CEBU: TAOIST TEMPLE

Cebu is an island with a land area of 4,923 square kilometers.  Its beautiful beaches and islets surrounding the main island are tourist destinations not only for the locals but also for international tourists.  For example, the islands of Malapascua, Camotes, Bantayan and other islets surrounding the province are rich in marine and aquatic resources.  Malapascua Island is a favorite dive spot of world travelers and divers.

Cebu City is the capital of the island and it is known as the Queen City of Southern Philippines.  Its Mactan International Airport has connecting flights from Cebu to other key cities in the Asia-Pacific Region.  Being the Queen City, Cebu is the hub of business, commerce, trade, tourism, and conventions, among others.

Within the city, there are several tourist spots such as the Cross of Magellan, the Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro, the Basilica of Santo Nino de Cebu and other tourist destinations in other towns and cities of the island which are accessible through Cebu City.

Visible in the highlands of Cebu City is the Taoist Temple at Beverly Hills.  The Taoist Temple is a house of worship for Buddhists.  It has also become an important stop for people who wants to know their future.  A monk, thereat, assists the visitors to offer prayers and meditation and experience fortune-telling on their own.

This is what I also did during my revisit to the Taoist Temple.  After carefully studying the steps in knowing my future, I approached the monk that I was ready. He told me, to make a wish and I did.

Ms. Jo, Al and Anem.

 Tito Ligut S. and Touristang Pobre.

I took hold of two pieces of pea-shaped wood, put them in my palms and released them on the floor or right in front of the altar.  When these pieces of wood landed on the floor, the monk said: "maybe". The second try resulted in another "maybe" and the final try resulted in a "yes".  This made me happy. But I guessed the two "maybes" may strongly influence the fulfillment of my wish.  A week later, I discovered that, indeed, my wish did not come true.  This way of telling the future was, to me, a bit reliable.  Just a bit.  Our future is not governed by the stars "hawak ito ng ating mga kamay".  "Walang Himala", so to speak.

Smaller pagodas are used to store important religious artifacts or as a burial site.  Bigger pagodas are used for religious ceremonies.  The architectural design of the roof is intentionally done so that its corner edge points back to heaven. 

In this pagoda is a pond where believers can throw coins and make a wish. 

The Taoist Temple offers a breathtaking view of the City of Cebu.  Within its grounds are smaller pagodas with their specific purposes. There is also a big social hall where important religious events are held.

Puff the magic dragon.  The dragon symbolizes power, wisdom, benevolence, guardians of wealth and treasures and a symbol of enlightenment. In the Orient, they are the symbols of Royalty or in China, the Emperor. 

There are drawings, sculptures, and pagodas in the temple grounds. It is, however, the sculpture of a fisherman that truly caught my attention. He was fishing in a small pond.  As I intensely looked at him, I was reminded of Confucius and his teachings.  One of the ideas attributed to Confucius was his saying which runs like this:  If you give a person a fish he will have food for one day; if you teach a person to fish he will have food for a lifetime." (From solitaryroad.com)

This brought me to the conclusion that, every important piece of sculpture and painting at the Taoist Temple have significant meanings about the man, his way of life, his faith and how he can improve himself through his faith and values in life.  His faith can transform him or her to become a prosperous and a better person, I guess.

Taoist Temple is accessible by public transport from any point in Cebu City.

In our experience, we rented a van that also took us to Simala, Magellan's Cross, Magellan's Monument and the statue of the greatest Bisaya, Lapu-Lapu at Mactan Island.

Welcome to Cebu.  I hope you will have a memorable stay in this city.

All photos are by Touristang Pobre.  
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Touristang Pobre is also inviting you to visit his other website.  Here is the link:
http://www.earthniversity.wordpress.com

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Updated September 25, 2017.