​All towns and cities in Cebu have their own legends that have been passed on from one generation to another. These legends were likely made to explain a supernatural event that happened in the towne or cities decades or centuries ago. The southern heritage town of Argao is one of these places where legends have been passed on through the centuries.

Argao

Argao is a town located in the southern part. It is considered as one of the heritage towns of Cebu due to the presence of Spanish era churches and houses. In addition, the town is also the home of Lola Pureza who set the standard in the creation of the much-loved Cebuano delicacies, the Peanut Browas, Toasted Mini Mamons, and Butterscotch.

Legend of Binalabag

Mt. Binalabag is one of the mountains located in the town of Argao. While many hikers and mountain climbers have already conquered its peak, the mountain was once the center of one of the legends of the town. The mountain is supposed to be the home of a golden horse or a golden cat. The horse or cat would sometimes go down to the town. Even though it was reclusive, residents of the town would see it when it goes down. When the San Miguel Arcangel Parish or the St. Michael Parish Church was under construction, the animal was supposed to be seen at the church every morning. The story also indicates that there was an intricate passageway connecting Mt. Binalabag to the altar of the church. 

Defender of Argao

St. Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of the town. St. Michael the Archangel is tasked in leading the army of heaven against the army of Lucifer. The ceiling of the San Miguel Arcangel Parish has a painting of the battle scene between the archangel and the devil. Residents of the town of Argao love and revere their patron saint as every home in the town has an image of St. Michael the Archangel. St. Michael is considered as a guide, teacher, and leader by the people of Argao. There are three stories or legends showing St. Michael protecting the town. 

​The first story supposedly happened in the early part of the 1800s. The legend indicates that Moro marauders retreated after a little boy carrying an image of St. Michael was seen walking on a high wall leading to the watchtower. The boy supposedly lighted the cannon sending a fiery volley of missiles at the vintas of the pirates causing them to retreat. Some people said the little boy was St, Michael protecting their town.

The second story of St. Michael protecting Argao supposedly happened just before hostilities broke out during the Philippine Revolution. An image of the saint was placed inside one of the cells of the municipal hall. When the revolution was starting, someone supposedly told the head guard to place him outside. The sweet voice came from the cell. Initially the guard did not believe it. After he heard the voice the second time, the guard checked the cell and only found the image. He went back to his post before hearing the voice a third time. The guard told the head of the town who ordered the guard to put the image outside. No one heard the voice after this. A Spanish warship came one day to bombard Argao. But, none of the cannon shells reached the municipal hall, which was located along the coast.  The warship left soon after.

The third story happened during World War 2. Guerillas from Argao attacked a Japanese garrison and killed most of the soldiers. Three surviving Japanese soldiers were able to contact the main unit in Cebu City. A Japanese ship arrived in the wharf of Argao and collected the surviving soldiers. Six Japanese warplanes came to bomb the town the following day, which was the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. While the day was quite sunny, a thick blanket of fog covered Argao. Since the Japanese warplanes could not see anything, they withdrew without dropping a single bomb. Eight Japanese patrol boats also had to withdraw after a thick fog rolled in and covered the town. Stories emerged indicating that a young boy slipped into the patrol boats before they set sail to Argao. People say the young boy was St. Michael. 

Maria Cacao 

Maria Cacao is a diwata or forest goddess living in Mount Lantoy in Argao. According to the legend, Maria Cacao owned a large plantation of cacao. Argao villagers get their cacao from the plantation owned by the diwata. Together with her husband, Mangao, Maria Cacao would bring their products on a galleon going through the Mananga River. They would sell their products to places as far as America. When they returned to Argao, they would bring with back golden utensils and plates from these places. The villagers of Argao would borrow these plates and utensils from Maria Cacao, who would readily lend it to them as long as they return them on the agreed day. 

​But, there were instances when the villagers would not return the things they would borrow or return broken plates. Due to this, Maria Cacao did not allow them to borrow anymore. She also did not show herself to the villagers since then. Another version of the story happened on a stormy night when the water level was high. When the galleon of Maria Cacao passed through the river, its mast broke the bridge of the village. Due to this, the villagers did not go to Maria Cacao and he husband anymore. 

​Myths and legends are traditional stories made to explain a natural phenomenon or are associated with supernatural beings. But, they do reflect the creativity and imagination of Cebuanos and Filipinos as a whole. They also show how good of a storyteller the people of Cebu are. 

Do you know of any myths and legends in your hometown? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Aside from the lechon, Cebu is also known for its mangoes. While many of the mango products of Cebu are made from its flesh, there is a recently-opened café that uses the seed of the mango for many of its products, including bread, cookies, and cakes. The name of the café is the Mangga Café. 

Cebu Mango 

The mangoes of Cebu are among the best in the world. It is loved by both locals and foreigners. These fruits wee even served to Miss Universe candidates when they visited this little island in the middle of the archipelago. The most famous mango-based product is the dried mangoes. They have found their way to different parts of the country. Some companies also export these products to different countries around the world. In addition to the dried mangoes, Cebu also produces mango juices, chocolate-covered dried mangoes, and mango puree, among others. The seed of the mango can also be processed into mango flour. The mango flour is rich in fiber, anti-oxidants, calcium, protein, and magnesium.

Mangga Café

The Mangga Café is a unique café offering different types of mango-based products. The breads of the café are made using mango flour, which comes from mango seeds. The mango flour used of its products is processed in a factory located in Lapu-Lapu City. Aside from offering mango-based products, the Mangga Café is also doing its part to uplift the lives of some less-privileged families in Cebu. A part of the proceeds of the café is used to help scavengers living in Lapu-Lapu City. So, aside from enjoying the breads and pastries at the Mangga Café, you also get to help this sector of society. 

​The Mangga Café offers a good selection of bread made using mango flour. These products include the Focacia, Whole Wheat Loaf, and Bread Sticks. They also offer other products, such as the Go Healthy Bar, Mango Jam, Garlic Parmesan Loaf, and the Pesto Loaf, among others. If you feel the need to satisfy your cravings for some cakes and pastries, you can try their Mango Cheesecake, Mango Mousse, and Mango Tart. 

​The Mangga Café also has a variety of hot and cold drinks you can enjoy with your bread, cake, or pastry. These drinks include the Mango Mint Tea, Mango Lemon Grass, Mango Minced Iced Tea, and Mango Strawberry Iced Tea, among others. The prices of the products offered at the Mangga Café are from PHP35 for the Ciabatta bread up to PHP175 for a box of Go Healthy Bars.

Create Your Own Sandwich

If you are looking to have a sandwich at the Mangga Café, you have a choice of filling to use. Your choices include the Margherita, BLT, Pesto Chicken, Humba, and Tuna Salad Melt. After you have chosen you filling, you can choose from the five types of bread offered at the café. These breads are the Tortilla Wrap, Whole Wheat Bread, Bagel, Focaccia, and the Ciabatta. 

Location and Other Details

The Mangga Café is located at the second level of Robinson’s Cybergate Mall. The café is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM from every day. While the café has a quaint dining area, you may also opt to order takeout and enjoy your sandwich, cake, or pastry at the comfort of your home. 

Even as the Queen City of the South already has a number of cafés offering similar products, the Mangga Café offers something uniquely Cebuano. The mango-based products offered at the café reflect the ingenuity of the Cebuano and the current trend towards healthy living. You can also practice your creativity by getting one of the packs of mango flour at the Mangga Café. 

Have you visited the Mangga Café already? Tell us what you ordered on the comments section below. 

Getting into the list of the best islands of the world of Conde Nast is not easy. Well, Cebu has accomplished this feat again thanks to its beaches and other natural tourist attractions. Even as the beaches of Cebu are already world-class, some of them feature sandbars that make them more appealing to visitors. We came up with a list of 7 sandbars where you can let have the time of your lives while visiting Cebu.

