An Afternoon in Boljoon

From the side of the church

Yesterday, I was finally able to tick Boljoon off my list of towns to visit in Cebu. With my sister and our ever supportive father, we walked around town and even got to see a waterfall!

The Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church  or better known as Boljoon Church was built in 1599 and served as a visita of Carcar until it was declared a parish in 1690 by the Augustinians. Administration of the church was transferred to the Jesuits in 1737 but the Augustinians returned in 1747 and claimed the church from the Jesuits. The church was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute in 1999, and was listed as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001.  It is the only church in Cebu listed as a National Cultural Treasure. 

Escuela Catolica. The 4 PM sunlight gave the former school an eerie look

A few meters from the church was the Escuela Catolica. Built in 1940, it served as a dorm for children receiving instructions on taking their first communion. It served as a place for religious teaching and as a school. Currently, it served as a meeting place for various religious  groups of the parish. 

The door to El Gran Baluarte

Across Escuela Catolica is the El Gran Baluarte, the largest extant Spanish watchtower in the Philippines. Built in 1808, the watchtower served as command center of Fr. Julian Bermejo, OSA while he defended the Visayan seas.

After walking around the parish complex, we looked for Ili Rock as we read on one of the markers that Ili Rock can be seen looming over the horizon. When we found out where Ili Rock is, we were saddened by the damage done to the natural fortress in an effort to make better roads. :(

Driving deeper into Boljoon, we got to Sitio Ylaya, where the waters of Dayhag Falls refreshed our bodies after a long day of trekking, driving and getting lost. 

It was great seeing my sister and my father having fun. With our busy schedules, we don't go out together these days but I am glad that we made time to actually push through this short trip, rain or shine. :)

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

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

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.

Colon Street Markers

These markers that line up both sides of Colon street represent what building was standing there way back during the late Spanish colonization period. Colon was once the center of economic activity, where most of Cebu’s prominent people reside and where most plants, factories, shops and schools were established. Destroyed during the American and Japanese occupation, these markers are a reminder to the people of the glory that Colon street once had.

These markers are very much accessible and visible from the streets. However, there were quite a number of them that lined the entire street with several showing redundant information. These markers are not so effective in terms of presenting information. People can easily ignore the signs and reading one doesn’t exactly let you see the whole picture how Colon was like. But for us, who trailed the markers, we saw how Colon used to be the center of business. There were homes of prominent people like Doña Modesta Gaisano and Sergio Osmeña Sr.,theaters, restaurants, schools and even an ice plant.

We also noticed that the pictures on each marker were the same. However, it's interesting knowing what places these existing establishments used to be, how prosperous the street once was, and how the city revolved around it. It gives us Cebuanos something to be proud of.

Walking around Colon street tracing the markers is quite fun when you are with a group but we do not recommend doing it alone. The risk of getting hit by a speeding vehicle and squished to death is high, since one cannot see the markers without really getting into the street.

Magellan's Cross

The cross made of tindalo wood that we see standing tall now encases the original cross planted by Magellan on the spot on April 21, 1521.

Although the original cross is behind a case, seeing it stand so high makes one ponder and be amazed at the strength of the Catholic faith. Being at the center of a circular path, the structure enclosing the cross grabs the attention from different directions.

Because the cross is located at the center, the usual first reaction is to look at the cross. Due to the length of the cross, one traces the cross with his/her eyes upward and read the story the murals are telling. For Catholics, it makes one grateful that such a cross was planted, its roots firm and its branches spreading out.

As a historical monument, the Magellan’s Cross is well-preserved compared to the other monuments. Its interior is quite clean, the paint on the exterior not faded. Many tourists and locals still drop by the Shrine after visiting the Basilica de Santo Niño, which probably accounts for the local government’s obvious efforts to keep the place well-maintained.

