My 3rd Time in Cebu: Simala Shrine and Taoist Temple Visit

The splendid charm of Cebu has never failed in enchanting my heart - stealing it over and over again. ♥️

Hello everyone!
So we had this plan to visit Cebu together with my siblings and my brother's wife and mother-in-law. And the thought of I'll be setting foot again in this province that I considered the next best thing to call " my 2nd home", is making me very excited. I cannot wait for the day and wish that only I could pull the hands of time to make the days slip faster. Yeah funny that I haven't even devoted my time to studying college here or stayed longer because of work, but to me, Cebu is close to my heart, next to my dearest Leyte. This will be my third time visiting Cebu.

My sister-in-law was the one in-charged in organizing our travel, like the accommodation, private vehicle to rent, and all that stuff.

As we all know, Cebu is known for its beautiful tourist destinations that invite both Filipinos and foreign travelers.

We all agreed to visit two of its famous travel spots, the Simala Shrine and the Taoist Temple. It was then before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, so we expected it to be very crowded.

And so my most awaited day finally came! Yeheyyyyy! We arrived in the early dawn in Cebu City after a five-hour trip from Leyte via a passenger's vessel. My heart was jumping with joy and I can finally utter "it's good to see you again, Cebu!.

📍Our first stop - Simala Shrine

We traveled from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu. It was early at 5:00 AM so it was the perfect time because there was still no build-up of traffic. It took us one and a half hours to get there.

When we reached the place, there was already a long queue of people to get inside even if it was still very early. Some of them are devotees that have been here for the nth time and some are travelers that are the first timer visiting the sacred place - strongly believing that miracles do exist. 🙏

Simala Shrine, also known as Our Lady of Lindongon Shrine is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage church. Many people flock their way here in offering a prayer or two. A showcase of Catholic's strong faith in holding on to their heart's prayers.

After uttering our prayers, aside from the solemnity and sacredness that were felt in the shrine's ambiance, the place was also pleasing to the eye because it has a unique touch of European structure and architecture. Its fabulous Castle designs are very Instagram-worthy not to take pictures of.

I had fun taking pictures of my sister. She had a good time. Just like me, she was so happy to be in Cebu. And seeing her happy makes my heart even happier. The fulfillment of being an "ate" (older sister) is there.

📍Our next stop - Taoist Temple

The next day, we went here, the Taoist Temple. It is located in the uphill subdivision in the city. I have seen this so many times shared on Facebook and Instagram (as it is also one of the most visited spots in Cebu) and I can say it is even more beautiful in person.

According to our local guide (also the owner of the private car that we rented), Taoist Temple was built to be a prayer/worship place for Taoism back in the early days. As time went by, it has become one of the city's famous spots visited by tourists because of its amazing architectural design.

Our quick visit to this temple has also given us a short detail on how Taoist communicate with God in their unique way, by using either two wooden kidney-shaped blocks or lighting a joss stick and kneeling. From the outside, we have seen people doing these inside the temple. We did not come inside to refrain from disturbing the few people inside who were praying, as a respect to the place's solemnity.

We just enjoyed our time by taking beautiful pictures outside. Just like the Simala Shrine, the Taoist Temple's view is very stunning and we won't waste the moment to capture beautiful memories here.

It was worth all our time, me and my sibling had shared precious quality time. Cebu has never failed to mesmerize me and its warm welcome has always felt like home. Maybe in my previous lifetime, I was born and lived all my life here, just a funny thought that crossed my mind though. 😊

Well, to sum it all up, Cebu is amazing, leaving a piece of my heart here. ❤

That's all for now my blurt fam. And I'll be sharing more of my Cebu trip next time.