Senior Citizens Park is now more than just a place to chill and relax.
Did you know that Cebu City has a public park dedicated to senior citizens?
In 2012, the Cebu City government opened the Senior Citizens Park. This was so that the elderly had an accessible spot in the city to join special events and activities, as well as to relax and unwind outdoors.
Reminiscent of the Fuente Osmeña Circle, it has a circular walkway where one can take leisurely strolls. It covers 3,700 square meters on a lot located behind Cebu City Hall.
There was previously a warehouse in the area where vendors from the Carbon Public Market stored their fresh produce. But due to its weak structural integrity and the damage it took from a massive earthquake, it was demolished.
It was later converted into an open space with benches and trees surrounding a fountain in the middle. It’s smaller than the park in Fuente, catering to shorter walks for the elderly.
For years, this was what the park was known for. However, as part of the government’s efforts in modernizing downtown Cebu, Senior Citizens Park is now an important religious landmark.
The fountain in the middle was replaced with a 300-square meter chapel, a massive feat for Filipino architecture. On top of the chapel is a 30-foot installation of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
A NEW RELIGIOUS LANDMARK
The chapel opened in 2022, coinciding with the closing of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines, as well as the start of the city’s resurgence from the pandemic.
Megawide Construction Corporation planned on opening the chapel before the start of the new year to make it a symbol of prosperity. Unfortunately, they encountered a few bumps in the road.
A CDN Digital article recalls that the 30-foot fiberglass resin statue was shipped to Cebu from Manila on December 14, 2021, two days before Typhoon Odette made landfall. (2022)
The 10-man crew, who had been working on the chapel for five months at this point, was now unfortunately trapped in Cebu. Construction was also delayed because the structure suffered significant damage from the typhoon.
It was extremely difficult for them since the entire city had no access to water and electricity.
In order to continue, the contractors set up gasoline-powered generators to allow the team to continue working. The chapel was finally finished in January of the following year.
This made the chapel a symbol of hope and rebirth after facing adversity, now standing as one of the newest Cebu City landmarks.
DESIGN
The chapel itself is notable for its wave-like facade taken from the movements of “sulog” that inspire the Sinulog dance. The same design is seen in the crown of the 30-foot statue.
The chapel can accommodate around 150 parishioners, while the corridors leading to the park serve as an extension of the church.
The image of the Sto. Niño faces the Mactan Channel, specifically towards the Nuestra Señora de Regla in Lapu-Lapu. This detail was agreed upon by Megawide and the Archdiocese of Cebu, serving as an homage to the Child Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary.
As a result, the statue is visible to anyone passing through the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), serving as a warm welcome to those visiting Cebu City.
Aside from regular Sunday masses, the chapel hosts weddings sponsored by the local government, while private weddings require approval from the Cebu archdiocese.
RELAXING AT SENIOR CITIZENS PARK
Senior Citizens Park is open to everyone, not just the elderly. Aside from the chapel, Megawide included more features to provide visitors more things to do.
The park now has several food stalls offering snacks like milk tea, french fries, street food, and more. Most of their offerings are finger food that can be easily eaten on the go or while you’re at the park.
Senior Citizens Park is also an extension of the Carbon Sunday Market, where electronic tricycles wait for passengers who wish to go to the food park.
The park is a few meters away from the Compania Maritima Ruins, which is a popular historical landmark in Cebu City. The neoclassical structure is said to have been built in 1910, and was one of the first buildings ever built in the city.
It was called the Shamrock Hotel and the Fernando Building before World War II. Later on it shared a space with the Manila Steamship Company.
It is now an abandoned building, serving as a heritage site that highlights American architecture in the early 1900s. It is currently being managed by the Cebu Port Authority, following a legal battle with the Cebu City government from 2013 to 2016.
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Senior Citizens Park is pretty much the same as it was before – it’s a beloved spot for senior citizens and locals to hang out in the morning or late afternoon. However, government developments have turned it into an important religious landmark.
The new Sto. Niño chapel is without a doubt an impressive structure, with modernized architecture accredited to the same company that designed the world-renowned Cebu airport. With a striking and unique facade, it is a significant symbol that represents Cebu City.
HOW TO GET THERE
Exact Location:
M.C. Briones, right next to the Gotiaoco Building, Cebu City
Operating Hours:
Open 24 hours
