Basilica del Santo Niño Cebu 14 Nov 2015

It supposing is just a quick walk from Fort San Pedro, then we can already reach the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child, commonly known as Santo Niño Church.

But we were quite confuse on the streets and we sort of missing and the some of the streets we passed by, we saw quite a number of homeless street children.

Finally we asked around and get to our destination too. We had our lunch at the famous Philippines fast food chain – Jollibee, before we headed crossed the street to the church.

Cebu’s historical Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño is the oldest Catholic Church in Cebu. Located at the heart of downtown Cebu, the Basilica is a house of prayer and pilgrimage to hundreds of thousands of people each year. It houses the image of the Sto.Niño, a representation of Jesus as a black Holy Child.

The Church is built on the exact spot where Spanish explorers in 1565 found the Holy Child sculpture. A burned wooden box left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition preserved the Holy Child carving.

The Spaniards, who discovered the image, called it miraculous for it survived the fire that destroyed the structure that housed it. The fire had totally blackened it and made it hardly recognizable.

Augustinian priest Fr. Andres de Urdaneta founded Sto. Niño convent on April 28, 1965, the same day the Legazpi-Urdaneta expedition arrived in the shores of Cebu.

The Basilica has an architectural style that is a blend of Muslim, Romanesque and neo-classicism. The facade of the church is still in its original stone texture and natural colour which conveys a simple elegance.

The bell tower serves as a counterbalance to the convent situated at the opposite far end. Its rounded dome is of Muslim influence. The centre section is the focus of attention. The rectangular corners on the side balance the arched main entrance and a double-edged triangular pediment crowns the facade.

A small museum inside the Basilica is also a beautiful thing to appreciate as it seems to record the history of Christianity in Cebu. It displays various antique objects, century-old furniture, priestly garments and the Sto. Niño’s old cloaks donated by individuals over the centuries.

There are also religious articles such as statues and relics and other items of daily life which were donations by the devotees.

In the centre of the church , there is a courtyard like garden with statues and fountains. It is a serene place just to rest or sit around. It is calm here.

The Sto.Niño image in the Basilica is widely believed to be the same one given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana back in 1521, as a gift for their allegiance. It is reputed to be miraculous as basilica helpers attest that it sometimes goes out of its glass case to take long walks at night.

They point to the grass stains found at the statue’s dress as evidence.  This has been dismissed as superstition, but it has strengthened the belief of devotees that the Sto. Niño watches over their homeland. The Sto. Niño, patron of Cebu, is the one whom Cebuanos turn to for strength and guidance in the happy and sad times.

The church was damaged during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Visayas on October 15, 2013. But it is now undergoing repair and renovation to preserve the structure of the church during our visit there.

We were so eager wanted to look for our next destination, until we forgot to take an external building photo. Out side the church, there is a newly constructed Pilgrim Centre as it is an open-air theatre-like structure and besides it is a prayer area with a lot of votive candles stands.

After that, we found our way and look for the Magellan’s Cross, as we know it is somewhere nearby.

View Full Album

Plaza Independencia Cebu 14 Nov 2015

After our visit to the Fort San Pedro, we walked pass through a square, it is the Plaza Independencia.

Plaza Independencia is strategically located between Fort San Pedro and the building that used to be the Gobierno Provincial in the downtown area of Cebu.

The plaza is a popular hangout for many living or working around the area. It is one huge garden filled with trees, ornamental plants and flowers.

There is also a public skating rink and a kiosk at the centre of the circular skating rink.

An obelisk dedicated to the memory of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines, is planted at the very heart of the plaza.

The square was renamed a couple of times. In the early 1600s, it was called Plaza de Armas. When it was widened later on and expanded to reach nearby properties of the Cathedral of Cebu, it was called Plaza Mayor.

Later in the Spanish rule, it was further landscaped and developed and was christened Plaza Maria Cristina, in honour of the queen regent.

During the American colonial period, its name was changed to Plaza Libertad, as the Americans asserted how they liberated Cebuanos from the Spanish rule. Later on it finally became known as Plaza Independencia.

In a road tunnel construction project in 2006 that touched a part of the plaza and nearby areas, pre-Hispanic human bones and some earthenware were uncovered.

