Cebu City Walking Tour (1 of 3)

Cebu is my province number 23!  At first our plan is to get the service of a travel tour  for our convenience but their price is so expensive. (P2,500 for whole day city tour). Then I consulted many travel blogs (thanks to them) on DIY Cebu City tour and where to stay and eat.

March 2, 2012

Departing from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), we arrived at Mactan-Cebu International Airport at midnight.  We just opted to take public transportation because of our limited budget. (learned that taxi is expensive) Since it's our first time in Cebu (and it's midnight) we got the service of Mang Rudy.  You can contact him at +639398794576. 

We were so tired and exhausted we just want to sleep. Upon arriving at Sampaguita Suites, we were so disappointed upon learning that our reservation was canceled and we have no room! Apparently, there is a mis communication between the travel agent that we contacted and the staff of Sampaguita. Sa sobrang pagod, nakipag away ako sa staff. They keep on apologizing but wala namang mangyayari. In fairness they were the one who looked for another hotel for us to stay for the night. We ended at Golden Valley Hotel (see separate post here)


March 3, 2012

After breakfast, we asked the hotel receptionist on how to commute to Magellan's Cross, our starting point on our city tour.

See our t-shirt? Tourist mode! with Roel, Seysey, JoAnn and AJ!

Magellan's Cross is Cebu's most important historical landmark located between Cebu City Hall and Basilica Minore del Santo Nino.

Colorful candles. Outside you will see a whole bunch of women selling candles singing and dancing. They offer prayers for safety. Papalapit pa lang kami, they try to offer their service but we politely decline.

Short walk from Magellan's Cross is the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino. This is the oldest Catholic church in Cebu. It's the home of the Santo Nino de Cebu, the Holy Child Jesus. We passed by a patio were altar of candles are lit for prayers and special intentions. I've read somewhere that the patron saint of Cebu is the Our Lady of Guadalupe but people honors the Holy Child as their patron saint as well.

The Basilica is under the care of the Order of Saint Augustine.  You can see in the altar the Augustinian Saints. You can't see the image of Santo Nino in the altar. It is located at the left side with a separate room. There is a long queue of devotees for them to have a glimpse and say their prayers.

The ceiling of the Basilica depicts some important events in the bible. (just like Betis Church)

After saying our prayers inside the Basilica, we went to the patio (near the gate of the school) and lit our candles for our special petitions. You don't have to pay for the candle, just give any amount of donation.

 

 Seysey is praying for.........

AJ wants to go back to play..... as in play not pray! He saw a small fountain inside the patio and he wants to go there but there is a sign that it's forbidden.

Infront of the Basilica is the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino Pilgrim Center. It was built in order to accommodate the growing number of devotees to the Sto. Nino de Cebu (Holy Child of Cebu). High Mass, Friday Mass and other Religious Festivities are held here in the open-air, theater-like structure. It also houses the Basilica del Sto. Nino Museum. We didn't visit the museum. Maybe next time.

Cebu City Walking Tour (2 of  3)

Posted in: Cebu, Region 7, travel