Wandering Around Cebu City

The Queen City of the South is undoubtedly the busiest City outside Manila. Cebu to Visayas is what Manila is to Luzon. The growth and urbanization is non-stop. Tall buildings, malls and business centers abound. Traffic and fast-paced life is also evident.

But amidst its buzzling phase, one can still find historical and interesting place in the city. Afterall, this City is known as the oldest city in the Philippines. Spanish influence in the city is evident in Fort San Pedro and Magellan's Cross. Fine architecture can be seen in the Provincial Capitol Building and the new Heritage of Cebu Monument. And every January, the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is the center of celebrations. Of course, walking in Colon Street in downtown Cebu will give you a bragging right that you have walked in the oldest street in the Philippines, although without that nostalgic feel.

Here are some shots I have taken while I was wandering around Cebu City:

Century-Old Canon at Fort San Pedro

Arched Pathway Leading to Fort San Pedro

Basilica Del Santo Nino

Heritage of Cebu Monument

Magellan's Cross

Cebu Provincial Capitol

Colon Street and Marker

You may also want to check out my posts on my first trip to Cebu City a couple of years ago by clicking the following links:

Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino
Magellan's Cross
Fort San Pedro
Heritage of Cebu
Taoist Temple

Mactan Island Seascape

Mactan Island is where you will actually land if you are flying from Cebu City. It is home to Mactan-Cebu International Airport which is the second busiest airport in the Philippines. Geographically located in Lapu-lapu City, it is connected to Cebu City via the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the newer Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Other than the international airport, Mactan is noted for its fancy and ritzy beach resorts. However, by Philippine standards, the town itself is charmless and its beaches are less-than-average. However, if you are just staying in Metro Cebu (Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-lapu City), Mactan Island will offer you the best diving and beach views.

Low Tide Scene

This Ship Ain't Sailing

Boats and Buildings of Mactan

Nowhere to Go

All in a Day's Work

A Solitary Boat Off Mactan's Coast
While on the road in Maribago, I have spotted an interesting aquarium sign just beside a gasoline station. It is a new place and attraction called Mactan's Island Aquarium. It's relatively small and you can tour the place in just ten minutes but it is definitely a treat for kids. The place has about two dozens fish tanks featuring live sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, sea horses, corals and other fishes. Each tank is well-labeled and the staff there will answer any of your question about a particular fish in the tank. It is owned by the very hands-on Lucille Taylor who is more than eager to tell you more about the place.

Mactan Island Aquarium is located in Looc, Maribago Lapu-lapu City. You may e-mail the owner, Lucille, at mactan.aquarium@yahoo.com or better yet, you may visit their website by clicking here.

Mactan Island Aquarium

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The Great Chief of Mactan

Ask any grade schooler "Who killed Magellan?" and almost everyone will answer you right. Probably the most famous Filipino hero next to Rizal, Rajah Lapu-lapu is the brave Mactan chieftain who was the first to resist Spanish colonizers. He is highly regarded by the people for his bravery and that is why the locals built a bronze statue of him in honor of his heroic deed.

Located in an enclosed park at Punta Engaño in Mactan, the Lapu-lapu Monument share the park with his foe, the Magellan Monument. The Magellan monument was erected in 1866 to honor the Spanish (some says Portuguese) explorer who have died on the very same spot. The obelisk is mounted on a tall plinth and the plinth rests on a tripartite structure: an octagonal base on which rests a tall quadrilateral structure, divided into two parts. The lower part is decorated with high relieves of vases, and the upper part is pierced by narrow arches. On the monuments are inscribed texts honoring Magellan.

Built a century after is the heroic sculpture of the chief of Mactan who defeated Magellan. It depicts the hero holding a bolo in one hand and a pestle on the other. Said weapons were believed to have been used during his combat with Magellan. This monument stands as a reminder of Filipino bravery.

While you are in the area, it is also worthy to visit the seascape fronting the monument where you can find mangroves and a small thriving community of wooden houses on stilts. Further down the park are rows of beach resorts and the famed Su-Tu-Kil restaurants.

Fake Coconut Tree among the Real Ones

The Obelisk Magellan's Monument

Lapu-lapu's Bronzed Back

Stalls of Cebu Crafts on a Row

Low Tide Scene

Resting Boat on Mangroves

Wooden Watch Tower

As to who killed Lapu-lapu? Anybody knows?

Under The Bridge @ Cebu

I have passed this bridge several times already going back-and-forth Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City. Everytime I wonder if it was possible to stop right there on the bridge 'coz I got a feeling that the place will offer a fantastic sunset view.

So, when I learned of a local secret that there is a park under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge where you can chillax and have a great view of the sunset, I immediately headed there to catch the sunset. It wasn't raining but the fickle-minded sun decided to hide among the clouds so rather than getting a g-wine inspired shots, what I have taken where dusky and gloomy state of sunset. But I am not the one to complain for I immensely enjoyed the time I have spent under the bridge.

The View from Under

Dusk View of the Sea

The Old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge on the Horizon

The Cable-Stayed Marcelo Fernan Bridge

Mixed Dusk and Gloom

Houses on Stilts

Serenity in the Metro

Just a little trivia. Marcelo Fernan Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that connects Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City. You will pass this bridge going to Metro Cebu from Mactan where the International Airport is located. It was opened in August 1999 to decongest the traffic from the older Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. The bridge has a total length of 4,058 feet with a center span of 607 feet. It is considered as one of the widest and longest bridge span in the Philippines. The bridge was named after a famous political figure from Cebu City.

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Leavin' Blue Lagoon - Roadside View

You will never run-out of amazing landscapes in the Islands Philippines. And that 10-minute strip from Blue Lagoon to Pagudpud Highway exemplifies that. Wonderful seascape on the left - blue sky, glistening shorelines, hued island and mountain scape and lush greenery on the right made this ride truly a visual delight. With this roadside view, leavin' Blue Lagoon just got harder.

Blue Lagoon's Roadside View

Unsuitable Rocky Shore

View of the Bantay Abot Cave

Another Rocky Shore

Little Strip of White Sand

Pleasant Roads

Mountains on the Right, Sea on the Left