Right in the heart of Cebu City stands Fuente Osmena Circle, oblivious to the constant vehicular hum going around the rotund. The fountain itself is built in 1912 in honor of Cebu's "Grand Old Man", Sergio Osmena, Sr. who was the second President of the Philippine Commonwealth. This is the epicenter of the Sinulog Festival and one of the city's green lung.
Curiously though, I couldn't find President Osmena's name written on the fountain structure. That, or I wasn't looking hard enough. At the lower tier of the fountain are names of other personalities during that era, including Governor General Cameron Forbes, a banker-turned-diplomat who went on to become Governor General of the Philippines from 1908 to 1913, during the administration of U.S. President William Howard Taft. After his 5-year stint in the country, He was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Japan where he served for two years.
The circle has uneven benches all over the park, some under canopy of trees surrounding the perimeter. The park would benefit from a bit of sprucing up, that's for sure.
Despite its size, the park is mostly harmless though some people constantly warn against this place after sun down. Like most public parks, it turns into convenient homestead of the city's less favorable creatures; those who languish in the dark. But then many parks carry two faces. Yes, most public arena aren't what they seem - under dimly lit or under-populated conditions.
If I have to say this, the circle is a must-visit, if it's your first time in the city.
This is the Eye in the Sky!
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| Crown Regency has the Sky Adventure who loves their stratospheric fix. |
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| Rajah Park Hotel just across the park has a casino. |
Those benches look very inviting - like it would be a nice place to sit and relax.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place to watch people walk by.
ReplyDeleteIm googling this coz I dreamed Fuente Osmeña.
ReplyDeleteEye in the sky needs sprucing indeed.