It was in early May when I visited Cebu with my two cousins, Elena and Jennifer, for UP enrollment. The boat arrived in Cebu from Bohol at three in the morning and by five, we started walking away from the pier to find nearby restaurants or 24/7 bakeshops. Unfortunately, we did not found one so we rode on a jeepney going to Colon. It was difficult to find open bakeshops at that time since it was still early and we were not familiar with the streets. After hours of walking around the place, we spotted an open department store and it was of Gaisano mall. We entered and bought some bread and hot water for our cup noodles. We hungrily eaten our food and afterwards we went to Basilica del Sto. Niño and prayed for our safety. Then finally, we were now ready to approach our final destination-UP Cebu.
The enrollment was not as easy as we have expected because there were many processes before we could enroll especially because we were transferees. We went first to the College Secretary Office to pass the requirements necessary for the enrollment like photocopies of our TOR (Transcript of Records), birth certificate, and other documents. Unfortunately, we were told to wait for two to three days before the results will be known if we passed in the average grade requirement. Since the enrollment was not that easy to finish in just one day, we decided to go back to Bohol at that same day because we did not have a place to stay in for the moment and we did not have enough money.
We still had time to spend the rest of the day so we went to Ayala and Colonnade to kill time. After that, we rode on a jeepney to bring us to the pier. We were looking through the window while suddenly we saw big monuments near the street. The monuments were tall and brownish in color, maybe made of bronze, and it really captured our attention. I think all of the people who will pass by that place will really appreciate and will be mesmerized by those monuments. We never heard about the place since we were not from Cebu and it was our first time to see it. We had not seen the entire view of the park because we are in the jeepney but the figures showed that those monuments were sculptures of different heroes in the Philippines like Lapu-lapu whose tribe fought the Spaniards and killed Magellan. There was also a big cross in the center of the monument. We were still talking about that park until we reached the pier.
On our second trip to Cebu for the enrollment, we were on the process of meeting the chairperson of our desired course to help and assist us. When we headed for pier to go back to Bohol, we saw again the monuments and were mesmerized for the second time. I hastily searched my camera in my bag pack for I have remembered I brought my cam and I was able to capture just one photo of the said park. We were too excited at that time that we forgot to lower our voices because we were riding on a jeepney and all of the passengers were staring at us. We just laughed at ourselves for that shameful reactions of ours when we saw the monuments. It seems that the people there were already used to the place and didn’t bother anymore to take a look at the monument. For us who just seen it for the second time were so curious about it and I was already happy enough for having one photo of the monument. We planned to go and visit the park and take some pictures of us in there.
When we were asked to make an essay of any landmarks or architectures, the first thing which came to in my mind were the monuments and I later learned that it was called Cebu’s Heritage Monument Park which is located in Pari-an District near Colon street. 1According to EverythingCebu.com, the Heritage of Cebu monument is a tableau of sculptures, which is made of concrete, bronze, brass and steel. The said tableau shows scenes about events and structures that are related to the history of Cebu. This monument was constructed in July 1997 and it was finished in December 2000. Local artist Eduardo Castillo built the sculptures of the Cebu Heritage Monument. He and the late Senator Marcelo Fernan together with donations from other private individuals and organizations funded the construction of the monument. The structures depicted in the Heritage Monument are the Basilica de Santo Nino, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Saint John the Baptist Church, the Magellan’s Cross, and a Spanish Galleon. The scenes depicted in the Heritage Monument are the baptism of Rajah Humabon, a procession of the Santo Nino, a Roman Catholic mass, and the Battle of Mactan between Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. The persons depicted in the monument include the late president Sergio Osmena Sr., and Blessed Pedro Calungsod. (Pictures were just borrowed from Jay Darryl)
Basilica de Sto. Nino
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Magellan's Cross
Spanish Galleon
Procession of the Sto. Nino
The Battle in Mactan
Sergio Osmena Sr.
1The Heritage Monument is located in the historic Parian District, which during the Spanish period was home to the residences of the most prominent families in Cebu at that time. The St. John the Baptist Church previously stood on the site of the monument’s location. However, the diocese of Cebu demolished the church in 1875.
Recently, I was able to visit the Park all by myself. Since I was not yet familiar of the place to where the monument is located, I asked some people that I had met in the street on which direction to go and I started walking from 138 Mall in Colon. Many of them to whom I have asked the information doesn’t know also the place and that makes me wonder why. I was surprised that the monument that I have been looking for was just a few walks away from the Mall. Some people with cameras on their hands took photos of the monument when I arrived at the place. I think they were visitors and they were also spellbound by the monuments.
It was a hot Sunday in the afternoon so there were just few people in the place except in the Parian Fire Station( beside the Monument) were some residents were having their basketball league. I asked one resident, who was watching the game at that time, if it was free to enter the Park and he said yes.
I have read an article in the internet By Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (The Freeman), that the Barangay officials in Parian agreed to impose a fee on tourists who want a closer look at the Heritage Monument of Cebu located within their jurisdiction. In Barangay Ordinance No. 2011-02 submitted for approval at the city council, the barangay proposed to collect P10 per tourist who will enter the premises of the heritage for viewing purposes. Officials said that the collection will be used to maintain the cleanliness and peace and order within the vicinity of the monument. “The barangay is in charge of securing the area to be conducive for tourists and at the same time, the maintenance of cleanliness of the area as well as its beautification. The barangay deems it necessary to prescribe a fee for the purpose of maintaining the security and the cleanliness of the area,” the ordinance read.
During last Wednesday’s regular council session, the ordinance was jointly referred to the committee on laws headed by Councilor Edgardo Labella and to the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission for their comments. In order for the barangay ordinance to be effective, it must first earn the approval of the city council. If approved, the barangay will then hire a caretaker to be assigned to the area to collect the fees from tourists. The caretaker shall be appointed by the barangay captain. The heritage monument in Parian underwent intensive restoration and preservation which was completed in April 2010.
I felt so happy and excited that I was able to take a closer look at the monuments and I felt lucky enough because the entrance fee was not yet strictly impose. Unfortunately, my cam did not work but I brought my cellphone with cam so I was still able to take many pictures as I can. The sad thing is that the pics were not good when transferred to the computer.
1There were other nearby historical spots in the Parian District, which are the Casa Gorordo Museum and the Yap-San Diego House. The Yap-San Diego House is part of the Casa Gorordo Museum complex, which is a private museum open to the public. The museum complex highlights the lifestyle of a rich household in Cebu during the Spanish era and displays antique furnishings, clothes, kitchen equipment and utensils, and other antique items. I never had the chance to visit Gorordo Museum and the Yap-San Diego House but I wish to visit these historical places with my cousins someday. Discovering new places and historical sites here in Cebu has been one of my goals since my stay here.
Sources :
1http://www.everythingcebu.com/cebu-historical-spots-tourist-attractions/the-heritage-of-cebu-monument/
pics:
