No other city has
charms as myriad as that of Cebu, be it historical, cultural, spiritual and
what have you. Just like the rest of the island province, it’s a kaleidoscope
of diverse lifestyles, cultures and traditions where the contemporary meets the
classic, the east comes face-to-face with the west, time-honored practices
co-exist with trend-setting conventions. Cebu is definitely one place like no
other!
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Cebu City Hall
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Having visited this highly-urbanized metropolis on countless occasions, it always feels like I’ve never really left home. The city always makes me feel that way. Saying goodbye often ends up like some bittersweet affair. I’ve grown so fond of it such that the thought of settling down there for good crossed my mind many times!
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Snapshot of Cebu's dazzling cityscape
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Here’s
a place that offers drifters and denizens alike something of everything. From
historical landmarks to amazing temples to modern lifestyle museums, Cebu has
it all…and much, much more! Whether you're a culture vulture, a chow connoisseur, a caper seeker or
a club hopper, there is something sweet, surprising and spectacular that awaits you in the Queen City of the
South.
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The iconic Fuente Osmeña
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Fuente Osmeña at night
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Here
then is a personal list of some of the most interesting destinations in Cebu.
I’m pretty sure you have your own choices. You may agree with mine or think
otherwise. For me, these are some of the charming attractions that make the
city tick. If you haven't made it there yet, you might find this eclectic list
of must-sees useful as you plan your trip to Cebu:
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Magellan's Cross
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Historical/Religious Landmarks
Magellan’s Cross. Just
a stone’s throw away from Cebu City Hall, Magellan’s Cross was erected in honor
of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator who claimed these islands for
the Spanish Crown. He is said to have landed on the shores of Sugbu (Cebu’s old
name) in 1521 and planted a wooden cross on the very spot where the shrine now
stands. Magellan also gave Humani, the wife of Rajah Humabon (Sugbu’s king), an
image of the Santo Niño.
Housed inside a roofed chapel-like concrete kiosk, the cross or, more accurately, a replica of the original that was planted almost 500 years ago, never fails to attract the crowds who visit Cebu. Mind you, the place is always teeming with people from all walks of life—curious tourists, beggars and itinerant peddlers selling a variety of items such as guitars, rosary beads, sweets, among others.
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Philippine history as captured in this mural
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Once you’re inside the shrine, catch a
glimpse of the mural on the kiosk’s ceiling that highlights the various events
during the arrival of the conquistadors in the island—the conversion of the
natives, the image of the Holy Child, and of course, the planting of the cross,
etc. How’s that for a quick glance of some of Philippine history’s most
important moments!
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Interior of the Basilica del Sto. Niño
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Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. Cebu has been known far and wide as one of the earliest bastions of Christianity in the country. Central to its being a stronghold of Roman Catholicism in this part of the world is the original statuette of the Holy Child or the Santo Niño, which is permanently encased within bulletproof glass, housed inside one of the city’s most enduring landmarks, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
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The basilica at night
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Altar and retablo mayor (main altarpiece)
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History has it that Magellan gave the icon to the Sugbu king’s wife after her and her people’s baptism. When conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to Sugbu in 1565, he and his men found an image of the Holy Child which is believed to be the one that Magellan gave to Humabon’s wife (who was christened as Juana).
In that same year, a church made of light materials, the precursor of today’s
basilica, was built on the very spot where the icon was discovered. Gutted by
fire in 1602 and 1735, the structure was rebuilt twice. Between 1735 and 1737,
the Augustinians erected a church made of stone. In 1789, it underwent a major
renovation; however, most of its original features were retained, except for
the windows that were added. In 1965,
Pope Paul VI ordered its conversion into a minor basilica.
Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral. A block away from the basilica lies another equally important religious
edifice in the city that is also considered as one of its prominent tourist
magnets—the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, officially known as the Metropolitan
Cathedral and Parish of St. Vitalis and of the Guardian Angels, which is the
ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu.
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Facade of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
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The original structure
is said to have taken more than a century to be completed, marked by numerous
starts and stops due mostly to inadequate funds, changes in church
administration, reconstructions, design alterations, among others. Construction
is said to have finally taken off in 1689 but the structure was destroyed by a
typhoon. Work resumed in 1719 but was suspended when funds were diverted to
finance military campaigns against Moro raiders.
