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| A
brief history of CEBU! |
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A
flotilla of 5 ships with a crew of 237 sailed out of Seville, Spain on
August 10, 1519 with Portuguese Explorer Fernando de Magallanes
at the helm. In his earnest quest for the famed Spice Islands
(Moluccas), the Spanish navigator traversed the Cape Verde Island of Brazil
in the course of his two-year long and arduous voyage.
His patience and determination paid off on March 16, 1521 when land was
first sighted by his men. The day after, Magellan learned that he committed
an error in latitudinal calculations since he wound up in an obscure island
named Homonhon, some 10 degrees too far northwards. Upon further exploration,
it turned out that Magellan and his men discovered not only one but several
island groups - an archipelago.
The
Philippine Archipelago
March
29, 1521 marked
Magellan's discovery of Limasawa island in Leyte where the first Christian
mass was held. The rustic comforts of Limasawa provided the long overdue
respite for the weary voyagers with the help of Magellan's loyal Malay
slave, Enrique de Malacca. As Magellan's interpreter,
he was responsible for introducing the sailors to the locals. Food was
aplenty and the voyagers were rejuvenated after a week of baldy needed
rest.
The Portuguese
navigator and his men first set foot in Cebu on April 7, 1521 where their
vessel was moored at the port of Cebu. Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's
chronicler described the sights and nuances of early Cebuano culture:
"The houses were built with logs and had ladders made of wood and
were roofed with nipa. Many sailing vessels from Siam (Thailand), China
and Arabia were docked at the port. The people ate from porcelain wares
and used a lot of gold and jewelry from decoration of their bodies and
clothing. Their wines were in jars. Men tattoed their naked bodies, covering
their private parts with Bahagui and silk turbans were on their heads.
But all of them were bare-footed."
A religious
milestone occurred in Cebu with the baptism of Zubu's King Humabon and
wife Queen Juana and 400 of their people, signaling the spread of Christianity
all over the islands. However, along with the advent of Christian proselytizing,
the islanders were subjugated to spanish sovereignity. The spanish reign
in Cebu proved to be short-lived following the death of Magellan on April
28, 1521 in the rebellious hands of valiant Zubu warrior LapuLapu. |
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| Business
history of CEBU! |
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the 7,100 islands comprising the Philippines, Cebu has the most historical
significance. At the time of the global scramble for exotic spices in the
East,a Portuguese navigator sailing for Spain, Fernando Magallanes, came
upon Zubu (Cebu) on April 7, 1921 The island then was already a flourishing
village with "many sailing vessels from Siam (Thailand), China and
Arabia docked at the port" as described by Antonio Pigafetta, Magallanes'
chronicler. Then begun the Spanish era in the Philippines. However, it deteriorated
upon the death of Magallanes in the hands of the brave local warrior, Lapulapu,
only to resurrect with the arrival 44 years later, in 1565, of Miguel Lopez
di Legazpi.
Its rich and colorful
metamorphosis can be traced from 1521 as Zubu, the fishing village and
busy trading port, to Villa San Miguel, later to Villa del Santissimo
Nombre de Jesus in 1575, then as the municipality of Cebu in 1905 up to
its being a chartered city on February 24, 1937.
In the 19th century,
Cebu started to exercise a dominant role in Southern Philippines' economic
limelight. Agriculture, especially sugar cane cultivation and sugar manufacturing,
pushed Cebu into playing an important role in this part of the country.
But even more crucial than the agricultural products was her participation
in trade and commerce. Proudly, Cebu has been given the honor as having
many 'firsts' in the nation's history. Established by Legazpi in 1571,
it became the first city in the Philippines, ante-dating Manila by 7 years.
In point of fact, it is the oldest city in the country, having the oldest
and smallest fort (Fort San Pedro), with the oldest church (Basilica of
Sto. Niño), the oldest school (San Carlos) and the oldest street
(Colon). Referred to as the Queen City of the South and the seat of early
Filipino Christianization, Cebu is also famous for its musical stringed
instruments like banduria, guitar and piccolo.
