The country's oldest city, Cebu is necessarily the place where relics of the past are a-plenty. Colon Street, for instance, has the a distinction of being the oldest street in the Philippines. Paved late in the 16th century by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Colon now houses malls, office buildings, theaters as well as museums and monuments. Other places of historical importance include Fort Santiago Pedro, the oldest fortress in the country, Liloan Lighthouse, and the Bantayan sa Hari.

A bustling trade port since pre-historic times, Cebu was named the country's capital by the Spaniards in 1565. Since then, Cebu has maintained its stature as the center of trade and commerce in Southern Philippines.

However, Cebu is more than just a city of increasing sophistication. With its colorful past, the city still retains much of its provincial warmth and charm. Indeed, apart from its numerous man-made landmarks and institutions, Cebu also features miles and miles of forest greens--a haven towildfire and the place for a perfect picnic. There's the 15,393-hectare Central Cebu National Park, the 696- hectare Sudian National Park, the Kawasan Falls and the Bolok-Bolok Mineral Springs. Nearby Mactan Island boast of world-class beach resorts.

The sightseeing options at Cebu is absolutely endless. A day is not enough to explore the many joys of the Queen City of the South.

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross on the very spot where the first Filipinos where baptized. Said to process supernatural powers, people started chipping off parts of the cross until the city government encased it in tindalo and housed it in a monument. The mythic cross stands at the corner of Magallanes and Burgos Streets.

LAPU-LAPU MONUMENT
Lapu-Lapu's bronze form stands proudly at Barangay Mactan in Mactan Island. The first Filipino leader to resist Spanish attempts at colonization, Lapu-Lapu is revered to this day. Uncannily, Lapu-Lapu's statue stands across the street from that of his rival Magellan.

BASILICA MINORE DEL SANTO NINO
The oldest religious relic in the country, the Santo Nino de Cebu, is housed at the Basilica. A token of friendship by Magellan to Queen Juana in 1521, the Santo Nino has survived fires and other catastrophes throughout the years. The Basilica is one of the country's oldest churches institutions worth seeing are the Chapel of the Last Supper in Mandaue, the Taoist Temple and Phu-Sian Temple in Beverly Hills, Naga Church and argao Church.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS MUSEUM
Founded by the Jesuits in 1595, San Carlos is the country's oldest university. Its museum houses various archaeological artifacts and religious relics from all over the Philippines.

CASA GORORDO MUSEUM
Once the residence of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu, Casa Gorordo has been restored to its former glory. It houses various religious articles from the 18th to 19th century-- and is a showcase of contemporary Cebuano art.

ISLAND HOPPING
A Cebu vacation would be incomplete without a view of its numerous tropical islets. Sun-kissed beaches, white-sand beaches, colorful corals and abundant marine life are but a few of the attractions you'll find in Cebu. Sample the divespots of Moalboal, Badian, Mactan and Olango. Swim in the beaches of Argao, Oslob and Carmen.

GUITARS
The quality of Cebu’s hand-crafted shell-inlaid guitars can be compared to the best in the world. At Maribago, the center of Cebu’s guitar-making industry, you can watch the craftsmen at work. They produce all kinds of musical instruments from guitars and ukeleles to banjos and mandolins. Mactan also produces guitars.

HANDICRAFTS
Blessed with an inherent entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, the Cebuanos have managed to produce all sorts of handicrafts . From Capiz, lamshades and ashtrays, abaca bags, coral jewelry boxes, to silver jewelry and hand-woven cloth. Cebu has practically everything. For great bargains, visit Carbon market. Cebu’s biggest public market. You can also take a stroll down Colon Street. Its numerous stores and malls offer the best of Cebu.

FOOD
Dried mango preserves, otap (crunchy sugar-coated biscuits), turrones (rolled wafers with peanut/cashew filling), danggit (dried fish) and fresh fruits are just some of the gastronomic bite delights to be had in Cebu. Apart from Carbon Market, visit Gullas Market and Tabuan Market for the best food buys.

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