Efforts to continue with the construction
gained ground in 1786. Again, it suffered so many delays. Finally, the seventh
construction-reconstruction attempt began in 1891 but it was halted by the
Philippine Revolution in 1898. Work on the cathedral was fully completed in
1909. Much of it, however, was destroyed by Allied bombings during World War
II, with only its belfry (built in 1835), facade, and thick walls surviving the
bombardment. In the 1950s, a massive reconstruction was relentlessly pursued to
restore the cathedral into its former state.
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A section of Cebu Heritage Monument
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Cebu Heritage Monument. At the northern tip of Colon, the oldest street in the country, stands a tableau of sculptures made of concrete, bronze, brass and steel showing scenes about events and structures related to the history of Cebu as well some of the most notable Cebuanos. Known as the Cebu Heritage Monument, the massive edifice, which was constructed in July 1997 using funds donated by private individuals and organizations, took three years to complete.
Built by a local artist,
Eduardo Castrillo, the monument, which is made of concrete, brass, steel and
bronze structures, depicts some popular landmarks and structures that are
associated with Cebu such as the Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral, St. John the Baptist Church, Magellan’s Cross, and a Spanish
galleon.
Meanwhile, the historic
events depicted there include the baptism of Rajah Humabon, a procession of the
Santo Niño, a Roman Catholic mass, and the Battle of Mactan fought between
Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. It also features the monuments of some of Cebu’s
prominent sons—the late president Sergio Osmena Sr. and Blessed Pedro
Calungsod.
Fort San Pedro.
Strategically located at the city’s port area near Plaza Independencia, Fort
San Pedro was originally built in 1565 under Legazpi’s orders to protect the
settlement from the persistent attacks of Moro raiders. Rebuilt in 1738, the
triangular-shaped fort was once called San Miguel but it was renamed to Fuerza
de San Pedro later.
Starting
in the 1950s, the massive stronghold, or some parts of it, was turned into a
mini-garden, a clinic, a public works office and—would you believe?—a zoo! At
present, the fort houses an open-air theater and a park and a museum where
local and foreign tourists can view some well-preserved legacies of Spanish
rule in the country such as documents, paintings and sculptures.
Temples and Shrines
Taoist Temple. Said to
have originated in China some 2,000 years ago, Taoism is an ancient tradition
of philosophy and religious belief that has about a billion adherents
worldwide, mostly Chinese. A religion of unity and opposites, it promotes
harmony and unity with nature, pursuit of spiritual immortality, virtuosity,
and self-development. In the Philippines, there are a few Taoist temples
scattered all over and one of them is located in Cebu City.
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Taoist Temple
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Built in 1972 by the Chinese community in Cebu, the multi-level temple, which is located within Beverly Hills, a posh subdivision in Lahug, stands on a hill with an elevation of about 300 m above sea level. On a clear day, visitors will be treated to a spectacular vista of Cebu City and the nearby islands of Mactan and Bohol.
Open to worshipers and
non-worshipers alike, it’s the perfect spot for sight-seeing, praying,
soul-searching, meditating, and what have you. Even staring at the temples,
stone statues, fountains and gardens can be therapeutic. Tourists, however, are
advised to remain silent so as not to disturb others who go there to seek
serenity and silence in the temple’s premises.
Temple of Leah. Dubbed as the city’s version of the Taj Mahal
in Agra, India, Temple of Leah is regarded as an awe-inspiring gesture of love
by a husband for his late wife. Unlike the Taj Mahal, however, which is a
mausoleum, the temple is a shrine-slash-storehouse of the memories and
treasures of Leah Albino-Adarna, the late wife of entrepreneur Teodorico
Adarna. The couple happen to be the grandparents of sexy actress Ellen Adarna.
Located in the hilly
village of Busay, Temple of Leah can be reached in less than an hour by car
from downtown Cebu. Along the way, you’ll be treated to a panoramic vista of
Busay as your vehicle passes through the 33-km Cebu Transcentral Highway, the
city’s version of Baguio’s Kennon Road. Passing through that winding stretch,
those wanting to go to the distant towns of the province, say, Balamban, can
reach them in about two hours’ time.
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| Leah's iconic bronze statue |
How much did it cost
Adarna to build the temple? Some accounts place it at around Php80 million (and
still counting given that construction is still ongoing after it began in
2011). Three years ago, the Adarna clan, owners of the Queensland chain of
motels in Cebu, Davao and Manila, opened the temple to the public for which
they charge Php50 as entrance fee.
