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Above: Magellan’s Cross in Cebu

In the game of chess, the queen happens to be the next most important player after the king. In the same way that in the Philippines, Cebu is the second most important city next to Manila. But in view of the fact that Cebu actually has more “firsts” in many aspects, it may as well be the most imperative city in the country. It is therefore suitably christened as the “Queen City of the South”.

Sights to see in Cebu:

Cebu is the leading southern city in the Philippines wherein it is known to be the “birthplace of Christianity”. It is also thought to be the pioneer in Asia when it comes to being touched by the Cross.Visiting these sites below could entail a wider appreciation and understanding of how these sacred relics have created the traditions and the faith of the Philippines.

Magellan’s Cross

It has been said that when Magellan hit the shores of Cebu on 1521, he had placed a cross on the very spot in downtown Cebu. This consequently enabled the conversion of the most illustrious place in the country to Christianity. It was in Cebu wherein the first Christian Filipinos were baptized; starting with King Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana. The cross is now kept in a chapel. It was enclosed in a hollow tindalo wood in 1835. This was to keep the followers from breaking off portions of the relic wood to take back with them as religious mementos.

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño

Positioned not far from Magellan’s Cross is the Augustinian church. The church which is made of hewn stone is the only Roman Catholic Basilica in the Far East. Ferdinand Magellan gave the statue of Santo Niño to Queen Juana in 1521 and is now in the sanctuary of this church. This sacred place is open every Fridays and Saturdays to the public.

Above: Views of Zambales

The name Zambales was derived by the Malays from the word “Samba” which means to praise or to worship.

Zambales is found at the central part of Luzon and almost shares the same land positioning as Pangasinan, Tarlac and Pampangga. It had been discovered by a Spanish explorer named Don Juan De Salcedo. There are three dialects used in this province, and that is Tagalog, Ilocano and Zambals.

The land area of Zambales is 3,714sq.km and is considered as an agricultural land filled with natural resources. Predominantly they are known for rootcrops, corn, vegetables and rice. Aside form farming, they also have fishing. They also have handicrafts, bamboo crafts, shell crafts, swine production, and poultry, weaving, rope making, pottery etc. This is only in the industrial side but this land of natural resources is also filled with beaches that scrape the landmark of tourism.

Having a climate that’s not frequented by typhoons is a good and sound atmosphere for beach hopping.

To specify the tourist spots would be its natural attractions such as Balon Falls, the caves of Sagrada Familia, the hot spring of baloc-baloc and the adventurous travel beyond the Zambales mountains facing beautiful beaches which water seems to get clearer and clearer towards the north of Olongapo City

Just a couple of hours from manila. You can take an air-conditioned buy of Victory Liner that leave at 6:00 a.m. the earliest and 5:00 p.m. the latest. You can catch a ride with an ordinary bus at 4:00 a.m. the earliest.