Sumilon Island Sandbar

Sumilon Island is located off the southeastern coast of Cebu. It is a 20-minute boat ride from the town of Oslob. While there is a resort on Sumilon Island, visitors can access the sandbar even if they are not guests of the resort. Many sandbars are accessible during certain parts of the day, but the sandbar in Sumilon Island can be accessed the whole day.

Caohagan Island Sandbar

The Caohagan Island is another hidden gem located close to Mactan Island. It is accessible through an outrigger boat from Maribago in Mactan Island. The sandbar extends off one side of the island. It is the best place for visitors to take a dip in the island. 

Kota Beach Sandbar

Bantayan Island is a tropical paradise located off the northern coast of Cebu. One of the most popular places among visitors of the island is Kota Beach. Aside from its fine white sandy beaches, the place also has its own sandbar that has enhanced its appeal among local and foreign tourists. It is one of the best places on the island where you relax with a bottle of your favorite drink at the end of the day.

Mahayahay Beach Sandbar

Argao may be known as one of the heritage towns in Cebu, but it offers more than just its Spanish era structures. The town also has its own sandbar at the Mahayahay Beach. It is a public beach that is popular among locals. The beach has a number of cottages for rent along with a number of convenience stores.

The North Sandbar

The North Sandbar is a two-hour boat ride away from Mactan. The sandbar is actually a part of Bohol, but is one of the stops of some island hopping excursions. Only a small part of the sand bar is visible when the tide is high. The place also has a concrete watchtower. The sandbar is accessible through an outrigger boat from the southern part of Mactan Island.

Gibitngil Island Sandbar

Gibitngil Island is one of the main attractions of Medellin. It is one of the go-to places among visitors of this northern Cebu town. It is also known as Funtastic Island and offers numerous fun activities to local and foreign tourists. The island also features a sandbar that extends off its eastern coast. It provides beach lovers another place where they can have fun under the sun when they visit Gibitngil Island.

Campalabo Islet Sandbar

Campalabo Islet is located off the coast of Pinamungajan. It is a part of a protected marine sanctuary where marine life is allowed to thrive. The sandbar on the islet is actually rather small but it is being promoted as one of the tourist attractions of the town. When the tide is high, only a small part of the sandbar is visible. When the tide goes down, a good part of the sandbar emerges from the sea.

​Have you visited any of these sandbars already? Tell us about your visit on the comments section below.

​Cebu was selected as one of the best islands in the world in the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards survey of Conde Nast. While the beaches are the main reason why Cebu landed on the list again, the island has a number of other natural attractions that can pique the interest of any traveler. One of these places is the Kabukalan Spring.

Kabukalan Spring

The Kabukalan Spring is a cold water spring situated at the highest level of the Kawasan Falls system. While the name may have been derived from the Tagalog word “bukal,” which means source, it is interesting to note that the same word in Cebuano means boil. But, since it is also called the source, the name may have come from the Tagalog version of the word.

The Kabukalan Spring is also connected to another natural tourist attraction, the Matutinao River. The river is around two kilometers away from the spring. The Matutinao River is also one of the places where canyoneering activities are held. Due to this, the spring is one of the exit points of people joining these activities. Trekkers also pass through the spring after hiking up Osmeña Peak. They would pass through the spring mainly due to the rich flora and fauna in the area.

Getting to the Kabukalan Spring

You can reach the Kabukalan Spring by getting on a bus with the signboard Bato via Barili at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. The bus will take you to Badian. Just make sure to tell the driver of conductor that you want to get off at the jump off point for the Kawasan Falls. Once you reach Badian, you can trek to the Kawasan Falls and go up to the highest level of the waterfalls. 

​While the Kabukalan Spring may be a part of the Kawasan Falls, it did not gain as much attention as the falls itself in the past. But, with the increase in canyoneering activities in the area, many visitors are now starting to appreciate the beauty of the spring. It has also become one of the places where nature lovers can visit if they find themselves in the southern town of Badian.

