Municipality of Liloan

Liloan: The Light of The North

          Liloan,Cebu is a first class municipality in the province of Cebu,Philippines that is aiming to join the list of Philippine cities. Liloan is located 19 kilometers from the heart of Cebu.With the construction of the North Coastal Road, a major road artery which cuts travel time to the north, Liloan is now even more accessible from the airport and seaports.

Long before other towns were “discovered” as tourist spots, Lilo-an was already known for its scenic, pristine  beaches  and as a resort town, a favorite place for sea bathing. Along its coastline, there is a spot called Silot. Here, bathers are    cautioned not to swim to a certain point because of a whirlpool caused by the ebb and tide of the waters which flow  from an inland lake. This phenomenon is called “lilo” in Cebuano. Because of this, the town was known as Lilo-an, a place  where there is lilo- whirling waters that form when sea approaches an abrupt depth at a point just after a bridge. One of the best known landmarks in Lilo-an is its historic lighthouse at Bagacay Point which is standing proudly over a cliff in Barangay Catarman, the coral stone lighthouse has withstood the passing of 10 decades and the various seasons that came with the years, including the war. The original lighthouse was  built in 1857 by the Spanish colonizers but due to war, the lighthouse was ruined and was later called as "Bantayan sa Hari". However, the current tower was constructed in 1904 by order of William Howard Taft, the  first Governor-General of the Philippines and later the President of the United States. The tower is 72 feet tall and  remains in active use today. The Parola was built in 1904 on top of a hill in Catarman, Lilo-an. The place also gives a  beautiful view of the sea.It has been a tradition that in every year's anniversary of the tower, Parola Festival were held. Standing on a cliff overlooking the Mactan channel is a watchtower or Bantayan sa Hari built during the Spanish era. Historical records show that sometime in 1825, Mandaue residents sighted Moro pirates on the coasts of Liloan. In the early part of the 17th century, Moros pillaged Liloan, sending residents fleeing for safety to Danao.Each town was asked to build the fortification as a first line of defense from the Moro pirates. The watchtowers then dotted the northeastern coast in the past--- from what is now Mandaue City all the way to Daanbantayan.Made of local stone, the watchtower was essential in guarding the local communities.Located just a few meters from the popular and proud lighthouse and with bushes growing tall around it, the old watchtower may today be looking like a forlorn foreground to a backdrop of blue sea and skies. But the local administration is racing with time to protect this precious legacy of the past and reawaken this generation to the role this relic had played in protecting the inhabitants of Liloan.

          It has been a tradition that in every year's anniversary of the tower, Parola Festival were held.It’s just like any Mardi Gra in the country with contigents from different barangays in the municipality vying to bag home the prize. They tailored their presentations with the theme about giving light to life or something.What’s noteworthy was almost all of the 7 contingents had battery operated lighted costumes that look so dazzling that night. They also made use of miniature lighthouses as props and most of which are burning with real fire.The respective festival queens who spearhead each presentation were great looking kids. They all have strong points and weak points but they all deserve an applause.




Another oldest standing heritage structures in Liloan is one structure whose builder looked and saw beyond his day, the San Fernando Rey Parish  which dates back to 1847 and is still serving the people up until now . One unusual detail about the Church in Lilo-an is that it faces the mountains to the West,  whereas most churches face the sea to the East. Some have theorized that this is because mass is often performed in  the morning, and the church is thus shielded from the morning sun, making it less hot and uncomfortable. Others have  speculated that the church's direction has a symbolic significance related to church rites.Fiesta is celebrated every 29 and 30. Lilo-an is home of the famous delicacy known both domestically and internationally, the Titay's Rosquillos. The making of  these little ringlet cookies date back to April 3, 1907, when the 21-year-old Margarita “Titay” Frasco was tinkering in  her kitchen with her baking ingredients and made her new culinary creation. Rosquillos have become a household name,  a product that is aptly celebrated in a festival that Lilo-an could call its very own. Titay’s Lilo-an Rosquillos, Inc. was  founded in 1907 and had withstood the taste of the times in baking prowess.





It has also been in the tradition that in every year's last week of May in honor of patron saint San Fernando Rey, Rosquillos Festival were made. For many decades now, people have always associated rosquillos with the northern Cebu town of Liloan. Thus it only follows that in answering to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s call for each town to have its own festival to celebrate local product or culture, Rosquillos Festival was made. This festival is made in honor for Liloan's famous delicacy which is the rosquillos.This traces Liloan's respect for its culture and creativity in making its pride. On 2012, Liloan 's Rosquillos Festival was suddenly the star of the night at the Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo Festival because Liloan was named as the winner of the said competition. 

