The Queen City of the South
Touchdown Cebu, Philippines!
Excited to experience the thrill and adventure in Cebu, and all of that it can offer.
To start with here’s a view of the beach at our hotel.
Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel Resort beach view when we arrive
Fort San Pedro, Cebu
A fortress in the middle of the city, Fort San Pedro is known to be the smallest and oldest fort in the Philippines. Built by the Spaniards under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first governor of Captaincy General of the Philippines. During the Philippine Revolution in the 19th century, the fortress was attacked by Filipinos and used as a stronghold.
Fort Santiago is triangular in shape. Two sides facing the sea and the third facing the land. It has three bastions, namely La Concepcion (southwest), Ignacio de Loyola (southeast), and San Miguel (northeast). You can still see the cannons that were used during those historical times.
Temple of Leah
The question is not why but why not?
The temple was built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna to his late wife Leah Albino-Adarna, who wants to show his love to his wife for 53 years. Much like the Taj Mahal in India.
The structure reminds us of roman built buildings of which we can assume was something how Teodorico viewed Leah, a goddess to his life. It is adorned with life sized statues of angels, gladiators and lions. Along with its wonderful and amazing adornments, you are simply left in awe, knowing that you are in the Philippines and not in Rome. The temple houses the memorabilia of Leah and has 24 chambers containing a library, a bar, museum and gallery.
You can visit Temple of Leah after a 30 minutes drive from Cebu City. It has an entrance fee of PhP100.00. There’s also a snack and souvenir kiosk by the plaza area.
To be given such a gesture of love to someone…sana all.
Tops, Cebu
After a 30 mins ride from Cebu City, you’ll arrive at a cool and serene place which allows you to have an amazing view of Cebu City.
If you want to feel how Simba felt when Mufasa showed him their Kingdom, Tops is the place for you, only that Cebu City and its neighboring cities are not your kingdom but you can still appreciate the beauty and the amazing view it can afford you.
Tops is best visited when the sky is clear and during dusk to evening, where you can witness Cebu lighting itself, like stars on Earth.
La Vie Parisienne
A little taste of Paris in the Queen City of the South.
La Vie Parisienne is a French restaurant, boosting with their best French Pastry, wines and deli products in an authentic French experience.
We enjoyed their food and wine. Not to mention their friendly and honest staff. And wherever you are in the restaurant, a photo op can be done that is Instagram worthy.
It’s only 10 minutes away from Ayala Center Cebu and you’ll get the taste of Little Paris.
Lapu-Lapu Statue, Mactan Shrine
Your Cebu travel won’t be complete without visiting the 20 meter bronze statue of Lapu-Lapu at Mactan Shrine.
Lapu-Lapu was the local hero who defended Mactan Island from the Spaniards which happened on the same location Mactan Shrine is now located.
For anybody interested in Filipino history, a visit to the Mactan Shrine on Mactan Island—just off the coast of Cebu City—is a must. Along with paintings and memorial plaques commemorating the Battle of Mactan, which took place in April 1521 between the Spanish and local Visayans in central Philippines, it also has two additional significant shrines: the Lapu Lapu Shrine and the Magellan Shrine.
Interesting Trivia:
The statue was initially positioned with a bow and arrow facing in the general direction of the town hall when it was first commissioned by the town council in the early 1930s. But shortly after it was finished, three mayors in a row passed away while still in office, leading many to speculate that the statue might have been cursed. In 1938, Lapu-bow Lapu's and arrow were requested to be replaced with a wooden shield by the new mayor Mariano Dimataga. Dimataga worked there for 30 years before leaving in 1968.