Have you visited the Kabukalan Falls already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

​Since traveling to the northern tip of Cebu can take a number of hours, it is necessary to make a stopover somewhere. This allows travelers can stretch their legs or grab a quick bite. While there are several places where private vehicles and buses can stop along the route, there is a place in Carmen where you can stop for a while before continuing their journey north. The name of the place is Bastap. 

Bastap

Bastap is a restaurant offering a place for travelers to stretch their muscles or get something to eat in Carmen. The place started off as a small tent set up by Kintar Food that initially catered to small groups of travelers. The owners generously gave free meals to bus drivers who would stop by the place. When the business grew, the company worked with the Ceres bus company to come up with Bastap. 

​The name Bastap reflects the way Cebuanos pronounce and spell bus stop. The place offers a good variety of dishes to tickle their taste buds. The meals range from light snacks to full-blown meals. In addition, the Bastap Café also offers coffee and ice cream sundaes for anyone who wants to have more than just something to eat. 

​Aside from the café and dining area, the place also has a bar for anyone who wants to have some fun while staying in Carmen. The bar has a billiards table where guests can emulate the Magician, Efren “Bata” Reyes. The videoke machine at the bar also gives guests the chance to sing their hearts out.

Location and Other Details

Bastap is located in Barangay Luyang, Carmen. It can be found along the main road. The place offers a good selection of dishes, including different silog meals as well as home-cooked style meals. They also offer barbecue, burgers, and soup. The Bastap Café has a number of coffee and non-coffee items on its menu. They also offer salads, sandwiches, pizza, and pasta. In addition, the place also sells different delicacies for travelers who may want to bring something with them on their way to or from the northern part of the island.

​The Bastap in Carmen offers more than just a place for travelers to stop and stretch their legs before continuing their journey to the north. It serves as a one-stop shop where people can grab a bite to eat, have a cup of coffee, or even enjoy the night away. 

​Have you visited the Bastap in Carmen already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

A trip to the northern part of Cebu normally ends up in one of the beaches in either the Camotes Islands or Bantayan. Some of the cities and towns along the route are mere stopovers for weary travelers who may want to stretch their legs after a couple of hours of travelling. But, there are some places where travelers may want to stay a while to check out what they have to offer. One of the places visitors can drop by is the Capitancillo Cafe & Restaurant in Bogo City.

Capitancillo Cafe & Restaurant

The Capitancillo Cafe & Restaurant is considered as the best restaurant in the northern part of Cebu. While the façade looks as if it was built in the 1980s, the interior of the restaurant is spacious. The decorations are also quaint and conducive for gatherings of family and friends. In addition, the restaurant has a good selection of dishes including soup, seafood, meat dishes, and even rice toppings. 

​The soup offerings of the restaurant include the Capitancillo Pochero and Mongos with Gata. They also have a variety of seafood dishes, including their Capitancillo Coco Crab, Camaron Rebosado, and the Pusit Ala Pobre. For the meat dishes, customers have a good choice of beef, chicken, and pork dishes. These dishes include the Beef Steak with Ampalaya, Capitancillo Crispy Fried Chicken, and the Patatim.

​Some customers of the place like their lasagna and others recommend their beef broccoli. The Patatim is also among the items previous customers of the restaurant recommend. The Lava Cake is among the dessert items recommended by the customers. 

Location and Other Details

The Capitancillo Cafe & Restaurant is located at the heart of Bogo City right behind Gaisano Bogo. Prices of the menu items at the place range from PHP85 for the Tortang Talong up to PH450 for the Capitancillo Seafood Platter. While the prices may be somewhat high, the restaurant offers big servings for their dishes. 

​Even as many people go to the northern part of Cebu to visit the beaches in the neighboring islands, it may be a good idea to stop in one of the towns or cities along the way and see what they have to offer. We never know, you may discover a hidden gem in these places.