 A prominent figure in Liloan's map and list of infrastructure is the Suba Bridge, this connects Barangay Poblacion to Barangay Catarman. A blissful place to visit and a perfect foreground to a picturesque moonrise or sunset.The bridge is right at the entrance to Silot Bay, which saw an era of marine wealth that fed people from as far away as Liloan’s mountain barangays. Untouched by time are the ripples of seawater made by strong currents locally known as “lilo” under the bridge, from which Liloan got its name. What used to be a wooden bridge where yatchs lined up under, bringing tourists from several parts of the world to Liloan, has been changed into a concrete one.The bridge is also rich in stories and myths- of sunken ships and caught “mermaids,” of would-be suicide victims or young couple just enjoying the scene, of fierce military training or children simply just enjoying the jump.




          The bay is a 100-hectare shallow tidal lagoon, with mangrove swamps, fishponds and two is lets.Looking at it from the top of Cebu City’s mountains, one could see it from the distance as a body of water roughly circular in shape.Its waters flow from Camotes Sea, of which it is connected through a channel that is about 20 meters wide. Marine organisms like sea urchins thrive on the bay, and a huge area of mudflat where locals gather seashells could be seen during low tides.The mouth of the bay is where the whirling waters are--- the lilo that gave the town its name.
      The bridge over it used to be made of wood but it was changed to concrete a couple of years ago.For many years now, Liloanons from as far as the mountain barangays go to the bay to fish, as the bay is a rich fishing ground. It is also a feeding area for herons, egrets and other birds.Aside from providing food for locals and birds, Silot bay is also a place for recreation, especially during the weekends when people from outside Liloan visit the area for a swim.
     The strong current at the bay also makes it a good area for the military training’s water survival exercises including river crossing, wherein they put a rope above the water and hold on it to cross.But it is not only the military that’s using the bay for swimming. Local children also have fun jumping from the bridge and into the water, enjoying themselves as they let their bodies just go with the current.Silot bay was, for a very few, a place to let go of lives gone wrong. But for most, sunset at Silot bay is where weary people found inner peace, confused individuals found calm, and families and friends go for wholesome fun and relaxation.It tells of a kaleidoscope of tales--- legends of a defiant forbidden love and mermaids, true stories of finding love, giving life and ending life.

     In fact, the story of how Liloan got its name would start with a legend of how a couple’s relationship was forbidden by their parents. Distraught that their love had become illicit, they fled on a boat and sailed to they-know-not-where. A storm made them take shelter in what is now the Silot bay, where they started a family and eventually, a community. Silot bay has been, and will always be, a most enchanting part of Liloan’s existence as a town.




          Well-known Liloan born personality Pilar Pilapil also has her pride. She is a beauty queen-turned movie actress who owned the Balay Pilapil.



          World War II may have left scars on people's lives and damaged vital infrastructures, but it has also left behind some man-made wonders in Liloan, such as this limestone cave that were used for hiding during the was. This is a man-made cave that can be located somewhere in Catarman. 

Liloan is also a home to a number of ceramics manufacturers. Their shops sell a variety of ceramics items - from ordinary plant pots, to bricks and exotic jars.

Lilo-an has also become a catchment area for migrants considering it is less than an hour away from major economic and industrial centers. Its rapidly growing population is being served by rural banks, telecommunication facilities, a college and 60 other educational facilities and training institutions, as well as small and medium businesses.

With all of these tourist attractions, I can really say that Liloan is truly a beauty. Let's now pack our things and let us not forget to put Liloan in the places that we would like to visit in our bucket list. And in anywhere we go, with all of those captivating and mesmerizing sites, let's remember that there is no other place like home. ABANTE LILOAN, My Pride and My Place!

- See more at: http://jayseeblabs.blogspot.com/2010/04/lilo-parola-festival.html#sthash.Hsm1rdf4.dpuf

The respective festival queens who spearhead each presentation were great looking kids. Yup, all the contigents were grade school pupils.
They all have strong points and weak points. One contingent had very beautiful props with a realistic banca and the fisherman getting his fill from the sea. One had beautiful choreography. One had both. I wasn’t able to take down notes nor took pics from the performances but they all deserve my applause.
- See more at: http://jayseeblabs.blogspot.com/2010/04/lilo-parola-festival.html#sthash.Hsm1rdf4.dpuf

What’s noteworthy was almost all of the 7 contingents had battery operated lighted costumes that look so dazzling that night. They also made use of miniature lighthouses as props and most of which are burning with real fire.
The respective festival queens who spearhead each presentation were great looking kids. Yup, all the contigents were grade school pupils.
They all have strong points and weak points. One contingent had very beautiful props with a realistic banca and the fisherman getting his fill from the sea. One had beautiful choreography. One had both. I wasn’t able to take down notes nor took pics from the performances but they all deserve my applause.
- See more at: http://jayseeblabs.blogspot.com/2010/04/lilo-parola-festival.html#sthash.Hsm1rdf4.dpuf