it was the people of Cebu who first accepted Christianity through its chieftain Raja Humabon and his wife Juana in 1521. on that same year 800 other natives were baptized as the Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan erected a wooden cross. the original cross is now encased in this large wooden cross inside a gazebo.
the cross was the first symbol that signified the beginning of the country's conversion to Christianity. but it was followed by another gift which is the image of the Holy Child, which is known as the Sto. Nino to the Filipinos. this image can now be found in the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. 
like most of the churches built in the Spanish era, it is also made of coral stones and limestones. hundreds to thousands of Cebuanos flock this church everyday. it is quite unique here because you'll see women approaching people to ask if they want them to pray for you for a specific intention.
in return you'll give an offering for this. they'll sing and dance with candles while they do the prayer for you. but most of the people here simply offer a candle for thanksgiving and special intentions.
just a block away from this church stands the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral which is larger. it took a long time before it was completely re-constructed as it was damaged during the world war II.
Magellan's cross and the image of the Sto. Nino remains to be Cebu's strong foundation. most of the time it represents unity and peace to the Cebuanos. this city continuously takes pride in being the oldest city in the country.
i should say that you've never been to Cebu if you didn't visit this place.
37 comments:
Great shots and an interesting history. I love the shots of the woman in the yellow skirt and white top. There is something very beautiful about those to me although they are all good.
another wonderful set of photos dong! the clarity, the theme, the mood...hay I really do admire the way you are able to capture the moments just like the woman in the yellow skirt. =)
anyway, paramdam lang dito sa one of my fave blogs and blogger syempre ;) TC dong.
I just happened to see the 2nd pic sa postcard. dong had a chance to take a shot of it na. pang postcard na ang dating ng shot mo.
usual na ang mga ganyan sa simbahan. akala mo free yun pero may bayad pala.
im looking forward for the next adventure.
>hi carver, thanks! they are the ones who sing and dance while they pray.
>hi rebecca, thanks! salamat din sa pagbisita sa blog ko.
>redlan, hahaha... gasgas na nga sa picture ang lugar na yan.
oo nga. kasi kung minsan ginagawa na nilang kabuhayan yan.
dong, sa mga photos mo dito para na ring nasa cebu ako uli...walking distance lang 'to sa university namin dati and we always drop by in this church lalo na pag may exams...hehh
I simply love this place. :) I think you also see it in my blog. :)
been there...
nice shots!
>dakilang islander, ganun ba? sa university of san jose recoletos ka ba? galing naman at malapit lang kayo dyan.
>hi equi, gasgas na gasgas na nga itong place kaya sa mga pumunta ng cebu na hindi dumaan dito ay para na rin silang hindi pa nakapunta ng cebu.
>hi ev, thanks! it's nice to know that you already visited the place.
very nice series! you have some awesome shots!
nice shots... mukang sumasayaw si lola...happy ww!
My favorites are the photo of the sky and the one with all the parasols. All your photos are great though.
>luke, thanks!
>architect, salamat! sumasayaw talaga sila habang nagdadasal.
>hi karen, thanks!
I've been to that place.
Dong bisaya pod ka?
That third one is really awesome... Good work...
sabi na nga at ito ang next na i popost mo e..=)
bumili ka ba ng gitara sa gilid ng simbahan?
hehehe..alam mo bang napa s*** ako dahil akala ko ay ni delete mo yung blog mo...yun pala ay kay doc lad...=)..
What a fantastic place! This is all so interesting. I would be wonderful to be surrounded by such history and architecture. I'm enjoying your commentary and your pictures are beautiful.
Nice introduction of Cebu and lovely photos of the daily life and places.
was in cebu actually last weekendbut didn't get the chance to re-visit these places for new pics :(
will post places I visited after finishing all "backblogs"
not sure which of the 2 churches I've been to that few years back.
How do you watermark your pictures on the blog? Or did you do so before you upload them?
>hi shiela, great! hindi ako bisaya pero makasabot ko.
>selerines, thanks!
