TravellingCup

Fort San Pedro

This was my twelfth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu.

After Magellans Cross and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, I took a short break in the convenience store nearby. When I felt that I am okay, I left that store and proceeded to Plaza Independencia which Fort San Pedro is situated.

Fuerza de San Pedro is a military defense structure built by the Spanish and locals of Cebu under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's (Spanish conquistador) command, but the date of the construction wasn't sure. There were claims that Jesuit Antonio Campioni built the fort in 1630. But, there were a lot of major renovations in the 19th century for the structural improvements of Cebu.

This was my tenth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

At the back Magellan's Cross I found the entrance going to the oldest catholic church in the country and the home of Sinulog Festival. There were shops and food court near its gate. There were guards who checked my backpack for security purposes. A lot of people were too many that day, even there was no special occasion.

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño or Minor Basilica of the Holy Child is one of the minor basilicas in Cebu City. This is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country built in the same spot where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565 by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. This statue is the same with the statue given by Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of Rajah Humabon, 44 years later, as a gift during their baptism on April 14, 1521 at the exact location of Magellan's Cross today.

This was my eight destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

After my early lunch in a food stall near Casa Gorordo Museum, I proceeded to my next destination which is the Magellan's Cross. This itinerary was the one that the receptionist in Cebu Cathedral Museum shared to me, so I followed it. From the museum, I walked more than 400 meters going to this spot. There were jeepneys passing the same highway, but I chose to walk to discover new things along the way.

I asked the people if where's the right way going to this site and they were so kind to me. I didn't use my map because it's more complicated and I don't want to stare on the map while walking on the sidewalk. Before I reached the cross, I passed by the gate of Santo Niño Museum. I tried to enter that gate, but the guards didn't allow me, instead, they instructed me to enter on the entrance beside the rotunda of the cross.

This was my seventh destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

When I am done with Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House this house was my next destination. There's a huge difference between this two heritage houses in terms of it's architectural structure. This Gorordo House shows how a prominent family lived during their generations. From the floor, artistic walls, windows up to the roof top - it's really gorgeous.

At the main entrance of this house, it's historical background was written and here's what it says: "This house was built in the mid-19th century by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales and was bought by Juan Isidro de Gorordo, a spanish merchant, in 1863. Four generations of the Gorordo family lived in this house, including Juan Gorordo, first Filipino Bishop of Cebu, 1910-1932.

This was my Sixth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

This house is more than ten meters from Cebu Heritage Monument and less than a hundred meters from Colon Street. This structure can easily be recognized because of it's unique appearance. At first, when I saw this house, I was excited but I felt different which I couldn't explain that time, maybe because of the structure itself.

This house was originally owned by Chinese merchant, Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido. It is one of the oldest residential house in the Philippines. It was built between 1675-1700 and was made from Coral stones, used egg whites as glue and "Tigas" or clay for the roof. The wooden pats of the house were made of "balayong" and "tugas" or molave which is the hardest woods in the country.

This is my Fifth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

While I was in the taxi going to Colon Street for my breakfast, I saw a monument at the left side which looks like so familiar, and when I asked the driver if what was that, he answered: "It's Cebu Heritage Monument." when I heard that name, I easily grabbed my list and that's it! it's included in my List to Visit.

Heritage of Cebu Monument is situated at the original Plaza Parian. It occupies a triangular portion near the end of Colon Street. This Monument showcases the significance and symbolic events in history of Cebu during the reign of Rajah Humabon. It was a work of art by the National Artist Edgardo Castrillo on July 1997 in cooperation with Mayor Alvin Garcia and was inaugurated in December 8, 2000.

This is my Fourth Destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

After my tour in Cebu Cathedral Museum, I showed my map to the receptionist if what's the nearest destination in my list and what street I'll take and they responded appropriately. So from the museum, I was walking on the side going to my next destination when I saw a familiar obelisk in the intersection along Colon Street, I think it's a hundred meters from the museum.

Colon street is said to be oldest street and shortest road in the Philippines. It was name after Christopher Columbus who bears different names (Spanish: Cristobal Colon, Italian: Cristoforo Colombo, Protuguese: Cristovao Colombo.) It was established by the Spanish arrived in Cebu in 1565, led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (a Spanish conquistador.) The local government erected Colon Monument in the intersection of the street.

Along this street are commercial centers and shops, catering different services. When I conducted some short research about this place, I knew that this street serves as the home of prostitutes. According to the residents, there were a lot of old houses along the street, which looks like Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur few decades ago. But now, I didn't see anything that deals with the history.

Cebu Cathedral Museum

This was my third destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

Just beside the Rajah Humabon Monument, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and along the high way, I found an old house with capiz windows and wood as the walls. When I've checked my map, beside the monument is the Cebu Cathedral Museum, so no need to walk farther.

Just seven steps from the plaza (I counted it) is the entrance of the museum. It was so early, so the janitor was still cleaning the floor when I arrived at the lobby area. The caretaker and the guard were so kind to me. A beautiful and young woman at heart was sitting at the reception area that time, and she was giving me an instructions about the policies of the museum (like no picture taking on the second floor and chapel.) She was smiling the whole time while she was giving me the receipt and giving me some information about the museum. Entrance Fee: 50 Pesos

This was our tenth destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After getting off the bed, took a bath and then the delicious breakfast, time for an escapade with nature. But before going to this gorgeous water fall, we first visited the 40-meter tunnel, Tangadan Tunnel which serves as the boundary between Ilocos Sur and the province of Abra.

Then, while on the way to the water falls, we passed on the road beside the shore near Grotto. We also bought basi and other local products along the way. While inside the van, I saw how the farmers of this province cultures tobacco for their livelihood.

This was our eight destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

Enough with the historical background of Ilocos, our stomach were all empty, so it's time for a sumptuous meal. So from Paoay Sand Dunes, we travelled two hours for our next destination - Vigan City. We parked beside Vigan Cathedral then walked few meters going to a food court that the main attractions are the freshly cooked empanada. It's just beside the commercial fast food chain, but we chose this food court because there were a lot of people who were eating in and all the empanadas smells great. We took more than an hour to finish all those stuff, just want to share: I ordered 1 piece empanada, soda and okoy.

So right after the tasteful dinner, we proceeded to Call Crisologo just few meters from empanada food court. Here, you can see and touch Spanish styled and century-old houses built by rich Filipinos in their ages. This is one of the major attractions that you MUST include in your list to visit in the province of Ilocos.

This was our Seventh destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After the century old Paoay Church, it's time for an amazing and extreme adventure in Paoay Sand Dunes. By the way, a friend of mine, who is now working in a country in middle east, keeps on taking photos from the sand dunes of Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I thought, Sand Dunes can only be found in the dessert countries around the world, but it's not!

Here in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, we have the same feature and adventure that the dessert safari have and also, this place is always part of the Filipino movies, like the scenes which has a dessert as the background. Paoay Sand Dunes have extreme activities like 4 x 4 Ride, sand boarding and All Terrain Vehicle.