Where is Ili Rock? Boljoon's Vanishing Landmark

Ili rock :(

We visited the town of Boljoon with the intention of seeing the historic Boljoon Church and Escuela Catolica. As we were walking around the parish grounds, we read on one of the markers that Ili rock looms on the horizon of Boljoon. We looked around us and asked ourselves, "where is Ili rock?" After a little research, that's when we found out that Ili rock was once a huge rock formation until the local government decided to excavate and remove parts of it to make a road. We understand the intention of the government for better roads but seeing the damage done to Ili rock makes you think that there has to be other ways to improve roads and highways without the need to destroy nature. Ili rock has served as a natural fortress for many years. We should learn to protect and preserve what nature has provided to us.

Getting Lost and Finding Dayhag Falls

Rice Fields in Sitio Ylaya

Sister had fun. Mission accomplished.

The original plan was to visit Aguinid falls in Samboan but after talking to the caretaker in Escuela Catolica who said that they have a waterfall in Boljoon, we decided to visit Dayhag Falls instead. After asking for directions, we drove off to find Dayhag Falls. We kept on driving and after it seems like we're almost at the end of Boljoon, we asked for directions from one of the passersby. Big mistake. It seems like not everyone in Boljoon knows where Dayhag falls was and we've been given directions to Aguinid falls all along. When we've reached the end of Boljoon, we decided to ask for directions to the Boljoon public market instead (as the caretaker said the waterfall is near the public market). When we got to the public market, there were no signages that point to Dayhag falls so we asked around again. Luckily, one of the habal-habal drivers know where Dayhag falls was so we were finally on the right way. After 30 minutes of driving, we've finally reached Sitio Ylaya. 

The waterfall has five levels. Levels one to three have dipping pools where most kids stay and play in the water. Levels four and five is where the fun starts. Level four has calcium deposits that added to the beauty of the waterfall. It looked a bit like the top level of Aguinid falls and I understood why some people would mistake Dayhag falls for Aguinid. There were bats inside the crevices but nevertheless, we took a dip on the shallow water pool.  

Level five wasn't as picturesque  as level four but we had fun rappelling up and down the waterfall. It wasn't very high but it was a challenge for someone who last rappelled in 2014 and has a fear of drowning (aka me -.-).  I should really get over my fear of drowning one of these days.

Welcome to Dayhag Falls!

Level four of five.

Level five of five.

How to get there: From Boljoon public market, drive to the bridge. You will see a signage that says Palanas. Turn right and keep right whenever you see a fork in the road.  When lost, just ask for directions to Dayhag falls or Sitio Ylaya.

Entrance fees: None as of writing

Selamat Malaysia!

We headed for Batu Caves early to avoid the tourist crowd and the heat of the 10 AM sun. We walked towards the Kuala Lumpur KMUTER station and grabbed food from a food stall on Central Market to eat along the way. The train stops exactly on Batu Caves. We were happy that save for two other ladies, we got the whole place to ourselves. We wore sarongs and climbed up the steps to see what's inside the cave. There were free roaming monkeys everywhere but they didn't bother us. We headed back down as the first wave of tourists started arriving.

    

For lunch, we headed to Limapulo: Baba Can Cook for some Nyonya Laksa. We arrived too early as the place was still closed but we got to chit chat with Uncle John. He was very friendly. He asked us how we heard of his place as it's not everyday that he gets to see Filipino tourists dropping by for some laksa. We also talked about traveling around Asia and exchanged travel tips. He also introduced us to Maria, one of his waitstaff, who was from the Philippines. We talked about her life working outside the country and about what's going on in the Philippines (Elections!). When the bowl of laksa was served, it smelled heavenly. When we tasted it, we literally had a foodgasm! We finished the entire bowl in  just a few minutes. People have formed a line waiting to be seated so we said our thank you's to Uncle John and Maria and went off.

We walked around Berjaya Times Square while looking for the mall's indoor roller coaster. We found it and Kaye tried to convince me to ride it but I'm too full I might vomit with all the movement. We went back to the hotel to freshen up and rest.

Our next stop was Merdeka Square but since we passed by Central Market, we stopped for awhile at Central Market to shop for souvenirs (fridge magnets and postcards). We had popiah and iced coffee before wandering off to Merdeka Square.

On our way to Merdeka Square, I secretly hoped that the place won't be crowded. Luckily, we arrived just in time for the last tour bus to leave. We sat on the grassy field and watched kids playing with their parents/nannies. We fast-walked back to our hotel when it started to drizzle.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Street's empty so we got to experiment with some pano tricks

Read about our first day in Malaysia here.

Touchdown, Malaysia!

Our adventure in Kuala Lumpur began with a visit to the Church of The Holy Rosary. Despite its population generally practicing Islam, Malaysia is home to other religions too, as evidenced by the presence of places of worship of other religions. After saying our prayers, we walked to Restoran Yarl to have lunch.

Restoran Yarl is a self-service restaurant run by Sri Lankan Tamils. Food is served in pots and trays on the side, and you take a dish and fill it up. The owners of the restaurant are friendly. Despite the language barrier, they tried to talk to us and answered our questions about the food and a bit of what brought them to Malaysia. Kaye and I shared a plate and this is what we had:

Forgive me for not taking note of their names but this is what we had

We ate with our hands and after getting our stomachs filled, we headed towards Citin Seacare Pudu to freshen up and catch some much needed sleep.

Petronas in the afternoon!

After a very relaxing sleep, we woke up at 5:00 PM and headed for the Petronas Towers. We strolled around KLCC park, took photos and watched people passing by. We also looked around Suria KLCC and had dinner at the food court. We had Nasi Goreng and Roti (No photos 'cause we were so hungry!). We got curious as to why there was a long line for Old Town Coffee so we also had some iced coffee and finally understood why there was a long line. The coffee was so good and having it iced in the middle of summer was so refreshing and energizing. There was also a fifteen-minute lights and water show on Symphony Lake just outside Suria KLCC. The water and lights "dancing" to the music was mesmerizing. We stayed there for two full cycles of the water show before heading off to Heli Lounge bar for drinks and good music.

Heli Lounge bar is located on the 34th floor of the Menara KH building. It took us a good 30-minute walk from Suria KLCC to Menara KH. When we got to Menara KH, the place looked closed for the day ( We arrived at 9:00 PM). There weren't any signs that say that Heli Lounge bar was still open and knowing it's Sunday, we thought that the bar was also closed. Luckily, there was a security guard and he directed us to the elevator and up we went to the 34th floor.

Cheers to day 1 of our first international trip to
 a country both of us has never been to :D

I am not sure if there was a dress code but everyone else was fancily dressed (we were in shorts, Sanuks and tees). We weren't asked to leave too so I guess we are dressed appropriately. We were received in an indoor lounge were they took our orders. We requested to be seated on the rooftop (the helipad) and luckily, there was a vacant table for us. True enough, the 360' view of Kuala Lumpur from the rooftop was breathtaking. You can see the Petronas Towers as well as the Menara KL tower. I can only imagine the views had we visited during sunset. We stayed there for about two hours and talked about how life has been on each other's side of the world. We walked to the hotel and prepared for day two of our adventure in Malaysia.

24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Dumaguete City

Balut: chick abortion

After a long day chasing waterfalls, we spent the night walking around the Baywalk and exploring the different food stalls. We ate tempura and some fish ball and I attempted to eat balut but as with previous attempts, I still wasn't able to. I have never eaten balut before and despite Kaye's attempts to let me eat balut, I still cannot bring myself to eat it. The thought of cooking and eating a developing chick was the bird equivalent of abortion: you let an egg develop into a chick and then decide to end it's life (O_O).  Even  sipping the balut soup feels wrong. No offense to balut eaters! 

We woke up early in the morning to witness the sunrise and for the obligatory I ♥ Dumaguete photo. Luckily, there were few people around so we got to have our photo taken. We heard mass at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Church and then went on to buy silvanas from Sans Rival. After tasting some of Sans Rival's pastries, it was off to Cebu for us. 

It was a short weekend trip and we could've went to Siquijor or even Bacolod but time was limited. Oh, well. Not visiting all the places at once means more reasons to go back to Negros. :)

Obligatory I ♥ Dumaguete Photo

Related: 24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Pulangbato Falls
                24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Casaroro Falls

24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Pulangbato Falls

Enjoying the scenic motorcycle ride on our way to Pulangbato Falls, we were suddenly surprised when smoke emanated from the rocky wall. Kuya Robert told us not to worry as this was normal and that we were passing by Mount Talinis (aka Cuernos de Negros), an active volcano(Yikes!). Holding on to hope that the volcano won't erupt soon, we went on. 

