Attractions: Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross is one of the most famous historical landmarks in Cebu City. Housed in an octagonal pavilion made up of adobe and red tiles, the cross has been regularly visited by many tourists. It is located in front of the Cebu City Hall, near the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Nino at Magallanes Street (named after Magellan).
As an old practice, devotees would drop coins or put lit candles at the foot of the cross as they say their prayers. Each prayer goes with a specific color of a candle, as each candle has its corresponding meaning.
History
It was on March 15, 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator working for the King of Spain, together with his crew, arrived in Cebu. Right there, he met and befriended Rajah Humabon, the then chieftain of Cebu. Magellan persuaded Humabon, his wife Queen Juana, and their native people to accept Christianity and later on, baptized them as Christians.
To commemorate such an important event on the propagation of Roman Catholic faith in the Philippines, Magellan planted a wooden cross on April 14, 1521, on the shores of Cebu. Since then, the cross has been known as the Magellan’s Cross.
The cross back then was believed to have miraculous healing power, so the people started to take pieces of it until it began to fall apart. The government who was aware of the incident built another wooden cross made from tindalo to enclose the original cross and protect it.
However, it was rumored that the cross encased inside the tindalo wood is nothing but a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards who came after Magellan’s death. The original cross was said to have been stolen or destroyed after Magellan passed away.
Features
As you enter the pavilion, you will immediately see the Magellan’s cross standing in the center. You will also notice the sign below the cross that states, “Magellan’s Cross, This Cross of Tindalo Wood Encases the Original Cross Planted By Ferdinand Magellan On This Very Site, April 21, 1521”.
The ceiling above is beautifully painted with scenes showing the arrival of Magellan in Cebu, the baptism of Rajah Humabon, his wife and their people, and the planting of the original cross on the shore of the city.
The Taoist Temple Cebu
The Taoist Temple is one of the most visited non-Catholic shrines in Cebu. Located in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Lahug, this temple was built by Cebu's Chinese community in 1972 on a hillside 300 meters above sea level.
The temple is the perfect place for meditation and relaxation. It has a spacious balcony that provides a sweeping view of the city. If the sky is clear, you would get a chance to see the islands of Mactan and Bohol from a distance. Inside the temple complex, you can also find a chapel, souvenir shop, library, fountain, garden, and a wishing well.
The Temple’s Architecture and Design
The entrance of the Taoist Temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. It is accessible from three paths and is highly ornamented, reflecting its modern Chinese influences.
On the edge of its pagoda-style roof stand some dragon statues, while the spandrels between the columns have red and green paintings of animals, suns, vines, and thorns. The gables have colorful images on them as well. There are red and white lanterns hanging from the eaves, while an old bell hangs from one corner of the porch.
Rituals in the Taoist Temple
Unlike the Phu Sian Temple close by, both worshipers and non-worshipers alike can visit the Taoist Temple. It serves as the center of worship for Taoism, the religion which follows the teachings of Lao Zi, an ancient Chinese philosopher. Inside the temple, two rituals are performed.
The first ritual is said to be about communicating with God with the use of a pair of kidney-like wooden blocks. In performing the rituals, you will wash your hands, enter the chapel barefoot, light a joss stick and kneel, then hold and drop two blocks. The position of the blocks on the ground is the answer to your prayer/wish.
If one of the blocks is flat and the other is half round, it means yes. If both blocks are half round, it means no, and you have to come back some other time. If both blocks are flat, it says maybe and you have to make your question/wish simpler.
The other ritual is where devotees will climb 181 steps in the temple, representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures. The monks will also read the fortune of the devotees. This ritual is done only on Wednesdays and Sundays.
How Much is the Entrance Fee?
It is free to enter the Taoist Temple, and there are ample spaces for parking.
Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño
Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño is known as the oldest Catholic Church in Cebu. It is located in a block beside the D. Jakosalem Street, Osmena Boulevard, P. Burgos Street, and the Plaza Sugbo where the chapel of Magellan’s Cross is at.
The church houses the image of the Sto. Niño, the city’s patron saint that represents Jesus as a black Holy Child. It is also a place for prayer and pilgrimage to a large number of people each year.
History
In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi called Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño as San Augustin Church. The exact location of the church is the same spot where Legazpi’s Spaniard troupe discovered the image of Sto. Niño. It was thought to be the gift of Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana, the wife of Rajah Humabon, as a sign of their allegiance and over forty years after their baptism to Christianity.
The statue was found in a burnt wooden box left behind during the time of Magellan. Having been able to survive the fire, the Spaniards thought it to be a miracle that the image did not turn into ashes.
On April 28, 1565, the same day Legazpi and his crew landed on Cebu, Augustinian priest Fr. Andres de Urdaneta founded the Sto. Niño monastery. The first church was then built in 1566 by Fr. Diego de Herrera with only wood and nipa. Unfortunately, the church was consumed in fire. That time, the image of Sto. Niño survived again.
The new wooden church was built in 1605 by Fr. Pedro Torres, but another fire destroyed the church again in 1628. The third church was built that same year by Fr. Juan Medina, this time using stones and bricks. But the construction did not continue due to the lack of materials used.
