April 27, 2012

Cebu Vacay: Part 2

After our morning swim at the hotel's pool, we hired a van for a city tour. We headed first to Mactan island, south of Cebu, to visit the Mactan Shrine where our great ancestor is waiting. He's no other than the great and brave warrior, Lapu-Lapu. Yes, we are one of the decendants of Lapu-lapu from my mother's mother side who originated in Leyte. Accordingly, Lapu-Lapu's decendants moved up north somewhere near Leyte and changed their family names to avoid being captured by the Spaniards.


From Cebu, we crossed this bridge going to Lapu-Lapu City. 


Lapu-Lapu's great monument in bronze.


This is where the historic Battle of Mactan took place.


Wella and Lance in the pier located in the shores where the battle happened.


Imagine the Spaniards walking in these waters with their heavy costumes. Lapu-Lapu's army only had their bahag which made it easier for them to move and fight the invading troops.


Lapu-Lapu in my hand :D


Group shot. I took the photo.


My pano shot of the historic place...


There is a marker where Magellan, accordingly, died. Behind it is a huge painting depicting a scene of the battle.


Marker that says Lapu-Lapu is the first Filipino to have repelled European aggression.


Outside the shrine, you can buy these yummy watermelons and other fruits.


Tourists having some sweet corn :D


Mango shake + Sweet Corn = <3


Shirts for sale :D

~

Our next stop: Fort San Pedro.

Pano shot of the plaza outside the fort.


Fort San Pedro is the smallest, oldest tri-bastion fort in the country. This served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines [source].


Some facts and photos of the construction of the fort.


Awesome stuff


Group shot :D We didn't enter the fort coz it costs 30 pesos XD.


We proceed to the site of Magellan's cross at Santo Nino. But before that, we saw this Island Souvenirs store.


The building that houses Magellan's cross.


The view from inside. The cross is just a representation of the original cross which is protected inside the chapel near the site. Some say it was destroyed a long time ago.


We only had one hour left and it's getting dark already. We wanted to have a view of the city from Tops but accordingly it would cost us 100 pesos per head. So we went to Marco Polo hotel to have a free view of the city at night. To be continued...

Read Part 1 here.