Have you visited the Capitancillo Cafe & Restaurant in Bogo City already? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

Cebu has been included in the list of the best islands in the world in the most recent Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards. It is not surprising since the island has a lot to offer to visitors. But, long before Cebu became one of the best places to visit in the country, life in Cebu was quite simple. We came up with another list of things longtime residents of Cebu would know.

Standalone Theaters in Downtown Cebu

Before the coming of the malls, the downtown area was the place to go to if you wanted to watch a movie. The latest movies at that time were shown in one of the many standalone theaters in the area. These theaters include Ultravistarama, Oriente, and Vision Theater. While some of these theaters are still standing, they have experienced a slowdown with the opening of the big malls in the Queen City of the South.

Goot da Wanderpol

Back in the 80s, a local television show used to outdo Manila-based shows in Cebu. The show was about a goat that excreted coins rather than waste. It was so popular that it posted one of the highest television ratings in Cebu at that time. The main stars, Teban and Goliat, became household names in the Queen City of the South and were in-demand artists for out of town shows in the island. It started a trend for locally-produced television shows for a number of years. 

Water Fountain in Ayala

When Ayala Center Cebu first opened its doors in Cebu, the mall had a water fountain inside. During that time, people would throw coins into the pool around the fountain and make wishes. But, when the mall was renovated, the water fountain was replaced with a kid’s playground. 

Computer Instant Prizes at White Gold

Kids of the 80s will surely remember the time the computer instant prizes of White Gold in the Reclamation Area. Shoppers would get the chance play a simple game on a computer to get the chance to win prizes. Aside from winning a prize, kids enjoyed the fact that they were able to use a computer, which may have been the first time for many to do so. 

Orange Brutus in Uptown Cebu

Uptown Cebu was once one of the places to see and be seen. And the best place to stay was at the benches outside the branch of Orange Brutus along Mango Avenue (now known as General Maxilom Avenue). Weekends will find the place filled with kids hanging out while waiting for some of their other friends to arrive. After meeting up with friends, they would either go to Rustan’s or watch a movie at Belvic or Century 21.

Cebu Gems

In the late 90s, a professional basketball league was formed to compete with the Philippine Basketball Association. The Metropolitan Basketball Association was composed of teams representing a city, province or island in the country. Cebu had its own basketball team, the Cebu Gems. The home games were played in the Cebu Coliseum. There were games that became unruly and some fans would throw coins and other debris into the court. Even with this, the league gave Cebuanos something to root for each time the Cebu Gems would host another team in their home court.

Ding Qua Qua in Downtown Cebu

Long before Ding Qua Qua offered their eat all you can promotion in their JY Square location, the restaurant was located in downtown Cebu. Offering some of the best tasting dimsum in the city, the restaurant later transferred to the Mango Avenue area and soon became one of the places where Cebuanos would have lunch after hearing mass on Sundays. 

Artist’s Dais Music Gallery

Artist’s Dais was a major player in the underground music industry of Cebu. The place was where up and coming music acts got the chance to show their wares to music lovers in Cebu. Located at the Manros Plaza, the place was a music gallery where relatively unknown bands at that time used to play.

Cebu Plaza Hotel

Cebu Plaza Hotel (now Marco Polo Hotel) was once the tallest structure in Nivel Hills. During this time, there was no other structure taller than the Cebu Plaza Hotel. It was also one of the places where people would bring visitors to give them a good view of the city. In addition, it was where Bai Disco and the original Lantaw Hotel were located.

Original Lantaw Restaurant

The original Lantaw Restaurant was located at the Cebu Plaza Hotel (now Marco Polo Hotel) compound. The restaurant was one of the favorite places for family and friends to gather for special occasions.

What are the other things you can recall about old Cebu? Tell us about them on the comments section below.

While football may be the most popular sport in the world, it has yet to reach the same level as basketball in the country.  One way to make the sport widely-accepted is through grassroots development. Kids will also become more interested in the sport if they have a way to show what they learned through age-group tournaments. One tournament that has consistently given young football players the chance to play is the Aboitiz Football Cup.

