This is actually the fourth time I’ve been to Cebu, but there’s still a lot more that I haven’t been to in the city. I was alone when I first set foot in the island, there were two of us when I returned a a few months after, and there were three of us when I returned last year. Last Saturday, I was in a group of fourteen bloggers: Gail<\/a>, Marc<\/a>, Juned<\/a>, Melo<\/a>, Karla<\/a>, Sha<\/a>, Hana<\/a>, Markku<\/a>, Winston<\/a>, Coy<\/a>, Mica<\/a> and Ada<\/a>.<\/p>\n Right beside it is the the Magellan’s cross. The cross standing inside is just a replica of the cross that was planted in Cebu when Ferdinand Magellan claimed the territory for Spain. Milling around the small chapel that housed the cross are old ladies selling candles and prayers. For a fee, they will perform the Sinulog: a prayer that is offered while dancing. <\/p>\n From Cebu’s historic center, we drove out of the city and into Talisay, Markku’s hometown. We went to the beach where we gorged ourselves on Talisay lechon and different kinds of seafood (fish, clams, sea cucumber, sea urchin and some other stuff I can’t identify). We had pus\u00f4<\/em> to go with it. Pus\u00f4<\/em> is rice cooked in a woven pouch made with palm leaf. Afterwards, they plied us with native snacks like biko<\/em>, kunselba<\/em>, and salvaro<\/em>. The PBA officers and organizers had an impromptu meeting right after lunch, and to pass the time waiting, I walk down to the water’s edge to take photos of the skimboarders riding the waves.<\/p>\n Before the sea breeze relaxes us too much, we trooped back to the van for the ride back to the city. We drove to Fort San Pedro, one of the Spanish’s military defenses around the country. It’s tiny compared to Fort Santiago, and the sea have moved quite from ways from the fort, owing to reclamation. Activities for kids are sometimes held inside the grounds, but there are still plenty of places inside the old fort where you can find (relative) peace and quiet. <\/p>\n
\nMagellan’s Cross<\/em><\/div>\n
\nWe all flew in for the Cebu leg of the Philippine Blog Awards, and we all met up Saturday morning for a half-day tour and plenty of good food. Our first stop was the Basilica del Santo Ni\u00f1o de Cebu, a 16th century church where an image of the child Jesus is housed. Devotees flock the church any day of the week to pray and show their devotion.<\/p>\n
\nLighting a candle at the Sto. Ni\u00f1o Basilica<\/em><\/div>\n
\nSkimboarding in Talisay<\/em><\/div>\n