The Spanish-era structures in the city have been sources of paranormal stories even though Cebu is already a highly-urbanized city.
Image: Casa Gorordo Museum Facebook page
It’s that time of the year again when ghost stories are hogging the headlines. While stories of the paranormal kind may not be everybody’s cup of tea, it does pique the interest of anyone with an active imagination. Being the oldest city in the Philippines, Cebu is home to several heritage structures that have stood the test of time. Even as the histories of these structures are rather interesting, stories of a different kind may grab more attention at these haunted places in Cebu.
Read on for a list of haunted places in Cebu you can visit yourself.
1. Casa Gorordo Museum
Location: 35 Lopez Jaena Street, Barangay Parian, Cebu City
Travel time: 44 minutes from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Recommended budget for two: PhP80 entrance fee for two adults
The Casa Gorordo Museum has its share of ghost stories since it is one of the oldest buildings in the country.
Image: Casa Gorordo Museum Facebook page
Old buildings around the world have always been at the center of ghost stories. And the Casa Gorordo Museum is no exception. Built in the 19th century, it was the home of the first Cebuano bishop, Juan Gorordo. Additionally, four generations of the family lived in the two-storey house that was originally owned by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales. It is also one of the oldest buildings built during the Spanish era, which resulted in some stories of ghostly apparitions. One particular story was of the ghost of one of the spinster sisters of the bishop that was seen in the courtship area of the compound. The private chapel was supposedly one of the places where the ghost was seen.
Tip: If you are in Cebu on the last Friday of May, you may want to join the annual Gabii Sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) since the Casa Gorordo Museum is one of the event’s participating heritage sites.
How to get to the Casa Gorordo Museum: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney headed for the Parian Area and tell the driver to let you off at the Cebu Heritage Monument. From there you can ask the locals directions to the Casa Gorordo Museum, which is a 5-minute walk away.
2. Museo de Parian
Location: 26 Zulueta Street, Cebu City
Travel time: 44 minutes from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Recommended budget for two: PhP60 entrance fee for two adults
A picture at the Museo de Parian supposedly caught a ghostly apparition standing at the corner of one of the rooms of the museum.
Image: Museo Parian sa Sugbo 1730 Jesuit House Facebook page
Built in 1730, the Museo de Parian or the Jesuit House is the oldest documented house in the country. The Vice Provincial of the Society of Jesus used to live in the house before it became the Japanese military headquarters during World War 2. After the war, the Americans converted it into a hospital before the Alvarez family bought it. Subsequently, it was later converted into a museum by the current owners of the place in 2009. One spine-tingling ghostly encounter was caught on camera during the 2014 Gabii sa Kabilin. A ghostly figure clad in a black, flowing robe was seen at the corner of one of the rooms of the museum. Interestingly enough, the Jesuit priests who used to live in the house wore black, flowing robes.
Tip: Similar to the Casa Gorordo Museum, the Museo de Parian is also one of the stops during the annual Gabii sa Kabilin on the last Friday of May.
How to get to the Museo de Parian: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney headed for the Parian Area and tell the driver to let you off at the Cebu Heritage Monument. From there you can ask the locals directions to the Museo de Parian, which is a 5-minute walk away.
3. Moncado Hotel
Location: Barangay Sudlon 2, Cebu City
Travel time: 1 hour and 25 minutes from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Recommended budget for two: free
The Moncado Hotel has served thousands of members of the Moncadian group since it opened in the 1960s.
Image: Michael Montera’s Facebook page
The Moncada Hotel is located within the Moncadian compound or the General Headquarters of the Filipino Crusaders, Inc. established by Hilario Moncado. While the hotel was built for visiting members of the group, they also allow outsiders to stay at the place for free. But the group has strict rules for guests of the hotel. Unmarried couples are not allowed to stay in the hotel and drinking of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. The hotel was built on March 3, 1966, and has not undergone a major facelift since then. Some visitors stay at the hotel to hunt for ghosts.
Tip: To enter the Moncado Hotel, visitors should bring an ID or they will not be allowed to enter the compound.
How to get to the Moncada Hotel: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a Lahug-bound jeepney. Once you reach JY Square, get on a motorcycle-for-hire going to the Moncado Hotel.
4. Fort San Pedro
Location: A. Pigafetta Street, Cebu City
Travel time: 40 minutes from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Recommended budget for two: PhP60 entrance fee for two adults
Being the oldest fort in the country, Fort San Pedro also has its share of ghost stories.
Image: Lourdes Lulu Ramirez Ramirez’s Facebook page
Fort San Pedro is the oldest Spanish fort built in the Philippines. This triangular fort was initially built to defend the Spanish colony from pirates and raiders. The original fort was made of wood before coral and stones were used to replace its wooden sections. It was also used as a fort by the Japanese during World War 2. One chamber in the fort supposedly contains human bones. There are also some unverified stories of paranormal experiences by some visitors of the fort.
Tip: When visiting Fort San Pedro, you can ask for a guided tour at the front desk to give insights about the history of the fort and Cebu as well.
How to get to Fort San Pedro: From SM City Cebu, you can get the MyBus headed for SM Seaside City and get off at the Plaza Independencia bus stop. Fort San Pedro is less than five minutes away from the bus stop.
For more of the creepiest places in the country, head on over to Yoorekka.
5. Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
Location: B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City
Travel time: 48 minutes from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Recommended budget for two: free
The hospital has a lot of stories that have piqued the interest paranormal enthusiasts for decades.
Image: Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Facebook page
Originally called Hospital del Sur, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center is a government-owned hospital that started its operations in 1911. It was granted legal status in 1913 and was renamed Southern Islands Hospital. It was later renamed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in 1992 in honor of the late Vicente Sotto. Spirits supposedly roam around the hospital and play tricks on the nurses, patients, and visitors.
Tip: It is not advisable to visit the hospital simply to look for ghosts to avoid getting in the way of the nurses and doctors working at the place.
How to get to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney headed for Guadalupe and get off at the hospital.
Even as people may doubt the veracity of paranormal experiences in the city, they may not be far-fetched since Cebu home to some of the oldest structures in the country.
