The Nostalgic Queen City of the South (Cebu City Walk Tour Part 1)





First stop was at Magellan’s Cross which is two to four minutes to the right from the entrance of the hotel. We went very early but it still crowded that time. Magellan’s Cross is one of the biggest evidence of Christianity left by Spanish Era, located between City hall and Basilica Del Santo Niño. It was such a pleasure to be in this place and to get close to the history of my very own religion. I came closer to the cross and whispering my wish to see the original parts inside the wood which is currently visible to the eyes of the visitors. Despite of wanting to see the original piece I greatly appreciate the effort to protect it from greater destruction if being exposed.




As we went closer this makes me realized how many hearts are still very close to the old traditions, I’ve seen a lot of people going in and out lightning candles, hanging sampaguitas, and touching the altar as they said their prayers. Despite of a bit crowded day the place still looks so solemn and serine to me, we walked towards Basilica Del Sto. Niño passing through Santo Niño College.


The Basilica was perfectly crafted by ages, it takes a lot of my glance, seems like I can’t get rid of looking at it and its details over and over again. The date of the contraction is visible on the wall and seeing the dates almost makes me impossible to believe that such structure was built on that time strongly to surpass the challenge of each years that passes by. It has a very detailed interior decorated with dominant gold colors and vintage chandeliers. The ambiance and the scenery moved both our hearts that time, it felt so nostalgic. The face of the elders in the church brings back the memories of our family members that had long been gone.

Beside the basilica is like huge altar for me :). It is

We sat down for bit in front of the church observing those people bowing their head and praying with lights of the red candle in a long rows. The serenity and silence of the place took us to one of the stall and take a candle for our own prayer. This has been an amusing feeling as just this day we surrender everything to our faith and felt this very light feeling afterward; the feeling of being relieved from a great burden and wearies. A very wonderful feeling that I last felt when I get out from the prayer room of the church near our place in Manila, if I am not mistaken.


The scene makes us hungry, hehe we were caught in an emotion that we both didn’t expected to arise that day. So we walk toward the Metropolitan Cathedral which is going right if you are facing the front of basilica and on our way we pass through Chowking! Just right enough to defeat the hungriness. We eat fast and take a little laid back rest inside the fast food house before moving forward to metropolitan Cathedral.


I can remember this church as the white church. This looks more modernized, pristine and relaxing. so relaxing that it make us sit down for an hour in the mini plaza just right in front of it. We just sit and observed the people passing by from all walks of life; then I imagine how many hearts are moved by this nostalgic Queen City of the South for years.

-to be continued on my next post-

Comments

  1. Interesting post! Looking forward to the follow up.

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  2. Really amazing pictures! xo

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  3. Love the photographs! And it's a good thing you went to the churches real early, otherwise it'll be teeming with people as in sobra.

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  4. Wow! I love your awesome shots! I was supposed to be in Cebu last March but I ran out of money. sayang dahil piso fare pa mandin yun ng Cebu pac, pero di ako natuloy. I want to see the Magellan's cross talaga and everything else that Cebu offers.
    Great shots, sigur big time ang camera mo noh? hehe. :)

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  5. wow.just found your blog.
    really love it! followed <3
    mind to follow back my blog?thanks

    ♥,
    claireteressa.blogspot.com

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  6. Great post! I dont like to read butfor some reason i wanted to read more! Looking forward to your next entry! :D -- markin

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  7. once palang ako napunta ng cebu at pag napunta ka kailangan puntahan ang magellan's cross. ^_^ tapos lahat ng tao kumakaway sa loob ng basilica..

    astig nung 1st pic parang may illusion!

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  8. The first picture of candles has such great quality! I really like it!

    http://myveryownoneyearproject.blogspot.pt/

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  9. Beautiful pictures :)
    Have a fabulous day!
    Xoxo

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  10. Beautiful place!! :)
    Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comment :)
    I'm following you via GFC.. Hope you return the favor :)
    New Post is up- Everything's New: Lots of Surprises

    Love
    Akanksha

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  11. Great pics dear, so coloured!


    xoxo from München
    La Vie Quotidienne
    www.laviequo.com

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  12. Thanks for your comment, sorry I didn't reply before!
    Of course I would love to follow each other, I already follow you! I wait for you in my new post
    Have a nice day xx

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  13. great post!
    love your images so much-
    hope you had so much fun there :)

    Pinkbow Icecream

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  14. Your wording is wonderful! Such a pleasant post to read. Even though I'm Agnostic I can completely respect everything about this post.
    Beautiful memory-holding churches with mounds of people with hopes and loyalty surrounded by respected pieces of our past fill me with an un-placeable joy. Some things of our past are just so interesting :)

    xoxo
    ~Brooke {via The Dove Tree}

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  15. These are beautiful pictures (with even more beautiful descriptions!). It seems you're enjoying your adventure. Have fun out there! :D

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  16. really amazing! Those pictures are breathtaking!

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  17. Cebu is really a beautiful place...I could still remember the places I have been when I had my OJT at The Freeman Newspaper...we get to visit many places!!!

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  18. great photos! this is making me even more excited about my trip to cebu this june! <3

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  19. Amazing! I like old builds, they are so romantic.

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  20. Cebu is the top destination in the country and its churches are one of the most visited (aside from it wonderful beaches). kudos for these great pics!

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  21. I was able to visit Cebu for 30 minutes only. Barely had the time to explore the place. Haha yeah how pathetic. Anyhow, I'm hosting a before-and-after photo edit on my blog. Do you want me to edit one of your photos? Read it here...

    http://mylifelatelyblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/before-and-after-submit-photo-and-see.html

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  22. This is amazing. The Queen City of the South is amazing. Thanks for this.

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