Cebu Football

Football in Cebu is currently experiencing a renaissance as more kids are getting into the sport. This renaissance may have started nearly two decades ago when age-group tournaments first took flight in th eidland. During this time, football leaders in the sport started to give the young ones the chance to show their skills on the pitch. Prior to this time, tournaments were mainly for older players and young football players had to be contented with school-based competitions.  

​Cebu has produced a number of high-caliber players through the tournaments held in the island. One of these players is Paolo Pascual who was once a member of the Philippine Azkals. A number of players from Cebu have also been recruited by big universities in the capital. Cebu currently has a team competing in the newly-formed Philippine Football League.

Aboitiz Football Cup

The Aboitiz Football Cup was conceived in 1999 and involved only a few teams from some football-playing schools in Cebu. Aside from perennial football powerhouses, like Don Bosco and Abellana, the tournament also saw the entry of young teams from PAREF Springdale School. 

​The tournament was established to promote a holistic approach in the development of the youth by the Aboitiz Group of Companies. It is currently the premier football tournament in Cebu and the company is aiming to make it the premier football tournament in the country. It is one way for the Aboitiz Group to show its dedication in the sport as well as to hone local talents to make them globally competitive.

​The Aboitiz Football Cup went through a reboot for its 19th edition. Aside from the new look, the tournament also has a new logo that makes it more appealing to the football community and Cebu as a whole. The organizers of the tournament are also aiming to bring the tournament to the national scene for its 20th edition. 

Teams and Other Details

The Aboitiz Football Cup attracts over a hundred teams each year. The teams are divided into 18 categories at different age groups from the Under 7 Mix category to the Men’s Open category. The games are played in different football fields around Cebu, namely the Cebu City Sports Complex, PAREF Springdale, Don Bosco, and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu football fields. The Aboitiz Football Cup is a project of the Aboitiz Croup of Companies and is managed by the Cebu Football Association. It is now the model program for grassroots development of the Philippine Football Federation.

​Even as football is not enjoying the same level of popularity as the ball game invented by James Naismith, the beautiful game is slowly but surely bringing fans into the stands cheering for their respective teams. The Aboitiz Football Cup has played a major role in the development of football in Cebu. Aside from bringing the game to the next level, the premier tournament of Cebu may even produce the next Paulino Alcantara in the years to come.

Which team do you support in the Aboitiz Football Cup? Tell us about it on the comments section below.

The culinary skills of Cebuanos are best demonstrated by the food items that are innately Cebuano. One distinctively Cebuano culinary creation is the ngohiong. The ngohiong is Cebu’s version of the spring roll and has delighted many residents and visitors of the Queen City of the South. It is sold just about everywhere, from street vendors to carenderias, and restaurants specializing in the dish. Since there may be some people who have yet to taste this uniquely Cebuano dish, we came up with a list of five places where you can find the ngohiong in the Queen City of the South.

Ho Ngohiong

Ho Ngohiong is the brainchild of the Bernardo siblings. The business started off as a simple pushcart and table in front of the home of the Bernardos. They eventually set up a small dining area in the garage of their home. While many of their customers eat the ngohiong inside the place, there are also a number who take the dish out. Ho Ngohiong has at least five branches located in different parts of the city. These places are in Banilad, Mambaling, Labangon, P. del Rosario, and Andres Abellana.

TJRB Ngohiong

TJRB Ngohiong is a small eatery specializing in ngohiong. The place is located right across the old Sacred Heart School campus along General Maxilom Avenue. It has been serving freshly-cooked ngohiong for some time already. Many of their customers were former students of Sacred Heart before the school transferred to Canduman. Since the place is rather small, some customers would take out their orders so they can enjoy the ngohiong in the comfort of their homes.