On the other side of the road, water was boiling and the rocks were reddish. The air smelled strongly of sulfur but still, we went on. After a few minutes, we reached Pulangbato waterfalls. It wasn't as high as Casaroro but the red rocks surrounding the falls made it unique. Compared to Casaroro, Pulangbato falls was more accessible. A five-minute walk from the road would take you to the waterfall. There was also a cold and hot spring near the waterfall and food stalls as well. 

As there were lots of people on the waterfall, we took a few photos and headed to the cold spring, resting and relaxing after a long day. Kuya recommended that we should try the hot spring too and we did. The water was warm and relaxing. I got to taste the water accidentally and it tasted like sulfur and rust (O_O). I wouldn't recommend swimming in white clothing as these would get stained (ruined one of my favorite shirts).

Everything was red with a tinge of green!

We went back to Dumaguete City before it got dark and Kuya was kind enough to take us to OK Pensionne House to recharge before strolling around the Baywalk.

Related: 24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Casaroro Falls
                24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Dumaguete City

24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Casaroro Falls

Damaged Footpath

Despite our tight schedules, we managed to visit Negros Oriental last weekend. We caught an early bus ride to Liloan, Santander and from there rode the ferry to Sibulan port. With no itinerary in mind yet, we headed to the Baywalk to have breakfast and plan how we'll spend our day. We wanted to visit Casaroro falls and since it was in Valencia, we took a jeepney to Valencia. From Valencia, we asked for directions how to get to the waterfall and luckily, we met kuya Robert, who offered to take us to the waterfall. After a fifteen-minute trip, we arrived at the ticketing booth and after paying the 10 Php entrance, we started our hike to the waterfall. Kuya Robert was kind enough to go with us  as he said the footpath was damaged when typhoon Seniang made landfall in 2014. After climbing on boulders and passing through streams, we finally reached the breathtaking Casaroro Falls. 

The 100 feet waterfall as a beautiful sight to look at. With the lush greenery surrounding the waterfall,the rocks at the water basin and the clear water, we understood why this natural beauty became one of the most photographed waterfall in Negros.

Because we got the place to ourselves + two other adventurers. <3

Not knowing where to go next, Kuya Robert suggested that we should visit another waterfall in Valencia, Pulangbato waterfall. Luckily, Kuya Robert was excited to show us the tourist sites Valencia has to offer so we hired his services for the entire day.

Related: 24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Pulangbato Falls

                24 Hours in Negros Oriental: Dumaguete City

Taraw Peak Climb

The easy part.

Our second day in El Nido started at 5:00 AM. Groggily, we followed our tour guide as we walked to the starting point of the climb to Taraw Cliff. All our sleepiness disappeared when we stared up at how high the cliff was. We felt scared and excited but we were in for an adventure so despite the lack of safety gear and not knowing what lies ahead, we went on. 

The first levels were easily accessible. We jumped on rocks, trod on damp forest ground and balanced on trunks of fallen trees. We thought that this would be easy when suddenly the foot path disappeared and the forest was replaced by rocks. Not wanting to be a wuss in front of the other, we climbed on. The ragged rock formations were blunt on the first few meters but the higher we went, the rockers were getting sharper and thinner. At one point, we asked our guide, "What happens if we lose our balance and fall?" "You die." Our guide casually replied. We didn't want to die yet and we didn't want to back out after getting that far so slowly but surely, we stepped/climbed/clambered/did whatever it takes to survive until we reached the top. I was mentally telling myself to think of this as preparation in case of a zombie apocalypse or another war happens and the cities get ravaged and we will be forced to hide into jungles, cliffs or mountains.

Finally, after 45 minutes, we reached the top of the cliff. The view of the sea from the top was amazing. It was worth the climb. We just sat there in silence, admiring the view and looking at each other with smiles on our faces. Our guide interrupted our thoughts by asking us if we wanted to have our photo taken before going down as it was getting hotter with the sun rising. 

No words.

You fall, you die. LOL.

No pads, no helmets.

After the downward traverse, the adrenaline has worn off and we felt tired so we went back to our room, had breakfast and took a nap before our next adventure.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

Well rested after the bumpy night bus ride, we were excited to go to our first day of exploring El Nido. For day one we went with tour A, which includes the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Simizu Island, Secret Lagoon and 7 Commandos Beach. This is the tour that most travel agencies offer to tourists so we kind of expected that there would be lots of people on these places.

...And we weren't disappointed.

