April 1, 2012 Stop over in Cebu
I had a week long forced vacation for reasons that my Japanese superior was out of the country. Reasons that I found illogical and for that I made an immediate travel plan. I booked a flight going to Cebu where I met my sister from Manila. A couple of friends who were having vacation in Puerto Princesa had me booked them an immediate flight to join me in Cebu. So there were four of us exploring Cebu City with the plan to check out Bohol the following day.
My sister's flight arrived first in Cebu then came the flight from Palawan. Unknowingly I even met some ex-colleagues boarded on that flight. We hailed a taxi from the airport and checked in at Verbena Capitol Suites. Right after we got rooms, we went to explore the city center.
My sister's flight arrived first in Cebu then came the flight from Palawan. Unknowingly I even met some ex-colleagues boarded on that flight. We hailed a taxi from the airport and checked in at Verbena Capitol Suites. Right after we got rooms, we went to explore the city center.
We first went to Basilica Del Sto. Niño, one of the oldest churches in the country. It was not an ordinary Sunday that day but it was Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week. There were lots of vendors selling palm fronds and candles outside the church. We managed to get through thousands of people at the square just to get inside the church. We said our silent prayers before going out to check Magellan's Cross.
Being first timers we were in Cebu, everyone relied to me on my "itinerary list". Magellan's Cross was not hard to find since it is just beside the basilica. It used to be a sight on books, magazines and from the tv, but there we were standing in front of one of the historical sights in the Philippines. A marble sign says that the original cross is encased in Tindalo wood. Painted murals depicting the planting of the cross adorn the roof of the cross shelter.
Finding our way by foot to the Parian Monument, we came across the Cebu sign outside the Island Souvenir store. It reminds me of signs similar to New York with the letter NY.
We passed by a church founded in 1836, the Metropolitan Cathedral. I love the architecture of this church aside that it is not crowded unlike it's neighbor the Basilica Del Sto. Niño.
A few blocks away from the Metropolitan Cathedral, we found what we were looking for. The Parian monument or better known as the Heritage Monument of Cebu. This monument has sculptures that tells the rich story of Cebu from the time of Raha Humabon, Magellan's landing to President Osmena. The monument was inaugurated on December 2000.
A few steps from the Heritage Monument is the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House. This ancentral house was originally owned by Don Juan Yap and his wife, Dona Maria by a Chinese merchant named Don Juan Yap and his wife, Doña Maria Florido. They had 3 children, namely, Maria, Eleuterio, and Consolacion Yap. The oldest daughter, Maria Florido Yap, married a native from Obando, Bulacan, Don Mariano San Diego, who was Parian’s “Cabeza de Barangay ” (District Head) at that time.
Val Sandiego, Doña Maria’s great great grandson, is the present owner of the ancestral house. There is an entrance fee of PhP50 for those who want to enter the premises of the house.
Val Sandiego, Doña Maria’s great great grandson, is the present owner of the ancestral house. There is an entrance fee of PhP50 for those who want to enter the premises of the house.
From there, we crossed the street and hailed a cab going to a mall for an early dinner. We ended our Cebu City exploration there although there were still lots to see. My shoes that time were made maybe for walking unlike those of my companions who got tired from walking and from their respective flights. I'm am decided to go back to Cebu City of course.
"Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves” – Euripides