Fort San Pedro — Attraction in Cebu City

The date of construction of the stone fort is uncertain, although there are claims that a Jesuit Antonio Campioni built a stone fort in 1630, and the gate of the fort bears the date 1738 together with the arms of Castile and Leon. It is certain, however, that the fort underwent major renovations in the late 19th century as part of a building program to improve Cebu.

The victory of the Americans led by Commodore Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, marked the end of the Spanish era in the Philippine Islands. The fort was then surrendered by the Spaniards to the Cebuano revolutionaries.

Fort San Pedro became a part of the American Warwick barracks during the American regime. From 1937 to 1941 the barracks was converted into a school where many Cebuanos received their formal education. During World War II from 1942 to 1945, Japanese residents of the city took refuge within the walls. When the battle to liberate the city of Cebu from the Imperial Japanese forces was fought, the fort served as an emergency hospital for the wounded.

From 1946 to 1950, Fort San Pedro was an army camp. After 1950, the Cebu Garden Club took over and fixed the inner part and converted it into a miniature garden.

Although already in ruins, the upper deck was utilized for different offices. First, as a clinic of the City Health, as office of the Presidential Arm and Community Development then the City Public Works Unit used the ruins of the lieutenant's quarters as its field office.

In 1957, Mayor Sergio Osmeña Jr. announced his intention to demolish Fort San Pedro and erect a new city hall on the same site. Opposition was voiced by the newspapers and magazines in Cebu City and Manila. Following pressure to drop the plan, Osmeña backtracked and stated that he would instead use the space behind the fort.

In the very same year, the city council commissioned "The Lamplighter", a religious sect, to manage a zoo subsidized by the city within the fort courtyard.

By 1968, the façade, quarters and walls of the original structures of Fort San Pedro were so obliterated that only the two towers were recognizable. Plans for the restoration of the fort was started, and the zoo was relocated.

Plans and estimates for the restoration of the fort were completed by architect Leonardo Concepción, who had completed his Master of Arts in building restoration in Madrid. The project was jointly funded by the Board of Travel Industry (now Department of Tourism), the Cebu City government, and the Cebu Zonta Club.

The Fort San Pedro restoration was a tedious, time and labor consuming project. To restore the fort as close to the original as possible, coral stones hauled from under the sea along Cebu coastal towns were utilized. Delivered crudely cut to the restoration site, the fort laborers did the final cutting and polishing to make the blocks fit each other.

Work progressed slowly but the façade, the main building (Cuerpo de Guardia), the walk and the observatory roof garden were faithfully restored after one and a half years. To make the project functional, the restored main building served as the Cebu office of the Department of Tourism, the lieutenant's quarters now houses a museum, the inner court is an open-air theater and its immediate vicinity is a park.

At present, the fort is under the care and administration of the Cebu City government, as a historical park under City Executive Order No. 08-87 of February 20, 2008. This order created the Plaza Independencia – Fort San Pedro Interim Policy and Advisory Board (PIFSIPAB), and Hon. Michael L. Rama was appointed as the overall overseer of the Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro.The land on which it is situated is, however, owned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Part of the fort currently houses a museum. The fort houses legacies of the Spanish government: well preserved Spanish artefacts such as Spanish documents, paintings and sculpture. A large statue of Legazpi and Antonio Pigafetta may be seen outside...

I didnt realize how much I was missing in Cebuano history until I saw the evidences at the museum. I had a terrific time! How the preserve the canons, the walls, the area. The place may look simple but has a lot to offer. I love the Viviende del Tentiente! The room may be little but contains a lot of information. I get to learn a lot and appreciate Cebu and the Cebuanos. I learned that Cebu once produced hemp and make it as a living. The Bishop's pPalace is now the Patria Building and it was so cool, it looked like the area was in a town in Cebu. I love how sophisticated it look in a black and white photo. I learned that there was an existing train in mambaling. The service travels from Danao-Cebu City-Argao. It would be very useful having a train in the City these days. I also saw the Hotel Lalk's that reminded me of the hotel in the John Wick movie. I had so much fun visiting the past. I also saw the differences between the then Cathedral church and the now. I can now picture how progressive Cebu is compare to the old photos. Calle Manalili was very interesting. The triangular park of Plaza Parian. I get to learn that Metro Cebu Water District was used to be Osmeña Waterworks.My experience in Fort San Pedro has exceeded my expectations. I love how we get to see these artifacts and get to share it to everyone. I strongly suggest everyone to check the place and enjoy learning and visiting Cebu. Thank you to the keepers and making Fort San...

FORT SAN PEDRO CEBU LOCATED INSIDE PLAZA INDEPENDECIA CEBU PHILIPPINE. FORT SAN PEDRO IS RIGHT NEXT TO PIER ON INSIDE A HUGE PARK CALL INDEPENDECIA. PEOPLE GO THERE TO EAT RELAX AND LOTS OF LOVERS ARE GAGGING AROUND ON BANCHES.FROM THAT LOCATION YOU ARE ALSO AT WALKING DISTANCE TO CEBU CITY HALL AND CEBU CENTRAL POST OFFICE. EVERYTHING IN THE PARK IS IN GOOD SHAPE SO IT IS WITH FORT SAN PEDRO. TO GET IN ITS 30 PISO AND BY TAXI IT'S NOT MORE THAN 150 PISO. THE VISIT IS WORTH IT BECAUSE IT'S LIGHT AND EASY WHY? BECAUSE SOMETIMES SOME PLACES AFTER VISITING MAKES YOU REALLY REALLY SAD TO THE POINT OF CRYING BUT THIS TIME AROUND EVERYTHING WAS LIGHT AND POSITIVE. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I VISITED THE MUSEUM OF WAR IN HO CHI MINH CITY VIETNAM IT TOOK ME A LOT OF COURAGE TO FINISH THE VISIT BECAUSE ANY NORMAL HUMAN BEING WILL JUST CRY BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST ANY HUMAN LOGIC THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THERE. ..IT IS TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH. OK SAN PEDRO IS THE LANDMARK WHERE THE SPANISH FIRST LANDED IN CEBU AND SETUP WOODEN FORT TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM THE LOCAL AND NOW BRICKS AND YOU HAVE THE WHOLE PROCESS OF HOW EVERYTHING CAME TO BE WITH PICTURES OLD FLAGS AND EVEN REAL PLANTS SPICES WHICH WERE AVAILABLE OR MADE AVAILABLE IN THAT TIME. I AM RATHER SURPRISED TO SEE THIS MANY TOURIST BUSES PARK IN FRONT OF FORT SAN PEDRO. YES IT IS A TOURIST DESTINATION VISIT SPOT. I...