The Voyage - Cebu City

Having got out the shrine, dad and I decided to split up. He thought it best that I try to look for more information regarding Magellan and Enrique Diego de Velazquez, so I decided to head for the library whilst dad took a taxi back to the hotel.

Fuente Osmena Jose Rizal Memorial Library,

Upon arriving at the Fuente Osmena Jose Rizal Memorial Library, I immediately headed up towards the archives in search of more possible clues to the documents when I was approached...
Umm excuse me, but could you help me? I'm looking for a book called Prince by Machiavelli, you don't know where I could find it do you?
The Prince? Oh the Prince, here.
I was looking for somethinge earlier when I stumbled upon it, thought I might read it later hehehe.
Wow thanks! ![]()
Well now that I've found what I've been looking for, may I ask you what you're looking for?
Me?
Yeah duh! I mean who else silly hehehehe. ![]()
![]()
You said that you were looking for something before right?
Well I mean I AM! It's just that, well I'm in search of lost documents that are related to Magellan and his voyage to the Philippines? It's kinda complicated, but it's relative to me in that one of my ancestors Enrique Diego de Velazquez, well he was sailing with Magellan.
Here, I have these two documents but I'm missing a few more.
Ok let me read them.
Hmmm....this is really interesting. These documents must be over 400 years old!
I mean WOW! You've got a real treasure here, why it must be worth fortunes.
.....Well I dunno about that?
Extraordinary....well sorry but there's nothing I can really help you with except, if you were in search for Magellan items or anything to do with him, then I suggest you go ask the librarian for help.![]()
Oh, well thanks for taking a look anyway. I'll be on my way..
As I left this girl, I wondered whether I should go to the librarian, so I did.
Miss, could you help me a second please?
Yes, what is it?
Well I'm looking for anything related to Magellan, documents, parchments etc.
Hmmm.... I don't quite understand?
Here, I have these really old parchments that belonged to my Grand father. He gave them to my father to show to me, but the problem is that it's missing a few pages I think?
Let me check.....WOW! These documents seem to be really old and the writing here seems really genuine.
Extraordinary, in all my years working here, I never knew that I'd ever come across anything like this.
What did you say your name was?
I didn't, but if you'd like to know, its Juan de Velazquez.![]()
Velazquez...hmmm.... well I do know of one item that we have here on Velazquez.
It's really old, but since you've been so kind enough to show this to me, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to show this to you.

She showed to me this really old book, so old that even the name on the binding had disappeared, worn off by the sands of time.
Now this book is on the Velazquez family name and its origins here in the Philippines.
Anyway, this is all we have here and I'm sorry if I couldn't be of much more assitance to you; hope this book will help.
Thanks Miss!
Slowly as I opened it, a mysterious page written in Spanish suddenly fell out.
Luckily I can read Spanish, so I quickly grabed it and started to read it.

Our Captain has fallen ill and most of the crew besides me is suffering
from scurvey and disentry due to possible lack of food and clean water.
By my observations on deck, I fear that we will soon have a mutiny again
on our hands and I doubt that for the love of God he can intervene
this time in saving our Captain.
After reading this, I realised that there was a piece missing. However, it was very unlikely that I'd find this piece now since getting hold of this first piece was a fluke. So I decided to head back to the Hotel to see what Dad had uncovered.
WAIT!
Oh it's you. I thought you had left?
Look mister (huffing and puffing)..... ![]()
I know this may sound awkward and now's not the time, but I'd just like to ask if I could go with you?![]()
But why? I mean you've said it yourself that your no expert.
Yeah, I'm no expert, but I know someone who is back home.
It's just that before I came here today, all I was interested in was some dumb book, but having read your parchment has invigorated me in wanting to know more about your ancestor, about your family's past.
But why do you want to help?
ADVENTURE hehehe! ![]()
Besides, I may not be an expert, but I know someone else who is....I can take you to him if you'd like?
That's if I can come along?![]()
As if my life couldn't get anymore complicated, along comes some over excited kid that wants to come along.
You do know right that this is going to take a while? That we'll probably be travelling non stop till we drop.
Yup, but like I said, I want to know more and that's why I wana come.
Well ok, by the way what's your name?
Mariana Shenara ![]()
WOW! That's an unusual name?
My name is Juan de Velazquez.![]()
Ok well we better get moving.

