of the Lord Jesus and his 12 Apostles seated at a long table for the last supper. This is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. This treasured relic is found in the church of Mandaue City that dates back to 1601.
Image of Santo Niño de Cebu. Considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 14, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Fourty four years later, on April 27, 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived. Fr. Urdaneta who formally christanized the Cebuanos, found the native very hostile. Legaspi himself besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was in one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Sto. Niño unscratched. Since than, the image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as its Patron Saint. At present this image is enshrined in glass and adorned with gold and precious stones. It is housed in a side altar inside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
Taoist Temple. (Beverly Hills). This temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 BC Chinese philosopher. Every day people climb its 99 steps to light joss sticks and have their fortune read.
Phu-Sian Temple. A Buddist Temple, the third Chinese temple on Beverly Hills, located at the right side of the road going to the Taoist Temple.
Y.M.C.A. Along Osmeña Blvd. is a sports complex equipped with body building equipement, swimming pool, bowling lanes and ball game courts.
Jacob's Ladder. Carved stairs of flat stones and lime, the steps start at the heart of the poblacion and winds uphill with its step of 114. This steep stairway is 200 feet above-sea-level.
Beverly Hills. A scenic subdivision on Lahug Hills commands a breathtaking view of the entire city.
Liloan Lighthouse. Found in the municipality of Liloan, around 18 kms. north of Cebu City. Built by the Americans in 1904.
New Cebu Coliseum. A sports center located on Sanciangco St. where concert and ball games are held.
Cebu City Zoon (Capitol Hills). A favorite place for animal-watching.
Firing Range. A tourist come-on, located in Bo. Pusok, Lapu-lapu City, for pistol-shooting enthusiasts.
Cebu Botanical Garden (Camp Marina, Capitol Hills). Plant hobbyists can see a wide collection of greeneries.
San Miguel Brewery. An impressive, well-maintained 25-hectare property, 100 Million SMC Complex, is a sight which greets visitors coming to Cebu City from Mandaue highway. It is the city's biggest industrial firm, the heaviest industrial taxpayer in Cebu City and one of its major attractions.
Guitar Factories (Maribago District). One can see actually how guitars are made. It is amazing, however, to note that while the occupation of the people is in the Mactan district, the raw materials used, have to be shipped from Mindanao, and that such materials cannot be found anywhere on the island of Cebu.
R & M Preserves (V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe). A plant processing for fruit preserves like mango, orange, papaya, jackfruits, etc.
Festivals
Sinulog. A week-long religious festival held every 3rd weekend of January honoring the patron Saint of Cebu, Sto. Niño, the Christ Child, with the Sinulog ritual dance and other public celebrations. The Sto. Niño image is carried in procession along the streets. It is also a celebration of the pageantry of the early Cebuano culture, and the history of the Christianization of Cebu.
It is an enduring native expression of prayer bridging the pagan years with the Christian era of today. Drum-beating, which is the ritual for bountiful harvest, will be heard during the entire festivities pacing and dancing of soot-covered revelers in the street and town plaza. The intermingling of historical, cultural and religious elements makes the Sinulog an interesting festivity.
Kaduagan Sa Mactan. Re-enacted every 27th of April commemorating the victory of the Filipino people over western aggression. This battle was fought between the Spaniards led by Magellan and the Filipinos led by Lapu-lapu, the first hero of the Philippines.
