Fort San Pedro

Plaza Independencia

Basilica del Santo Niño

Known as Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the Santo Niño church under the Augustinian Order is one of first established church in the Philippines.

It was originally erected first by the Augustinian Fathers under Rev. Fr. Andres Urdaneta in 1565.
Designed by Fr. Diego de Herera,  the church was built together with a convent made of nipa and wood.
 
A year later on the first day of the month of November , both the original church and convent was burned.
The second church was designed and built by Fr. Pedro Torres also built of light materials also burned in 1628 on the month of March but was rebuilt under the administration of the historian Rev. Juan de Medina.

A portrait of the Basilica del Santo Niño in the 1700's.

The present and massive church was designed and constructed during the Priorship of Rev. Juan Albarro in February 29, 1735 and was finished in the year 1739. It was in 1740 where the Father Provincial of the Augustinians installed the image of the child Jesus, called  "Sr. Santo Niño de  Cebu".

The wooden Santo Niño image on the church was found during the expedition of  Miguel Lopez de Legaspi by one of his soldiers  named Juan Camus inside a box. According to Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, the first Superior of the Augustinians in the Philippines, the 11-inch wooden image wearing a red velvet vestment was similar to those made in Flanders, Belgium in the 16th century.

Inside the Basilica del Santo Niño church

According  to Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, 11-inch long wooden image of the child jesus looked the same
with the  original image of the that was given by Ferdinand Magellan on the 1500's to the wife of one of the chieftains of Limasawa, Rajah Humabon's wife with a Christian name Juana.
This was a token of friendship of Magellan to the natives as an appreciation when they convert to Christianity and honor the King Charles, the king of Spain on that time.

On queue to touch the image of the Sto. Niño

Today, the church has also a museum which is already open to public. It was first established in the year 1965 by Fr. Ambrosio J. Galindez mainly for the purpose of the commemoration of the Fourth Centennial celebration of Christianization of the Philippines. It was once located in the basement of the pilgrim center which was completed in 1995. Due to the increasing number of visitors and devotees, and collections as well, it was moved in a spacious area outside the Basilica.

Its main objective is to make people aware of the origin, circumstances and events related to the formal Christianization of the Philippines through the image of the Santo Niño.

The open chapel of the Basilica del Santo Niño.

Enjoy Cebu better and have your visit  be complete together with local and foreign tourist by visiting the cradle of Christianization in Asia in the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño.

Fuente Osmeña Circle

A bird's eye view of the Fuente Osmeña Circle

Located at the center most part of the city of Cebu, the Fuente Osmeña circle is a rotunda built for gathering for political, social, and cultural occasions.

Commonly known as Fuente de Osmeña , it was built by American engineers H. F. Cameron, E.J. Halsema and M.V. Regner  from January 30, 1911 to February 13,1912, the rotunda was known before as "La Traida de Aguas de Osmeña" which means Osmeña water supply.

During the inauguration of the City's water system, the province honored the exemplary performance of the  late Sergio Osmeña who was once the governor of Cebu until 1907 and was the recent Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives at that time. The latter became the fourth president of the Philippines from 1944-1946.

Costing to as much as five hundred fifty thousand pesos during the American Regime,  Governor Dionisio Jakosalem at that time also honored the Governor General of the Philippines W. Cameron Forbes together with the provincial board members and councilors namely:

Texts on the walls of the Fuente Osmeña Fountain

From North District:

1. T. Diores,
2. I. Alburo, 
3. J. Gomez, 
4. Q. Rodriguez, 
5. D. Leyzon ,
6. E. Escalante, 
7. R. Colina, 
8. P. Suico, 
9. Z. Joaquino
10. F. de Guia 

A view of Fuente Osmeña with the tallest towers of Cebu 

From South District:

1. P. Cepeda
2. A. Abellana
3. H. Aguilar
4. R. de Ocampo
5. P. Rivera Mir
6. S. Cinco
7. S. Aranoia
8. P. Cepeda (a different Cepeda)

 
The perfect circle plaza  has a big fountain located in the center with trees planted in symmetry on the corners and benches strategically located one from another. Both public and private vehicles can be seen passing in the streets circling Fuente Osmeña.

The Fuente Osmeña Fountain

Every December , the Cebu City government will put up a gigantic Christmas tree facing the downtown area which fascinates by passers local and foreign.

People from the queen city of the south will be hyped during the closing weeks of the year since a daily activity will be held starting the mid December  like band concerts, cultural shows, beauty pageants and a lot more until the opening of the month of January.

