The Heritage of Cebu

"It's not the honor that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind."

The Heritage of Cebu Monument is a tableau of sculptures made of concrete, bronze, brass, and steel showing scenes about events and structures related to the history of Cebu. The construction of the monument began in July 1997 and it was finished in December 2000.

Local artist Eduardo Castrillo built the sculptures of the Cebu Heritage Monument.

He and the late Senator Marcelo Fernan together with donations from other private individuals and organizations funded the construction of the monument.

The structures depicted in the Heritage Monument are the Basilica del Santo Niño, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Saint John the Baptist Church, the Magellan’s Cross, and a Spanish Galleon.

The scenes depicted in the Heritage Monument are the baptism of Rajah Humabon, a procession of the Santo Niño, a Roman Catholic mass, and the Battle of Mactan between Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan.

The persons depicted in the monument include the late President Sergio Osmena Sr. and Blessed Pedro Calungsod.

The Heritage Monument is located in the historic Parian District, which during the Spanish period, was home to the residences of the most prominent families in Cebu at that time.

The St. John the Baptist Church previously stood on the site of the monument’s location. However, the diocese of Cebu demolished the church in 1875.

How to get there

The Heritage of Cebu Monument is accessible to public transportation.

If you are on Colon Street in downtown Cebu City, you can take a jeep with the signboard showing SM and Pier area.

The jeep will pass by the monument. You may also take a taxicab as most drivers are familiar with the place.

You can also visit the other nearby historical spots in the Parian District, which are the Casa Gorordo Museum and the Yap-San Diego House.

The Yap-San Diego House is part of the Casa Gorordo Museum complex, which is a private museum open to the public.

The museum complex highlights the lifestyle of a rich household in Cebu during the Spanish era and displays antique furnishings, clothes, kitchen equipment and utensils, and other antique items.

It is one of the oldest houses in the Philippines.

Built in the late 17th century, the ancestral house has remained in its original state, even though it already shows weather-beaten but unyielding structures made of molave and coral stones due to time.

This was the house of Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido with their 3 children: Maria, Eleuterio and Consolacion. (c)

How to Get There:

From Manila, you can fly to Cebu (estimated cost of Php3,000++, round trip, 45 minutes). And from the Cebu Airport, you will need to hire a cab to go to the city proper or to your destination.

If you’re in Cebu City, you can ride a jeep with 01K code at SM Cebu or near the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Go down at Shamrock and take a short walk to the right, you’ll find the Parian Plaza. The Yap San Diego Ancestral House is located 155-Lopez Jaena corner Mabini St., 6000 Parian, Cebu City just across Cebu’s Heritage Monument.

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XOXO

ZARRAH