The Philippines is indeed blessed with numerous tourist hot
spots that have long attracted foreigners and locals alike. Aside from our
country’s pristine beaches, resorts, mountain ranges and what not, there are a
few tourist locations in the Philippines that have played an important role in
the past in shaping the history and legacy of the nation we now know today.
Here are 5 great examples of tourist destinations of such
kind.
Magellan’s Cross.
Situated in the city center of the Queen city of the South –
Cebu, the Magellan’s cross is an ancient reminder of how Christianity was established
in the Philippines. The cross was planted by Spanish and Portuguese explorers
around April 1521, by order of Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving at the shores
of Cebu.
Contrary to what most people would think at first glance, the
cross displayed in the chapel is not the original cross from the time of
Magellan, instead, the original cross is encased inside another wooden cross to
protect the relic from tourists who took pieces of the cross as mementos in the
belief that it has mystical healing properties. The cross is now housed in a
chapel, with a tiled pavilion next to the Basilica of Minore del Santo Niño.
Luneta
Luneta or more formally known as Rizal Park is a historical urban
park in the heart of Manila and sits beside the walled city of Intramuros. The
park played an important role in history as the place where the national hero
of the Philippines – Dr. Jose Rizal was executed.
In honor of the national hero, a monument made from bronze and
granite was erected at the park to commemorate his contributions to the country’s
history and to recognize his efforts in the liberation of the country from
Spanish rule. The park also houses the Independence Flagpole, the highest
flagpole in the country standing at 107 meters as well as the Quirino
Grandstand.
Another fun fact is that Luneta is marked at kilometer zero which
serves as a point from which road distances from Manila are measured. So if you’ve
ever looked at those bus tickets and wondered where they based those kilometer
figures, now you know it’s from Luneta.
Barasoain
Church
Founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1859, the Barasaoin church,
otherwise known as the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, is one of the most
important places in the history of the Philippines. Three major events in the
history of the country happened in this church: The convening of the First
Philippine Congress in 1898, the drafting of the Malolos Constitution in 1899
and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in 1899.
Nowadays, the church is mainly used as a venue for important
national events and part of it is used as a museum where children on school
field trips as well as tourists can visit on a regular basis. Of course the place
is still used for its primary function – the Holy Mass.
Dambana ng
Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)
Resting near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilar,
Bataan is the Mount Samat National Shrine otherwise known as the Dambana ng
Kagitingan. The shrine was constructed in honor of fallen American and Filipino
soldiers during World War II.
Being on top of a mountain, do expect to do some hiking to reach
the shrine. But once you reach the top, the view is breathtaking. If you fancy
some water related fun, hiking back down Mount Samat will lead you to Dunsalan
falls which serve as the main drainage of the mountain’s crater.
Corregidor
Corregidor Island is a tadpole shaped island in the province of
Cavite. During the Spanish era, the island was used by Spaniards as a fortress
of defense, a penal institution and a station for customs inspection. But the
island is more known in its role during the Second World War where it became a
stronghold for US and Philippine troops.
Today, most of the island has been transformed into a tourist
spot/historical landmark. Many travel companies offer packages that includes
day tours of military installations used during World War II like the Malinta
Tunnel and other notable areas within the island like the Pacific War Memorial,
Filipino Heroes Memorial, Japanese Garden of Peace and the Corregidor
lighthouse.
And that’s it for now. If you have any comments and suggestions,
please do leave them using the comment box below.
