Basilica of Santo Niño is one of the significant Spanish colonial buildings in Cebu City. The church contains a statue of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) regarded as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. This statue was presented by Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana during her baptism, together with her husband King Humabon, on April 14, 1521. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minor del Santo Nino by Cardinal Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.
Colon St.
Colon St. is one of the oldest streets in the Philippines, with some nice worn-out classical buildings dating back to the American Era. At night, this street transforms into a market with good buys everywhere.
Fort San Pedro (Fuerza de San Pedro)
The fort is the smallest Spanish outpost in the Philippines during the colonial era. It has a small museum showcasing the wreckage and treasures from the sunken San Diego galleon from Mexico. The area is scenic with the newly renovated and open-air Plaza Independencia at the entrance.
Lapu-Lapu Monument
Lapu-Lapu was a local hero who fought Ferdinand Magellan during the historic Mactan Landing in 1521. A small marker to Magellan is nearby. A few minutes' walk away is Shangri-La Mactan Hotel Resort and Spa, which is a tourist spot in its own right. The compound is a large park where visitors (even if they don't stay in the hotel) can roam the huge reception and its environs. Check out the beach, the chapel, the spa, and various restaurants.
Magellan's cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan. They arrived in Cebu on April 21, 1521, spreading Christianity there, and consequently to the whole country. He was killed by Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan Island, during the Battle of Mactan.
Casa Gorordo was initially the home of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu. Now, it is restored and owned by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated. This museum serves as a display of a typical Filipino home of the 19th century. It showcases the religious relics, paintings, antique furniture, and other household items. It also displays modern-day art exhibits, ceramics, pottery, and other cultural activities. Also found here are small and life-size statues of saints and other figurines.
This temple preserves the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday, people climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) to light joss sticks and have their fortune read.
Cebu Provincial Museum (Museo Sugbo)
The museum is housed in the former Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, which was once the Carcel de Cebu. Its four Spanish-era buildings made of coral stone contain artifacts relating to the history of Cebu. It is only a short taxi ride from Fort San Pedro.
Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum
The Museum is a musically-themed museum in Cebu City that pays homage to the musical heritage of Cebu. This museum is operated under the Tipiganan sa mga Handumanan sa Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon (Treasury of Memories) Foundation. It is located in a building along V. Gullas St. (former Manalili) and D. Jakosalem St., which used to be the old building of The Freeman Newspaper and now houses Cebuano and Visayan musical treasures and memorabilia.
How to Get There
By Plane: From Manila, there is a daily flight going to Cebu City.
By Boat: Cebu City's domestic port is the country's busiest. Cebu City is home to almost 80 percent of the country's passenger vessels. The country's largest shipping lines, namely WG&A, Sulpicio Lines, Trans-Asia, George & Peter Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Lines, are headquartered in Cebu. Large passenger ferries with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 passengers ply the more distant routes such as Manila, Davao, Butuan City, Zamboanga, and Cagayan de Oro.
From the airport, you can ride a multicab, jeepney, or taxi. Simply ask around for which route to take. They are available 24 hr and cover most of the nooks and crannies of the city. Just be sure you know what part of the city the jeepney will take you to.
Accommodations:
• Crimson Resort and Spa - Seascapes Resort Town, Punta Engano, Cebu, Philippines
• Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa - Punta Engano Road | P.O. Box 86 , Punta Engano, Cebu, Philippines 6015
• Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Hotel - Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
• Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu - Serging Osmena Boulevard Corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines 6000
• Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa - M.L Quezon Highway, Maribago, Cebu, Philippines 6015
• Moevenpick Resort & Spa Cebu - Punta Engano Mactan Island Lapu-Lapu, Punta Engano, Cebu, Philippines 6015
• Badian Island Resort & Spa - Badian Island, Badian Island, Cebu, Philippines 6301
• Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino - 1 Airport Road, Lapu-lapu City, Mactan - Airport Area, Cebu, Philippines
• Cebu Parklane International Hotel - Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Escario St., Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
• Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino - 1 Salinas Drive Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines 6000