>hi doc rio, nakakapredict ka din pala. hehehe... hindi ako bumili pero meron nga akong nakita doon.
bad dream pala yon. hehehe... wag naman sana.
>sandpiper, thanks! im glad that in one way this post becomes informative.
>hi alicesg, this is cebu's pride. one way to show my admiration to the cebuanos is through this post.
>tutubi, talaga? saan ka pumunta doon? im looking forward for those posts.
>stanley, i do it before i upload them in my blog.
>
Great shots and an interesting history.
What a story. The images remind me of the universal nature of the faith.
I'm curious, what do you do if you ask those women to pray for you? Do you get to leave or do you have to stay and pray with them too?
Nice pics. This edifice certainly stood the test of time. A Great historical landmark.
>quinttarantino, thanks!
>hi sandy, yes it does.
>hi ia, i never tried asking them to pray but what i noticed is that people who ask them to pray just give an offering and leave them praying. that's sad. but more people already learned the value of personal prayer as you can see more people praying inside the church.
>bw, yes. it withstood both natural and human destruction.
yun ba talaga ang original cross?
iniisip ko lang kung paano nila na preserve ng ganyan katagal ang cross na yan.
parang ang dami na niyang pinagdaanan since una siyang itarak sa lupa ng pilipinas.
:D
oo nga pala, may kuha ka ba ng monumento ni lapu lapu diyan? may nakapagsabi kasi sa akin na yung monument niya diyan eh nakatalikod kay magellan. parang ganon. kasi ang paniwala ng mga tao diyan sa cebu, hindi talaga si lapu lapu ang napatay kay magellan.
Kingdaddy - ang alam ko, sabi nila yung orginal cross nasa nakatago sa ilalim yata kasi yung iba ginagawang souvenir yung mga kapirang kahoy. I believe nasa blog ko sya. :)
ngayon lang uli ako nakadalaw... kainis kase connection ko eh... topak!!! hehehe
kahit nde pa ako nakarating sa cebu... sa mga pics mo.. para na din ako nakapunta.
thanks for sharing =)
ang ganda!!!buhay na buhay..thanks for sharing ur gift, and for being a part of my roll..
and most esp, for promoting the beauty of the phils thru ur works..
:)
>kingdaddyrich, yung original na cross ay naka-encase dyan sa nakikita natin ngayon. para ma-preserve at ayon nga kay equi, para na rin hindi maubos dahil sa kakakuha ng mga tao ng pira pirasong parte nito.
yung tungkol sa monument ni lapu lapu, sorry wala akong kuha. yon yata yung sa mactan island. nakita ko na yon pero hindi ko na napansin kung nakatalikod nga yata sya sa shrine ni magellan.
hindi naman confirmed na sya talaga ang confirmed na pumatay pero dahil sya ang lider ng grupo sa kanya napunta ang karangalan.
>equi, salamat sa info!
>hi lalaine, pero sana makapunta ka din kasi marami ka pang makikita doon na hindi ko nasama sa blog.
buti na lang dito hindi masyadong nagloloko ang connection.
>josh, salamat din sa pagbisita at pag appreciate ng mga post. talagang ipopromote natin ang pinas dahil pinoy tayo.
That's a beautiful church made more interesting by its colorful history. Great shots of the woman in yellow.
I have never been to Cebu. I am glad that you have shared this post. I have learnt something about Cebu now. Thank you. :)
>hi rachel, yes. cebu has lots of very significant historical structures.
>oceanskies79, thanks! i hope yuo'll be able to visit cebu sometime in the future.
I have a handkerchief which I used to wipe the image of Sto. Nino de Cebu which I keep for a year now without even washing it :)
I can say that people flock there because the place is just beautiful if not for its historic past. Or else they won’t keep on taking pictures of the mural on the ceiling.
Nice take donG.
>kegler, really? haven't tried getting one but i noticed people waving it after praying.
>blogusvox, we actually saw koreans posing in the entrance of the church. i think they also appreciate the history.
That is really interesting, all about the churches!
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