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"The Queen City of the South"

Cebu (Sugbo) is the name given to the city, the metropolis, the island, the province.

Cebu Province is made up of 48 municipalities and 5 cities - Cebu, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Toledo - with Cebu City as its capital. Cebu Island is a sliver of an island centrally located in the Visayas region of the Philippine archipelago, 365 miles south of Manila. Metropolitan Cebu is a complex of 3 cities and 6 municipalities with a population of over 1 million. Cebu City is the oldest Philippine city, and is also called the "Queen City of the South". As the first Spanish settlement, it was called Ciudad del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus.

Cebu City... It is the Philippines' oldest city and carries some of the country's most priceless historical relics and monuments. The Magellan Monument marks where the Spanish discoverer was killed, and the Lapu-Lapu Monument commemorates the man who slayed him --and who many call the first Filipino hero. 

                         

You can also see the emblems that Magellan left to commemorate the Filipino's conversion to Christianity: Magellan's Cross, and the country's oldest religious relic, 

 

the Image of the Holy Child Jesus. 

 

The Image now lies in the Basilica of the Sto. Nino, and is recognized by the Vatican as the cradle of Christianity in Asia. 

The wooden cross which Magellan brought with him in the year 1521 when he first set foot in the Philippines at a place called Sugbu, now Cebu, has been preserved and is now encased in an outer layer of tindalo wood, mounted on a concrete pedestal, and housed in a tile-roofed kiosk. At the roof of the kiosk is a painting depicting the landing of Magellan in Cebu and the planting of the original cross on the shore.

To Christian Filipinos, this cross symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ in the Far East, particularly in the Philippines.

Santo Nino
, is with Magellan’s Cross, the most popular symbol of Cebu. Expressive of the pleasing oppositions in Cebuano culture, it is at once both foreign and native. In history, it was made by Flemish artisans, brought to the island by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In local tradition, it is a miraculous piece of wood, cast out of the Visayan sea, worshipped from “times immemorial”.

The old church

The new outside prayer grounds

BASILICA MINOR DEL SANTO NIÑO This church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño 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 Minor del Santo Niño Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.Another famous church is the Chapel of the Last Supper, which has life-sized, hand-carved statues of Jesus and his disciples dating back to very early parts during the Spanish occupation.

                          

Aside from the relics, Cebu's rich historical roots is resplendent in its architecture. Fort San Pedro was built by the Spaniards in the 1700s to repel the Muslim rebels, and the Osmena Residence houses not only the personal memorabilia of the country's first president but mementos from General Douglas Mc Arthur.

FORT SAN PEDRO NATIONAL COLISEUM, 

       

Legaspi Ext., Cebu City- Artifacts taken from the old Spanish Galleon known as SAN DIEGO within the deep sea of Fortune Island off the coast of Nasugbo, Batangas are on display in this centuries-old Fort. The museum used to house the offices of the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Tourism Authority.

                    

The artifacts on display include Ming porcelain pieces of all sizes, coins, lockets, swords fragments, cannons and helmets. Well-kept flower beds, cannons, lush vegetation, and neat walkways align its interiors along with a canteen and a museum. 

 

Lorena is from Talisay

Cebu! View from the hills...

TAOIST TEMPLE

Located at Beverly Hills, Cebu City. This temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday people climb its 99 steps to light joss sticks and have their fortune read.

A towering, multi-tiered, multi-hued attraction accessible by three separate winding routes. Attractions here consist of huge, colorful dragon, a replica of the Great Wall of China, spacious balconies offering scenic views, souvenir shops, mini library with instructional materials, and dozens of escalating steps.

Chines_Drake

Chinesischer Tempel, Taoist Temple


Bahug-Bahugan-Festiva


Sinulog Festival

Every third Sunday in January starts the Sinulog Festival coincides with the feast of the Santo Niño de Cebu, patron saint of the city of Cebu.  The feast day of the Santo Niño commemorates the baptism of the chieftain of the province, his queen, and his subjects in 1521.  At this ceremony, an image of the Santo Niño was presented as a gift to Queen Juana by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Beautiful... head dress!

Cebu City is also known for being a commercial center, second only to Manila. Even before the Spanish arrived it had traded with the East Indies, Siam and China. Today, tourists still flock to buy the locally handcrafted instruments, particularly the guitars, string basses and mandolins.

  

The famous Mactan guitar

And, don't forget the BEACHES!

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Site last Updated: 13 April, 2007