Tourist Attractions In Cebu

Magellan’s Cross marks the spot where the first Filipino Christians were baptised in the presence of Ferdinand Magellan. The cross was planted here on April 14, 1521, after the first conversions to Christianity occurred; a group of Filipinos were baptised by Fr. Valedarama. The cross is today housed in a kiosk-like structure, which has murals of natives at the first Catholic mass, on its ceiling.   Magellan's Cross

Lapu-Lapu’s Monument is dedicated to Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who is credited with being the first revolutionary- the first man to fight the foreign invaders who were intent on making the Philippines their own. He was the man who killed Magellan, and his statue- a huge, brazen figure, muscles rippling and scimitar in hand, stands before the imposing white building of the Cebu Capitol. What is rather amusing (but may possibly have been intentional) is that, facing Lapu-Lapu’s statue, across the plaza, is the statue of Magellan himself. That’s irony for you!

Constructed in 1738 to ward off Muslim invaders, Fort San Pedro started life as a wooden palisade- constructed in 1565- called San Miguel.
Fort San Pedro  Originally a comparatively fragile structure, it was strengthened over the years and was eventually replaced by a solid stone fortress in 1738- the present Fort San Pedro.

Fort San Pedro is today the smallest and the oldest triangular bastion in the Philippines, and has, over the centuries, played many different roles. It has been a Spanish fortress, a stronghold for Filipino revolutionaries during the pre-independence days, a US Army barracks and a Japanese prison camp. Today, it houses a museum as well as the Cebu City Zoo.

The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño stands in the midst of Cebu City, and houses the oldest Christian relic in the Philippines- a small statue of the boy Jesus. The statue was originally gifted to Queen Juana, the consort of the local Filipino king, by Magellan, on her baptism. The locals venerate the image enshrined in a glass case. The church of the Basilica Minore del St. Niño is an impressive structure, supposedly built on the site where the image was discovered.

Sogod shows off another aspect of Cebu- it’s not historical, it’s not religious- just naturally so beautiful that it’s worth a visit. It’s got lovely beaches, crystal-clear blue waters, and some rare marine life. The highly endangered giant sea turtles spawn here, and it’s a haven for wildlife enthusiasts- armchair or otherwise. The houses in Sogod are mostly pretty old- many of them date back to the time of the Spanish occupation. On the whole, it’s a quiet, peaceful place where you can have a fairly comfortable holiday, relaxing on the beach.

Cebu has lots of other pretty places to visit, especially beach resorts like Buyong and Marigondon, Olango Island (among the most spectacular coral `gardens’ for miles around), Bantayan, Panagsama Beach, Argao and more- there’s really no shortage of good places to dive, swim and sunbathe. The island also has a large number of religious sites, such as the Naga Church (made of coral and limestone), the Dalaguete Church, with its crystal chandeliers and gold-plated altar; and the church in Argao, which has an unusual ceiling indeed- it’s made of canvas, painted with religious motifs.