by Carissa Bongalosa
A soul-stirring journey of faith and devotion on the island of Cebu. Follow the official routes, visit Jubilee Churches and Marian shrines, or you can carve your pilgrimage in Cebu one church, one prayer, one step at a time.
Step through the arched doorway. Dip your fingers in the holy water and trace the sign of the cross. Kneel before the altar, where centuries of whispered prayers linger in the candlelit air. Step outside, and let the sea breeze carry your thoughts heavenward. Now, begin again. At another church. Another shrine. Another sacred space.
In the pilgrimage sites of Cebu, faith is a journey shaped by history, devotion, and personal reflection. There is no single way to walk this sacred path—only an invitation to experience it for yourself. Some visit seeking Catholic indulgence, tracing the footsteps of missionaries and martyrs. Others come for profound moments of prayer, or to marvel at the island’s historic churches, where stained glass and weathered stone tell stories of faith that have endured for centuries.
The Sinulog Festival, honoring the Santo Niño de Cebu, draws millions of devotees and tourists annually, solidifying its status as Cebu’s largest religious event. This year, Cebu police reported four million visitors.
Beyond Sinulog, Cebu’s Jubilee Churches attract a steady flow of pilgrims, particularly following the 2021-2022 Jubilee Year celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.
The Archdiocese of Cebu, the Order of St. Augustine, and the Department of Tourism Central Visayas curate faith-based pilgrimage programs to Cebu’s most revered sites. These experiences invite discovery, reflection, and renewal, whether tracing the steps of early missionaries or visiting Marian shrines, a newly crowned church, Jubilee Churches, or the latest National Cultural Treasure.
Marian Pilgrimage
For those seeking the solace of the Blessed Mother, Cebu’s Marian Pilgrimage is a journey of devotion, unfolding in both sacred spaces and silent prayer.
Pilgrims visit Cebu’s most revered Marian shrines in this one-day tour, beginning at the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City. In Cebu City, the Archdiocesan Shrines of Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Guadalupe, along with the Redemptorist Church, offer places of prayer, petition, and reflection. At each stop, pilgrims light candles, offer prayers, and stand in quiet reverence, feeling Mary’s presence in hushed rosaries and flickering candlelight.
But a true pilgrimage is more than a journey—it is an immersion in faith. Listen to the hymns, observe local devotions, and contemplate Mary’s role in your life. If time allows, seek out hidden chapels, visit religious communities, or sit in quiet reflection.
A pilgrimage does not end when the last candle is lit. Carry its spirit forward—through deeper prayer, acts of charity, and the quiet transformations that unfold in the soul.
Jubilee Churches
2025 is declared a Jubilee year by the Vatican, an occurrence every 25 years that was started in the year 1300. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expanded its list of official Pilgrim Churches in Cebu from 13 to 25 this year. Cross their thresholds and step into centuries of faith, guided by history and devotion. In 2022, the Southern Cebu Jubilee Churches Tour featured five of these churches, each designated as a Holy Door by Pope Francis for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines: the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Carcar; the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael, Argao; San Guillermo de Aquitania Church, Dalaguete; Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church, Boljoon; and the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anne, Barili.
Although the tour for Cebu’s Southern Jubilee Churches ended in December 2021 and special indulgences may no longer be granted, these Jubilee doors remain open for prayer and reflection. With 25 Pilgrim Churches now part of the official Jubilee 2025 list, this sacred journey offers a renewed opportunity for spiritual grace.
In the South, Dalaguete’s San Guillermo de Aquitania Church, declared a National Cultural Treasure on February 9, 2024, stands as a weathered testament to centuries of devotion. This coral stone masterpiece reaffirms its status as a cultural and religious gem. From its striking Rococo-style retablos to its Gothic- inspired arches and beautiful ceiling paintings by Canuto Avila and his sons, the church remains a must-visit for pilgrims and history buffs.
In Boljoon, Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Santisima, venerated for over four centuries, has received a rare Canonical Coronation—a living testament to unwavering faith.
These two sites, along with the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, are among Cebu’s sacred guardians of time, offering pilgrims and travelers a journey into the soul of Cebu, where faith and heritage unite.
A pilgrimage is never just about the destination itself. It is faith in motion, whether you follow the well-trodden paths of Cebu’s Jubilee Churches, pause in Marian shrines, or find your moments of contemplation beyond the guided tours. As you walk away from the sacred sites, there is a sense of knowing that the journey never truly ends—it only deepens.
With thanks to the Department of Tourism Central Visayas
G/F LDM Building, Legaspi St., Cebu City
032 254 6650 | 032 254 3534
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