Enjoy Cebu and the ambiance of the city on Fuente Osmeña as it has been surrounded with the city's most famous infrastructures such as:

• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Shopping Malls
• Casino
• Massage Parlors
• And so much more..

The place would be a very busy place on an early morn where dozens of fitness people jogged, do shadow fights or stroll with their pets. At night, the city lights, cool breeze and picturesque view of the fountain will fill romance in the air. You should experience the culture of the city inside the one and only circular park of Cebu  as it has been the haven before for roller skaters, a place for various events, a stage for concerts  and a romantic place for couples.

Fuente Osmeña Circle at night.

Taoist Temple

If you are seeking to go on a peaceful place rather than a church, I suggest you should visit the Taoist temple since it would be in this place that you will be attuned with the universe. The place is very peaceful where you can smell cool breeze and can get a chance to view the breath taking scenery of the city.

Having the experience in going to the Taoist temple will give you a refreshing and recharged feeling where your restless brains will be soothes and tired muscles relaxed.

The ambiance of the place is so amazing that you can even imagine  you are out of the city. The place is recommended for the stressed and problematic people.

If you feel very stressed, the refreshing feeling will make you think of a different perspective and insight and look on a situation on a brighter side.

As one of the famous landmarks in Cebu, the Taoist temple was built in 1972 and situated  on Beverly Hills in Cebu City. Local visitors mostly elementary students includes the Taoist temple on their field trips.
Its 81-step stairs representing the scriptures of Taoism would surely let you gasp for air but you will  be rewarded when you arrive on the very top when you see the beautiful scenery.
Inside the grounds of the temple, you will see a wishing well, a pond full of big fishes, an adoration place, a souvenir shop and a lot more for you to enjoy and relax. Picture taking is allowed in the place however on  sacred chapels is forbidden.

One of the most intriguing place on the temple is the chapel where one can pray and communicate with God by using joss sticks. After lighting joss sticks, one may pray for a moment and ask one question at a time to God while holding a piece of kidney shape wooden blocks. These wooden blocks will be a medium to communicate ones question or problems. Answers would be yes, a no or maybe.

Here are the procedure in communicating with God in the Taoist temple using the wooden blocks:

1. Wash your hands representing cleanliness.
2. Light a joss stick, then kneel down by holding the joss stick with both hands and pray for guidance to enlightened your problem or wish.
3. Hold a pair of blessed wooden blocks flatside up with both hands.
4. Ask your question, problem or wish in a simple manner. (one question at a time)
5. Drop the wooden blocks gently on the floor and your answer will be according to its positions:

Reminders:

• Before asking your questions, problems or wish you have to request permission whether God is ready to accept enlightening your question in mind
• If the answer is YES, then start asking question, problem or wish
• If the answer is NO, then you have to come back some other day and ask again or consult the temple attendant for assistance.
• If the answer is MAYBE, then your question, problem or wish is not very clear. Simplify your question and ask again or consult the temple attendant
• After all your question , problem  or wish have been answered, please kneel down and express your thanks to God and ask for his blessings and graces in life.  

If you want to enjoy Cebu more visit Taoist temple. You can have the  location of the temple in Google maps. Click the link to visit: Taoist temple map.

Magellan's Cross

One of the Cebu's identity and famous historical spot in the Philippines. The Magellan's Cross is one of Cebu's golden treasure. Located just a stone throw away from the Basilica del Santo Niño, the spot was where the first Christianity in the Philippines and in Asia is born. In the 1500's the King of Cebu, Rajah Humabon and his family were baptized as Christians during the expedition of  Ferdinand Magellan.

The writing on a block on the entrance gate of the landmark are as follows: "From time immemorial this spot has been set aside to commemorate the erection of a cross in Cebu by the expedition of Magellan. When King Humabon of Cebu and his queen,son and daughters, together with some 800 of their subjects were baptized by Father Pedro Valderama. This hallowed site was improved in 1735 by Rev. Juan Albarran

prior of San Agustin and in 1834 by Rt. Rev. Santos Gomez Marañon, bishop of Cebu. The image of the Santo Niño found by the expedition of Legaspi in a hous near the present site of the cathedral of Cebu is venerated by the faithful in the nearby church of San Agustin."

It was on the 1700's where the landmark stood and improved by Fr. Albarran, and, standing still after four hundred years and counting.
Enjoy Cebu by having a memorabilia of one of the oldest historical spot in the Philippines by having a photo shot outside and inside the Magellan's Cross, local and foreign tourists are very much welcome.