The Nostalgic Queen City of the South (Cebu City Walk Tour Part 1)

First stop was at Magellan’s Cross which is two to four minutes to the right from the entrance of the hotel. We went very early but it still crowded that time. Magellan’s Cross is one of the biggest evidence of Christianity left by Spanish Era, located between City hall and Basilica Del Santo Niño. It was such a pleasure to be in this place and to get close to the history of my very own religion. I came closer to the cross and whispering my wish to see the original parts inside the wood which is currently visible to the eyes of the visitors. Despite of wanting to see the original piece I greatly appreciate the effort to protect it from greater destruction if being exposed.

As we went closer this makes me realized how many hearts are still very close to the old traditions, I’ve seen a lot of people going in and out lightning candles, hanging sampaguitas, and touching the altar as they said their prayers. Despite of a bit crowded day the place still looks so solemn and serine to me, we walked towards Basilica Del Sto. Niño passing through Santo Niño College.

The Basilica was perfectly crafted by ages, it takes a lot of my glance, seems like I can’t get rid of looking at it and its details over and over again. The date of the contraction is visible on the wall and seeing the dates almost makes me impossible to believe that such structure was built on that time strongly to surpass the challenge of each years that passes by. It has a very detailed interior decorated with dominant gold colors and vintage chandeliers. The ambiance and the scenery moved both our hearts that time, it felt so nostalgic. The face of the elders in the church brings back the memories of our family members that had long been gone.

Beside the basilica is like huge altar for me :). It is

We sat down for bit in front of the church observing those people bowing their head and praying with lights of the red candle in a long rows. The serenity and silence of the place took us to one of the stall and take a candle for our own prayer. This has been an amusing feeling as just this day we surrender everything to our faith and felt this very light feeling afterward; the feeling of being relieved from a great burden and wearies. A very wonderful feeling that I last felt when I get out from the prayer room of the church near our place in Manila, if I am not mistaken.

The scene makes us hungry, hehe we were caught in an emotion that we both didn’t expected to arise that day. So we walk toward the Metropolitan Cathedral which is going right if you are facing the front of basilica and on our way we pass through Chowking! Just right enough to defeat the hungriness. We eat fast and take a little laid back rest inside the fast food house before moving forward to metropolitan Cathedral.

I can remember this church as the white church. This looks more modernized, pristine and relaxing. so relaxing that it make us sit down for an hour in the mini plaza just right in front of it. We just sit and observed the people passing by from all walks of life; then I imagine how many hearts are moved by this nostalgic Queen City of the South for years.

-to be continued on my next post-