In 2008, some artefacts were unearthed which included gold death masks, a pair of gold earrings, a Thai bluish-green “guan” celadon, jars and other earthenware.

Plaza Independencia and some strategic parts of the downtown area of Cebu are a rich archaeological field due to its history as a pre-Hispanic settlement and trading port. Indeed, there are many secrets and stories from Plaza Independencia.

We took only few photos here, as it is just like a huge square and nothing much to stay as the hot sun really made our way to lunch faster.

View Full Album

Fort San Pedro Cebu 14 Nov 2015

Both of us actually had done up some researches before we came to Cebu, we are planning to do touring within the Cebu City of our own, just like a free and easy trip.

After our Temple works in the morning sessions, which was ended approximately 11.30am.

We called a cab back to our hotel, and get changed to more leisure clothing, and we set off for our own free and easy trip.

The Fort San Pedro was our first destination, we took a cab to there. The Fort San Pedro or Fuerza de San Pedro is the place where one can have a glimpse of Cebu’s rich history.

Fort San Pedro is located in Plaza Indepedencia in the pier area of Cebu City. With an entrance fee of only P30, you can already tour inside the fort and travel back in time to the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

Once we enter the Fort, we already indulged our eyes with the images posted on the walls of barrel vault entrance, depicting the gradual development of the fort.

The work on the fort was first constructed on May 8, 1565 and it was made of wood, then of stone. It was built to defend the locals against the Spanish expedition who wanted to colonize the area.

11 days after the fort began to be built, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived here and founded the first Spanish settlement in Cebu.

There are also a portrait of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who led the Spanish expedition that eventually reached Philippines in 1521.

Fort San Pedro is said to be the oldest and the smallest fort in the Philippines, covering an area of 2,025 square meters. Its walls are 20 feet tall and 8 feet thick, forming a triangle with uneven lengths: two sides face the sea and the other the land, where the current entrance gate to the fort is located.

The gate has two rectangular columns that flank a raised Philippine flag, that serves as the apex of the structure. Three tunnel-shaped windows sit on top of a gable which hosts a niche that shelters an image of the Sto. Nino, the city’s patron saint.

Each corner of the triangular fort harbours a bastion — the San Ignacio de Loyola in the southeast corner, La Concepcion in the southwest, and San Miguel in the north corner.

On each corner stands a turret that serves as a watchtower. There are 14 cannons installed at the site along with a number of trees and ornamental plants that serve as inanimate ushers around the fort

The fort used to be the place of military garrison Warwick Barracks, then a park, Cebu Garden Club, Cebu Zoo, government offices and now it has been converted to a National shrine.

There is a little shrine to pray and a well Pozo de la Virgen. Besides that is a small exhibition room displaying on the history of the famous Holy Child and his relationships with the Cebu City.

During when we were leaving the site, it is so lucky or blessed of us of asking a Korean guy took our family photo in front of the signage of the fort.

think he must be so professional in photography, as he was so delighted and happy during looking at Daddy’s Canon 7D camera and he told us that, “I know how to use this!”

He just took over the camera and snapped without looking on it and manually adjust the lens and etc. He just smile at us and gave us back.

Our family photo looks amazing great! We love it even though it was really a sunny hot day for us!

 

View Full Album

Mooon Cafe the Mexican Inspired Restaurant 13 Nov 2015

After our almost half a day at the Temple, we went back to the hotel to take a rest, as we know that the children also were tired. All of us took our bath, took our afternoon nap and refresh ourselves.

Then, when evening we went to the nearby SM City Cebu to hunt for our dinner. We were walking around until we saw this Mooon Cafe, and Daddy told us that we should try this as this Moon Cafe was mentioned in the food blogs as their steaks are tasty.

We sat down and opened the menu, Mooon Café’s Mexican offerings are the most popular.

There are light Mexican appetizer, order their all-time favourite Chimichanga, which is composed of crispy flour tortilla filled with tender beef, cheese, sour cream and salsa rojo.

Or their Nacho Spinners, which is a bowl of crispy corn tortilla with five dips: salsa fresca, salsa verde, scorched chilli salsa, tropical fruit salsa, and sour cream.

Have a Mexican feast and choose from Beef Taco, Fish Taco, Quesadilla Uno, Quesadilla Veracruz, Beef Burrito, Burrito Pesaro, Compassions, Nacho de Salsa, Campesinos Jalapeño, Chicken Flautas, and Tostaditas. 

