ASEAN Summit Delegates Tour Historical Landmarks in Cebu City

Some 120 delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit ministerial meetings toured several historical landmarks here late Thursday afternoon.

The tour, conducted as overcast skies shrouded the city, covered Museo Sugbo on M. J. Cuenco Avenue, the Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino.

The Museo Sugbo, established by the provincial government in what used to be the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), was built in 1871. It was formerly named the “Carcel de Cebu” and used to house criminals and arrested Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution against Spain.

The Magellan’s Cross, on the other hand, contains the original cross planted on the shores of Cebu by Spanish and Portuguese explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan upon their arrival on March 15, 1521.

The cross, now encased in hardwood, is housed in a chapel near the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Magallanes Street, which was named after Magellan.

At the Museo Sugbo, the delegates were entertained with folk dances performed by the Sandiego Dance Company.

Joselito Costas, Cebu provincial tourism officer, said the provincial government was set to tender a dinner for the delegates after the tour of the city’s historical landmarks. (PNA)EB