The lagoons were breathtakingly beautiful but due to the number of tourists, you don't get to enjoy the peace and relaxation that you hope for when you go on vacation. Nevertheless, we enjoyed snorkeling, kayaking and swimming on the beach because the crowds don't matter as long as you enjoy who you're with. <3

I just love rock formations

Hello there, fishies!

7 Commandos Beach

We ended the day with dinner on the sea shore, watching the sunset and people watching.

Touchdown Palawan!

The afternoon was gloomy when we arrived at Puerto Princesa International Airport. I expected the airport to be busy but it wasn't too crowded. We went outside to find a tricycle to take us to the World War II Museum. We haggled and finally, one driver offered to take us to every place in our itinerary for 400 Php. :D 

We were greeted by an American Jeep at the entrance when we arrived at the World War II Museum.The museum featured World War II memorabilia - photos, ammunition, books, newspaper clippings and military uniforms from countries that fought in the Philippines during World War II. Taking photos was not allowed inside the museum (but you can take unlimited photos with the Jeep :D) so we just listened to the guide as she toured us around. The guide was very knowledgeable of the events that took place in Palawan during World War II and readily answered our questions. There were lists of people who fought during the war and these weren't short. It made me think of the families of these men and the grief they must have felt. Just like the men who fought, those left behind are also brave - they have to deal with loss and at the same time they have to carry on and live. 

Our next stop was the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (or Crocodile Farm to some). This is not originally part of today's itinerary (we scheduled it on our fifth day) but kuya Lowel, the tricycle driver, said that we can still catch the last guided tour. Admission charge is at 40 Php. The conservation center mainly focuses on the conservation of two crocodile species in the Philippines: The Philippine Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). They propagate them in captivity and once their old enough, they're introduced back to the wild. Aside from crocodiles, there are also different species of birds, reptiles and other mammals. 

Since we still have time, kuya Lowel took us to Mitra Ranch. This was not part of our itinerary at all and I am glad that we found a driver who was very enthusiastic about showing us around his city. The view was scenic on the way to the top of the hill. Once we got there, we roamed around a bit and took in the view of Puerto Princesa from the top. There was a horse that you can ride around for a fee and a zip line too but we didn't try any of those. 

Near Mitra Ranch is the famous Baker's Hill where you get to buy pasalubong.  Since we are still heading for El Nido, we decided to just roam around and check the prices and come back to Baker's Hill before flying back to Cebu. Baker's Hill is like a park with its colorful statues, animals and flowers. There are lots of corners at Baker's Hill that were good for photo opportunities but since it was late in the afternoon and this was the last stop where most city tours end, the place was crowded with people taking selfies. There was also a booth there where you can take a photo with a baby crocodile for a fee.

We went downhill to go to our next destination, Plaza Cuartel. Plaza Cuartel has a grim past. This was where the Japanese burned American prisoners of war on December 14, 1944. After ordering them to go to the underground air raid shelters, the Japanese poured gasoline and set them on fire. Those that didn't die immediately were gunned down, decapitated and beaten to their deaths. Those that were able to survive swam towards the Iwahig. The monument of the burning man reminds visitors of the horrors that occurred on this place.

Our city tour ended at the Puerto Princesa Baywalk. We were looking for dinner options there but decided to just take photos and eat at Robinson's Mall since we still need to buy a few toiletries before heading to El Nido.

Summer 2012: FUNtastic Island, Medellin

To kick off summer (and to clear my mind and heal my heart LOL), I decided I want to spend a day on the beach. With the help of my CVG friends, I was able to arrange a trip to FUNtastic Island in Medellin for 1,000 Php back and forth. :) Since it's also almost my birthday, I promised my LXK friends that I will take care of the food as long as they take care of everything else and viola! We took the bus to Medellin and after five hours, arrived on the port. We met Kuya at the port and when we saw the boat that is supposed

Can you fit 13 people (plus the boat driver in this boat? Yes you can!

to take us to the island we were hesitant (there were thirteen of us and when you see the boat, you'll understand why).  Nevertheless, we lack sleep, we're feeling adventurous so off to the island we go!

FUNtastic island was developed by the government of Medellin to attract tourists to Gibitngil, Medellin. Cottages were built on a huge rock and you can get there by walking on a bridge (or swimming to the rock on high tide or walking during low tide). Residents get to swim around the island for free on certain days while tourists pay a small fee. Rates as of April 2012 are below.

Cottages on the rock

Rates as of 2012 we saved 500 Php for the pumpboat!