Aside from Mexican dishes, they also serve other equally enticing dishes.

Their Appetisers menu includes the tasty Gambas ala Luna, Gambas ala Ajillo, Pork Sisig, Calamares Fritos, Beef Salpicao, Garlicky Mushroom, Tocino Strips, Tapa Strips, and Crispy Squid.

If you want some fresh greens, order their Lettuce Salad, Ensalada Mexicano,Fajita Salad, or Grilled Chicken Salad.

Their unique pasta servings that include Spaghetti ala Gambas, Pasta Mexicano, Spaghetti Bolognese, and Pasta Carbonara.

They boast of their Spaghetti ala Mooon, a unique pasta dish consisting of sautéed chicken, shrimps, shitake mushroom, roasted peanut, and oriental sauce.

You will also be enticed with their cheesy pizza choices including Jalapeno Diablo, Quatro Quezo, Pizza Classico, Bacon and Mushroom, Pizza Pilipino, Ham and Pineapple, Karnes, Pizza Margarita, and Gardenia.

For meat lovers, take delight on their pork, beef and chicken offerings that come with rice and sidings. To satisfy your hankering for some meaty goodness have some Grilled Pork Belly, Grilled Pork Chops, Mexican Baby Back Ribs, Six-Stick Pork Barbeque, Steak Ala Pobre, Lechon Kawali, or Mooon Steak.

The restaurant prides on serving only certified U.S. beef so if order some Beef Stroganoff, Tenderloin Steak, Beef Tips, Fillet Mignon, Rib-eye Steak, or Peppered Beef, you will definitely get your money’s worth.

If your appetite for meat is only light, have some Chicken Mozzarella Melt or Sizzling Chicken. They also have sausage meals like Frankfurter, Cheese Hungarian and Schublig.

We ordered Lechon Kawali, Mooon Steak, Grilled Pork Belly, and Grilled Pork Chop. We wanted to order the Mexican Baby Back Ribs, unfortunately they don’t have.

The Moon Steak is a sizzling pork steak topped with gravy sauce, served with garlic rice and vegetables.

The Pork Belly is grilled marinated pork belly with buttered vegetables and rice, served with native sauce.

The Pork chop also is grilled tender pork chop with buttered vegetables, rice and native sauce.

Whereby the Lechon Kawali is crispy deep fried pork belly, served with native sauce, garlic rice and vegetables.

Well, the taste are really nice, and I feel that the Philippines taste are really strong and they like to eat salty sauces with a lot of rice.

Mooon also has an extensive menu of hot and cold drinks. They serve various kinds of fresh fruit shakes and juices that can be found on the Thirsty? menu.

Their must-taste drink is the Suncooler, which is a yummy cold concoction of various tropical fruits. They also serve beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, of coarse we do not take it. Instead, we ordered the Suncooler and another green colour drinks which is nice too.

Like danggit, dried mango, otap, rosquillos and lechon, Mooon Café is synonymous with Cebu.

If you have not been to this Mexican-inspired restaurant yet, then you have not fully explored the Queen City of the South.

Mooon Café is currently one of the most flourishing restaurants in Cebu and is gradually conquering the rest of the Philippines.

So far, is the best meal we had at Cebu.

View Full Album

Eternal Family @ Cebu City Philippines Temple 13 Nov 2015

Today is our important day. Today is the purpose why we come to Cebu Philippines.

We woke up early in the morning, took our bath and took a cab to the Cebu Temple which is located at Gorordo Avenue in Lahug.

We arrived there early and went to the cafeteria which is in the Patron’s House to have our breakfast.

We were not so get to use to the Philippines food served.

We were a bit surprise as Pilipino really love rice so much that, even their breakfast too served rice, of coarse comes with some side dishes such as fried egg, corn beef, anchovies with soy sauce, etc.

Their dishes generally taste a bit salty for us. But it is still ok that we can have it.

After our breakfast, we went to the Distribution Centre as we would wait for Elder and Sister Hadley there at 8.00am.

As with his help, he managed to make our programs as 9.00am our initiatory session, 11.00am endowment session and follow by 1.00pm our family sealing session.

