Miss Cebu 2011 candidates take heritage walk

CEBU, Philippines - The Miss Cebu 2011 candidates experience first hand and learned about Cebu’s rich culture and heritage recently through the Pasiyo sa Kabilin Cultural and Heritage Walking Tour. The Pasiyo sa Kabilin Tour is a project of the Cebu City Tourism Commission in cooperation with the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, Parks and Playgrounds Commission, “Hapsay Sugbo” of Women International League and Visayan Association of Museums and Galleries.

The walking tour began at Fort San Pedro located at the Plaza Independencia in the port area, where the ladies were led into the oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines. Guided by expert Ka Bino, the ladies went back into time and discovered the treasures of history hidden beneath thick walls of centuries old coral stone blocks ingeniously wedged together using egg whites during the time of the Spanish conquistadors.

What seemed like a common structure to most Cebuanos was now marveled on by the ladies who eagerly listened on to Ka Bino’s tales of the fort – from its construction by hundreds of natives to the different indigenous species of flora located within the centuries-old Hispanic edifice.

From there the ladies proceeded to Plaza Sugbu, surrounded by the Cebu City Hall, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and the Magellan’s Cross.

The ladies further learned about the significance of the Magellan’s Cross to the island and the country. Found in the official seal of the City of Cebu, the Magellan’s Cross houses one of the most important historical possessions of the island - the encased original wooden cross brought by Fernando Magallanes or Ferdinand Magellan to the shores of Cebu.

Just across the Magellan’s Cross is another historical landmark in Cebu City – the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño which houses the image of the Holy Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño. The image was a gift of the Spanish friars to the then Queen of Cebu, Christianized as Queen Juana. Churchgoers offer prayers to the Child Jesus through the women candle sellers (dressed in yellow and red), dancing to the rhythm of the Sinulog.

Next stop was the seat of the Archdiocese of Cebu, the Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral; the territory of which extended up to the Marianas and Guam during the Spanish era.

Adjacent to the church is the Cathedral Museum of Cebu, a 19th century “bahay na bato” of grand proportions transformed into an ecclesiastical museum of church artifacts.

Here, the ladies need not traverse the entire island of Cebu to view the magnificence of the Archdiocese in terms of its cultural and historical contributions. From ivory statues to brass ornaments and altar paraphernalia, personal collection of private individuals and men of the church from across the island abound the museum.

Just a stone-throw away from the museum and right across it is the Plaza Hamabar, named after the Rajah Humabon, the chieftain of Cebu during the Spanish colonization.

The ladies were then taken to the centuries old Colon Street, the oldest street in the country. At the very edge of the street where an obelisk stands just a corner away is a 17th century Jesuit house hidden behind the walls of Hotong Hardware and now owned by the Sy family.

The tall concrete walls that surround the 17th century “bahay na bato” hid the house from the busy streets just off downtown Cebu City until recently when the new owners restored the house and opened it for public viewing.

Right across the street is the Plaza Parian on which stands the Heritage Monument depicting the life and culture of the Filipinos during the colonial times.

A few steps away is the Yap-Sandiego ancestral house, considered to be one of the oldest houses in the country. The Casa Gorordo is also another 19th century house of the first Cebuano bishop, Bishop Juan Gorordo.

The Pasiyo sa Kabilin Tour is just one of the many activities that the Miss Cebu Candidates undergo as part of the leadership and personality enhancement programs in preparation for the coronation night on January 12, 2011 at the grand Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.

For more details on the Pasiyo sa Kabilin Tour log on http://cebucitytourism.com/advertise.html. (FREEMAN)