The Treasures of Cebu
Cebu, a fine island right at the middle of the Philippines, is a home of vast natural resources and wonderful people. Apart from this, it’s also a haven of rich cultural heritage. Although not everyone is familiar with all its heritage sites, there are still numerous places that are famous not only to local residents but also to visiting foreigners.
To name a few Cebu tourist spots, we have the Magellan’s Cross, Lapu-Lapu shrine, Fort San Pedro, and Basilica del Sto. Nino. To increase the awareness of these historical places, an annual event is held, called the Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage), which highlights the different museums and temples found in Cebu City. For an affordable price, a ticket can take you on a historical journey to these museums with a free tartanilla ride.
Amidst the growing urbanization on the most parts of Cebu, there are still Cebuanos who take the initiative to preserve Cebu’s historical treasures. One example of this is the Yap-Sandiego ancestral house. It’s almost over 300 years old now but it still stands proud in the streets of Cebu City. When one goes beyond the borders of Cebu City, more and more well-preserved antique houses can be seen, like the ones in Carcar, Argao, Oslob and in other towns of Cebu.
Aside from all of these, who could ever forget the famous and most awaited Sinulog festival? Street dancing, glamorous festival queens, creative and colorful costumes, tons and tons of people – all of these highlight the Sinulog, one of the grandest Philippine festivals. Of course aside from all these things, the main part of this event which should not be forgotten is paying homage and giving thanks to Cebu’s patron saint, Senior Sto. Nino.
Cebu is also one of the main tourist destinations of the Philippines due to its beautiful beaches and resorts. Famous among them are the ones in Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes, Moalboal, and Oslob, where one could see the butanding (whale shark).
When visiting Cebu, it’s hard to miss the delicious food and delicacies such as the famous dried mangoes and danggit. But of course, who could also resist the tasty Cebu lechon? There is still a whole lot of variety of food to choose from ranging from seafoods to soups to desserts — each is a delight to the taste buds.
These are all just but a few reasons why Cebu is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. If these things are not yet enough, Cebu is very welcome to everyone who would like to explore its treasures and wonders.
Wonderful pictures! That beach is a must visit. I’m planning to go this February for the whale watching. 😀 I hope to visit these other places.
The beach above is Bantayan Island found on the northern part of Cebu. Glad to know you’ll be visiting the Gentle Giants in Oslob this February. You may want to check our guide to whale shark watching. Good luck! Hope you’ll enjoy your visit in Cebu! 🙂