Today, Cebu boasts
of being the only city in the Philippines with the perfect blend of a
business center and an entertainment hub
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| Historical
sites & landmarks |
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Provincial
Capitol Building
(Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City)
An
edifice of pre-war vintage, Cebu's seat of the Provincial Government
is one of the most majestic and striking capitol buildings in the
country. Constructed under the administration of Governor Sotero
Cabahug in 1937, it was designed as a replica of the United States'
White House by Juan M. Arellano, a natinally renowned architect. |
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Fort
San Pedro
(Pier
Area, Cebu City)
Fort
San Pedro is the smallest and oldest tri-bastion fort in the country
that served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlements in the
Philippines. This fort has a total area of 2,205 sq. meters with
walls 20 ft. (6 m) tall and 8 ft. (2.4 m) thick and with towers
30 ft. (9 m) tall. This was erected by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on
May 8, 1565. |
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Liloan
Lighthouse
(Liloan,
Cebu)
Found
in the municipality of Liloan, around 18km (11.8 mi) north of Cebu
City, this lighthouse was built by the Americans in 1904. |
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Mactan-Mandaue
Bridge
Built
in 1972 at a cost of P65 million, this 846 meters (2,776 ft) long
and 9 meters (29.5 ft) wide bridge connects the industrial city
of Mandaue to the historical island of Mactan. |
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Magellan's
Cross
(Magallanes
St., Cebu City)
Planted
in April 21, 1521 by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, this
cross is undoubtedly one of Cebu's most famous landmarks. It is
here where Raja Humabon, his wife Queen Juana and about 400 followers
were baptized in the Catholic faith and became the first ever Christian
Filipinos |
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Marcelo
B. Fernan Bridge
The
Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge is the second bridge to connect Cebu island
and Mactan Island. More familiarly called " the Second Bridge
" by locals, this bridge spans the Cebu Straight and boasts
of breathtaking vistas of land, sky and sea. It is also more commonly
used by motorists driving to Mactan Airport. |
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Plaza
Hamabar Park
(Legazpi
St., Cebu City)
Once
an eyesore and now a tourist attraction, the Plaza Hamabar is a
renovated historical park initiated by former First Lady of Cebu
City Mrs. Ninette Neri Garcia. Located in the vicinity of the Cebu
Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Hamabar was a strollers's paradise
of churchgoers during the Hispanic era. |
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Taoist
Temple
(Beverly
Hills, Cebu City)
Located
at Beverly Hills, Cebu City. This temple preserves the teachings
of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese Taoist philosopher. Everyday people
climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism structures)
to light joss sticks and have their fortune read or simply to do
self-contemplation. |
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TOPS
(Busay
Hills, Cebu City)
Situated
2,000 feet (610 meters) high on the cool Busay Hills, TOPS is Cebu's
viewing deck for a breathtaking panorama of Cebu and the surrounding
islands. Ideal for daytime picnics and instant evening parties.
Entrance fee is at P50.00 per head. |
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University
of San Carlos
(P.
Del Rosario St., Cebu City)
Fomerly
called Colegio de San Ildefonso, University of San Carlos or USC
is reputably the oldest college in the country. The Jesuits established
it in the year 1565. |
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| Monuments |
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Colon
Street Marker
(Downtown
Area, Cebu City)
The
Colon Marker is located at one end of Calle Colon, the oldest street
in the Philippines. The street was constructed by the Spanish colonizers
during the era of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Named after another famous
explorer Christopher Columbus, Colon is at the heart of downtown
Cebu, also known as the Parian District. |
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Heritage
of Cebu Monument
(Colon
St., Cebu City)
A project
of the celebrated sculptor Edgardo Castillo under the administration
of Cebu City Mayor Alvin B. Garcia, this monumental tableau in brass
and concrete was completed in the year 2000. This amazing work of
art showcases significant and symbolic events in the history of
Cebu from the pre-historic time of Rajah Humabon to the recent beatification
of Cebuano martyr Pedro Calungsod. It is Castillo's largest and
most comprehensive work so far, and was constructed to with-stand
the ravages of tropical typhoons and earthquakes. |
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Lapu-Lapu
Monument
(Punta
Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City)
This
bronze statue of the victorious Mactan Warrior-Chieftain Lapu-Lapu
stands as tribute to the first Filipino hero and a testament to
Filipino bravery. The monument is located on the site of the famous
battle of April 27, 1521 between Mactan's courageous warriors and
the foreign invaders. |
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Magellan
Marker
(Punta
Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City)
Encouraged
by the gracious reception of Rajah Humabon in the island of Cebu,
Magellan crossed the channel to Mactan Island. Before he reached
the shore, Lapu-lapu and his men killed him during the battle of
supremacy and freedom on April 27, 1521. This marker was erected
in 1866 to mark the spot where the great explorer died. |
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| Museums |
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Casa
Gorordo Museum
Once
the residence of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu Juan Gorordo
(1862-1934), Casa Gorordo was made into a historical museum by the
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation. Casa Gorordo is an original structure
built during the colonial era and features wide windows, verandahs
and a courtyard. A tour inside the residence takes you on a brief
journey back into the period between 1860 and 1920, featuring paintings,
religious relics, antique household items and furniture. |
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Fort
San Pedro National Museum
Artifacts
taken from the old Spanish Galleon known as San Diego, which sank
in the deep seas of Fortune Island just off the coast of Batangas,
