Magellan’s Cross

Ever since I exposed myself to Cebuano tourism, I can actually say that I’m very proud to have landed and spend my life here in Cebu. I remember the time when it was still marshland in the parts of the Banilad area as well as the now-Cebu Business Park and IT Park. I also read about a piece that Cebu is considered as the tourism mecca of the Philippines. That sure is something.

But no matter how highly developed the whole Cebu is, the rich history will never part. Even if there are new structures, foreign visitors and sophisticated establishments, there are still places that remind me (and the Cebuanos) about the historical past. Places like the Magellan’s Cross.

A bit of history

It was during the day of March 16, 1521 when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan chanced upon the island of Cebu and its local folks. Magellan and his group were greeted by Rajah Humabon and the village people with a warm welcome, a typical culture of the Filipinos. Overtime, Magellan was able to convert the paganism belief to the faith of Roman Catholic and the rest… is “history”.

In commemoration of the whole event, a cross was planted to mark its significant date. Today, a small chapel is structured to conserve the wooden cross that serves as a reminder when and how the religion of Roman Catholic came upon the roots of every Cebuano. However, it was reported that the original wooden cross was incased somewhere for needed preservation and protection. This is done since during its early time, people would chip away some of the cross’s parts for souvenir purposes and for “miraculous” purposes.

The Plaque

At present day, the Magellan’s Cross is one of the most visited places surrounding the Santo Nino church. Around the site, you can see several people selling candles and religious ornaments. Once you get inside, a plaque placed upon the entrance reads:

“From time immemorial this spot has been set aside to commemorate the erection of a cross in Cebu by the Expedition of Magellan. When King Humabon of Cebu and his Queen, son and daughters, together with some 800 of their subjects were batized by Father Pedro Valderrama. This hallowed site was improved in 1735 by Rev. Juan Albarran, Prior of San Agustin and in 1834 by Rt. Rev. Santos Gomez Maranon Bishop of Cebu. The image of the Santo Nino found by the expedition of Legaspi in a house near the present site of the Cathedral of Cebu is venerated by the faithful in the nearby Church of San Agustin.”

The Magellan’s Cross may not be as grand as those fancy structures that we see, but like everything else, there’s more to it than its lone imagery. But it means a lot to the Cebuanos and that’s the start of Christianity.

The Magellan’s Cross became very famous that it became an emblem, an icon or the symbol of the whole Cebu. The symbol actually represents more than just Cebu but every Cebuano as well.

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