Lifestyle Museums
SM City Cebu. One
of the largest malls in the country, SM City Cebu is a sprawling four-level
complex that features a department store, eight world-class cinemas, a food
court, a bowling center, a traveler’s lounge (where I usually deposit my stuff),
an amusement center and a huge trade hall. Located at the corner of Juan Luna
Avenue and Cabahug and Kaoshiung Streets at Cebu’s north reclamation area, the
shopping complex boasts of about 500 retail shops, restaurants and cafés.
Opened
to Cebuano shoppers in 1993, the mall is considered as SM Prime Holdings’s
first shopping mall outside Metro Manila, occupying almost 12 hectares of prime
property. Sometime in 2007, the owners built an expansion wing to cater to the
mall’s growing clientele. Known as Northwing, the adjunct offers two floors of
retail shops, restos and cafés, catering to leisure and entertainment buffs.
What’s
in store for mall rats who visit SM City Cebu? Definitely a lot. They can find
a wide variety of exciting food choices from fast food chains to fine dining restos.
They can also shop till they drop in many of the mall’s stores and outlets.
They can also watch their favorite films at any of its state-of-the-art movie
theaters. Those who worry about parking need not fret as the mall has an expansive
car park with three levels of covered parking as well as roof deck parking.
SM
Seaside City. Probably one of the largest malls in the country, SM Seaside City
was built on Cebu's 300- hectare island-type reclamation area located in the
southern part of the city, near the villages of Mambaling, Inayawan, and Pasil.
The mall is said to be the centerpiece of the SM Seaside Complex, a 30-hectare
mixed-use development at the city's 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP).
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The iconic Cube
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Geez, the shopping
complex definitely has it all—an eclectic mix of restaurants, designer
shops, cinemas, entertainment/amusement centers, department store,
supermarket and much, much more!
What grabbed my attention are the
Seaside Tower, a sprawling 148-meter structure with a viewing deck that offers
a 360-degree view of Cebu, and the Cube, a huge 21 x 21 meter iconic sculpture
made of fine stainless steel that stands as a symbol, not only of the Cebuanos
but also the Filipinos' strength and stability.
If SM Mall of Asia has the Globe as its iconic landmark, SM Seaside has
the Cube to match it.
Some
of SM Seaside’s other awesome features that caught my fancy include the Sky
Park, Children’s Playground, Bowling and Amusement Center, IMAX Theater and the
Ice Skating Rink. Believe me, they're worth exploring when you're in town!
Bearing
the trademark Ayala landscaping and lighting that never fails to draw ohs and
ahs from shoppers, The Terraces is surrounded with numerous shops and
establishments where people gravitate to savor local or foreign cuisines, sip
their favorite booze, strike up a conversation with a friend, snap a selfie,
stop for a break after a shopping spree, or simply stare at the amazing
sights all over you.
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| One of the many Korean delights at The Terraces |
One
of the things I like about The Terraces are its well-manicured gardens and
refreshing fountains that conspire to provide visitors a chic yet calming
ambiance after a hard day’s grind. Anyone can go there to seek solace from the
cares and uncertainties of the world even for just a few minutes. Best time to hang around? Dusk—that's when the whole place starts to transform into one shining and shimmering pleasure ground.
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| A live performance inside one of the Terraces' pubs |
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The guitar—one of Cebu's iconic symbols featured at Robinsons Galleria's lobby
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Robinsons
Galleria Cebu. One of the most awaited mixed-use developments ever to rise
within the city’s north reclamation area, Robinsons Galleria stands out as one
of the city's newest shopping havens, exhibiting a world-class architecture
that captures Cebu’s progressive, bullish and entrepreneurial spirit.
Aside from the foreign and homegrown outlets and shops, some of the mall’s features that I like the most are its lush interior gardens, cascading water fountains, and al fresco dining area.
As a food lover, I was excited to know that TGI Fridays has a resto at the mall. Here's one happy place that always gives me that sought-after swell of Friday feels no matter what day of the week I go there. Aside from the fun, frolic and friendly ambiance, the resto offers a feast of a menu you can pig out on at your table!
Now, what got me doubly excited was when I saw a resto-branch of Sans
Rival (yes, Dumaguete’s popular cakes and pastries shop!) offering goodies like silvanas, sans rival cakes and other sweet
temptations! Yeah, it was pure bliss for this sweet-toothed foodie!