On February 29, 1735, the new construction of the church was led by a number of people, Father Provincial Bergano, Governor-General Fernando Valdes, Bishop Manuel Antonio Decio y Ocampo of Ceby, and Juan de Albarran. Utilizing hewn stones, the present church was finished in 1739. By 1965, Pope Paul VI converted the church into Basilica Minore.
Features
The architectural style of the Basilica is a mixture of Muslim, Romanesque, and neo-classicism. The exterior of the church still shows its original stone texture. Its dome-like ceiling is of Muslim influence. The church has an arched main entrance and rectangular corners on the side.
A bell tower is situated adjacent to the convent. A little museum can be also seen inside the Basilica. This is where the history of Christianity in Cebu is well kept, including antique objects, pastoral garments, old furniture, and the donated old cloaks of the Sto. Niño.
Feast
In honor of the Sto. Niño, a feast is annually celebrated in Cebu, the Sinulog Festival. Sinulog comes from the Cebuano word “sulog” meaning the water current movement (forward-backward movement) which is part of the traditional dance steps.
Conducted every third Sunday of January each year, this festival is one of the grandest celebrations in the country. It is being performed to remember the Filipino’s past and their acceptance of Christianity.
The festival traditionally lasts for nine days. On the last day, the most awaited part of the feast is held, the street parade. Participants from different towns and cities of Cebu and other islands in the Philippines dress in colorful and attractive costumes as they dance to the rhythm of the drums and native gongs.
The Heritage of Cebu Monument
The Heritage of Cebu Monument, a tableau showcasing the important events in Cebu City’s history, is one of the highlights of the town. The scenes depicted on the monument is related to the time of Spain's colonial rule over the country up to the recent beatification of Pedro Calungsod, the Cebuano martyr.
Features
The Heritage of Cebu is an illustration and representation of sculptures made of brass, bronze, concrete, and steel. It was built by the national multi-awarded artist Eduardo Castrillo. The construction of the monument, funded by the late senator Marcelo Fernan along with some donations, started in July 1997. Three years later, on December 8, 2000, the monument was finished and introduced to the public.
The events depicted in the monument are the baptism of Rajah Humabon and his people, a Roman Catholic Mass, Santo Nino procession, and the Battle of Mactan between Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan.
There are also statues of the late Blessed Pedro Calungsod and President Sergio Osmena Sr. The monument also displays The Saint John the Baptist Church, Basilica del Sto. Nino, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Magellan's Cross, and Spanish Galleon.
History
Where the Heritage of Cebu Monument stands is also a historic place in the city. Parian District was home to elite and respected Cebuano families during the Spanish period. The word "parian" originated from the word "pari-pari" which means to barter or trade.
The place is also said to be the center of trade between the locals, Chinese, and Spanish mestizos before. Other than that, it was also used for extravagant events for the wealthy Chinese merchants.
The exact place where the monument is located is also the original spot where the St. John the Baptist church was built before it was demolished in 1875 under the command of the diocese of Cebu.
Nearby Attractions
Across the monument is the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, considered as one of the oldest residential houses in the country. The house is constructed out of coral stones and wood. Built in the late 17th century by Chinese merchants, the place houses ancient and present-time artworks, religious images, antique pieces, Cebuano-made native furniture, and others.
Minutes away from the residential structure is Colon Street, which is known as the oldest street in the Philippines.
Yap-San Diego Ancestral House
Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, one of the oldest houses in the Philippines, is also said to be the first ever Chinese house built outside of China. Made during the Spanish colonial era, it is a 17th-century structure with the combination of Spanish and Chinese influences.
The locals refer to it as "Balay nga Bato ug Kahoy", as the house is made from coral stones and molave wood. It was then restored using the same materials and was put together using egg whites. According to the Department of Tourism, the house has maintained 90% of its original state despite the calamities and earthquakes.
History
Built between 1675 and 1700, the house originally belonged to a wealthy Chinese merchant, Don Juan Yap, and his wife, Dona Maria Florido, together with their three children, Maria, Consolacion, and Eleuterio. In the 1880s, Maria, their eldest daughter, married the Parian Cabeza de barangay, Don Mariano Sandiego. The house got its name from their marriage.
The family had become significant members of the society during that time, especially in the field of arts and culture. As a matter of fact, they have taken part in the step by step creation of Cebu's Sinulog Festival.
The house was passed down to Dona Maria's great great grandson, Val Mancao Sandiego, and his wife, Ofelia in 2008. Val Sandiego is the choreographer of the Sandiego dance company as well as an art collector. He turned the house into a museum that features his ancestors’ history.
Inside Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
As you enter the house, you will immediately see a huge Sto. Nino statue, apart from the other Sto. Nino images and religious figures spread out in the house. In one corner are the old photographs of the family together with paintings depicting the early years of the town.
A rectangular table at the center displays a collection of several fine china (porcelain) that were collected since the 1600s and were used by the family in their daily life. While in the kitchen, there are a variety of traditional cookware and cooking utensils dating back to the early generations.
Outside, you can see a freshwater well situated in the garden. It was once used for drinking but is now used only for watering the plants. There is also a particular boat from the 1800s that was used as a flower bed.
