March 5, 2014

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu , Cebu City


Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu where the image of Santo Nino was found is the oldest Catholic Church of the 16th Century in the City of Cebu and the first monastery to be established in the Philippines. Upon the discovery of the image of Christ Child inside a burning house by the troops of Legazpi, they considered the finding of the image as a good omen making them built their first house in Cebu. Thereupon the founding of the image of Santo Nino marks a history.


 The Church’s Structure
The façade of the church is made from cut-coral stones with the images of saints which were believed to be quarried from Panay. The spacious church has an image of two Chinese-style lion. A mix influences blends the façade of the church from Muslim, Neo-Classical according to Agustinian historian Father Pedro Galende and Romanesque.

A three-level belfry attached to the end of the façade on the northern. At its south is the two-level monastery. A pilgrim houses the Agustinian Province of Santo Nino de Cebu. The pilgrim was built in the early-1990s.





 The Altar
A carved multi-level wooden altar screen features particular Agustinian saint or blessed. The altar originally had four altars which includes two on the sides of the transept but were removed after the renovation on 1965 for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christianization in the Philippines. Gone also during the renovation was the 18th century pipe organ but on the year 1966, another pipe organ was installed by Jose Loinaz. The organ itself was manufactures in Germany by the Laukhuff Orgelbau, Weikersheim. But what highlighted the most in the altar is the 480-year old image of the Santo Nino.

Visiting the image of Santo Nino in the Basilica Minore, lighting of candles inside the church are strictly prohibited. However, touching the image of Santo Nino is possible as long as you follow the line from the outside of the ambulatory between the church and the convento.


The Convent
Strictly prohibited for anyone to enter the second story of the convent, the first floor is occupied by Parish offices. A carved stairway leads to the spacious aula or living room, were painting of Agustinian saints is displayed.





Me myself and I having a selfie photo in the crowd of devotees at Basilica Minore Del Sto. Nino De Cebu Church, houses of the most sacred Christian relics in the Philippines; Sto.Niño de Cebu (the infant Jesus) during the Sinulog 2014






The Festival
Sinulog is the name of the festival in Cebu. Taken from the Visayan word “suug” which means water current. The festival is a combination of dancing and prayers which were believed to seek the favor of Santo Nino to carry out the prayers of the community. Outside the Basilica, women selling candles dances while holding a handful of candles as a part of the tradition of praying to Santo Nino.



Mactan Shrine, Lapu Lapu City , Cebu


The Mactan Shrine located in Mactan Island, Cebu is dedicated in honor of Lapu-Lapu, Ferdinand Magellan, and the Battle of Mactan. Lapu-Lapu was the native chieftain of Mactan Island, and he resisted the efforts of Magellan to subdue his people and to be converted to Christianity and to be subjected to the throne of Spain.




The subsequent battle on April 27, 1521 between the Spaniards and Lapu-Lapu and his men resulted to the death of Magellan. The shrine was erected on the supposed spot where the battle took place.





 The Magellan monument consists of a plain obelisk on whose apex rests a sphere. The obelisk is mounted on a tall plinth and the plinth rests on a tripartite structure: an octagonal base on which rests a tall quadrilateral structure, divided into two parts. The lower part is decorated with high relieves of vases, and the upper part is pierced by narrow arches. On the monuments are inscribed texts honoring Magellan. A low fence surrounds the monument.





A heroic sculpture of the chief of Mactan who defeated Magellan, Lapu-lapu stands near the Magellan monument. Lapu-lapu, sculpted with great realism, stands tall, with a shield held by his left and while a curved kampilan sword, drawn is held by his right.



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The sculpture celebrates the readiness of the brave warrior to confront aggressors.


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Magellan's Cross , Cebu City


Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese, and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on (depending on source) March 31, 1521!

 This is where the Current Location of the Magellan's Cross in Cebu, just beside the Basilica Manore Del Sto. Nino De Cebu



This cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan), just in front of the city center of Cebu City. A sign below the cross describes the original cross is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers


Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan's death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines


Me, Myself and I having a selfie photo inside the shrine or whatever it was, behind me is the Magellan's Cross, it was supported with woods in order not to fall since it was damaged after the devastating Bohol earthquake.
It took another 45 years (1565) before Cebu was visited again by another European. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, under orders from King Philip of Spain, came and made Cebu the first capital of the Spanish colony known as Las Islas Filipinas.

Below is a photo of myself with someone i don't know in front on the shrine where Magellan's cross is situated. I just love his look, the art of body paint and the creativity of expressing his feeling towards drug addiction!