With so many charming attractions, it comes as no surprise why Cebu counts among the major tourist magnets of the country, with about three million visitors going there year in, year out. Those who pick the city do so because they know what it has to offer: sunny skies, enchanting beaches, world-class accommodations, swanky malls, and a plethora of other natural and man-made treats that will definitely make tourists crave to see it.
So, if the city isn’t part of your travel plans yet, then you better make changes to it because you're definitely missing a lot! Take it from me: Once you've experienced Cebu, your life will never be the same again!
No other city has
charms as myriad as that of Cebu, be it historical, cultural, spiritual and
what have you. Just like the rest of the island province, it’s a kaleidoscope
of diverse lifestyles, cultures and traditions where the contemporary meets the
classic, the east comes face-to-face with the west, time-honored practices
co-exist with trend-setting conventions. Cebu is definitely one place like no
other!
Having visited this highly-urbanized metropolis on countless occasions, it always feels like I’ve never really left home. The city always makes me feel that way. Saying goodbye often ends up like some bittersweet affair. I’ve grown so fond of it such that the thought of settling down there for good crossed my mind many times! 
Once you’re inside the shrine, catch a
glimpse of the mural on the kiosk’s ceiling that highlights the various events
during the arrival of the conquistadors in the island—the conversion of the
natives, the image of the Holy Child, and of course, the planting of the cross,
etc. How’s that for a quick glance of some of Philippine history’s most
important moments!
History has it that Magellan gave the icon to the Sugbu king’s wife after her and her people’s baptism. When conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to Sugbu in 1565, he and his men found an image of the Holy Child which is believed to be the one that Magellan gave to Humabon’s wife (who was christened as Juana).
In that same year, a church made of light materials, the precursor of today’s
basilica, was built on the very spot where the icon was discovered. Gutted by
fire in 1602 and 1735, the structure was rebuilt twice. Between 1735 and 1737,
the Augustinians erected a church made of stone. In 1789, it underwent a major
renovation; however, most of its original features were retained, except for
the windows that were added. In 1965,
Pope Paul VI ordered its conversion into a minor basilica.
Cebu Heritage Monument. At the northern tip of Colon, the oldest street in the country, stands a tableau of sculptures made of concrete, bronze, brass and steel showing scenes about events and structures related to the history of Cebu as well some of the most notable Cebuanos. Known as the Cebu Heritage Monument, the massive edifice, which was constructed in July 1997 using funds donated by private individuals and organizations, took three years to complete.
Built by a local artist,
Eduardo Castrillo, the monument, which is made of concrete, brass, steel and
bronze structures, depicts some popular landmarks and structures that are
associated with Cebu such as the Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral, St. John the Baptist Church, Magellan’s Cross, and a Spanish
galleon.
Meanwhile, the historic
events depicted there include the baptism of Rajah Humabon, a procession of the
Santo Niño, a Roman Catholic mass, and the Battle of Mactan fought between
Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. It also features the monuments of some of Cebu’s
prominent sons—the late president Sergio Osmena Sr. and Blessed Pedro
Calungsod.
Fort San Pedro.
Strategically located at the city’s port area near Plaza Independencia, Fort
San Pedro was originally built in 1565 under Legazpi’s orders to protect the
settlement from the persistent attacks of Moro raiders. Rebuilt in 1738, the
triangular-shaped fort was once called San Miguel but it was renamed to Fuerza
de San Pedro later.
Built in 1972 by the Chinese community in Cebu, the multi-level temple, which is located within Beverly Hills, a posh subdivision in Lahug, stands on a hill with an elevation of about 300 m above sea level. On a clear day, visitors will be treated to a spectacular vista of Cebu City and the nearby islands of Mactan and Bohol.
Open to worshipers and
non-worshipers alike, it’s the perfect spot for sight-seeing, praying,
soul-searching, meditating, and what have you. Even staring at the temples,
stone statues, fountains and gardens can be therapeutic. Tourists, however, are
advised to remain silent so as not to disturb others who go there to seek
serenity and silence in the temple’s premises.
Temple of Leah. Dubbed as the city’s version of the Taj Mahal
in Agra, India, Temple of Leah is regarded as an awe-inspiring gesture of love
by a husband for his late wife. Unlike the Taj Mahal, however, which is a
mausoleum, the temple is a shrine-slash-storehouse of the memories and
treasures of Leah Albino-Adarna, the late wife of entrepreneur Teodorico
Adarna. The couple happen to be the grandparents of sexy actress Ellen Adarna.
