Cebu Tours – As we travel the Island of Cebu, one of the historical places that you should not miss is visiting the cross of Magellan. It is at the base of how christianity and how Cebu was made. The cross symbolizes the great colonialism of the spaniards and how they molded our Country to be what it is now. Part of our culture is a reflection of Spain’s culture. Our vast population are mostly christian ant this cross is the center of our dominant religion.
It was Ferdinand Magellan, the first European to come to the Philippines in 1521. He was also known as Fernao Magalhaes or Fernando Magallanes, he was a Portuguese navigator working for the King of Spain in search of the spice islands (now part of Indonesia, known as Maluku or Moluccas islands). When he and his crews landed on Cebu island, a native chief, Rajah Humabon, met and the two of them became friends. Rajah Humabon, his wife and hundreds of his native warriors through the teachings of Magellan, they all agreed to accept Christianity and they were consequently baptized.
As a symbol of the importance of that day, Magellan planted a cross. It also signifies the start of the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith in the place that is now known as Cebu, in central Philippines. The original cross is reputedly encased in another wooden cross for protection, as people started chipping it away in the belief that it had miraculous healing powers. This prompted the government officials to encase it in tindalo wood and secured it inside a small chapel called “kiosk.” The Magellan cross is housed in a small chapel located in front of the present city hall of Cebu, along Magallanes Street (named in honor of Magellan).
But Magellan met his death under the hands of another Visayan chief, Lapu-Lapu, when he opted to venture on the nearby island of Mactan. Mactan is also part of today’s Metropolitan Cebu. There, both the statues of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu proudly stand to commemorate the tragic meeting of east and west in this part of the world.
A quick Cebu Tours, you will find that the cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street just in front of the city center of Cebu City. A sign below the cross describes the original cross as encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. Some people, however, believe that the original cross has been destroyed or disappeared after Magellan’s death and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully Christianized the Philippines.
Magellan’s Cross and the paintings at the ceiling of the chapel. The structure was undergoing some maintenance when I got there but it was still open to the public. Image taken on October 2, 2014. Cebu Tours.
Cebu Bohol Travel and Tours offers the a chance to visit this Historical and sacred place. The rate is very affordable and the trip is very safe. Just visit the link Cebu City Day Tour:
We also offer other tours, just click the links below:
- Oslob Whale-Tumalog-Kawasan Canyoneering
- Oslob Whale-Sumilon-Kawasan Canyoneering
- Oslob Whale-tumalog-Sumilon Island
- Oslob Whale-Tumalog-Simala
- Oslob Overnight Full Adventure
- Oslob Overnight Budget
Or just visit our site Cebu Bohol Travel and Tours.