As this is my trip with my office mates, I took this time to get to know them. Most of us were heart broken in one way or another and some of us are happily in relationships. Despite the differences, we all had one goal on the island and that is to have fun! For food, there were some stalls that sell fresh fish and meat and they will cook it for you for a fee. All in all, I spent 850 Php to feed 13 people. :) Had I taken them to a restaurant, it would have been more so my wallet is happy. :D

Hello there, little boy!

Loving the island life

Around 4 PM, we decided it was time to head back to Cebu. The trip to Medellin proper wasn't as smooth sailing as it was in the morning, unfortunately. We were laughing and talking when suddenly big waves started coming our way. We kept quiet for the rest of the trip as Kuya sailed on with his 13 passengers with no life jackets. We all sighed with relief when we reached the shore and thanked kuya for keeping us safe.

We survived the waves! 

With happy hearts and renewed spirits, we are ready to face another week of work. :)

A Day in Negros Occidental

After weeks of juggling work and personal issues, I spent a day in Negros Occidental. With no plan in mind, I just wandered around Bacolod and its neighboring cities. Luckily, my parents knew someone who was kind enough to take their troubled daughter around. Our first stop was Victorias to go to St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church or

See the all-seeing eye?

"Church of the Angry Christ". The Church got its nick name from the mosaic on the altar of the church. It features Christ with his arms outstretched, looking angry. I was amused at the colors and the Masonic symbols that come along with the mural of Christ (see the all-seeing eye?).

We said our prayers and drove to Talisay City to see the famous "Ruins", one of the most-photographed tourist spots in Negros. Initially, we weren't allowed to go in as the whole place was rented out for a wedding bit after promising that we won't take long, the caretakers let us in. The ruins was once a magnificent mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, built in honor of his wife, Maria Braga. Sadly, it was destroyed during World War II. It was burnt to the ground so that the Japanese forces could not use it as their headquarters. What remained after the fire was the concrete structure that now attracts hundreds of tourists. Wandering around the grounds made me imagine how grand it must be during its glory days, with Don Mariano and Maria's children on the grounds, enjoying a quiet night.

Still beautiful.

We headed back to Bacolod City to have lunch. I got to taste the famous Bacolod Inasal in Manokan Country and had desserts in Calea. Their cakes were so good I considered bringing some to Cebu but realized that the day's still long and the icing would melt under the heat. With full stomachs, we headed to Silay City, the "Vigan in Visayas" to see the old houses and museums. Just like Vigan, Silay is considered a "Museum City" where old houses and buildings were kept preserved.

Inside Bernandino-Jalondoni
Museum

Our first stop was the Bernandino - Jalondoni Museum. We didn't know we were already in front of the museum until we asked around as it blended in with the many old buildings that were turned into modern day establishments. After paying our entrance fee of 20 Php, the caretaker gave us a tour of the museum. The two-storey house was once the residence of Don Bernardino and Doña Ysabel Jalandoni. The rooms were very well taken care of and the furniture were reminiscent of our old furnishings when my grandparents were still alive. I sort of connected to the framed poster of Jesus and the framed photographs of beauty queens as my aunt used to have those on her wall back at home. We asked the caretaker if there were other worldly beings in the museum. She just smiled and said yes.

Our next stop was the Balay Negrense, the 

Child's play. Inside Balay Negrense

ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston. Although the lower storey is not really made of stones, it is still considered a "bahay na bato". I paid my 50 Php entrance fee and went inside the house. There were no tourists at that time so I had the house to myself. :) I went to the second floor and it felt eerie, with the afternoon wind blowing through the large windows of a child's room ( I assumed it's a child's room 'cause it had a  crib and toys). I wandered a bit more until I heard a sound of something that fell the moment I stepped into the room. Seeing the dolls on the rocking chair and their lifeless eyes, I quickly went down, said thank you to the caretaker and continued to walk the streets of Silay. There were several ancestral houses there but they were all gated so I just admired the architecture, took a few photos from afar and walked on. I passed by the Cinco de Noviembre Memorial which commemorates the Negros Revolution against Spanish rule. After reading the memorial marker, I hailed a cab and headed for the airport to catch my flight back to Cebu.  

Cinco de Noviembre. The cannon is an authentic Spanish colonial-era cannon donated by Claudio G. Akol, Jr.

The trip was short but it was enough to make me forget about the things that I have to face this Monday. Ha!

That Waterfall in Samboan

When a door closes, somewhere there is another door leading to things undiscovered.