are on display in the centuries-old Fort San Pedro. The Artifacts
on display include Ming porcelain pieces, coins, lockets, swords
fragments, cannons and helmets. Well-kept flowerbeds, lush vegetation,
and neat walkways align its interiors, along with a canteen and
a museum. |
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University
of San Carlos Museum
A product
of years of research done by the Anthropological Department's faculty
in Central and Southern Philippines, the USC Museum has four galleries-Spanish
Colonial, Ethnographic, Archeological and Natural Science. |
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Southwestern
University Museum
Holds
the extensive collection of Lydia Aznar Alfonso reflecting the flourishing
trade, lifestyle and culture of the port city of Cebu from pre-historic
to Hispanic times. Exhibited are excavated gold, trade beads, coins,
iron-age potteries, rare trade wares from different countries and
an array of church carvings, statues and accessories. |
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Rizaliana
Museum
Contains
memorabilia of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal given by his sister
to the University of Southern Philippines Museum. |
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Jumalon
Butterfly Sanctuary & Art Gallery
Jumalon
Butterfly Sanctuary is the country's oldest butterfly collection
and butterfly sanctuary. It also houses the Lepido Mosaic Art work
of Professor Julian Jumalon, where landscapes and portraits are
made out of butterfly wings. |
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| Churches |
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Basilica
Minore Del Santo Niño
(Cebu
City)
The
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is the country's oldest church
and the only Roman Catholic Basilica in the Far East. Built by Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi and Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, this church is the
sanctuary of the Miraculous Image of Santo Niño *, which
was given by Magellan to Raja Humabon's wife, Queen Juana. |
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*
Miraculous Image of Santo Niño
(Cebu
City)
The
Image of Santo Niño is considered as the oldest religious
relic in the Philippines. Magellan gave the image to Raja Juana
as a baptismal gift on April 21, 1521. The miraculous image is venerated
by the Cebuanos and millions of Catholic pilgrims. At present, the
original image is kept in the Parish Convent while an exact replica
adorned in gold and precious stones is enshrined in glass at a side
altar inside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. |
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Chapel
of the Last Supper
(Mandaue
City)
The
treasured relic and life-sized carvings of the Lord Jesus and His
12 apostles seated at a long table for the Last Supper are found
in the Church of Mandaue City that dates back to 1601. |
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Patrocinio
de Maria
(Boljoon,
Cebu)
Having
celebrated its 400th anniversary last 1999, the Patrocinio de Maria
Church in Boljoon is the oldest remaining original stone church
in Cebu. It has a pseudo-baroque-rococo design and an impressionist
interior decor. And as one writer said, "Of all of Cebu's churches,
it is the church in Boljoon which best gives one a sense of the
Philippine colonial past." |
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San
Francisco de Asis
(Naga,
Cebu)
Fr.
Simon Aguirre constructed the church in 1839. The facade of this
Church attracts the attention of even the most absent-minded traveler
because of its style and "quaintness." The design of the
facade is suggestive of Mexican art that is skillfully integrated
into local Filipino religious architecture. |
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San
Guillermo Church
(Dalaguete,
Cebu)
Constructed
by Fr. Juan Chacel and finished in 1825, the church creates an impression
of calmness with its simplicity in design and airy pattern of pillars.
It has a massive bell tower built some distance away from the church-convent
complex, connected only by a small passage. |
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San
Miguel Arcangel
(Argao,
Cebu)
San
Miguel Arcangel is the second church constructed by Fr. Mateo Perez,
who served the town of Argao for 33 uninterrupted years (1803-1836).
Its external facade exemplifies that of Rococo blended with a touch
of Baroque, while its interior boasts of an unusual canvass ceiling
painted with religious motifs. |
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St.
Catherine of Alexandria
(Carcar,
Cebu)
This
126-year old St. Catherine's Church is the second oldest church
in the entire province of Cebu and there-fore, holds a special place
in Cebu's church architechtural history. The church's design is
likewise unique:being Graeco-Roman with strong Muslim influence. |
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Sto.
Tomas de Villanueva
(Danao
City)
Sto.
Tomas de Villanueva is a true example of the many old churches all
around the province. Constructed in 1755, it is the primary landmark
in the industrial city of nothern Cebu. Made of sugar cane and sea
rocks, it stands in serene majesty overlooking Camotes Sea. |
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| Parks |
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Crocolandia
(Biasong, Talisay City)
Situated
beside the Mananga River in Talisay, Crocolandia features a mini-zoo
and a botanical garden. It has picnic areas, restaurants, souvenir
shops, a butterfly sanctuary, a boat and fishing area and a library.
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D'
Family Park
(Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City)
Nestled
in the Nasipit mini-watershed, D' Family Park provides families
an alternative and wholesome recreation site within the City. This
20-hectare area is nature-friendly. Trees surround the whole complex-a
product of reforestation efforts in 1983. Its facilities include:children's
playground (swings, seesaws, slides, tykes play station); picnic
campsites; two swimming pools (for adults and for children); and
a multi-function clubhouse. |
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Fuente
Osmeña Park
(Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City)
A lovely
circular park with a beautiful fountain, this park is located in
the heart of Uptown Cebu. |
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Plaza
Independencia
(M.J. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City)
Located
in front of Fort San Pedro, this historic park is a popular hangout
during weekends. Centuries-old acacia trees and banyan trees dot
this park. |
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