Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño
Cebu City

The church and convent erected by the Augustinian Fathers under the Rev. Andres Urdaneta in 1565 were the first established in the Philippines. Both were burned down on November 1, 1566. The second church was likewise destroyed by fire in March of 1628, but rebuilt soon after (1628 - 1629) under the administration of the historian Rev. Juan de Medina, O.S.A. The present massive church was designed and constructed during the priorship of Rev. Juan Albarran, O.S.A., (1735 - 1737). The Santo Niño venerated in this church since the time of Legaspi, is the center of intense devotion and religious pilgrimages through out the Visayas.

Cebu

Mactan International Airport

Cebu is an hour's flight away from Manila. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers from north to south. It is surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller islands, that includes Mactan Island, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands.

Cebu City, its capital, also known as the Queen City of the South, is the oldest and second most important city in terms of business and tourism in the country. Cebu’s top tourist draws are its world-class beach resorts. Metropolitan Cebu is also composed of the adjoining cities of Mandaue and Lapu-lapu. Cebu is the Country’s oldest Spanish settlement, dating from 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi established a permanent habitation first known as Santissimo Nobre de Jesus. It was actually the capital of the new city of Manila, was established in Luzon in 1517.

There are many places of interest in Cebu City. One is “Magellan's Cross” which was named after Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who came to Cebu in the early 1500s. Pieces of the original cross are believed to be encased in the present cross. The monument is just across the street from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It used to be the only Catholic Basilica in East Asia. The basilica houses the famous “Santo Niño” the patron saint of the Cebuanos. Other historical relics are Fort San Pedro and Colon Street, the oldest in the country.

Say 'I do' in Cebu

The Queen City of the South is fast becoming an ideal wedding destination

If before, Manila was the only place being considered by foreign travelers visiting the Philippines, Cebu now comes to their mind, especially when looking for the country’s most important wedding—and honeymoon—destination.

“For those who look for diverse locations, Cebu is the destination of choice,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Cebu/Region VII director Rica Bueno told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview. “There is a variety of themes and venues available [here]—from heritage-inspired, island or beach, laid-back garden reception, or a ballroom in a fine hotel. Cebu is also an ideal jumpoff point for island-hopping in the Visayas for adventurous couples.”

The  DOT has been promoting Cebu—apart from Boracay and Palawan—as a primary wedding destination for foreign tourists looking to have exotic weddings outside their home countries.