Philippine Travel Photo Essay : Viva Cebu!

Bantayan Island, Cebu

CEBU

Cebu is one of the most famous places to visit in the Philippines. It’s known for its beaches, diving spots, and as one of the most historic provinces in the country.

My friends and I got to visit Cebu back in May 2009. We first headed to Bantayan Island on the northern part of the province. We stayed at Kota Beach Resort which has a really nice beach front. There’s really nothing much to do but to swim and relax. :)

different shades of blue :)

Kota Beach Resort

Cebu is also one of the most historical places in the Philippines. This is where Ferdinand Magellan landed, and where the Spanish influence is still strong and evident. Cebu City is the oldest city in the Philippines. Here are some of the sites to visit in the city:

Basilica de Sto. Nino, or the church built in honor of the Sto. Nino image brought by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. It symbolizes the birth of Christianity in the Philippines.

Fort San Pedro is also one of the historic structures in Cebu. It has been a camp for several armies throughout history. Once a camp used by the Spaniards against Muslim invaders, it eventually served as a fortress for the American soldiers during the Japanese war.

Lapu-Lapu Monument, in commemoration of his win over Magellan during the Battle of Mactan

Here are also some snapshots of Filipino living:

I call this photo “Siesta” which is a Spanish/Filipino word for a short nap taken in the early afternoon. I just thought that the elder women taking their ‘siestas’ would be a good subject as it is one of the most common traits of Filipinos. As they say, everyone’s entitled to a short break.

And of course the wonderful smiles of Filipinos especially of children: