Destination: Cebu

For posterity, we decided to take a tour of Cebu City despite it being so much like Manila with all the nice malls and hang out spots... After all, there is still so much history in this place being the first capital of the Philippines. Our first stop was the Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan Island - a monument erected to the brave Mactan ruler who resisted Spanish colonization. Here's a picture of the statue of Lapu-Lapu and what probably is his battle gear. Imagine him fighting all those Spanish conquistadores and their full metal armor. Such a brave guy. 

It's a pretty nice park. There's also a monument in the site where Magellan was supposed to be killed. 
Our next stop is probably the most famous of all the Cebu landmarks [except, of course, Ayala Mall :)] - Magellan's Cross. 
What you see here is not the original cross. People started to chip off some wood pieces from the original one for souvenir purposes or with the belief that it had healing powers so this one had to be made and secured inside a small chapel. Cebu also boasts some historic churches left over from Spanish colonization. 
Fort San Pedro was our next stop. It has been used by the Spanish, Americans, Japanese and Filipinos throughout different time periods as a fort for refuge, an army camp, a school and even a hospital. Now it is just a museum and historical site/tourist attraction. 
It still retains the requisite old-world charm though...
The main entrance to the fort. 
Concluding out little city tour is a trip up the hill past the Beverly Hills [!] subdivision to the Taoist Temple built by the rich Chinese residents of Cebu.
Me and my brother enjoying the view. The entrance is supposed to mimic the Great Wall of China. 
We were not allowed to take pictures inside the temples but the outside facade is enough to look at. 
The famous dragon guarding the temple. 
Closer shot. 

And here's another one of me and my brother with a view of Cebu City.