Located in the hilly
village of Busay, Temple of Leah can be reached in less than an hour by car
from downtown Cebu. Along the way, you’ll be treated to a panoramic vista of
Busay as your vehicle passes through the 33-km Cebu Transcentral Highway, the
city’s version of Baguio’s Kennon Road. Passing through that winding stretch,
those wanting to go to the distant towns of the province, say, Balamban, can
reach them in about two hours’ time.
How much did it cost
Adarna to build the temple? Some accounts place it at around Php80 million (and
still counting given that construction is still ongoing after it began in
2011). Three years ago, the Adarna clan, owners of the Queensland chain of
motels in Cebu, Davao and Manila, opened the temple to the public for which
they charge Php50 as entrance fee.
SM City Cebu. 
Opened
to Cebuano shoppers in 1993, the mall is considered as SM Prime Holdings’s
first shopping mall outside Metro Manila, occupying almost 12 hectares of prime
property. Sometime in 2007, the owners built an expansion wing to cater to the
mall’s growing clientele. Known as Northwing, the adjunct offers two floors of
retail shops, restos and cafés, catering to leisure and entertainment buffs.
What’s
in store for mall rats who visit SM City Cebu? Definitely a lot. They can find
a wide variety of exciting food choices from fast food chains to fine dining restos.
They can also shop till they drop in many of the mall’s stores and outlets.
They can also watch their favorite films at any of its state-of-the-art movie
theaters. Those who worry about parking need not fret as the mall has an expansive
car park with three levels of covered parking as well as roof deck parking.
What grabbed my attention are the
Seaside Tower, a sprawling 148-meter structure with a viewing deck that offers
a 360-degree view of Cebu, and the Cube, a huge 21 x 21 meter iconic sculpture
made of fine stainless steel that stands as a symbol, not only of the Cebuanos
but also the Filipinos' strength and stability.
If SM Mall of Asia has the Globe as its iconic landmark, SM Seaside has
the Cube to match it.
Some
of SM Seaside’s other awesome features that caught my fancy include the Sky
Park, Children’s Playground, Bowling and Amusement Center, IMAX Theater and the
Ice Skating Rink. Believe me, they're worth exploring when you're in town!
Ayala Terraces. Just a few blocks away from where I stayed
recently stands one of the country’s swankiest shopping malls—Ayala Center Cebu—where you can find one of the city’s
sought after hideaways, The Terraces. Opened to the public many years ago, it used
to be an ordinary lagoon that was later transformed into a food and beverage
strip.
Bearing
the trademark Ayala landscaping and lighting that never fails to draw ohs and
ahs from shoppers, The Terraces is surrounded with numerous shops and
establishments where people gravitate to savor local or foreign cuisines, sip
their favorite booze, strike up a conversation with a friend, snap a selfie,
stop for a break after a shopping spree, or simply stare at the amazing
sights all over you. 
One
of the things I like about The Terraces are its well-manicured gardens and
refreshing fountains that conspire to provide visitors a chic yet calming
ambiance after a hard day’s grind. Anyone can go there to seek solace from the
cares and uncertainties of the world even for just a few minutes. Best time to hang around? Dusk—that's when the whole place starts to transform into one shining and shimmering pleasure ground. 
Aside from the foreign and homegrown outlets and shops, some of the mall’s features that I like the most are its lush interior gardens, cascading water fountains, and al fresco dining area. 
As a food lover, I was excited to know that TGI Fridays has a resto at the mall. Here's one happy place that always gives me that sought-after swell of Friday feels no matter what day of the week I go there. Aside from the fun, frolic and friendly ambiance, the resto offers a feast of a menu you can pig out on at your table!
Now, what got me doubly excited was when I saw a resto-branch of Sans
Rival (yes, Dumaguete’s popular cakes and pastries shop!) offering goodies like silvanas, sans rival cakes and other sweet
temptations! Yeah, it was pure bliss for this sweet-toothed foodie!
With so many charming attractions, it comes as no surprise why Cebu counts among the major tourist magnets of the country, with about three million visitors going there year in, year out. Those who pick the city do so because they know what it has to offer: sunny skies, enchanting beaches, world-class accommodations, swanky malls, and a plethora of other natural and man-made treats that will definitely make tourists crave to see it.
