The Cradle of a Dreamer :)

Mandaue City

The City of Mandaue is a 1st class city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is known as the "Emerging Convention City in Asia." The city is one of the two highly urbanized cities in the province of Cebu and form the core of the Metropolitan Cebu area. Mandaue is connected to Mactan Island via two bridges: the original Mactan-Cebu Bridge and the relatively new Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Investors and businessmen favor the bustling metropolis of Mandaue not only because its the “Furniture Capital of the Philippines.” Mandaue has a long history of commerce. It was once a busy port where merchants traded and conducted business.

WHAT TO VISIT IN MANDAUE

1.National Shrine of Saint Joseph

In the early years of the Spanish colonization this church acted as the central point of their government and was used by Catholic priests and missionaries when they wanted to spread their religion across these lands. The shrine itself was built in 1601 by the Jesuits, who were at that time forbidden from entering the city by a rival Catholic religious order, the Augustinians and had to find another place for them to use for practicing their religion. The church itself experienced many changes and additions from its beginnings, so its current and final form dates from 1848. As of 1892, it bears the name National Shrine of Saint Joseph, after being recognized by pope Leo 13th. The shrine also houses the Crowned Statue of Joseph as well as the Child Jesus.

2. Bantayan sa Hari

Although surrounded by the gasoline depot and the shanties, this historic monument still stands proudly erected and serves as a remainder of the days of the Spanish rule. Bantayan sa Hari is built in the 19th century and it was a part of a network of watch towers which started from Mandaue and ended at Daan Batayan. The purpose of this tower was to warn the town of the attack from the moro raiders who were concentrating to the north of it. Today, there are no more raiders, but the tower still offers a very nice view over the horizon which is definitely worth seeing.

3. Rizal-Bonifacio Memorial Stage and Library

Rizal-Bonifacio were two of the greatest heroes of the Filipinos, Jose P. Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Apart as being a monument to these two heroes, this memorial stage also serves as a monument to the spirit of the citizens of Mandaue who built it after the second world war. The initial idea was to build two statues of Rizal and Bonifacio, but it was decided instead that a memorial library would serve as a much better monument to them.

4. Luis Cabrera ancestral house

The Luis Cabreara ancestral house existed before Luis Cabrera and Alberta Sanches got married in 1909. The upper part of the Luis Cabrera ancestral house is built in typical Filipino fashion. It contains a living room (”sala”), anteroom (”barraca”), dining room (”comedor”) and two bedrooms. The lower floor included a storage place for farm products. During the Second World War, this house stationed a Japanese garrison and was later home for many priests on missionary work.

5. Mandaue-Mactan bridge

When you come to Mandaue you simply can’t fail to notice these majestic two bridges, which link the islands of Cebu and Mactan and is also called Marcelo Fernan Bridge. It connects the cities of Mandaue an Lapu-Lapu

6. Angel Suico ancestral house

This house was built in the 1930’s by Fabiano Suico and Marcosa Ouano. In the

\Second World War it was the home of the higher ranking officers of the Japanese army, who used it until the Japanese left Philippines.

NATIVE DELICACIES

Food defines a people and this holds true in Mandaue. The local cuisines tells the Mandauehanon’s passion for life and creativity. From bibingka (rice cakes) to masareal (ground sugared peanuts), and from tagaktak (fried ground rice) to budbud (sticky rice rapped in banana leaves), these delectable home-made concoctions sit well with visitors.