On our very last day here in Cebu, we traveled back to the city from Bantayan Island the same way we went there. We boarded the ferry from Sta. Fe port at 6:30am and arrived at Hagnaya Port at around 7am and rode the bus that'll take us to Cebu City for our city tour.

Since we didn't have the luxury of time and can only visit a few locations in the city, we hailed a cab and went to SM Cebu for lunch and then straight to Magellan's Cross in downtown Cebu City. 


Located next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Magallanes Street, Magellan's Cross is the Christian Cross that was planted in Cebu as directed by Spanish conqueror Ferdinand Magellan.


When we got there, the Cross is still under rehabilitation as it was damaged by the Typhoon Haiyan. There were wooden braces all over the structure to support this historic landmark. 


According to the signage below the cross, the original cross that's erected by Magellan and his men is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of the chapel. This was done for the protection of the actual cross from the people who chips a part of the cross believing that it has miraculous powers that can grant the heart's wishes.


Inside the Magellan's Cross are older women who are selling candles for offering. Along with the candles, they also utter prayers for the well-being of the wisher. The five candles come in different colors: blue, green, yellow, pink and red and each color represent a particular aspect in life that one would want to focus on his/her prayers and wishes. Blue for career, green for financial success, yellow for health, pink for happiness and peace and red for love.




After offering our prayers to the iconic cross of downtown Cebu, we headed straight to Beverly Hills (not in California, but in Cebu!).

Travel Tip: If you are riding a cab going to Taoist Temple, try to ask the cab driver if he can wait for your group so that you'll have a ride back to the city proper. Not so many cabs pass by this area so it's best to be sure so that's what we did.


With an elevation of 980 ft above sea level, Cebu's Taoist Temple was built by the Chinese community in 1972. The towering, multi-tiered and multi-hued temple is open to worshippers and non-worshippers alike. Photos are not allowed to be taken inside the temples itself so be careful not to break the rules offend the caretakers and just take your photos on the lot outside where the structures are located.

So yeah, all the photos are outdoors which gives you a natural light so you'll surely get a nice shot if it's a nice day outside!






I wasn't able to take photos but after going to Taoist Temple, we went to Pasalubong Center and bought all the dried fish we can!

And before we know it, we had to go back to the city because our short vacation is over and work is waiting for us.

View of the city from the plane's window seat.