Heritage Park

The Heritage of Cebu Monument

"The pride, unity, and cultural wealth of a race emanate from a people's sense of self-history, from the Early Filipinos, to the dawn of European colonization, the revolution of 1896, the birth of the Philippine Republic. The heroic contribution of the Cebuano people and the saga of events, which transpired on the islands of Cebu, are vital elements in the formulation of the nation we know today."Their contribution should rightfully be emulated, immortalized and honored in a lasting monumental, aesthetic experience.

"This work of art in Parian Park is the loving legacy of the City and Province of Cebu. This monumental-sculptural tableau is honor to the people of Cebu and is a tribute to all Filipino people and the wealth of our race."

(inscription on the stone marker of “Heritage of Cebu”)

 

So goes the dedication inscribed on National Artist Eduardo Castrillo’s monument-sculpture, “Heritage of Cebu”. The monument consists of different tableaus depicting various historic events in the Philippines, especially those that involve Cebu, from antiquity to the modern times.

 

 

A part of the monument shows a picture of the first mass held on Limasawa Island, Leyte, on March 31, 1521 by a Spanish friar named Pedro Valderama. It was at this time that the Spaniards introduced the image of the Child Jesus' fondly called Señor Santo Niño by locals. Christianity spread all over the Philippines, and the Cebuanos, in particular, grew a strong devotion to the Holy Child.

 

 

The monument also depicts the Basilica del Santo Niño, a church founded by the Augustinian Andres de Urdaneta on April 28, 1565, as well as a picture demonstrating the Cebuanos’strong devotion to the Holy Child.

 

 

 

 

Another section of the tableau depicts Cebu’s latest contribution to the list of Christian martyrs who have been beatified' Blessed Pedro Calungsod. He was a young catechist who was on mission work in Guam and was killed because he would not renounce his faith.

Besides the religious aspect, the monument also depicts the Philippines’struggle for nationhood, independence, and freedom.

A part of the monument shows the battle of Mactan where Mactan Island’s chieftain, Lapu-lapu, defeated the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, in a battle on Mactan shores on April 14, 1521.

Another section shows the Grand Old Man of Cebu, Sergio Osmeña, Sr., who served from 1935 to 1946 first as vice president of the Commonwealth, and thereafter as president. After the foreign colonialism in the Philippines, the country established their own government and elected their own presidents. Cebu is proud to say that it has produced a highly esteemed president in the person of Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

According to Miraciel Saberon, a 44-year-old resident of Barangay Pari-an, the monument signifies the Spanish occupation here in the Philippines. It was built in Pari-an because the place has historical significance: many Spaniards settled there and made the place as their first residence. This was how Pari-an got its name which means “first village”. Because of the monument and other historical landmarks, Pari-an became a first class barangay. Another resident, 65-year-old Marina Ybañez, said the monument is a marvelous site that has attracted tourists from all over the world. She said that its presence in the city could help promote local and foreign tourism.

The construction of the monument began in July, 1997 and cost P33.2 million. It was completed and inaugurated in December, 2000. Since its inauguration, local and foreign tourists have been including “Heritage of Cebu”on their itineraries. Hopefully, as time goes by, people will continue to flock to the monument and marvel not just at its beauty but also at the historical lessons it shows about how the early Cebuanos resisted foreign domination, how Christianity’s seeds were sown, and how self-sacrificing Cebuanos can be.

The Heritage of Cebu Monument is a tableau of sculptures made of concrete, bronze, brass and steel showing scenes about events and structures related to the history of Cebu. The construction of the monument began in July 1997 and it was finished in December 2000.

Local artist Eduardo Castillo built the sculptures of the Cebu Heritage Monument. He and the late Senator Marcelo Fernan together with donations from other private individuals and organizations funded the construction of the monument.

The structures depicted in the Heritage Monument are the Basilica de Santo Nino, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Saint John the Baptist Church, the Magellan’s Cross, and a Spanish Galleon.

The scenes depicted in the Heritage Monument are the baptism of Rajah Humabon, a procession of the Santo Nino, a Roman Catholic mass, and the Battle of Mactan between Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. The persons depicted in the monument include the late president Sergio Osmena Sr., and Blessed Pedro Calungsod.

The Heritage Monument is located in the historic Parian District, which during the Spanish period was home to the residences of the most prominent families in Cebu at that time. The St. John the Baptist Church previously stood on the site of the monument’s location. However, the diocese of Cebu demolished the church in 1875.

You can also visit the other nearby historical spots in the Parian District, which are the Casa Gorordo Museum and the Yap-San Diego House.

The Yap-San Diego House is part of the Casa Gorordo Museum complex, which is a private museum open to the public. The museum complex highlights the lifestyle of a rich household in Cebu during the Spanish era and displays antique furnishings, clothes, kitchen equipment and utensils, and other antique items.

How to get there

The Heritage of Cebu Monument is accessible to public transportation. If you are in Colon Street in downtown Cebu City, you can take a jeep with the signboard showing SM and Pier area. The jeep will pass by the monument. You may also take a taxicab as most drivers are familiar with the place.