It is really very thoughtful of both Elder and Sister Hadley helped us on the arrangement and confirmation on our sealing time and date.

Elder Hadley too, helped us to arrange helper to look after both Issac and Annabelle, before both of them can able to enter to the temple for family sealing session at 1.00pm.

During when we were at the Distribution Centre busy looking at the church materials which we might buying back home, I was surprised that I heard a familiar voice.

I thought that voice sounds like Brother Felix, and I turned back and saw Daddy was happily talking to someone whom back facing me, and looked like really Brother Felix. I walked up and he is!

Our family were so surprise that Brother Felix is here at Cebu with Sister Joyce too! After which Sister Joyce told me that, this is a surprise that both of them for our family.

They were trying very hard to keep it as a secret and show their ‘poker face’ whenever we were talking about our planning of the Cebu Temple trip for the past few months. She said, only Brother Rueben knew about it, because the couple asked Brother Reuben to check and confirm that we had booked our flight tickets on our temple trip.

Both Daddy and I are so touched with their loves to our family. We are the member of the church now is because both of Brother Felix and Sister Joyce Yong invited us to this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

They witnessed our family growth from how we were a broken family up to now a reunite family in the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our family is our testimony towards Christ’s love to us.

Brother Felix and Sister Joyce Yong too, witnessed our story as well. Their family are so special to us and we are like family friends. Their presence here at the Cebu Temple really a surprise to us!

Elder and Sister Hadley were happy seeing both of them too. We are truly happy for that moment that both of their presence made us feel great and wonderful!

We have our group photo before we went in to the Temple. The children would join us later at the sealing ceremony in the Temple.

From the very first session, I really can feel the spirit that I just cannot stop my tears from rolling down my face.

The very first moment when I was hearing the blessings during the initiatory session, my eyes were wet. It is really a beautiful and wonderful blessings from Heavenly Father given unto His children, just I cannot recall the beautiful phrases, wordings that was whispered to my ears.

After going through the endowment session, and eventually after we passed through the veils to the celestial room.

Both Alvin and I were so happy and after a while, we were leaded to the Sealing Room after which we would be sealing as a husband and wife. Brother Felix and Elder Hadley are our witness of our sealing ceremony.

My tears can’t help but keep on falling during the time sealing with Alvin. At that moment when I was looking to him face to face, my mind was recalling from the first day both of us divorced, signed the divorce petition and how we were here at the temple today.

It is really amazing, how the Lord love our family, how the things happened for a reason, how the whole picture that Lord had planned for our family, the puzzle falling into pieces and into their own place at the right time. It looks so crystal clear to me that, Heavenly Father really love us so much. Alvin’s eyes were wet too…

After our sealing as a husband and wife, the kind temple workers brought in our two lovely children, Issac and Annabelle were smartly dressed by the temple helpers. Issac was in white shirt and pant; Annabelle was in white dress with a white colour hair band on her long hair too, and she looked so pretty.

Four of us were at the centre of the altar, and we were sealed as a family eternally. We feel so happy and grateful for our day, and with our friends witnessed our big day. After, we were allowed to go out from the temple and took photos with our temple clothing. We had taken a few photos with the temple as background.

It is really a wonderful and amazing day for our family.

View Full Album

Issac Surprise Birthday 12 Nov 2015

It is actually not really a surprise for him. Before we on our trip, we have already told Issac that, we will be flying to Cebu Philippines for our family temple trip on his birthday!

That point of time, he was so happy! Issac told both Daddy and Mummy that, he does not need any birthday present for his birthday already. Going to temple will be his birthday present.

Both of us were so touched for his reply, he is such a obedient and good boy! How blessed we are to have him as our son!

Daddy purposely went to book a birthday cake for Issac from Berry’s Cake House at Taipan.

He had to bring back the cake yesterday evening during fetching the children back from Mahkota Tuition Centre.

The cake was supposed to bring to the air port so that we can blow the candles for him at the KLIA2.

We woke up early in the morning and get ready for our pre-booked taxi at 7.00am. It was just in time. We put on our luggage and headed to KLIA2.

We were there early to check in our luggage. After knowing the weight of our luggage, the Air Asia ground crew suggested us to buy more luggage for our way back as it seems like it will definitely be more than what we had purchased.