Atek’s Ngoyong Train

Atek’s Ngoyong Train is another ngohiong place hidden in the side streets of Mabolo. It is a hole-in-the-wall place where you can find not only the ngohiong but a good number of other Cebuano dishes. It is one of the places where medical representatives would eat their lunch while having a meeting. Atek’s Ngoyong Train is located along President Roxas Street in Villa Aurora Subdivision, Mabolo.

Ngohiong Express

Ngohiong Express is another home-grown fast food offering the ngohiong as its main product. The business has grown over the years and has numerous branches all over metro Cebu. In fact, the company is already offering franchising opportunities to anyone interested in setting up their own business. Ngohiong Express can be found along Pope John Paul Street in Mabolo, V. Rama Avenue, and J. Lorente Street. 

Doming’s Ngohiong

When you talk about ngohiong to a Cebuano, Doming’s Ngohiong always comes to mind. The place can be considered as an institution in the food landscape of Cebu. It may even be among the first places to offer the ngohiong in the market. There are even some restaurants that source out their ngohiong from Doming’s. The place is so popular that you will have to go there before lunchtime so you can get your hands of their superbly delicious ngohiong. Doming’s is located along Fairlane Village Road, Guadalupe. They have a new location at the ground floor of the Pacific Tourist Inn at the corner of Balintawak and V. Gullas Streets.

​The ngohiong is just one of the dishes that originated from Cebu. This simple yet scrumptious culinary creation is one of the dishes visitors should not fail to taste if they ever get to land on the island. 

Where is your favorite ngohiong place in Cebu? Tell us where it is on the comments section below.

​When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, they built churches all over the archipelago. Many of these churches have stood the test of time and continue to serve the needs of the faithful. But, some of these churches are shrouded by stories of the mysterious kind. One of these churches is the San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan.

Liloan

Liloan was established as a parish in 1845 after it was separated through a government decree from the St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue. The name is based on the Cebuano word for whirlpool, “lilo.” The name Liloan means “a place where the lilo can be found.”

San Fernando Rey Parish 

The San Fernando Rey Parish is one of the oldest structures in the town of Liloan. It was built in 1847 and was named after the saint who recaptured Spain from the Moors. The materials used for the construction came from the Camotes Islands and Leyte. On the other hand, the glass window shutters were sourced from Barcelona, Spain. It is the only church on the island that faces west. 

​One unique feature of the church is it does not face the sea, unlike many of the churches in Cebu. One theory for this orientation is that the designers of the church may have wanted to protect churchgoers from the heat of the sun during morning services. Another notable feature is its size. When the church was built, the population of the town was smaller compared to Mandaue. But, the church was bigger compared to the church found in Mandaue. 

Mysteries

The San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan is not only a place of worship among Roman Catholics since the church is shrouded in mysterious stories of caves, treasures, and a giant sea creature. According to stories, there is supposedly a cave behind the altar of the church. It remains uncertain if the cave is man-made, but some people think the cave may have been used as an escape route whenever pirates and marauders attacked the town. The cave is supposedly connected to the Suba Channel.

Ancient treasures are supposedly hidden inside the cave. A giant sea creature supposedly guards the treasure. Depending on the person telling the story, this sea creature may be the legendary cogtong, a half-man half fish creature, or a giant red-eyed octopus. Stories of a santelmo or St. Elmo’s fire have also emerged. The santelmo supposedly roams the back part of the church. But, these stories have remained unsubstantiated and have been relegated to the long list of myths and legends of Cebu.

Getting to the San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan

The San Fernando Rey Parish is located right in front of the municipal hall of Liloan. You can get there by getting on a jeepney or bus headed for this northern town. Just tell the driver or conductor to let you off at the municipal hall. The church is situated on the right side of the road.

​Even as Christianity has laid a strong foundation in the lives of many Cebuanos, myths and legends still have a role to play in society. Whether you believe these stories or not, they provide us with an insight on the way of life of Cebuanos long before the coming of the Spaniards. 

Do you know of any myths and legends in your hometown? Tell us about them through the comments section below.