So, the original plan was to swim with the whale sharks in Tanaw-an, Oslob. However, after seeing the hoards of people waiting for their turn since 1 AM and the thought that the whale sharks are probably already worn out with the sudden influx of tourists, we decided to ditch Oslob and look for fun and adventure somewhere else.

I didn't know the name of the waterfall, all I know is that there is another waterfall in Samboan besides Aguinid and it is somewhere in Brgy. Bon-Bon. With the help of locals, we trekked to the waterfall (we found out later on that it's called Binalayan Falls but it's widely known as Bon-Bon falls). There isn't a definite pathway to the waterfall and the way up is a bit steep and slippery but as long as you keep your balance and wear non-slip footwear (Thank you, Havaianas!), then you're good to go.

After 20 minutes, a few slips and the occasional, "Are we there yet?" from my little brother, we finally reached our destination.

The waterfall isn't as high as Mantayupan or Kawasan Falls but the fact that it isn't commercialized yet and that we have the waterfall to ourselves is good enough for me. :)

The steep way up. It was actually harder going down. T.T

I can see it now...weeee!!!

How to get there: One can reach Samboan by public buses or by private vehicles. Travel time from Cebu to Samboan is 3-4 hours, depending on speed, traffic and the number of stopovers made.

Tourists in Our Own City

For our final project, our History teacher gave us a list of museums and landmarks within the city and write about them. There wasn't a lot of time, so my classmates and I decided to visit all the assigned places in one day.

It was fun and we got around most of the places on foot. Despite the heat of the sun, we were happy to have had the opportunity to learn more about Cebu.

These are the museums and landmarks we visited:


Museo Sugbo
The Cathedral Museum of Cebu
Basilica del Santo Niño Museum
The National Museum
Casa Gorordo
Magellan’s Cross
Colon Street Markers
Fort San Pedro/Plaza Independencia
Heritage Monument

Our group would like to thank the following:

Our teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Esplana, for giving us this project instead of a final exam. =)

Mrs. Maribel S. Emenido of the Sto. Niño Museum, for welcoming us despite her busy schedule.

Mrs. Erlinda Arnoco of the Cathedral Museum, for being so friendly, for taking the time out to introduce us to the different galleries and for giving us a talk about the history of each artifact at the reconstructed chapel.

Mr. Radcliff Estrada, for the very comprehensive talk about the history of Cebu, for taking the time to tour us around the four galleries of Museo Sugbo, for supplying us with facts and tidbits of history that we didn’t know about and for showing us around the prison.

Our parents, for shouldering the expenses. XD

The nice people around the city who did not try to snatch our stuff or try to deceive us and for giving us proper directions to where the places are. XD

Heritage Monument

The Heritage Monument gives one a view of Philippine history in a 360 turn. The monument shows the pride, unity and cultural wealth of the Filipinos, from the early Filipinos, to the dawn of European colonization, the revolution of 1896 and the birth of the Philippine Republic. It shows the heroic contribution of the Cebuanos and the saga of events that led to the nation that we know today.

The monument makes one feel proud to be a Cebuano, for it shows that Cebuanos contributed a lot to the nation-building of the Philippines. However, we do not recommend going to the place during midday, for the heat of the sun is really uncomfortable. The heritage monument is located in Parian and is very accessible; lots of jeepneys pass by the area.

Fort San Pedro and Plaza Independencia

The fort where the Cebuanos drove out the Spaniards in the battle of 1989.

Due to the making of the underground highway, some roads leading to
Fort San Pedro and Plaza Independencia are closed. However, one can still access the place through local transportation and through private vehicles.

The stone walls of the fort and the tunnel-like entrance makes one feel part of history. The statue of Santo Niño can be seen on top the entrance of the Fort, evidence to the trust and faith that Cebuanos have on the miraculous child Jesus. The Plaza Independencia wasn’t as well-preserved as the fort, reduced to a dating place and as what rumors have it, a place where “bedroom activities” are done.

The fort is a good place to laze around during weekends. For 21 Php, one can enjoy the cool grassy grounds, strolling, sitting, eating, hanging out with friends and family or simply just people-watching. An added plus: one gets to enter the National Museum at no additional cost. The National Museum is inside the fort.

Plaza Independencia was closed due to on-going construction of the underground highway. Nevertheless,we can see the Plaza through the gates. It is quite dirty and smelly and a lot of vendors were selling their wares outside and within a few feet from the gate of the plaza.