He realised that today is Issac’s birthday then he wishes him happy birthday! After, we just purchased at the Air Asia sales counter at the KLIA 2 air port.

We decided to blow the candles and eat the birthday cake at the DOME restaurant. We ordered some drinks and sang the “Happy Birthday” song to our dearest son. It was a yellow bumble bee cake.

After that, we just go straight to the boarding room. On the way to the boarding room, we passed through the duty free shops along our way. We were window shopping around. Then only we went in to the boarding room.

We met with Elder and Sister Hadley in the boarding room, together with Brother Sega. Elder and Sister Hadley are so kind in accompanying us to the Cebu City Philippines Temple as this is our first family temple trip, whereby we will be sealed together forever as a family.

We were planning on this trip few months ago, booked the air flight first, including the luggage needed, on board meals for each one of us and the seats as well. After 2 months we only book the hotel. We were on board at time.

It was quite a surprise that after all the air stewards and stewardess done their duty.

Suddenly there was an announcement was made, and mentioned that there was a very special guest on board that today is his birthday and today is his first flight ever to overseas, then invited Issac to go out.

Issac was so shy and smiling whereby he did not want to go out, until the air steward came to him.

All the flight passengers were singing the birthday song to him and the Air Asia flight attendants gave him the Kit Kat birthday treats!

He was so shy when he came back to his seat. He was the focus point in the air plane. So proud of him!

There was an uncle very kind of him, bought a cap from the Air Asia merchandise and gave to him as a birthday gift! Both Daddy and Issac went up to thank him. All the Air Asia crews on board including the pilot also draw a special card to him.

Today really was his special birthday!

After, then only Daddy told me that, that was requested by Elder Hadley. We are so appreciate with his gentle and kind thoughts on our family.

We arrived at the Cebu- Mactan International Air Port around 3.00pm, whereby we met with one of the friend of Elder Hadley here in Cebu, his name is Aden.

He had arranged 2 cabs for us, Elder and Sister Hadley together with Brother Sega in one cab, our family in another cab. We straight away go to the temple ground and get familiarize with the area first.

The temple was located in the middle of the low income village area. We passed through so many small lane and houses, even though Cebu City is the 2nd largest city in Philippines but their infrastructures still a bit behind us.

The electrical cables flying around above our head and the water piping can be seen just along the road sides. The roads is a bit small lane compared to our Malaysia’s road. We can see the children wondering at the roadside. It is a bit jam too.

After a while, then suddenly we saw the temple statue of the Moroni on the top of a building from far, then we knew that we are arriving at the temple ground. The Cebu temple is so much beautiful and looks elegant. The design was so simple and clean as we can see from the external from far. We were so happy.

We unloaded our luggage to Brother Aden’s cab, as he would drive us to our hotel later. Elder Hadley brought us around to the Patron’s House, he got to meet and knew Sister Leah whom knew his family members which served at the Cebu Temple before. He introduce to us too. Then he brought us to the Distribution Centre to select our garments first, at least tomorrow during at the temple, we were not so rushing.

After which, Elder Hadley assisted us and took us around on what we needed to do and know today, then Brother Aden sent us to our hotel. Both of Elder and Sister Hadley went to the Temple for their sessions.

During our journey to our hotel, Brother Aden shared with us his testimony on how he came to know about the church. Daddy and him chatting along our journey.

We arrived our Bayfront Hotel Cebu around 5.00pm. I had informed the hotel earlier when back in Malaysia that we will arriving this time, as Daddy afraid that the hotel might release our room if we do not check in at 3.00pm. We thanked Brother Aden for his assistance.

After we settled down, we took our bath and get changed to our casual clothing, then we just walked to the nearest shopping mall to look for our dinner.

We passed by a lot of the restaurant, due to may be it was the dinner timing, thus all of the restaurants were packed with people. We just went in to one of the less crowded restaurant, and ordered our meals.

“Unlimited Rice & Unlimited Ice Lemon Tea” was the first thing I saw. Pilipino really loves eating rice. Daddy ordered one dish called Flaming Platter. The waiter really burned the whole platter up before serving to us!

Only 5.30pm, we noticed that the sky outside the windows was getting dark, just like 8.00pm in Malaysia. Well, this is Issac’s birthday dinner meal in Philippines.

Happy Birthday, Son!