The main buildings in this pic is the Library, Old City Hall and China town down the left handside.
As if that wasn't enough, we decided that a Quarter Pounder and Cheese would be better.

After years of complaints from the local residents over the McDonald restaurants location
(which was infront of City Hall) an agreement was reached and a new Mc Donalds opened up on 23 Osmena Street.
As you can see, it's only within walking distance to the Marco Polo hotel (bottom centre) along with Globe Telecom building and the old fort.
Come in!
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Juan, who's this?
Oh Dad this is Mariana, Mariana this is my father.
Hi Mr Velazquez!![]()
Hi....?
Ok so what's going on son?
Nothing, no time to explain.
Have you found anything in that box dad?
Yes in fact I have, but hold on, who is she and what are you doing with that piece of paper?
It's not a piece of paper dad, its another piece of parchment that I found in the library.
A Piece?
Yes!
Well infact she suggested that I ask the librarian for help, so I did and that's how I found this.
But take a look at this son...

My dad being as clumsy as usual had stumbled across another piece of the parchment.
Oh thank God you've found it!
Let me just check and read this that it fits well with the 1st piece.
Fortunately, I remember a rumor I heard years ago in Sevile about an island that the Portuguese had discovered
20 years ago, known as "Island of Sails" that are on the edge of the Spice Islands, hopefully not
far from here.
Fortunately I took the liberty at the time of recording the bearings, so I have ordered the captain serving the remainder of our crew to sail there.
Enrique de Diego de Velazquez 1520 -
Really? You sure about this?
Positive!
Infact, that's where I come from.
Really? So what are you doing here in Cebu then?
Later, we'll talk about this later.
Right now we need to get to Guam.
But how are you going to get there Juan?
There's a flight that leaves at 8pm.
We can make it there in an hour if we go now?
I won't be able to come with you nowSon.
I've got to get back to San Jose and besides, your mum will be back from the states soon.
Right, so this is it then?
Yes, you'll have to figure this out on your own now.
I'm sure that you'll be in good company though.
Ok well let's go.
Thanks for the help Dad!
No problem and like I said, if you need anything, then you know who to call. ![]()
YEAH we're off to Guam!![]()
Having to leave behind Dad and go on my own was a little hard for me. I suppose on the bright side, at least I've got somone else now who'l annoy me lol!
Just kidding, I can do this. ![]()

This is New Mactan International Airport and as you can see, it's just been newly upgraded into a new state of the art design.
It's a lot bigger than its old former self, so big that the planners had to request from both governors of Cebu and Lapu Lapu City for the relocation and removal of some residents on the eastern and northern parts of the island.

Huge protests were carried out, but ultimately lost due to Cebu's and Mactan's heavy reliance on the airport and besides, the old airport was already in disrepair, thus it was deemed unsafe by the government.

Mainly due to rich tourist who come to the Islands to seek peace and tranquility in Paradise.
Alta Beach Resort

This is one of the many favourite beach resorts located here on the island.
Whether your a person who likes adventure & sport, or if you just simply wish to lay back and relax then Alta beach resort is the right place. Not only does it come with many activities, the main one being scuba diving near the local coral reefs, beech volleyball, hiking up the mountains and many more.
It's simply a beautiful place to stay especially when watching the sun setting on the horizon.
Mandaue City

This is a subdivision of Mandaue City, which is part of Metro Cebu as a whole.
Consolacion City

Consolacion City is a very quiet and peaceful city.
It's main tourist attraction includes the 16th century parish of St. Joseph and Enrique Street (Far upper left)
This is Consolacion at night

Ding, ring, bing ding! Ladies and gentlemen, for all those flying Cebu Pacific to Hagatna-Guam, please start checking in
at gate 2. That is all
Ding, ring bing ding.
You ready to go then?
YUP!.![]()
So what's our plan once we get there?
Well I've just spoken to my uncle on the phone, he says that he'd be happy to see us both tomorrow at 4pm.
In the mean time, let's just enjoy this trip to Guam shall we.
Sure, afterall this could just be the start of something new.![]()
Thank you for visiting Cebu and for flying Cebu Pacific today!

Mabuhay!



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