Philippines: Around Cebu

Cebu city is the second largest city in the Philippines. Mount Manunggal forms the background of the coastal city while Mactan Island is right across the Mactan Strait. Magegllan landed here in 1521. In fact he died in Cebu from injuries from battles with local troops. The much revered image of Santo Nino, the star of Sinulog, is said to have been brought to Cebu by Magellan. In addition, the Cross of Magellan is housed in a special octagonal coral stone pavilion just outside the Basilica. Pilgrims throw colorful candles onto its floor (3rd below). We finally made it into the still-busy adjacent Basilica del Santo Niño two days after the Grand Parade.







Otherwise old Cebu is as tired looking as Manilla and equally congested. There are signs of BRT construction. The branch of the National Museum housed in the old customs house is so spiffy that I almost wish they had spent the money on spiffing up the city rather than the museum. We both thought the Chinese porcelain artifacts of the "13th to 17th Century Shipwrecks and Maritime Trade" exhibit was super interesting. In addition there were paintings and photographs by local artists.
















Checkout two of the new shiny BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) stations in the background (1st below) and at right (2nd below)




The Osmena Fountain Circle was transformed into a food, lights, and entertainment bazaar with a 20-meter tall Christmas Tree for the Santo Nino festival.












There was a wholesale vegetable market near the National Museum.




Budget Rice + Vegetable(s) Plates are pretty common in the Philippines. We ordered (1st below) Tortang Talongs (Eggplant Omelettes) more than several times!!! And (2nd below) Rice + Tofu + Vegetable Plates were also filling us up.




Halo-Halo is the national icy cold dessert favorite. No wonder. It's perfect on a hot, muggy day.


Although grilled corn, and steamed corn vendors were easy to find, we did not try them. Out-of-focus pic below - whoops.


For our last night in Cebu we took a room in a hotel near the airport which had great views of the Mactan–Mandaue Bridge.




And our last meal in Cebu was at the nearby 'Ramen Stall by Cebu Wish' where we had....




Finally some 20th-Century Modern and Modernist buildings from Cebu. First the Cine Oriente.


Eden Theater and Cine.


Don Vicente Rallon Building


Our hotel was in the University District. The building next to us was a Business School.


Sterling Bank of Asia


This building reminds me of 20th-Century Kolkata architecture


And the rest....