Casa Gorordo

What was once the residence of Juan Isidro de Gorordo is what is now
Casa Gorordo, a museum that showcases how a typical residence during the Spanish occupation looks like. The house was built in the mid-19th century by Alejandro Reynes Y Rosales. Bought by Gorordo in 1863, the house was home to four generations of the Gorordo family. Acquired in 1980 by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation in 1980, the house was restored and opened as a public museum. Casa Gorordo has been declared a national historical landmark by virtue of National Historical Board Resolution no. 4 dated September 24, 1991.

Evaluation

When one enters the museum, one cannot help but be awed and mesmerized by its serenity and peacefulness. The landscape outside was well-maintained and it felt like a small park with the green grass. Entrance fees to the museum would vary, depending on whether you are a local or a foreigner. Locals are charged 40 Php for adults, 15 for college students and 10 for high school and elementary students. Foreigners are charged 70 Php for adults, 50 Php for adults with a DOT-accredited tour guide and 25 Php for students and children. It is located near colon which makes it quite accessible by public transportation although if taken by jeepney, one might need to walk a few feet.

The reception isn’t that great, they seem to be more concerned that we pay the entrance fee before we can even take a peek inside. Inside, they were more open to answer our questions.

The appeal of the museum was exceptional. The house is well preserved that even upon entering the first room, it felt like you stepped into a different dimension, one that brought you back to the time of Padre Damaso and step into the shoes of Maria Clara or Don Crisostomo Ibarra. It was exciting and scary at the same time. The rooms were ornamented as if someone still lives there, very authentic. You can recreate and imagine what they would have done in each room. Although there’s not much space for a big crowd to walk together; it was very easy to walk through the entire house as the rooms were lined on one side of the house.The Casa Gorordo is relevant to history because the museum allows you to see the day-to-day lives of the middle class in the Spanish era. The museum serves as a reminder of how reserved the women were and of how influential the friars were, as evidenced by the prayer room. The museum reminds us of how our ancestors used to lived and make us relive the culture of the Filipinos.

National Museum

The National museum of Cebu is located inside the forts of another landmark relevant to Cebu’s
history—Fort San Pedro. This museum is home to artifacts from the archaeological times as well as the Spanish times.

Evaluation

The national museum is just inside the walls of Fort San Pedro, beside the wishing well. There are two floors. The first floor showcases artifacts from archaeological times. The second floor shows artifacts and antiques from the Spanish occupation. Entry to the museum is easy, you just have to pay 21 Php to the ones at the front desk of the Fort San Pedro. It may seem expensive, but your 21 Php is your pass to the Fort as well as the museum.

The reception wasn’t really nice, they were a bit rude about asking payment from us but nevertheless, we got to enter the Fort. We guess they lacked museum staff, since the guard at the second floor also served asthe receptionist at the second floor and the tour guide, explaining the historical background of each exhibit.

The museum’s exterior makes you curious about what is inside but once inside, the museum loses its appeal. This is mainly due to the exhibits which weren’t really that many and most of the exhibits can also be found in other museums. There is ease in movement, since the exhibits are mostly on shelves mounted on the walls.

The museum’s relevance is it tells the history of the Cebuanos during the Pre-colonial times as well as the Spanish times through the exhibits and artifacts.

Sto. Niño Museum

Home to artifacts, texts, paintings and photographs that gives proof of the Cebuanos’ devotion to the child Jesus is the Sto. Niño Museum. Opened in 1995, the museum bears witness to the faith that Cebuanos have on the Sto. Niño.

The museum shows different vestments of the Sto. Niño through the years in different sizes and designs, ranging from the elaborately ornamented ones to the simple ones. Paintings showing the Sto. Niño and scenes of devotion and worship of the Sto. Niño by various local artists such as Celso Pepito are also featured here.

Devotional literature, such as books of prayer and books of acts can also be seen here. Old books, which account the meetings by the members of the Cofradia of Sra. Dela Consolacion can also be seen here. These old books are covered in animal skin, mostly from cows and pigs. The layout of the building plans for the Cathedral can also be seen here.

Church pieces used in liturgical services and vestments worn by priests in performing sacraments and rites are also displayed in the museum. Chalices from the 1900’s, cruets from the 17th century, ciboriums, patenas are some of the church pieces on display. Dalmatics and capes from different times and worn by holy figures on significant occasions are also on display.

Evaluation

The Basilica Del Sto. Niño Museum is open on Tuesdays until Sundays. For a fee of 10 Php for adults and 5 Php for students and children, locals and tourists alike can enter the museum which is located at the basement of the Pilgrim’s Center of the Basilica del Sto. Niño Cathedral in Osmeña boulevard. Attending to us that time was Mrs. Maribel S. Emenido, the museum registrar. She wasn’t really that helpful, but she was nice. Photography is not allowed inside the museum.

The museum’s appeal comes from the ambience of the lighting outside the museum. The soft lighting gives one a feeling of otherworldliness and draws one to take a peek inside the museum. However, improvement is needed as to the arrangement of the display cabinets and counters since the place is quite small and movement isn’t easy when there are lots of people.

The Cathedral Museum of Cebu

The Cathedral Museum of Cebu was first established by the late Msgr. Virgilio “Nene” Yap. In response to the challenge by the late Pope John Paul II, the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church was formed. The commission was tasked to reestablish the museum.

The Cathedral Museum of Cebu used to be an old rectory. The rectory is made of stone the lower level and a combination of hardwood and other lighter materials on the upper level. The inner walls are made of “tabique pampango,” a thin wall of interlaced pieces of bamboo which is coated with lime mixed with sand. The convent roof is made of clay tiles (teja). Now, it houses the collections depicting the evolution of Christianity in Cebu in six galleries.

The Cathedral Museum has a reconstruction of a chapel which contain the Carmen
collection of a tabernacle, gradas and altar panels made of wood encased in silver from the parish of Carmen, Cebu.

Cuna del Cristianismo: The Ecclesiastical Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu

The Museum showcases how Catholicism flourished in Cebu in six galleries.

The first gallery showcases the early beginnings of the Catholic faith through illustrations, texts and photographs. It traces the spread of Catholicism throughout the islands and the role of the diocese in establishing settlements centered on the Church.

The second gallery shows memorabilia of the third Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. This gallery traces the life of the archbishop through text, artifacts and vestments.

The third gallery focuses on how churches were built during the Spanish period. This gallery features blue prints, construction plans, photographs and actual building materials and techniques that are no longer used today. The highlight of this gallery is the period documentation of the materials used in constructing the church of Liloan, Cebu.

The fourth gallery is an exhibit of Spanish era relics and statues of saints from different parishes. Some of the statues are made of ivory and wood that because of security reasons, are only displayed on special occasions or when permits to see them are obtained.

The fifth gallery displays items that are used during the Liturgy and in instituting the sacraments. Here,we find a collection of chalices, cruets, ciboriums and sacras as well as the vestments of the priests and portraits of former bishops.

The sixth and last gallery gives viewers a glimpse of a typical bedroom of a priest in the diocese.Displayed here are furniture, books, and some archaeological material that were unearthed during the restoration of the convent.

Evaluation

The rates are 50 Php for adults and 25 Php for students and children. The museum is open from 8 AM to 12 NN and 1 PM until 6 PM. The Receptionist, Mrs.Erlinda Arnoco, is warm and welcoming. She gave us a short talk about where the different artifacts came from,their names and how they were used.

The museum is across the Cebu Cathedral and is just along the corner of Manalili Street and P. Gomez Street. It is accessible by taxi or by jeepney. The convent’s house-like exterior mixed with a bit of modern day architecture provides its appeal. The spaciousness, the arrangement of the gallery at the second floor and the chapel and lobby in the first floor gives ease in entering and exiting the place.

Although still in an ongoing process of restoration and reestablishment, the museum is relevant becauseit safeguards the collections of ecclesiastical tradition. It also helps locals and foreigners alike to understand the importance of the past.

Museo Sugbo

Museo Sugbo is housed in what was once the provincial jail of Cebu, Carcel de Cebu. Designed in 1869 by Domingo de Escondrillas, the prison was originally proposed as the main prison of the Visayas district, which accounts for its large size. The Carcel changed its name twice, first during the American to the post-war periods when it was called the Cebu Provincial Jail. In the 1980’s, the name was changed to Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

The transfer of the provincial jail to a larger prison in 2007 ushered the conversion of the provincial jail into what is now the Museo Sugbo, the repository of Cebuano heritage.

The Galleries
There are four galleries open to the public as of the moment: the pre-colonial gallery, the Spanish gallery, the Spanish withdrawal from Cebu gallery and the American gallery.

Artifacts from the archaeological times can be seen in the pre-colonial gallery. These artifacts are loaned to the museum from the collections of the University of San Carlos and from private collectors such as Mr. Vince Escario and Mr. Roderick Poca, who is a also a faculty member of the University of San Carlos. This gallery also featured artifacts from the Chinese, since the Cebuanos were also active in trading with them, even before the Spaniards came. Pots, clay jars and plates from the Sung, Yuan and Ming Dynasty are proofs that trade with the Chinese did occur in Cebu. Artifacts from Thailand and Vietnam can also be seen in this gallery. It was recently
asserted that the Thai and Vietnamese once engaged in trade with the Cebuanos. Handmade celadonwares from Thailand (formerly called Siam) which resemble Chinese porcelain were found in some parts of Cebu.

The Spanish gallery gives a glimpse of how Cebu was when the Spaniards arrived on Cebuano shores on March 16, 1521. After a week, Raja Humabon and his wife, Amihan, got baptized and were given the Catholic names of Carlos and Juana. The Spaniards gave Juana a statue of the Sto. Niño. All the other Cebuanos in the island of Cebu also got converted. However, the Spaniards weren’t received nicely by the people of Lapu-Lapu.There, Magellan died in a battle where the Spanish forces were outnumbered by the natives. The gallery also featured items from the Galleon Trade, the Encomienda System and the two oldest books on Cebuano grammar in Spanish can also be seen here: Arte de la Lengua Zebuana and the Diccionario Bisaya Español.

We weren’t allowed to take photos of the artifacts. But we can take photos of the walls...=)

The third gallery shows the Spanish withdrawal from Cebu. It showcases pictures, news items, post cards and other memorabilia from that time in history. Here you can find original copies of Ang Suga, the first newspaper of Cebu. Old copies of The Freeman can also be seen. News about the death of Leon Kilat was the in the headlines at that time.

The American gallery also contains items from the short-lived Japanese occupation. Shells of bombs dropped in Colon Street can be found here. Boxes which contain rations from the Americans
can be seen here. Old currencies from Japan and America can be found here, as well as emergency money which was printed to be used only in specific places during wartime.

Evaluation

Entry to the museum is easy. However, as with all museums, a fee is required. Rates start at 5 Php for students and children, 10 Php for adults and 50 Php for foreigners. The curator, Mr. Radcliff Estrada, personally attended to us and gave us a talk about the items in the different galleries. The staff is friendly and helpful.

The museum’s appeal comes from the building’s old-world feel, its spaciousness and arrangement of the galleries provides ease of movement which other museums severely lack. As to Accesibility, it’s just along the road of MJ Cuenco so, one can just ride a jeepney or a taxi. There was no gift/book shop around, since the museum’s construction isn’t finished yet.

Some museums in Cebu specialize in specific areas of interest and times in history. The museum’s
relevance comes from the fact that it gives a glimpse of the history of Cebu in general, making locals and tourists appreciate and understand the past and give them a sense of belongingness and familiarity with history.